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There Is Never Enough TIme
There Is Never Enough TimeThe following is an excerpt from my book, which is an excerpt from a post I made 14 years ago. You never have enough time, and the struggle never ends. Few things remind you of this like becoming a parent. Although this passage is taken from my book about me enlisting in the military to get my life back on track, the message is even more serious now that I have a child. I have to find time wherever it exists—and sometimes, I have to create time that doesn’t. This has made me incredibly focused, resourceful, and—unexpectedly enough—drastically increased my output. I’m not one of those guys who thinks everyone should have children. Lord knows that the last thing we need in this world is people who don’t want to become parents becoming parents. But I have been pleasantly surprised by how efficient my life has become. The past year has also lit a fire. I’ve never been prone to indolence, but I feel more excited about what I can accomplish in the upcoming year—and last year was already quite productive. Live life with a sense of urgency, because it may be taken away from you when you least expect it. Grab a copy of Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life Men Are Addicted To ValidationAll of the modern ills of young men—and by young men, I mean anyone under 30, although certainly these afflictions can affect any man at any age—are all driven, not by being a slave to dopamine or being stuck on the hedonistic treadmill, but by the quest for the validation of their existence. More precisely, I want to show you that in a world without difficulty or purpose, and with incredibly permissive attitudes towards vice and, for lack of a more secular term, sin, men have taken the paths of least resistance in an attempt to maximize agency. And taking shortcuts always ends badly. Before we go any further, I have to issue a caveat. Women have their own issues as well, but I don’t know a thing about being a woman. I’m also a huge proponent of the idea of “policing my own,” so it’s not even in my nature to write an essay breaking down the ills of modern women. There’s plenty of content on the internet if that’s your flavor.
Today's Sponsor: ShortformIf this kind of psychology fascinates you, today’s sponsor, Shortform, is honestly one of my favorite resources. Instead of spending fifteen hours reading an entire book just to understand one big idea, Shortform breaks down the key insights into something you can actually finish in one sitting. Shortform is a book summary platform that offers detailed guides to thousands of popular nonfiction books and articles. But it doesn’t just summarize the books. It breaks down the key ideas, adds helpful context, draws connections to related concepts, and includes several recommended titles to go deeper into ideas only touched upon in the book and the summary. It’s a platform for people who have accepted that they don’t have enough hours to learn everything they want to learn, but refuse to let it stop them from beefing up their brain. If you’re digging this topic, I’d check out The Status Game by Will Storr. It’s one of the best books I’ve read on why human beings crave status, belonging, and validation—and why those needs can drive us toward some surprisingly self-destructive behaviors. Then I’d check out The Molecule of More by Daniel Lieberman and Michael Long, which does an excellent job explaining dopamine, motivation, and why uncertainty is so addictive. And finally, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, because understanding why our brains chase validation is only half the battle. The bigger question is what actually gives life purpose. If you want to go deeper than what I can cover in a single video, you can get a one-week free trial and, if you stay on, a 20% discount on your subscription using my link. |
Stoic Street Smarts
Teaching what I've learned from the hood, the ring, and everything in between. Join 35k other readers to learn how to manage risk, build relationships, and confront reality.
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