"Naval's Almanac" Reading Notes

"The Naval Handbook" Reading Notes#

Author: Eric Jorgenson
Reading Time: 6 hours

These are the notes and excerpts I recorded while reading "The Naval Handbook" on WeChat Reading.

Dedication#

This book is dedicated to my parents, thank you for doing your best to give me everything, and for continuously giving me more.

Important Notes About This Book#

In this book, all highlights belong to Naval, and all mistakes are mine alone.

Recommendation Preface 1: Wealth and Happiness Come from Choices#

We all believe that freedom and happiness do not come from external material satisfaction, but from the choices we make ourselves. Lowering the ego is the most effective way to achieve happiness; the more you feed your arrogance, the more your dissatisfaction with life and the world will consume you...

If society can train you, then society can also train others to replace you. Things that everyone can learn cannot make you rich. Skills that can be mass-trained are skills that can be hired. Only what you learn yourself is your unique ability, which has the potential to lead to entrepreneurial success.

We all believe that freedom and happiness do not come from external material satisfaction, but from the choices we make ourselves. Lowering the ego is the most effective way to achieve happiness; the more you feed your arrogance, the more your dissatisfaction with life and the world will consume you...

If society can train you, then society can also train others to replace you. Things that everyone can learn cannot make you rich. Skills that can be mass-trained are skills that can be hired. Only what you learn yourself is your unique ability, which has the potential to lead to entrepreneurial success.

Recommendation Preface 2: An Intuitive Mental Yoga#

You need to leverage labor and capital, and create products with no replication costs, ultimately converting wealth into the right to enjoy happiness and freedom.

· There is no such thing as a "business" skill. Don't waste time on business magazines and business courses.
· Most importantly, spend more time on major decisions. There are three major decisions in early life: where to live, who to be with, and what profession to pursue.
· Read classic works in mathematics, science, and philosophy. Don't read bestsellers, don't watch the news. Avoid joining any so-called "book clubs," and avoid pursuing any community identity. Place truth above community identity.

What is there to fear about infinite truth? A little progress brings a little joy.

You need to leverage labor and capital, and create products with no replication costs, ultimately converting wealth into the right to enjoy happiness and freedom.

· There is no such thing as a "business" skill. Don't waste time on business magazines and business courses.
· Most importantly, spend more time on major decisions. There are three major decisions in early life: where to live, who to be with, and what profession to pursue.
· Read classic works in mathematics, science, and philosophy. Don't read bestsellers, don't watch the news. Avoid joining any so-called "book clubs," and avoid pursuing any community identity. Place truth above community identity.

What is there to fear about infinite truth? A little progress brings a little joy.

Preface#

I value Naval because he:
· Is skeptical of almost everything;
· Thinks from first principles;
· Can effectively test people and things;
· Never deceives himself;
· Adjusts his views and opinions from time to time;
· Often laughs heartily;
· Has a big-picture perspective;
· Thinks long-term;
· Doesn't take himself too seriously. The last point is very important.

Eric's Notes (About This Book)#

Naval always starts thinking from first principles and is unafraid to express his true thoughts. His ideas are often novel and thought-provoking. He can see through the surface of life to its essence, and this ability has changed the way I view the world.

Chapter 1: Accumulating Wealth#

To gain wealth, you must know what to do, who to do it with, and when to do it. Understanding and thinking are more important than just working hard. Of course, effort is very important, and you should not be stingy with your effort, but you must choose the right way.

Pursue wealth, not money or status. Wealth refers to assets that can still earn you money while you sleep. Money is our way of converting time into wealth. Status is your position in the social hierarchy.

Do not collaborate with cynical and negative people. Their prophecies will self-fulfill.

Expertise refers to knowledge that cannot be obtained through training. If society can train you, then society can also train others to replace you.

Labor leverage means getting others to work for you. This is the oldest and most fiercely contested form of leverage. Having labor leverage will make your parents think you are great, but do not overly chase after labor leverage.

Capital and labor are forms of leverage that require permission to use. Everyone is chasing capital, but someone has to be willing to invest. Everyone wants to lead others, but someone has to be willing to follow.

Reading is faster than listening, and doing is faster than watching.

You should be busy enough that you have no time for socializing, but still keep your schedule organized.

Work with all your might, without reservation. However, the people you work with and the content of the work are more important than the level of effort.

When you finally become wealthy, you will realize that this was not your initial pursuit. But that is a story for another time. [11] Summary: Productize yourself.

Once you find the area you are naturally inclined to and excel in, you can continue to move in that direction. In the matter of "becoming yourself," no one can surpass you. In fact, much of life is spent searching for those who need you the most and for the things that need you the most.

Society, business, and money are downstream products of technology, and technology itself is a downstream product of science. Applied science is the engine that drives human social development. The conclusion drawn from this is that applied scientists are the most authoritative people in the world. This will become even more prominent in the coming years.

To accumulate and develop expertise, you must leverage your talents, study what you are truly curious about, and pursue your passions, rather than choosing a currently popular major and then entering a hot industry as claimed by investors after graduation.

It is reassuring that everyone is unique, and therefore everyone can excel in certain aspects—no one can do better than you in the aspect of becoming yourself.

Only by taking a unique path can you avoid competition.

If the content you create and promote is a derivative of yourself, then no one can compete with you. Who can compete with Joe Rogan or Scott Adams? It is impossible. Who can draw a better "Dilbert" comic than Scott Adams? No one. Who can create a better "Kevin's World of the Phantom Tiger" comic than Bill Watterson? No one. This is because original works are unique and incomparable.

The best jobs are not related to appointments or degrees. The best jobs are creative expressions of lifelong learners in a free market. The most important skill for becoming wealthy is to become a lifelong learner; whatever you want to learn, you must find ways and methods. The previous model for making money was to read for four years, get a degree, and work in a specific field for 30 years. Now it is different; the pace of change is rapid, and you must master a new profession within nine months, and that profession may be outdated in four years. But during the three years that the profession exists, you can become very wealthy.

The starting point does not matter; the action itself is what matters. Therefore, adhering to ethical standards is not easy.

In dating, if you realize that the two of you will not walk into the hall of marriage, then you should perhaps end the relationship early and start the next journey. When learning, such as studying geography or history, if you realize that the knowledge you learn will never be used, then give up that course. Spending energy on useless things is a waste of time and mental effort. I am not saying that 99% of things should not be done, because it is difficult for us to determine what that remaining 1% is. What I mean is: strive to find that 1% that will not be wasted. That 1% is meaningful to you and worth pursuing for the rest of your life. Once found, you should focus and give it your all.

Therefore, responsibility is a double-edged sword: when things go smoothly, the responsible person will be rewarded; once it fails, the responsible person will be the first to bear the brunt.

Failure is really not that scary, so we should all be brave enough to take on more responsibility.

But usually, real wealth is created through starting companies or through investments. Investing in companies also means buying equity in businesses. These are all ways to gain wealth. In short, true financial freedom is not achieved simply by investing a lot of time.

If something initially excites you but later bores you, then it has only temporarily distracted you and is not what you are truly curious about. Please keep searching. Whatever you do, I always focus on the thing itself. This is also a distinct feature of artistic creation. Whether it is entrepreneurship, fitness, or love and friendship, I always believe that the meaning of life lies in focusing on the thing itself, experiencing the process, and enjoying the moment. Interestingly, when you focus on the thing itself, you can actually do better. Even in making money, you can become the one who earns the most.

The smaller the desire for something, the fewer worries and obsessions there are, and the more naturally you will follow your heart. You will persistently do things in the way you excel, and the quality of your work will improve as a result. [1] Do not chase so-called "hot trends," but pursue what you are truly interested in. If in the process of following curiosity and the desire for knowledge you also meet social needs, you will receive generous economic returns. [3] At the same time, you are more likely to acquire skills that society cannot yet provide through training. If society can train others, those people can replace you. If you can be easily replaced, society does not need to pay you well. Always remember that mastering unique skills that society needs is the only way to occupy the high ground in your career. [1] If society can train you, then one day, society can also write code to replace you with computers.

Do not categorize people as rich and poor, white-collar and blue-collar anymore. The modern dichotomy is "those who leverage" and "those who do not leverage." Copying products with zero marginal cost is the most worthwhile leverage to study and the most important leverage. This is a brand new form of leverage that has only emerged in the past few hundred years. This leverage began with the printing press. Broadcasting media accelerated its development, and the emergence of the internet and programming has led to explosive growth. You can amplify your labor results hundreds or thousands of times without needing others to work for you or invest in you. This book is a form of leverage. In the past, if I wanted to share my ideas, I had to sit in a lecture hall and teach live, at most to a few hundred people.

Regardless of which stage of life you are in, the goal of effort is to continuously improve your independence, not to get promoted or raise your salary. Having independence and being responsible for your unique output (rather than being responsible for the time invested like a worker) is the ideal state.

The disconnect between input and output is due to the existence of tools and leverage. The more creative a profession is, the higher the mismatch between input and output. Professions where input and output are highly correlated are difficult to create wealth in, and working in such professions is also unlikely to bring wealth to oneself.

Learn to sell, learn to build. Those who master both skills will be unstoppable.

Starting from being a salaried worker, aim high, continuously raise your goals, strive to gain more leverage, take on more responsibilities, and learn more expertise. Combine these with the magical effect of compound interest, and in due time, you can become very wealthy.

Imagine that for a company valued at $100 billion, if choosing between two people with accuracy rates of 75% and 85%, the company would be willing to pay $50 million, $100 million, or even $200 million to hire the person with the higher accuracy rate as a decision-maker. Because the extra 10% of judgment is extremely valuable for guiding the direction of the company. The reason CEOs are paid so highly is because of leverage. A slight difference in judgment and ability can make a world of difference.

Ordinary people waste time on short-term thinking, wasting it on worthless heavy work. Meanwhile, Buffett will spend a year deliberating and then take action in a day. His actions in one day can affect the next few decades.

Set a price for your time, calculating the value of time based on hourly wages. If saving time by spending money has a higher value, then spend the money without hesitation. To really make money, you must first believe that you are valuable.

I am actually quite lazy and not the hardest worker, but when I encounter something I want to do, I become full of energy and fully invested. If income is calculated based on actual time invested, then my hourly wage is much higher than the above figures.

If you are vain and compare yourself to everything, when you encounter someone better than you, you will feel dislike or even envy. In business collaborations, if you have any negative thoughts or evaluations about the other party, they will sense it. Humans inherently can perceive the deep feelings of others. Therefore, one must rid oneself of the mindset of comparison.

In the business world, most people are playing zero-sum games, while a few are playing positive-sum games, seeking like-minded individuals in the crowd.

Find the area you excel in, and then use your skills to help others: provide free products or services, actively convey goodwill to the world. Good people will ultimately be rewarded. As long as you remain consistent, given time, your contributions will definitely yield corresponding returns. But do not count how much you have given—once you start counting, your patience will be exhausted. [7] A former boss once told me: "You will never make a fortune. Because your intelligence is obvious and visible, there will always be people offering you 'just right' job opportunities, making you feel reluctant to give them up."

The general consensus in society is that working for others is the rational and wise choice. But think carefully, how did this long-standing view come about? This idea itself carries a clear hierarchical color.

When the necessity of making money disappears, I no longer care about money. At least for me personally, work is a means to an end. Of course, making money is also a means to an end. But compared to making money, I am more interested in solving problems. Once any ultimate goal is achieved, new goals will emerge, and this new goal will bring about the next new goal. Life consists of one game after another. A person continuously grows, playing the game of schooling, the game of socializing, the game of making money, and the game of status from childhood to adulthood. At least for me, these are all games in a sense, just that the impact of the games becomes more profound. Once you see through the essence of the game, the outcome becomes less important. Seeing through the game leads to a weariness of the game. I have reached the stage of being weary of the game. I believe there is no ultimate goal or purpose. I simply follow my inner feelings and thoughts, living each day well. I truly live in the moment.

Retirement is no longer sacrificing today for an imagined tomorrow. When you can live in the moment, fully experiencing each day, you have reached a state of retirement.

The first method is to save money. As long as you have enough savings, passive income (without lifting a finger) can cover expenses. The second method is to reduce expenses to zero—become a monk. The third method is to do what you love, completely enjoying it, regardless of whether you have money or not. Therefore, there are many ways to achieve a state of retirement. The way to avoid the trap of competition is to be uniquely yourself, finding what you can do that stands out in the world. Do your best simply because you love it. If you truly love something, then follow your heart, strive to find a way to use it to meet the real needs of society, leverage the effect to scale, and take personal responsibility. In this way, while taking on risks, you will also receive corresponding returns, owning the rights or equity of the products or services you provide, and then continuously improve.

Whether in business, science, or politics, those who leave a mark in history are always artists. Art is creation. The purpose and focus of art lie in the creation itself, created out of preference and enjoyment, for self-entertainment and self-appreciation. Think about it, what things in life can be done purely for their own sake, without any other purpose? I can think of three examples: loving unreservedly, creating freely, and playing without worries. For me, entrepreneurship is play. I start a business because the act of starting a business itself is interesting, because I love a certain product.

I am always "working." However, what others see as work feels like play to me. That is why I am confident that no one can compete with me in my field. Because I feel that work is play, I can play for 16 hours a day. If someone wants to compete with me, they will surely lose because they cannot work 7 days a week, 16 hours a day.

Money is not the root of all evil. Money itself is innocent; the real harm comes from the greed for money. From a moral standpoint, the pursuit of money is not a bad thing; it has nothing to do with character. However, greed is harmful to people. The harm of greed for money lies in the fact that desire is a bottomless pit. Greed will occupy your mind, making it impossible for you to extricate yourself. Loving money and earning money is not inherently wrong, but the key is that no matter how much money you earn, you will never feel satisfied. The reason people never feel satisfied is that once the switch of desire is turned on, it does not automatically shut off in front of a specific number; it is said that desire is hard to fill. Therefore, do not think that once you earn a certain amount of money, people will naturally feel satisfied and stop. Of course, the punishment for greed also comes hand in hand with money. Those who earn money will only want more; they will become sensitive, suspicious, and paranoid, fearing the loss of everything they currently have. There is no such thing as a free lunch; everyone has to pay for their own greed.

One more thing that benefits me: I value freedom above all else. The freedom I speak of is diverse: the freedom to do what you want, the freedom not to do what you don't want, the freedom not to be influenced by self-emotions or external factors, and so on. Freedom is the value I cherish the most. To some extent, money can buy freedom, which is certainly good. But to some extent, money can also undermine my freedom, which I do not like. [74] The winners of any game are those who are addicted to the game; even if the marginal utility of winning decreases, they will continue to play.

The most successful people I have seen in Silicon Valley often achieve breakthroughs early in their careers, such as being promoted to vice president, director, or CEO. Some people who switch to entrepreneurship also quickly achieve good development. If there is no breakthrough in position during youth, it will be difficult to catch up later in their careers. Therefore, joining a small company at its inception is a good choice, as there are not so many hard conditions that hinder early promotion. [76]

Ways to gain good fortune:
· Hope that good luck comes unexpectedly.
· Keep experimenting until you hit the jackpot.
· Be mentally prepared and remain sensitive to opportunities missed by others.
· Do everything you do to the extreme. Strive for excellence until it is truly deserved. Let opportunities find you automatically, making luck inevitable. The causal relationship is so certain that luck is no longer luck. What is called luck is actually a necessary result. The fourth type of luck summarizes that it is to shape your character in some way, and then your character determines your destiny.

"In a long-term game, it seems that everyone is making each other rich. In a short-term game, it seems that everyone is making themselves rich."

Long-term games are positive-sum games; we work together to make the cake bigger. Short-term games are just about dividing the cake. [78]

In my life, there are some extremely successful and charismatic people (everyone wants to be their friend), and they are also very smart. However, I have also seen them do one or two things that are not good for others. The first time I saw it, I would tell them: "I think you shouldn't treat him that way. I'm not saying this because you will be punished for it. I believe you can get away with it this time, but this will ultimately backfire on you." I am not trying to say that "the universe is balanced" or "there is cause and effect in the world," but rather that we all know deep down who we are. You cannot hide from yourself. Your moral failings will profoundly affect your mental model, and your past will be clear to you. If you have too many moral flaws, you will not respect yourself. The worst outcome of living in this world is to have no self-esteem. If you do not love yourself, then who will love you? I believe that one should be cautious and not do things that make oneself feel disgraceful, as these things will ultimately hurt you. The first time someone does this, I will warn them. Of course, it is easier said than done; they naturally do not change. At this point, I will keep my distance from them. I erase them from my life. I have this saying in my mind: "The closer you want to get to me, the more correct your values must be." [

Success takes time. Even if everything is ready—you have gathered all the elements needed for success, the time required for investment is uncertain. If you keep calculating time, your patience will be worn out before success truly arrives.

Be diligent and tireless in what you love, continuously improving, day by day. Do not calculate the time and energy you invest, because once you start calculating, you will lose patience. [78] Among the most common pieces of advice, I find the least convincing one is: "You are too young." Heroes have always emerged from youth, but their contributions are recognized later in life. Personal experience is the only way to gain true knowledge and skills. Be humble and seek advice; do not wait idly, growing old without learning. [3] It is easier to change the country than to change one's nature. The so-called "character determines destiny" means that a person continuously repeats their behavior patterns, both good and bad, and ultimately receives results corresponding to their behavior. Always actively give, continuously contribute, and do not be calculative or overly concerned about gains and losses. "Do good deeds without asking about the future" is not easy; it is not only difficult but also harder than climbing to the sky. "Only seek to give, not to ask for returns" is one of the hardest things to do in life, but it is also one of the most rewarding things. Those who have been pampered and idle since childhood find it hard to find meaning and value in life.

The true resume of life is actually a collection of the pains one has endured throughout life. If, before death, one must face their true self and reflect on the meaningful things done in life, what you can remember will definitely be the sacrifices you made and the challenges you faced. Anything you gain from this world is merely external; you cannot take it with you when you die, and it is not important to you. A person with sound limbs and a clever brain—these things given by parents are what truly belong to you. No matter what, we must face difficulties and create the meaning of life in the process.

When a person works hard to provide solutions for new social needs and makes outstanding contributions to society, society will reward them with money. You can save money in the bank or live within your means, keeping your standard of living slightly below your income. In this way, even in the mundane world, you can have a certain degree of freedom. Money can give you the time and energy to pursue inner peace and happiness. I believe that the way to make everyone happy is to satisfy their desires. Let everyone be rich. Let everyone be healthy. Let everyone be happy.

Chapter 2: Enhancing Judgment#

Spending time saving money will not make you rich. The correct mindset is to save time to make money.

My definition of wisdom is "knowing the long-term consequences of personal actions," and the wisdom used to solve external problems is actually judgment.

Truly smart people are clear-thinking thinkers. They have a very thorough understanding of basic knowledge and foundational levels. Rather than memorizing various complex concepts, I prefer to thoroughly understand basic knowledge. Concepts learned by rote cannot be organically integrated and will become disconnected from foundational knowledge. If you cannot derive some concepts from foundational knowledge when needed, you will get lost in the maze of existing knowledge, becoming a simple memorization machine. [4] The latest concepts in a field are often not fully validated. Using these concepts may make us seem knowledgeable. It is important to be familiar with insider knowledge, but it is even more important to firmly grasp foundational knowledge.

To face reality, one must let go of the self, eliminate self-awareness, forget self-judgment, and calm self-emotions. Although humans are advanced animals, the existence of emotional self-awareness can lead to rumination, blinding us to reality and causing us to make judgments about "how the world should be." This often happens, especially when mixing political demands with business issues.

But painful moments are moments when the truth is revealed. Only when you are in pain will you be forced to accept reality, and only by accepting reality can you make meaningful changes and achieve meaningful progress. Thus, it can be seen that only by being realistic can one continuously improve and move forward. The difficulty lies in seeing the truth. To see the truth, one must rid oneself of the self, as the self does not want to face the truth. The weaker the self, the fewer limitations on one's reactions, and the lower the obsession with desired outcomes, the easier it is to see reality. The desire for a beautiful reality blinds us to the recognition of the real world. Pain is the inability to continue ignoring the facts.

You know the correct answer, but your friend cannot see it because he is suffering and in agony. He still hopes that reality will be different. However, the problem is not reality. The problem is that desire and reality are in conflict; people will always be blinded by desire, and the persuasion of others is useless.

Feelings and facts are two different things. Feelings are merely a partial estimate of facts by the self. In fact, leaving free time is very important. If every day is filled with various meetings and is busy, you cannot think.

Very smart people are often unconventional; they insist on independent thinking and hands-on involvement to clarify the ins and outs of things. Contrarian investors do not always oppose everything; in fact, opposing everything is another form of conventional thinking. Contrarian investors think independently based on actual circumstances and can withstand the pressure of blindly following the crowd. It is easy to be cynical and go with the flow. Becoming an optimistic contrarian investor is the rarest.

After growing up, we spend our lives pursuing happiness, hoping to satisfy ourselves. When any new change occurs, our self will ask: "How should I transform the external world to better align with my preferences and expectations?" [8] The Buddha said: "Desire brings suffering; having no desire brings happiness."

Each of us has some unconventional beliefs that are not accepted by society. However, the more our identity and group reject such beliefs, the more likely they are to align with reality. In the long run, enduring pain is also a necessary course of life, as it can bring two major gains: first, pain can help one accept the true nature of the world; second, pain can greatly change a person's self, although the process is very torturous.

The reason I am extremely candid is that I want to gain freedom. One manifestation of freedom is the ability to express one's true thoughts openly. Honesty and freedom are highly unified and complementary. The theoretical physicist Richard Feynman once said: "Do not deceive yourself; you are the easiest person to deceive." Lying to others is lying to oneself. You will slowly believe your lies and then detach from reality, going down the wrong path. I never consider questions like "whether I like it or not." I only focus on the facts; my perspective on issues is "the fact is this" or "the fact is not this."

Being an honest person is extremely important to me. I will not intentionally do despicable things. In addition to being extremely honest, one can also refer to a suggestion made by Buffett long ago: praise specifically, criticize generally. I strive to follow this advice, although I do not always succeed, but it has indeed brought positive changes to my life. If criticism is to be made, do not criticize a person; criticize the method of work or a certain type of behavior. If you want to praise, then find a role model and praise that specific person. This helps maintain the self-esteem and sense of identity of those around you, gaining their support and making them work for you rather than against you.

The best mental models I have discovered come from evolution, game theory, and Charlie Munger. Munger is Buffett's partner and an outstanding investment master. He has thousands of excellent mental models. Additionally, I also know Nassim Taleb, Benjamin Franklin, etc., who all have excellent mental models. I will also fill my mind with various mental models.

The so-called mental models are actually simple methods that help retrieve the knowledge you have learned.

I believe success is about not making mistakes. The key to success is not making correct judgments but avoiding making incorrect judgments.

The principal-agent problem is very easy to understand. Julius Caesar once said: "If you want to accomplish something, do it yourself. If you do not want to accomplish it, send someone else to do it." His meaning is that if you want to do something well, you must do it yourself. If you are the principal, you will have a sense of ownership because you care about the results, so you will do well. If you are the agent, you are working for someone else, and you may do poorly because you do not care. You are pursuing the maximization of your own interests, not the optimization of the principal's assets.

If you find it difficult to choose, the answer is negative. The reason is that modern society is full of choices, with thousands of options. We live on a planet with 7 billion people, and we are connected to everyone on the internet, with thousands of professions available for us to choose from. In this vast world, there is no shortage of choices.

Sometimes we find it really hard to choose, and we even need to make lists to compare and weigh the pros and cons of different options. Choose to give up; if it is hard to choose, the answer is negative.

A simple life experience: if there is disagreement on a difficult decision, you should choose the path that is more painful in the short term.

The premise is that the two choices have roughly equal pros and cons, but if one path brings short-term pain, it will also bring long-term benefits. According to the effect of compound interest, long-term benefits are what you want.

Read extensively; the more, the better. [2] Spend an hour each day reading books on science, mathematics, and philosophy, and within seven years, you may join the ranks of the few successful individuals.

Reading is my first love.

Read the genres you enjoy until you love reading. The only reason to read should be enjoyment, without any other reason. Do not treat reading as a task; reading is about enjoying it.

Do not compare who reads faster. The better the book, the slower you should read and absorb it.

With a book in hand, you will not feel that you are wasting time. —Charlie Munger

Counting the number of books read is to satisfy vanity. The broader your knowledge, the more independent your thinking, and the more unread books there will be. Do not deliberately pursue how many books you finish; always focus on new concepts that can predict future trends.

Explain what you have learned to others. Teaching is a two-way street. The difference between people is not "educated" and "uneducated," but "like reading" and "dislike reading."

Read classic works in mathematics, science, and philosophy. Do not read bestsellers, do not watch the news. Avoid joining any so-called "book clubs," and avoid pursuing any community identity. Place truth above community identity. [11] Learn logic and mathematics. Once you master logic and mathematics, you will not be intimidated by any book you read.

Most people have a natural fear of mathematics; they cannot independently evaluate data, so when encountering viewpoints supported by mathematical methods or pseudoscience, they inevitably overestimate the value of these viewpoints.

By basing your knowledge on original texts and classics, you can gain a sufficiently complete worldview and profound understanding, and you will no longer fear any book. You can smoothly embark on your learning journey. If you can become a perpetual learning machine, you will never lack ways to make money. You will have the ability to see through the essence of social phenomena, find the true value and needs, and then through learning, keep pace with the development of the times. [74] To have clear thinking, you must understand foundational knowledge. If you only memorize complex concepts but cannot integrate and apply them, then remembering more will be of no use.

Does a melody of a song occasionally appear in your mind that you cannot shake off? This is a trace of memory. In fact, all thoughts are the result of the trace effect. Therefore, choose your reading content carefully. A calm heart, a healthy body, and a loving home. These things cannot be bought with money; they must be earned through effort.

Spending time saving money will not make you rich. The correct mindset is to save time to make money.

My definition of wisdom is "knowing the long-term consequences of personal actions," and the wisdom used to solve external problems is actually judgment.

Truly smart people are clear-thinking thinkers. They have a very thorough understanding of basic knowledge and foundational levels. Rather than memorizing various complex concepts, I prefer to thoroughly understand basic knowledge. Concepts learned by rote cannot be organically integrated and will become disconnected from foundational knowledge. If you cannot derive some concepts from foundational knowledge when needed, you will get lost in the maze of existing knowledge, becoming a simple memorization machine. [4] The latest concepts in a field are often not fully validated. Using these concepts may make us seem knowledgeable. It is important to be familiar with insider knowledge, but it is even more important to firmly grasp foundational knowledge.

To face reality, one must let go of the self, eliminate self-awareness, forget self-judgment, and calm self-emotions. Although humans are advanced animals, the existence of emotional self-awareness can lead to rumination, blinding us to reality and causing us to make judgments about "how the world should be." This often happens, especially when mixing political demands with business issues.

But painful moments are moments when the truth is revealed. Only when you are in pain will you be forced to accept reality, and only by accepting reality can you make meaningful changes and achieve meaningful progress. Thus, it can be seen that only by being realistic can one continuously improve and move forward. The difficulty lies in seeing the truth. To see the truth, one must rid oneself of the self, as the self does not want to face the truth. The weaker the self, the fewer limitations on one's reactions, and the lower the obsession with desired outcomes, the easier it is to see reality. The desire for a beautiful reality blinds us to the recognition of the real world. Pain is the inability to continue ignoring the facts.

You know the correct answer, but your friend cannot see it because he is suffering and in agony. He still hopes that reality will be different. However, the problem is not reality. The problem is that desire and reality are in conflict; people will always be blinded by desire, and the persuasion of others is useless.

Feelings and facts are two different things. Feelings are merely a partial estimate of facts by the self. In fact, leaving free time is very important. If every day is filled with various meetings and is busy, you cannot think.

Very smart people are often unconventional; they insist on independent thinking and hands-on involvement to clarify the ins and outs of things. Contrarian investors do not always oppose everything; in fact, opposing everything is another form of conventional thinking. Contrarian investors think independently based on actual circumstances and can withstand the pressure of blindly following the crowd. It is easy to be cynical and go with the flow. Becoming an optimistic contrarian investor is the rarest.

After growing up, we spend our lives pursuing happiness, hoping to satisfy ourselves. When any new change occurs, our self will ask: "How should I transform the external world to better align with my preferences and expectations?" [8] The Buddha said: "Desire brings suffering; having no desire brings happiness."

Each of us has some unconventional beliefs that are not accepted by society. However, the more our identity and group reject such beliefs, the more likely they are to align with reality. In the long run, enduring pain is also a necessary course of life, as it can bring two major gains: first, pain can help one accept the true nature of the world; second, pain can greatly change a person's self, although the process is very torturous.

The reason I am extremely candid is that I want to gain freedom. One manifestation of freedom is the ability to express one's true thoughts openly. Honesty and freedom are highly unified and complementary. The theoretical physicist Richard Feynman once said: "Do not deceive yourself; you are the easiest person to deceive." Lying to others is lying to oneself. You will slowly believe your lies and then detach from reality, going down the wrong path. I never consider questions like "whether I like it or not." I only focus on the facts; my perspective on issues is "the fact is this" or "the fact is not this."

Being an honest person is extremely important to me. I will not intentionally do despicable things. In addition to being extremely honest, one can also refer to a suggestion made by Buffett long ago: praise specifically, criticize generally. I strive to follow this advice, although I do not always succeed, but it has indeed brought positive changes to my life. If criticism is to be made, do not criticize a person; criticize the method of work or a certain type of behavior. If you want to praise, then find a role model and praise that specific person. This helps maintain the self-esteem and sense of identity of those around you, gaining their support and making them work for you rather than against you.

The best mental models I have discovered come from evolution, game theory, and Charlie Munger. Munger is Buffett's partner and an outstanding investment master. He has thousands of excellent mental models. Additionally, I also know Nassim Taleb, Benjamin Franklin, etc., who all have excellent mental models. I will also fill my mind with various mental models.

The so-called mental models are actually simple methods that help retrieve the knowledge you have learned.

I believe success is about not making mistakes. The key to success is not making correct judgments but avoiding making incorrect judgments.

The principal-agent problem is very easy to understand. Julius Caesar once said: "If you want to accomplish something, do it yourself. If you do not want to accomplish it, send someone else to do it." His meaning is that if you want to do something well, you must do it yourself. If you are the principal, you will have a sense of ownership because you care about the results, so you will do well. If you are the agent, you are working for someone else, and you may do poorly because you do not care. You are pursuing the maximization of your own interests, not the optimization of the principal's assets.

If you find it difficult to choose, the answer is negative. The reason is that modern society is full of choices, with thousands of options. We live on a planet with 7 billion people, and we are connected to everyone on the internet, with thousands of professions available for us to choose from. In this vast world, there is no shortage of choices.

Sometimes we find it really hard to choose, and we even need to make lists to compare and weigh the pros and cons of different options. Choose to give up; if it is hard to choose, the answer is negative.

A simple life experience: if there is disagreement on a difficult decision, you should choose the path that is more painful in the short term.

The premise is that the two choices have roughly equal pros and cons, but if one path brings short-term pain, it will also bring long-term benefits. According to the effect of compound interest, long-term benefits are what you want.

Read extensively; the more, the better. [2] Spend an hour each day reading books on science, mathematics, and philosophy, and within seven years, you may join the ranks of the few successful individuals.

Reading is my first love.

Read the genres you enjoy until you love reading. The only reason to read should be enjoyment, without any other reason. Do not treat reading as a task; reading is about enjoying it.

Do not compare who reads faster. The better the book, the slower you should read and absorb it.

With a book in hand, you will not feel that you are wasting time. —Charlie Munger

Counting the number of books read is to satisfy vanity. The broader your knowledge, the more independent your thinking, and the more unread books there will be. Do not deliberately pursue how many books you finish; always focus on new concepts that can predict future trends.

Explain what you have learned to others. Teaching is a two-way street. The difference between people is not "educated" and "uneducated," but "like reading" and "dislike reading."

Read classic works in mathematics, science, and philosophy. Do not read bestsellers, do not watch the news. Avoid joining any so-called "book clubs," and avoid pursuing any community identity. Place truth above community identity. [11] Learn logic and mathematics. Once you master logic and mathematics, you will not be intimidated by any book you read.

Most people have a natural fear of mathematics; they cannot independently evaluate data, so when encountering viewpoints supported by mathematical methods or pseudoscience, they inevitably overestimate the value of these viewpoints.

By basing your knowledge on original texts and classics, you can gain a sufficiently complete worldview and profound understanding, and you will no longer fear any book. You can smoothly embark on your learning journey. If you can become a perpetual learning machine, you will never lack ways to make money. You will have the ability to see through the essence of social phenomena, find the true value and needs, and then through learning, keep pace with the development of the times. [74] To have clear thinking, you must understand foundational knowledge. If you only memorize complex concepts but cannot integrate and apply them, then remembering more will be of no use.

Does a melody of a song occasionally appear in your mind that you cannot shake off? This is a trace of memory. In fact, all thoughts are the result of the trace effect. Therefore, choose your reading content carefully. A calm heart, a healthy body, and a loving home. These things cannot be bought with money; they must be earned through effort.

Chapter 3: Learning Happiness#

Don't take yourself too seriously. You are just a monkey that can make plans.

A's truth is B's fallacy, and vice versa. My understanding of happiness may be vastly different from yours. I think it is very important to explore your own definition of happiness. Some people I know believe happiness is a state of flow, others believe happiness is the satisfaction of desires, and some believe happiness is contentment. My definition of happiness is also constantly changing; the answer I gave a year ago is completely different from now. Now, I believe happiness is a state that does not require active effort. When the sense of "lack" is removed from life, happiness will naturally arise.

Happiness is a state of fullness without a sense of lack. When you feel that there is nothing missing in life, your brain will be in a dormant state, no longer reminiscing about yesterday or fantasizing about tomorrow, without regret for the past or seeking the future. In the brief moments without a sense of lack, your heart will be at peace. When the heart is at peace, you are satisfied and happy. Of course, you can completely disagree with my viewpoint. But I must say again, everyone's situation is different, and everyone's understanding of happiness is also different.

I find that every positive thought actually contains a negative thought. Positive and negative are relative concepts that go hand in hand. The "Tao Te Ching" provides a comprehensive and profound explanation of this, and my analysis certainly cannot compare, but ultimately, everything has duality and polarity. If I say I am happy now, it means that at some point I was sad. If I say a person is charming, it means that others are not charming. Every positive thought contains the seed of a negative thought, and vice versa; this is why the greatness of life largely stems from suffering. One must first see the negative side to yearn for and appreciate the positive side.

Happiness is a state of having no desires, especially for external things. The fewer desires there are, the more one can accept the current state of things, and the calmer the mind becomes. The saying "all troubles arise from the heart's movement" means that the mind is constantly designing the future or reminiscing about the past. The more I live in the moment, the more I can feel joy and satisfaction. If I try to grasp the feeling of joy in the moment, wanting to maintain a state of happiness, the happiness will not last. Because at that moment, my heart is moving, the desires are moving, hoping to cling to an external thing, wanting to turn a fleeting situation into eternity. For me, the meaning of happiness mainly lies in the absence of pain, no desires, not indulging in thoughts of the future or the past, truly embracing the present, embracing the status quo, and embracing all of reality. [4] If you want to achieve inner peace, you must transcend the judgments of good and evil regarding all things.

Emotions seem to be the result of external forces, but they are not. As time passes, I have also begun to believe that individuals are small, like a grain of sand in the vast sea, insignificant. This realization greatly benefits my sense of happiness. If you consider yourself the most important person in the universe, you will have the expectation that the entire universe should submit to your will—since you are the most important, how can the universe not align with your wishes? If the universe does not operate according to your will, you will feel something is wrong. But if you see yourself as a bacterium or an amoeba, viewing your lifelong efforts as writing on water or building castles on the beach, you will not have expectations of how life "should be." Life is like this; reality is as such. Accepting this, happiness becomes irrelevant. "Happiness" is not an objective existence but a subjective feeling.

Life is fleeting, like fireflies in the night. The time in the mundane world is but a moment, a fleeting instant. Living means making the most of every minute. "Making the most" does not mean exhausting all time chasing some foolish desires, but recognizing that every minute and second on this planet is incredibly precious. As a human being, you have the responsibility to ensure your happiness, to interpret everything in the best way possible. [9] We all believe that it is easy to change the country but hard to change one's nature, but the truth is, we are malleable, while the world is basically fixed.

Rational people can achieve peace by training their non-reactive responses, learning to ignore things they cannot control. I lower my sense of identity. I block out the noise and distractions in my mind. I do not care about trivial matters. I do not engage in politics. I stay away from gloomy people. I cherish time. I read philosophical works. I practice meditation. I associate with happy and content people.

Happiness, love, passion... these are not things we pursue, but choices we make. Happiness is a choice, a skill that can be cultivated. The brain, like the body, is malleable. We spend a lot of time and energy trying to reshape the external world, others, and our bodies, but we do not consider reshaping our brains; we simply accept the self that was shaped in our youth. We unconditionally obey the voices in our heads, thinking that this voice is the source of all truth. Little do we know, the brain is also malleable, and every day is a new beginning. Memories and identity are merely burdens from the past, preventing us from living freely and wholeheartedly in the present. [3]

We crave experiences that allow us to perceive the present, yet this craving often detaches us from the present. I believe the past is just the past, with no memories, no regrets, no people we cannot let go of, and no trips we cannot forget. Do not cling to the past. People often feel pain because they compare the past with the present. [4] Unfulfilled desires from the past can create a sense of lack in the present, and we project our hopes of compensating for this lack onto the future. Eliminating the sense of lack makes it easier to live in the present. Regarding "enlightenment," I read a great definition: "The gap in thinking is enlightenment." This means that enlightenment does not require 30 years of practice on a mountaintop; it is a state that can be reached at any moment. You can improve your level of enlightenment every day. [5] Have you ever thought that your current life might be the paradise promised to you by God, yet you do not cherish it and squander it recklessly?

Therefore, it is very important to realize that it is anxiety that makes you unhappy. This anxiety stems from a series of constantly emerging thoughts. My way of coping with anxiety is not to confront it but to make myself aware that this anxiety arises from the ebb and flow of thoughts in my mind. Then, I ask myself: "Do I want to cling to these thoughts, or do I want to regain inner peace?" If there are various thoughts constantly in my mind, I cannot achieve peace, so the answer is obvious.

Fundamentally, seeking happiness from things outside oneself is like fishing for a tree. Of course, I am not saying that the material world is unimportant. As a social animal, one needs to fulfill certain social responsibilities. A person's life is about reducing disorder within their capabilities, which is the so-called "local entropy reduction," and this is your life responsibility. Everyone has their own responsibilities. We live in this world; it is impossible to lie on the beach meditating every day. One needs to realize their self-worth and should take on their own responsibilities and missions. If one thinks that inner peace, permanent happiness, and deserved happiness can be obtained by changing the external world, that is essentially wishful thinking. Everyone is poisoned by this idea, including myself. We repeatedly cling to our obsessions, believing that "once I get that thing, I will be happy." This is a fundamental mistake we make all the time. [4] Our fundamental illusion is that there is always something that will keep me satisfied and happy forever. Desire is your agreement with yourself, and the content of the agreement is: "I will not be happy until I get what I want." I think most people do not realize that this is the essence of desire. We live in desire every day and wonder why we are not happy. I have realized that desire is the source of my suffering. Therefore, I will remain clear about my desires so that I can carefully choose my desires. My goal is to try to have no more than one desire for life in any situation. Of course, I know that even if I choose only one desire, I am still creating trouble for myself. [5] Desire is your agreement with yourself, and the content of the agreement is: "I will not be happy until I get what I want."

When young, there is time and health but no money. In middle age, there is money and health but no time. When old, there is money and time but no health. The true winner in life is the one who possesses time, health, and money simultaneously. By the time people feel they have enough money, they have lost time and health.

Happiness is being content with the status quo. Success stems from dissatisfaction with the status quo and the transformation of the status quo. You can only choose one.

Thus, I conclude that happiness is an inner feeling. This statement may sound cliché, but it is precisely because of this conclusion that I embarked on a journey of self-dialogue and self-improvement, which made me realize that all true success is internal and has little to do with the external environment. Of course, some things still must be done, which is determined by human biology and sociality; it cannot be turned off with a button. When you gain your life experiences, this experience will take you back to the inner journey. [7] When we gradually get the hang of a game, especially one with high returns, a problem arises—you may become addicted and unable to stop, even if the game has become too simple for you. The instincts for survival and reproduction drive people to work, while the adaptation to pleasure keeps us moving. The secret to happiness lies in knowing when to stop working and start playing freely.

For me now, the true winners are those who have completely exited the game, or even those who do not play the game at all, those who have transcended the game. These people have incredibly strong inner strength, a strong sense of self-control, and a clear self-awareness; they do not need to gain anything from anyone. I know a few such people, like Jerzy Gregorek. He does not need anyone to provide anything for him. He is at peace within, healthy in body, and regardless of whether the money he earns is more or less than others, his mental state will not be affected. Throughout human history, legendary figures like the Buddha and Jiddu Krishnamurti are, in my view, successful. I enjoy reading works related to them. I consider them successful because they have completely exited the game; winning or losing does not matter to them. Blaise Pascal once said: "The reason people have troubles is that they cannot sit quietly alone in a room." If you can sit for 30 minutes while maintaining a happy mindset, you are successful. This is a transcendent state, but very few can achieve it.

Basically, you can get everything you want from life, but the premise is that you have only one goal, and your desire for this thing exceeds everything else. From personal experience, what I want most is inner peace. Peace is static happiness, while happiness is dynamic peace. As long as you are willing, you can activate peace at any time and turn it into happiness. However, most of the time, what you want is actually sealed happiness, which is peace. If you are a person with inner peace, then you can experience happiness in whatever you do. People think that the way to achieve a peaceful mindset is to solve all external problems. But external problems are endless. Therefore, the only way to achieve inner peace is to abandon the concept of "problems."

The enemy of inner peace is the expectations imposed on you by society and others. Society tells us: "Go exercise. Dress well." This is a multiplayer competitive game, and how well we do will be scrutinized by others. Society also tells us: "Go make money. Buy a big house." This is another external multiplayer competitive game, and participants in the game will also be scrutinized by others. However, training oneself to gain a sense of happiness is entirely internal, requiring no external judgment of your progress or recognition of your results. You are competing with yourself; this is a single-player game. Humans, like bees or ants, are social animals. We follow certain social rules and are driven by social feedback. The result is that we no longer know how to play and win these single-player games. We are completely immersed in the competition of multiplayer games. The reality is that life is a single-player game. People are born alone, die alone, and interpret everything in the world alone. Your memories belong only to you. No one cares before you are born, and no one cares after you leave this world; your existence in this world is only for a few decades; life is a single-player game. One important reason why yoga and meditation are hard to maintain may be that they are solely about the inner self, lacking external value, belonging to a purely single-player game.

Until one day, I realized that my jealousy of others was merely jealousy of certain aspects of them, and I cannot just possess those things I envy. I cannot just want that person's figure, wealth, or personality. If I were to exchange lives, I would have to accept the entirety of the other person's life, including their reactions, desires, family, sense of happiness, worldview, self-image, and so on. Can you accept that? If you are not willing to exchange 100% with others, then jealousy is meaningless. When I realized this, my jealousy instantly disappeared because I do not want to be anyone else. I am happy being myself. By the way, even the act of "being happy being myself" is under my control; society will not reward me for it.

For example, recently I read "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. This book discusses how to live in the present, and the content is very wonderful, especially useful for those without religious beliefs. Tolle believes that the most important thing in life is to live in the present. To help readers truly understand, he repeatedly emphasizes this point in the book. The book introduces a physical energy exercise, which is to lie down and feel the energy flowing around the body. If I had read this in the past, I would have definitely thrown the book aside, thinking it was pure nonsense. But now I am different. Now I think, "Perhaps sincerity brings spirit." So, I tried the physical energy exercise with a positive mindset. I lay down to meditate, and as a result, I had a particularly good experience.

Essentially, the process of life is about replacing bad habits formed inadvertently with well-cultivated good habits, striving to become a happier person. Your happiness index ultimately depends on your habits and the people you spend the most time with.

If you do not want to work with someone for a lifetime, then do not work with them for even a day.

"Stop questioning, start appreciating." The world is so wonderful, yet humans are so numb to it, taking everything for granted. Just like you and I at this moment, being indoors, without worries about food and clothing, able to communicate across space. We should be grateful for everything because if it weren't for modern civilization, we might still be monkeys sitting in the jungle, watching the sunset, not knowing where to rest at night.

"Happiness is important to me"—this is a decision. At this point, you will place the sense of happiness above all affairs in life, and you will spend time studying discussions related to happiness.

I strive to let more sunlight shine on my skin. I am open-hearted and smile as I look up. [7] Whenever I realize that I have a desire for something, I can ask myself: "Is this thing really that important to me? Should I feel unhappy because this matter does not go my way?" In most cases, you will find that this thing is not that important to you.

The personal measure of happiness is how much time you spend fulfilling responsibilities in a day, rather than pursuing interests.

Politics, academia, and social status are all zero-sum games. Only positive-sum games can cultivate uplifting individuals. [11] Sunshine, exercise, positive thinking, and tryptophan are not drugs, but they can increase serotonin in the brain, keeping people healthy, alert, positive, and optimistic.

How to change habits: choose one thing, make a wish, and visualize it. Plan a sustainable path. Identify needs, triggers, and alternatives. Share your plan with friends. Move forward steadily and meticulously. Self-discipline is the bridge to a new self-image. Fully accept the new self-image; this is now you. [11] These are the steps to changing habits: first, know what you want to do; second, know how to do it; third, share your plan with friends to let the bias for consistency work; finally, be strictly disciplined, align knowledge and action, and undergo self-reconstruction until you transform into a new self.

Again, regardless of the situation, you have three choices: change the status quo, accept the status quo, or escape the status quo. Many people hesitate when encountering problems, falling into daydreams: hoping to change the status quo without making up their minds to do so, hoping to turn away without resolutely leaving, while also unable to calmly accept the status quo. This entangled and evasive attitude is the source of most of life's pain. The two words I tell myself most in my mind are: accept. [5]

Even if you cannot find a positive meaning, you can think: "The universe is now giving me a lesson; I need to listen carefully and learn well."

Over the past year, through diligent practice, I have successfully reduced my reaction time. Initially, it took me a few seconds to find the positive side of something; now, my brain can react almost instantly. This is a habit that can be trained. [8] How to learn to accept things that cannot be changed? Fundamentally, it is about learning to face death calmly. Death is the most significant event in a person's life. Everyone will die; choosing to face and acknowledge death rather than escape it will give life immense meaning. We spend a lot of time trying to escape death. Many of our goals can be summarized as a pursuit of immortality.

Compared to the universe, you are like a firefly flickering in the night sky; your life is fleeting. If you can fully realize that everything you do is futile, you can gain immense happiness and peace because you will understand that life is just a game. But life is an interesting game. In this game, the only important thing is that as life unfolds, you must continuously experience reality. Given this, why not interpret everything you experience in the most positive way? Those unhappy moments and moments when you do not enjoy life will not benefit anyone. The happiness value of the universe is not constant; others will not become happier because you are unhappy. The time you have on Earth is fleeting and incredibly precious; you must cherish it. You must prioritize facing and acknowledging death. It is extremely important not to deny or avoid death in a person's life because this is the essence of learning to calmly accept things that cannot be changed and to live in the moment.

Every person has to die, and after death, everything is empty. So, enjoy life well. Make some positive contributions to society. Actively release and spread love to the world. Bring joy and happiness to others. Let life have more laughter. Cherish every moment in front of you. Take on your mission, fulfill your responsibilities, and do not waste this life.

Chapter 4: Self-Redemption#

Doctors cannot make you healthy. Nutritionists cannot make you slim. Teachers cannot make you smart. Zen masters cannot make you calm. Wise people cannot make you wealthy. Coaches cannot make you strong. Ultimately, you must take responsibility yourself. Redemption relies on oneself.

Choosing to be oneself is a common phenomenon in today's society, and it is also what many people are doing at this moment: struggling and self-whipping, "I need to do this, I need to do that, I need to..." No, you do not need to do anything. The only thing you should do is what you want to do. Others always hope you will do things in a specific way, but if you stop trying to guess others' expectations, you will hear that faint voice in your mind. That voice represents your true thoughts. Listen to it, and you can be yourself. I have never seen that great mentor in person. I once desperately wanted to become like him. However, the message he conveyed to me was precisely the opposite: be yourself, fully and unreservedly be yourself. [Illustration] In the matter of "being yourself," no one can compete with you. You will never be as good at being me as I am, and I will never be as good at being you as you are. Of course, one should be humble and listen to others, drawing from their strengths, but do not blindly imitate. Imitating others is purely futile. On the contrary, everyone has unique talents, skills, expertise, and personal desires that others in the world do not have; these are the results of both innate genes and acquired experiences. The combination of innate genes and acquired experiences creates an astonishing uniqueness in individuals. No two individuals can replace each other. Your life goal is to find the people, careers, projects, or arts that need you the most. In this vast world, among countless people, there will always be some people and things that perfectly match you. Do not create a checklist or make decisions based on what others are doing. You will never become them; you will never be good at being someone else. [4] To make original contributions, one must be irrationally obsessed.

When everyone is sick, we do not consider it a disease.

The benefits of walking meetings:
· Improve brain efficiency
· Exercise and enjoy the sunshine
· Shorten time and eliminate pleasantries
· Increase dialogue and reduce monologues
· No need to show slides
· Ending is simple—just walk back

Choose the simple mode, and life will become increasingly difficult; choose the difficult mode, and life will become increasingly simple.

Emotions are products of biological evolution that can predict the impact of current events on the future. In modern social environments, emotional responses are often exaggerated, even erroneous.

I strongly recommend readers listen to a podcast recorded by Tim Ferriss and Wim Hof.

Meditation is intermittent fasting for the mind. Too much sugar can lead to physical overweight, while too much distraction can lead to mental overload. Take time to be alone, focusing on self-reflection, journaling, and meditating; this can solve unresolved issues and clear the overloaded mind.

Life tip: When lying in bed, you can try meditating. This way, you will either enter deep meditation or fall asleep. Either outcome is good.

I recommend meditating for an hour every morning because less than an hour cannot truly lead to deep meditation. If you really want to try meditation, I suggest a 60-day cycle, meditating for an hour each morning. After about 60 days, you will grow tired of listening to your inner voice. You should have resolved many issues, or you have heard enough of your inner voice and seen through those fears and problems.

To some extent, the entire society shows symptoms of addiction and obsession. People pursue stimulating behaviors, states of flow, or sexual climaxes, aiming to escape their thoughts, silence the voices in their heads, and break free from excessive self-awareness.

Then, I stop my brain's operation and continue brushing my teeth. I begin to notice how good the toothbrush is and how good I feel. The next moment, I start thinking about other things again. I have to examine my brain again and ask myself: "Do I really need to solve this problem right now?" About 95% of the thoughts in my brain do not need to be addressed immediately. The brain is like a muscle; it is best to let it rest often, keeping it calm, and only mobilizing it to solve problems when specific issues arise. At the moment we are chatting, I cannot let my brain run in "debug mode." At this time, I need to fully engage in our conversation, focusing 100%, rather than thinking about "whether the way I brushed my teeth this morning was right." Highly concentrated attention is a skill, and this skill is related to the ability to relax, live in the moment, and maintain happiness, of course, it is also related to the ability to improve efficiency. [4]

Meditation is blocking out the noise of society and listening to your own voice. Only when meditation itself is the goal will it "work." Hiking is walking meditation. Journaling is writing meditation. Showering is unexpected meditation. Sitting quietly is direct meditation.

The most remarkable superpower is the ability to change oneself.

I will realize that being angry and emotionally charged brings completely unnecessary severe consequences. Now, I still insist on doing what I believe is right, but I have learned from the past to plan for the long term and reduce unnecessary anger. If one can view problems calmly and objectively from a long-term perspective, many problems are not actually problems.

An idea proposed by Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti is that everything exists in a state of internal change. One should always be ready to embrace complete change. Whenever we say, "I plan to try something new" or "I plan to develop a new habit," we are actually hesitating. [6] We are actually saying: "I want to buy more time for myself." But what we should do is follow the desires of our hearts. If you want to meet a beautiful girl, then go meet her; if you want to drink a beverage, then go drink it; if you really want to do something, then go do it. Saying "I plan" is procrastination, making excuses for oneself. However, even if you do not put your thoughts into action, at least maintain awareness of your true psychological activities: "Although I say I want to do this, I do not really want to. Because if I really wanted to, I would have done it long ago."

When you truly want to make a change, you will go directly to do it. However, most people do not really want to change and do not want to endure the pain involved. But at least we can acknowledge this, maintaining awareness of our feelings and thoughts, so we can set practical small goals for ourselves and truly take action. [6] Take action quickly and be patient with the results. If something needs to be done, then do it; what are you waiting for? The river of life flows endlessly, and youth will never return. Do not waste time procrastinating and waiting; do not waste time hesitating and lingering. Everyone has their own mission; do not waste time doing things that do not belong to your life's mission.

If there is something you want to do in the future, do it now; there is no "later" in life.

To some extent, this reading is for gaining social recognition. Doing this is to integrate with other monkeys, to adapt to group life. But to gain returns from life, what you need to do is not to fit in but to stand out from the crowd. Social recognition occurs within the group. If you want social recognition, you need to read what the entire social group is reading. To stand out in the group, you need a certain degree of contrarian thinking and rebellious spirit, able to say: "No, I want to do what I choose to do. Regardless of the social outcome, I want to learn what I find interesting."

Exactly. I think this is why the smartest and most successful people I know were initially failures. If you consider yourself a failure in life, abandoned by society, and do not have a suitable role in normal society, you can focus on doing your own thing without being troubled by whether you will succeed. This may actually lead you to find a successful path. "I will never be popular; I will never be accepted. I am already a failure. Since I cannot obtain what others have, I will just be happy being myself." This mindset is a good attitude for those starting to take action.

Bleeding and sweating, burying oneself in hard work, and facing difficulties are all essential paths to overnight fame.

The second principle is to master the mathematics and persuasion skills related to reading techniques. These two skills help you navigate the real world smoothly and effortlessly.

The hardest part is not doing what you want to do, but knowing what you want. Be aware that there are no "adults" in this world; there are just more people pretending to be mature, which creates adults. You must find your own path, choosing, deciding, and making trade-offs in your own way. First, clarify what you want, and then take action.

In the past, my definition of freedom was "freedom is doing whatever I want"—doing what I want when I want. Now, I pursue inner freedom, "freedom from worries." For example, freedom from anger, freedom from sadness, freedom from needing to react, freedom from being forced to do things, and so on. In the past, I always pursued the freedom of "doing whatever I want"; now I pursue the freedom of "not doing what I do not want," seeking to be unrestrained both internally and externally. [4] A piece of advice for my younger self: "Be the most authentic version of yourself." Disguising oneself means year after year (rather than just a few minutes) putting oneself in troubling relationships and jobs.

I do not evaluate my efficiency at all. I do not advocate self-evaluation; I think it is a form of self-restraint, self-punishment, and self-conflict. [1] If others are hurt by their expectations of you, that is their problem. If they had an agreement with you beforehand, that is your problem. But if they only have unilateral expectations of you, that is entirely their problem and has nothing to do with you. They will have various expectations of life, and the sooner you break their expectations of you, the better. [1] Courage is not charging into battle amidst gunfire; it is not caring about what others think.

Cherish your time. The only thing you truly possess is time. Time is more important than money, more important than friends, more important than anything. Your time is everything to you. Do not waste your time. Cherishing time does not mean you cannot relax and enjoy life. As long as you are doing what you want to do, you are not wasting time. However, if you do not spend your time on what you want to do, earning no money and learning nothing, you should ask yourself what you are busy with. Do not spend your time pleasing others. Whether others are happy is their problem, not yours. When you are happy, others will also be happy. When you are happy, others will ask how you became happy, and they will learn something from it, but you have no responsibility to make others happy.

Observe how you look when you are angry. Anger is a manifestation of losing control of the situation. Anger is a contract with yourself; you agree to let yourself fall into physical, mental, and emotional chaos until reality changes. [1] Anger itself is a punishment. An angry person tries to push your head underwater, but at the same time, they are drowning.

You walk on a busy street with a thousand people, and these thousand people are constantly murmuring in their minds. They are constantly judging everything they see, reminiscing about what happened to them yesterday, and fantasizing about what will happen tomorrow. The only thing they do not do is focus on the most basic reality of the present. This thinking pattern is good when we are making long-term plans or solving problems; it is also beneficial for completing survival and reproduction tasks. However, I think it is very detrimental to personal happiness. For me, the brain should be a servant and a tool, not a master. I should not be controlled and driven by the monkey in my head all day long. The brain will always fall into uncontrolled thinking, and