If you really want to communicate something

If you really want to communicate something, even if it’s just an emotion or an attitude, let alone an idea, the least effective and least enjoyable way is to do it directly. It only goes in about an inch. But if you can get people to the point where they have to think for a moment about what you’re getting at, and then discover it, the thrill of discovery goes right through the heart.

If you can't decide between two paths

We convince ourselves that the future is knowable, yet the pivotal moments of history are surprises. If you can't decide between two paths, choose the one that offers no immediate feedback.

Don’t eat if you’re not hungry

Don’t eat if you’re not hungry. That’s not only good dieting advice. It works in just about every endeavor we sign up for. The system would like us to be insatiable on its behalf, but that’s not an invitation we’re required to accept.

Assume misunderstanding

It’s possible that you were undermined, endangered, cut off, or disrespected. But if we begin with that, then the relationship gets shaky. Perhaps the other person simply didn’t understand. It might be that they are focused on their issues, not yours. It could be that they’re dealing with something you don’t see. And most likely, they simply might not know what you’re expecting or hoping for. When we assume misunderstanding, we open the door to something better. We can find empathy and connection by giving people the benefit of the doubt. Clarity, not grievance, is the solution to misunderstanding.

Your life is simply your days

Few people use the mind; fewer use the heart; and truly unique are those who use both. Your life is simply your days, accumulated. Did today's habits contribute to the life you want to build? If the version of you from five years ago could see your life today, what would surprise them most?

Increase your recovery speed

Increase your recovery speed. You can't avoid failures. You will get rejected. Make bad decisions. Lose money. Embarrass yourself. Whatever. Just learn to reset faster. Shrink the window between fall and recovery. Master the art of the fresh start.

Stop expecting achievement to satisfy you

Ambition becomes a superpower when you stop expecting achievement to satisfy you and learn to love the pursuit itself. It’s hard to see what you’re not looking for, and it’s easy to see what you’re looking for.