Inspirations

I haven't forgotten this group. Life's just been a LOT lately (only in good, exciting ways). And I think I haven't done the extra step of sending things here.

But, I watched a video last night. 3 things from it that have been on my mind. Wrote here.

LOVE this list. From someone I met recently. Full piece may not be relevant for everyone.

Watched this last night. With dinner. Found this because I was trying to decode who's behind the idea of 5-year-blocks. Thanks to Pradeep and SG, I discovered this video.

There are many reasons you must watch this. Really.

I don't fully understand breaks. But Sagmeister's got it. I think an idea I MOST relate to + am excited by. A year-long break every 7 years. That he spends creating. NOT chilling. But creating + exploring. Think of it as active recovery days for anyone who gyms.

I won't tell you too much. Watch to know what he did with his time.

Lesson for me was - the idea of a break may not be bad. It is what you make of it. Even today, I get to spend a lot of my time on ideas that are more experimental than revenue. And those are times I discover myself + the world around me. Will see when I can do the 7 + 1 or a version of it.

Anu recently wrote about her time OFF the Internet. And this is from that note.

It is a VERY powerful lesson. One I've been trying to internalise for a year now.

And I say power because that's what comes with realising that you're not special. You're not needed. And that the world goes on without you.

And despite that, your responsibility is to live your life well. And be useful. Not in the pursuit of being wanted. But because you've been given an existence. And a body and mind that has a LOT of potential.

Honestly, if nothing else, go read more from Anu for the joy of reading :))

Reminder to self.

Tempted to share this. I think it's mostly a note to self. No large generic lesson. I'm quite impatient when it comes to my growth. Especially when I've identified the problem and the solution.

Because then I want to immediately get there. And with most mindset things, it's never immediate.

I take a lot of digital notes (and want to do more of it). I may not switch to taking notes by hand but this validates note-taking in general. For anyone who needs that validation :DD

I come across SO many things that say "be kind to yourself" and not enough that talk about being harsh for growth.

This is one of those. Of course, the writing is extreme. You might feel so when you read it.

But, the underlying lesson is to acknowledge what's not okay and identify a harshness level that ENSURES you change. Instead of settling.

Right? Atleast that's what I picked.

One of my metrics for self is to go back and read my notes to see if I'm stuck in the same loop or a different one.

And overtime I'm realising that the state of confusion / messy middle is not the issue. It's actually the fun part.

Till it's a new one each time.

Saw this right after making my in2026 list. If-then rules.

A very close friend asked me to watch this video in the morning, to distract me from a very bothered, rushing brain.

Spoiler alert - it worked. And left me with all good, energising things to think about. In no particular order, some highlights:

1/ The dog inside your mind is a LOT bigger than the real world dog.
As someone who's guilty of overthinking and letting the brain spend cognitive load on probabilities and emotions over facts, this one was a timely reminder.

2/ Life doesn't happen to you, it happens for you.
I think it's another way to say that you MUST make it happen for you. Instead of assume and believe and wait for it to happen to you. It will ONLY be what you make of it. On this, also see what Hunter Thompson says about looking for a way of life.

When I think about happening to life, I also think about doing it audaciously. Or maybe I am spotting this in all places because I'm at the point in life where I MUST play on the front foot (like SG calls it). And stand on top of what there is to take an even bigger shot. Or as one of my mentors told me recently, live on the edge of disaster. Take risks.

3/ The effect you have on people is the biggest currency.
This is MANY things. It reminded me of what Paul Graham says - the way to make wealth is about finding out what value you can create for people. Also that I must rewatch the rules of persuasion.

4/ You can fail at what you don't want.
Might as well do the thing you love and fail at that.

5/ Jim Carrey says, getting what you want in life is just about letting the universe know what you want and working toward it while letting go of how it comes to you. Don't worry about how it will happen but first open the door in your head. Re-read point 2. And you'll see.

Another way to think about it is - detachment to the outcome. Or what I've recently learned - karm kar, fal ki chinta mat kar.

Oh, Jim also jokes that he doesn't know if point 2 is true. His way is to see challenges as something beneficial so he can deal with them well. You either do that or find your rational. That is the fun part anyway.

6/ Faith vs hope. Hadn't thought earlier. Interesting.

I think I need to write a full note. Because this video opened up MANY threads. Many lessons. Must do.

The last one is interesting. Never thought of agency that way.

"The skill of navigating friction: fear, confusion, social disapproval, bureaucracy."

I think some lemons you NEED to buy. To experience life. To really truly get the lesson. And some, you've to be smart to learn from those around you who've made that. I think.

I'm not sure about being pessimistic. But I think it means to say that one must KNOW it's going to be hard. And go in with that expectation. And thus, work that hard.

Love the analogy. Something to think about + observe around you.

Cool thing I saw: a VC that has a list of companies they said no to that went on to become INCREDIBLY successful.

Note to self. Super imp reminder.

Each time I inch closer to feeling like my life matters, I watch Pale Blue Dot and read things like this.

Just a cool thing to do! Will try this for sure.

If "live today like it's your last" has ever felt like careless advice, then you'll like this.

I re-read this twice. To fully get it. And here's why I NEEDED to save it.

1/ Freeing to know that one misstep cannot destroy you. I really need to internalise this. And it's not just for the momentary freedom but also so I can start operating from a place of fearlessness and taking larger shots.

2/ Make huge ambitious plans. But deconstruct. I'm close to thinking about what I want 2026 to look like. So that's a timely lesson.

3/ I woke up the next day and the world hadn't ended! That!

4/ I think the last bit reaffirms trust the process. And I've been struggling to trust the process lately. So good reminder, I think?

Been following Vatsal for sometime now. One of the profiles online I find valuable.

Here's a list I'm saving :)

VERY important reminder to be able to come back to neutral or your mean. And not believe your own self at your lowest. Except the lessons ofc.

Saw this at 2 am last night. Rare nights when I'm up at that time.

And my only complaint from myself this week has been that I've not done enough. So I'd say I came across it at the right time.

Learning this to be true.

Each time I come across something by Tara, it applies to my life and phase. Coincidentally I think.

Curious - which phase are you in?

Another one I read today. SG shared this with us. LOVE the post.

Upped my level of optimism and gratitude.

Been a few days since I shared something here. I think I spent lesser time on the internet. More on my desk getting some things done. Or, sleeping + resting. And, thinking a lot about life too. But back now.

Had come across this a long time ago. Very very very good reminder.

Also takes me back to this belief that - aim for the moon and you'll at least land on the stars (or whatever the accurate physics version is). Which is to say that if you don't even think that far ahead and large, you won't attempt it too.

Note to self, really.

I've met people like this. And their energy is contagious. My lesson for this morning :)

Watched this while eating egg dosas (my indulgence when I'm visiting home). And I think it is only relevant when you're at this place in life. And I am. Will watch it every month.

One-line takeaway (at the risk of diluting so please watch): You're either a player or a quitter.

Part of a longer note I read the other day.

I've been watching this. And I haven't followed MrBeast's life very closely. But this video's great. Very very simple ideas + mindsets but tough ones to follow through. And I think those who do go on to do great things.

Oh, I generally watch a lot of MFM. Even replaced my mindless lunch time shows with this.

LOVE this list.

1/ I've experienced this for myself. Learned it from SG that the world is a malleable place. And each time I've attempted it, I've seen it hold true.

2/ And when it doesn't hold true? The third point comes handy. That ask for what you want. And it's okay if you don't get it. But ask.

Also the last line: persistent long enough to give themselves a chance for luck to go their way.

Sent this to a friend yesterday. And a note to self.

Question - what's your interpretation of point 5? What does NOT going all in mean?

Reminder to self.

BEST THING I've read today. And it's a very simple idea. But I think I personally needed it :DD

THIS! Reminds me of what Jeff Bezos says about day 1 thinking too (in a slightly different context).

Also, believing this helps build the ability to show up everyday. And not be dragged by "yesterday".

On mental toughness, read this too.

Puts failure in such good light, no? Makes me want to want it.

Also reminds me of one of the BEST pieces I've read on comfort zone.

I couldn't find the link to this for a whole year. Until a friend who's got EACH thing bookmarked reshared it with me.

I think when you start to do this, you also start blaming the external forces lesser. And that is freeing. You may be harsh on yourself, but you're kinder to the world. And have more optimism. And trust things to happen.

"It's not going to work if you can only love it when everything's going your way…"

Guilty of indulging last week. Should be easy to not eat ever again after reading this. I think?

Watched this over the weekend. I've actively tried to seek practical advice on mental toughness. Largely because I think the ability to do hard things helps you see and live more of life.

This video seemed like ALL advice coming together into a very simple system. Quite similar to what I've learned too (especially from SG).

MUST WATCH.

I even rated myself on all 4 levels. To evaluate 6 months from now. If you do the same, DM me and I'd share notes!

"You can't beat someone who thinks they're playing."

Putting this up on my wall. For each time I stop to think instead of doing.