“An expert is someone who, over many years, manages to remain confident enough to keep trying and humble enough to keep learning.”

“You have no responsibility to live up to someone else's expectation of you.Spend as little time as possible chasing other people's preferences instead of your own.”

“Slowing down enables you to act in a high quality way.Kind rather than curt. Polished rather than sloppy.It's hard to be thoughtful when you're in a rush.”

Poet and novelist May Sarton  on letting go: “I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they can let go and go deep into their roots for renewal and sleep… Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain, psychic pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.”

Writer Joan Didion shares some life advice:“I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace.

What is one lesson you learned (or relearned) this year?

<h2>3 IDEAS FROM ME</h2>I.“An expert is someone who, over many years, manages to remain confident enough to keep trying and humble enough to keep learning.”​II.“You have no responsibility to live up to someone else's expectation of you.Spend as little time as possible chasing other people's preferences instead of your own.”III.“Slowing down enables you to act in a high quality way.Kind rather than curt. Polished rather than sloppy.It's hard to be thoughtful when you're in a rush.”<h2 dir="ltr">​2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS</h2>I.Poet and novelist&nbsp;May Sarton&nbsp;on letting go:“I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they can let go and go deep into their roots for renewal and sleep…Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain, psychic pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.”​II.Writer&nbsp;Joan Didion&nbsp;shares some life advice:“I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that's what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it.”Source: 1975 Commencement Address at the University of California, Riverside<h2>1 QUESTION FOR YOU</h2>What is one lesson you learned (or relearned) this year?Until next week,James Clear ​Author of the #1 worldwide bestseller,&nbsp;<a href="https://atomichabits.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" dir="ltr">Atomic Habits</a>​ Creator of the&nbsp;<a href="https://jamesclear.com/habit-journal" rel="noreferrer noopener" dir="ltr">Habit Journal</a>​​<h2>Join Me</h2>Thanks for reading. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email newsletter. Each week, I share 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question to think about. Over 1,000,000 people subscribe. Enter your email now and join us.<div data-element="fields" data-stacked="false"><button data-element="submit">Try the free newsletter</button></div><div dir="ltr">P.S. Want short reminders on how to build better habits? Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/jamesclear" dir="ltr">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamesclear/" dir="ltr">Instagram</a>.</div><div dir="ltr">


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 About the Newsletter
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</div>The 3-2-1 Newsletter is one of the most popular newsletters in the world. Over 1,000,000 people subscribe. Each issue contains 3 short ideas from James Clear, 2 quotes from other people, and 1 question for you.<UL><LI>Dec 16</LI></UL>

“An expert is someone who, over many years, manages to remain confident enough to keep trying and humble enough to keep learning.”

“You have no responsibility to live up to someone else's expectation of you.

Spend as little time as possible chasing other people's preferences instead of your own.”

“Slowing down enables you to act in a high quality way.

Kind rather than curt. Polished rather than sloppy.

It's hard to be thoughtful when you're in a rush.”

Poet and novelist May Sarton  on letting go:

“I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they can let go and go deep into their roots for renewal and sleep…

Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain, psychic pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.”

Writer Joan Didion  shares some life advice:

“I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that's what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it.”

Source: 1975 Commencement Address at the University of California, Riverside

James Clear ​Author of the #1 worldwide bestseller,  <a href="https://atomichabits.com/">Atomic Habits </a>​ Creator of the  <a href="https://jamesclear.com/habit-journal">Habit Journal </a>​

Thanks for reading. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email newsletter. Each week, I share 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question to think about. Over 1,000,000 people subscribe . Enter your email now and join us.

The 3-2-1 Newsletter is one of the most popular newsletters in the world. Over 1,000,000 people subscribe. Each issue contains 3 short ideas from James Clear, 2 quotes from other people, and 1 question for you.

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3-2-1: Slowing down, letting go, and lessons from the year

JAMES CLEAR

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Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

3-2-1: Slowing down, letting go, and lessons from the year

JAMES CLEAR

JAMES CLEAR

JAMES CLEAR

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

3-2-1: Motivation, criticism, and the goal of adulthood

3-2-1: On systems vs. goals, identity-based habits, and the lessons of life

3-2-1: The value of nature, controlling your attention, and designing your environment

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career