“The trick is in what we emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” Journey to Ixtlan : The lessons of Don Juan

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

3-2-1: Keeping the habit alive, the value of small kindnesses, and editing your life

"Following your genuine intellectual curiosity is a better foundation for a career than following whatever is making money right now."

career

Career

mindfulness

Mindfulness

Long term

A few years back, a government science agency did a poll to try to understand the public’s perceptions of the work they funded. One of the biggest surprises was how people felt about public funding for “basic research.” Most people felt the government should not be spending tax money on “basic research” at all. Instead, those funds should go into “advanced research”. The results showed a clear gap between what scientists mean by basic research, and what almost everyone else thinks it means.

Non-Scientists Misunderstand What Basic Research Is

For scientists, basic research really means fundamental research. But to understand its meaning even better, we need to contrast the idea of “basic” with that of “applied.” There is no immediate application for the fruits of basic research. They will not immediately become a gizmo in our next car or a molecule in our next medicine. Instead, the point of basic research is something far less tangible: pure understanding. That is why scientists call it fundamental. The goal is to understand some aspect of a subject at its most essential level.

Basic Research = Fundamental Research 

The history of scientific research is full of helpful examples. In 1905, for instance, Albert Einstein published his epoch-making paper on the theory of special relativity, which focused on the most basic concepts physics uses to understand everything: matter, motion, and energy. The versions of those concepts that still prevailed at that time had been developed a few hundred years earlier by Isaac Newton.

Basic Research Examples

Einstein saw how limited were Newton’s descriptions of these fundamental players in physics. The relationships Newtonian physics described between, say, energy and motion (i.e., velocity) did not tell the whole story. Einstein developed a more basic, more fundamental understanding of such relationships, and in the process, he gave physics new equations like E = mc2 .Einstein’s basic research changed the world forever. A list of the actual downstream applications from his paper would easily be as long as 2 ft. and would include everything from radiation therapy to hyper-accurate GPS satellites.

Basic Research Changes The World Forever

When Einstein was working on this paper, he was not thinking about how these formulas would be applied to any particular industry, or to the medical field. He was no doubt aware that his ideas would find such applications. They were too important not to become the foundation for new machines and new techniques that would affect everyday life. But applications were just not what he was doing or why he was doing it.

Basic Research Is After Pure Understanding

The Einstein example shows that basic research is, indeed, very advanced. In fact, it is the most advanced of all the kinds of research out there, because it pushes at the frontiers of knowledge. In today’s world, such basic research takes many forms. In cosmology, it is about understanding the first few instants after the big bang. In biology, it is about understanding how life uses information to carry out its most basic tasks. In cognitive science, it is about understanding how the brain sorts its many inputs into what is relevant and what is not.

The Fringes And The Frontiers

The most important point about basic research is that it is almost always the key to cutting-edge applied research. All of the specific applied research that led to the zillions of technological marvels we encounter every day began with someone asking a very basic question, applied to nothing.What we call “basic research” is actually the most cutting-edge. It underpins knowledge, and without it, technology does not come into being.

Asking A Very Basic Question, Applied To Nothing

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?

Everything should be done as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Any fool can know. The point is to understand.

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.

A lesson on basic research that doubles as a reminder on the impact of words. “Basic research” is not “base-level”, but actually the most cutting-edge. It underpins knowledge, and without it, technology does not come into being.

What we call "basic research" is the most cutting-edge. It underpins knowledge, and without it, technology does not come into being.

philosophy

Philosophy

problemsolving

Problem Solving

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

What Einstein Did Was “Basic Research”. Wait, What?

Twitter account <a href="https://twitter.com/Mindset_Machine">@Mindset_Machine</a> shared his thread about <a href="https://twitter.com/Mindset_Machine/status/1555155348117413893?t=aNtonBcRyHbCQ_1sgSPR5g">10 lessons from the book "The 4-Hour Workweek"</a>

10 Lessons from the book "The 4-Hour Workweek"

1. If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is, too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself.You are better than you think.

2. To enjoy life, you don't need fancy nonsenseBut you do need to control your time and realize that most things just aren't as serious as you make them out to be.

3. Learn to be difficult when it countsIn school or in life, having a reputation for being assertive will help you receive preferential treatment without having to beg or fight for it every time.

4. Information is useless if it is not applied to something important or you will forget it before you have a chance to apply it.

5. A person's success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.

6. We are the average of the five people we associate with most, so do not underestimate the effects of our pessimistic and unambitious friends. If someone isn't making you stronger, they're making you weaker.

7. It's lonely at the top. 99% of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre. The level of competition is thus fiercest for 'realistic' goals, making them the most time and energy-consuming.

8. One of the most universal causes of self-doubt and depression: trying to impress people you don't like. Stressing to impress is fine, but do it for the right people - those you want to emulate.

9. Remember: There is a direct correlation between an increased sphere of comfort and getting what you want.

10. “Someday” is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. If it’s important to you and you want to do it “eventually,” just do it and correct course along the way.

A very nice thread from @mindset_machine on Twitter. Short, easy to understand but still give value.

Offers techniques and strategies for increasing income while cutting work time in half, and includes advice for leading a more fulfilling life.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

books

Books

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

What do you do? Tim Ferriss has trouble answering the question. Depending on when you ask this controversial Princeton University guest lecturer, he might answer: “I race motorcycles in Europe.” “I ski in the Andes.” “I scuba dive in Panama.” “I dance tango in Buenos Aires.” He has spent more than five years learning the secrets of the New Rich, a fast-growing subculture who has abandoned the “deferred-life plan” and instead mastered the new currencies—time and mobility—to create luxury lifestyles in the here and now. Whether you are an overworked employee or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, this book is the compass for a new and revolutionary world. Join Tim Ferriss as he teaches you: • How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want • How blue-chip escape artists travel the world without quitting their jobs • How to eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist • How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and freuent "mini-retirements" • What the crucial difference is between absolute and relative income • How to train your boss to value performance over presence, or kill your job (or company) if it’s beyond repair • What automated cash-flow “muses” are and how to create one in 2 to 4 weeks • How to cultivate selective ignorance—and create time—with a low-information diet • What the management secrets of Remote Control CEOs are • How to get free housing worldwide and airfare at 50–80% off • How to fill the void and create a meaningful life after removing work and the office You can have it all—really. From the Hardcover edition.

Tim Ferriss is author of three #1 NYT/WSJ bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, and The 4-Hour Chef. He is also a start-up advisor specializing in positioning, PR, and marketing (Uber, Evernote, etc.). When not damaging his body with abusive sports, he enjoys chocolate, bear claws, and Japanese animation.

Timothy Ferriss

The 4-Hour Workweek

The 4-Hour Work Week

Where focus goes, energy flows. And if you don't take the time to focus on what matters, then you're living a life of someone else's design.

This may sound corny, but starting your day with a few minutes of gratitude helps to set the tone for the rest of your day. When you're grateful, it changes how you view yourself and others around you. You stop focusing on what you don't have and start paying attention to what you do have.

Start your day with gratitude

Music is a great way to lift your mood and create a relaxing atmosphere. Your brain interprets certain sounds (such as those created by musical instruments) as being enjoyable, which then triggers dopamine secretion. Music can help you concentrate, reduce anxiety, and even improve sleep quality.

Take time to listen to music  

If you find yourself losing track of time, take some time to organize your desk, closet, or space. Make sure everything has a designated place and everything is where it belongs. Organizing your space gives your mind something to focus on and makes it easier to stay on track Having a schedule helps you achieve goals and keeps you organized.

Get Organised

Exercise is a great way to clear your mind and get rid of stresses. Exercise releases endorphins throughout your body which makes you feel happy and relaxed. It’s much easier to focus on the positive things in life when you exercise regularly.

Do Something Physical 

Eating a balanced breakfast keeps your blood sugar stable throughout the morning, which boosts your productivity. Try eating foods high in fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates. These foods keep you full longer and won't leave you hungry later in the day.

Don't Skip Breakfast

Multitasking means doing 2 or more tasks at once. This often happens when we are using our phones and computers. When you start working on something, stay focused until it’s completed. If you find yourself getting distracted by something else, tell yourself “no distractions!” and stop what you’re currently doing. You can always go back to where you were if you need to make sure everything is done correctly.

Don't Multitask

Email overload is a huge problem in today’s world. We spend so many hours checking email every single day that it becomes a huge distraction. Try stopping after 7 pm each night and focusing on family time instead. Turn off any notifications you have set up on your phone and computer and block out a few hours to finish the work you need to do.

Stop Reading Emails After Work Hours

Ways To Find Focus In A Digital World

A design process defines a designers journey to solve problems and to create an idea. Having a consistent process helps you accomplish great things!There are no real definition of a design process. It is different for each company and different for each individual.

What is a design process

<ol><li>Elements: What is our expected outcome: What is the end results, whar are we creating</li><li>Stages:What is our approach, are we using Design thinking, Double Diamond or some other method.</li><li>Tools: What do we use, use tools that are optimzed for specific goals.</li></ol>

3 Components involved in the Design Process

Strategy-is the intersection between solving their peple problem and achieving their business goal.Scope- Determines the set of features that are necessary for a feasible solution here you are figuring out how much work.Structure-Interaction Design and Information Architecture, Information ArchitectureSkeleton- UI and Navigation design. Start designing the Navigation Design and picking a tab bar or hamburger menu.Surface- Visual Design helps the interface be more accessible and easy to use and understand.

Strategy-Scope-Structure-Skeleton-Surface

Step 1: Discover: Step 1 is to discover as much data as possible based off of an inital insight. We audit our own business and other businessesStep 2:Define: When defining we select problems that create a large impact. from there we select the best problem to solve.

Double Diamond Design Process Part 1

Step 3- Develop: We reserve any judgement and think big, wild and crazy. You will start designing and figuring out your solutionStep 4-Deliver: You will evaluate your work by putting it through critiques, running an AB test

Double Diamond Design Process Part 2

A design process defines every designer’s journey to solve wicked problems. It’s a phrase that appears at talks, job descriptions, and during job interviews. But, what exactly is a design process…

teamwork

Teamwork

product

Product & Design

Lecture 2 : What is the Design Process?

Whenever you get confused, it’s often super helpful to pause and clarify your intentions.Just declare what you actually want in a sentence or two. Express it aloud or in writing. Then let it sink in and see how your body, mind, and feelings react to it.

Clarify Your Intentions

Reality can be very accommodating when you’re clear about asking for what you want.If you don’t tell reality what you want, it has to guess. And it evaluates the accuracy of its guesses based on your responses (i.e. your actions and behaviors).

Are You Frustrating Reality?

Don’t sit down at a table in a restaurant to order if you’re not ready and hungry for your next meal.Instead of acting confused about what to do, just rest in the state of not being hungry for any fresh goals yet.Don’t chase after partial matches. Give your hunger some time to build up first.

The Restaurant Metaphor

You can never set too many intentions. Even speaking your intentions aloud 100+ times per day, updating them moment by moment as you go, isn’t too much.Once you get enough practice, it should take you just a few seconds to set an intention. It’s as simple as asking, “What do I want for dinner?”.An intention doesn’t have to be complicated to inspire action. Even a very simple intention that you verbalize in a second or two has value.

Set Intentions Daily

Confusion is the the default choice for many people because they haven’t voiced the desire for something better.If you’re stuck in confusion, it’s because you’ve haven’t chosen and declared your intention for a lifestream that glides from one clear decision to the next.

Confusion is a Choice

If you really want to transform your life in a huge way, set the intention to transcend partial matches.See those either-or decisions for the traps they are. When you spot a decision like that, decline to make it.

Transcend Partial Matches

Many people live their life in confusion which leads to many problems at any decision gate. This article contains useful insight about the importance of clarifying our intentions in order to be always mindful about our actions and decisions.

When You’re Confused, Clarify Your Intentions – Steve Pavlina

Each of the following self-improvement tips, tricks, and topics can be adjusted to relate to your life, who you are as a person, and the type f self-improvement you seek. For you to successfully find motivation and live your life to its fullest potential, however, the underlying meaning and message of each point cannot be manipulated

Best version 

Look at yourself. Reflect on who you are.<ul><li>What kind of things do you enjoy doing?</li><li>What kind of people do you spend your time with?</li><li>What life decisions have a made? etc.</li></ul>These and some more like these, are a direct reflection of the person you’ve become. However, 5 or 7 years ago, would you have answered the questions the same way? Chances are, your responses would have changed. It’s important to accept that you’re forever changing and growing. You can’t expect to grow and stay the same.The important thing is to take responsibility for those decisions you make, regardless of who they affect.

1. Take Responsibility For You

Your brain is what controls everything you do. Whether it is consciously or subconsciously, your brain has the steering wheel of your life. When you negatively judge yourself, try and talk yourself out of it. Whatever it is that you put yourself down about, reverse it and repeat the positive thought to yourself. Over and over. Repeatedly tell yourself that you’re capable of accomplishing a challenging goal. Over and over. You deserve the world and the world deserves you at your full potential. Don’t strive for anything less than success and, of course, the best version of yourself.

2. Teach your brain

Holding onto problems, arguments, and mistakes of the past keep you from thriving and becoming the best version of yourself, not to mention creating poor mental health. The moment you forgive and the negativity around it goes, you are free. You may not be free immediately, but you are one step closer to personal growth and happiness. You won’t have to endure that pain any longer. Without this pain, you are able to invest your time and energy into the positive aspects of your life and become the best, genuine version of yourself you can be.

3. Forgive

Being honest with yourself and others will get you much further than cheating and lying your way through life. Even if you are the only one who knows you lied, you have to live with your lies. Your life would be easier if you were honest from the start. This ties in closely with that of taking responsibility for yourself.

4. Be Honest

Choose people, activities, and things that make you happy.Nothing is a greater waste of time than spending time with people or on things that make you miserable. Life is too short to get caught up in the drama, poor decisions. Your time is important and it is essential that you delegate it effectively. <a href="https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/the-importance-of-prioritizing-yourself-6500527f7378">Make it a habit to spend some time with yourself </a>, wherein you can:<ul><li>Sleep an extra hour</li><li>Practice yoga</li><li>Wake up early and meditate</li><li>Drink your morning coffee with your book, etc.</li></ul>When you realize you aren’t happy, break the cycle. Stop wasting your time and start living your life to the fullest.

5. Prioritize

Just like everything in life, take all things in moderation. Don’t become too absorbed and invest all your time into one thing. Over time, you miss out on having a balance and may lose relationships and connections with people. Keep in touch with those you love and spend quality time with them.

6. Have Balance

Take a look around you, are you sitting in a coffee shop, scrolling through this stash? or lying in bed? Wherever you are at this exact second is a good place to be. Life is so amazing and we are lucky enough to be a part of it. Feel gratitude, express it, and be thankful for each and every day you are given.Additionally, don’t forget to recognize the best version of yourself should be your vision, not anybody else’s. Stop looking for a secret tip, start from the beginning and work your way up. Identify your limiting beliefs, and then let go of them. Turn your ‘shoulds’ into ‘musts’.

7. Practice Gratitude 

You’d agree with me when I say, We live in a fast-paced world. We’re always searching for the next big thing, and we always want more than what we have, even if that's something you’ve wanted for a…

communication

Communication

7 Ways To Become The Best Version Of Yourself.

Ideally, we can choose to always do what we love without ever needing to think about the things we don’t like. That, unfortunately, is not the case in real world. There are times when we need to do something we don’t like. Just think of the time when you were in school or college. While there were some modules you liked, there were usually also some modules you didn’t like. But you needed to work your way through all of them, not just the ones you liked.

How to Enjoy What You Are Doing No Matter What

Often, we need to do something we don’t like as a part of something larger which will give us big benefit in the future. For example, we take the modules we don’t like in college because it will eventually earn us a degree that gives us the opportunity to get a good job. It is unlikely that we need to do something we don’t like if there is no long-term benefit involved. By looking at the long-term benefit you will eventually acquire, the activity won’t look as bad as it is.

1. Look at the long-term benefit

I believe there is always something we can learn from every experience. If we can’t find one, that’s maybe just because we are too focused on the negative side rather than the positive. For example, European History which Joel talked about may help us learn from thousands of years of experiences so that we do not need to repeat the same mistakes people did. Besides, it can give us more potential common ground to connect with new people (especially with those who like history). If you really can’t find any, at least the experience teaches you to be persistent in any situation.

2. Find what you can learn from it

Love is a strong source of motivation. If you do something for someone you love, it’s very likely that you can stand even the most boring activity and even enjoy the process. So keep in mind that you do not do this for yourself, but for someone you love.

3. Think of doing it for someone you love

Your source of fun and enjoyment is not just the activity, but also the interaction with the people there. While the activity itself might not be very exciting, there might be a lot of rich experiences you can get from the interaction with the people. That’s also one reason to enjoy what you are doing.

4. Enjoy the interaction with the people

If you keep thinking or saying that you don’t like an activity, there is no way you can enjoy it. Always think and say something positive. The points above helps you find positive things you can think and say about. You may think of the long-term benefit you will get, or the nice interaction you have with the people. Focus on these positive things; don’t ever think or say something negative..

5. Think and say something positive

While you may not always have the luxury to choose who you work with, whenever possible you should choose to gather with positive people. Choose the people who you know are passionate about the activity. Their passion would be contagious. They will give you the energy to stay positive and even enjoy what you are doing.

6. Gather with passionate people

Important things to remember and follow them to enjoy the work you are doing ... And lead a wonderful day...

Enjoying your career is more important than earning a high salary or flashy title. Here's why you should switch to a job that makes you happy.

business

Business

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

How to enjoy the work what you are doing ...

<ul><li>What we do everyday matters more than what we do once in a while.</li><li>Make it easy to do right and hard to do wrong.</li><li>Focus on actions not outcomes.</li><li> By giving something up, we may gain.</li><li>Things often get harder before they get easier.</li><li> We are not very different from people but those differences are very important.</li><li>Once we’re ready to begin, begin now.</li></ul>

The Habits Manifesto

<ul><li>When we give more to ourselves, we can ask more from ourselves. </li><li>It is easier to change our surroundings than ourselves. </li><li>We can’t make people change but when we change, people may change. </li><li>We should make sure the things we do to feel better don’t make us feel worse.</li><li> We manage what we monitor</li></ul>

The Habits Manifesto from Better Than Before

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Happiness Project and “a force for real change” (Brené Brown) examines how changing our habits can change our lives. “If anyone can help us stop procrastinating, start exercising, or get organized, it’s Gretchen Rubin. The happiness guru takes a sledgehammer to old-fashioned notions about change.”—Parade Most of us have a habit we’d like to change, and there’s no shortage of expert advice. But as we all know from tough experience, no magic, one-size-fits-all solution exists. It takes work to make a habit, but once that habit is set, we can harness the energy of habits to build happier, stronger, more productive lives. In Better Than Before, acclaimed writer Gretchen Rubin identifies every approach that actually works. She presents a practical, concrete framework to allow readers to understand their habits—and to change them for good. Infused with Rubin’s compelling voice, rigorous research, and easy humor, and packed with vivid stories of lives transformed, Better Than Before explains the (sometimes counterintuitive) core principles of habit formation and answers the most perplexing questions about habits: • Why do we find it tough to create a habit for something we love to do? • How can we keep our healthy habits when we’re surrounded by temptations? • How can we help someone else change a habit? Rubin reveals the true secret to habit change: first, we must know ourselves. When we shape our habits to suit ourselves, we can find success—even if we’ve failed before. Whether you want to eat more healthfully, stop checking devices, or finish a project, the invaluable ideas in Better Than Before will start you working on your own habits—even before you’ve finished the book.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Happiness Project and “a force for real change” (Brené Brown) examines how changing our habits can change our lives.   “If anyone can help us stop procrastinating, start exercising, or get organized, it’s Gretchen Rubin. The happiness guru takes a sledgehammer to old-fashioned notions about change.”—Parade   Most of us have a habit we’d like to change, and there’s no shortage of expert advice. But as we all know from tough experience, no magic, one-size-fits-all solution exists. It takes work to make a habit, but once that habit is set, we can harness the energy of habits to build happier, stronger, more productive lives.   In Better Than Before, acclaimed writer Gretchen Rubin identifies every approach that actually works. She presents a practical, concrete framework to allow readers to understand their habits—and to change them for good.    Infused with Rubin’s compelling voice, rigorous research, and easy humor, and packed with vivid stories of lives transformed, Better Than Before explains the (sometimes counterintuitive) core principles of habit formation and answers the most perplexing questions about habits:    • Why do we find it tough to create a habit for something we love to do?  • How can we keep our healthy habits when we’re surrounded by temptations?  • How can we help someone else change a habit?    Rubin reveals the true secret to habit change: first, we must know ourselves. When we shape our habits to suit ourselves, we can find success—even if we’ve failed before.    Whether you want to eat more healthfully, stop checking devices, or finish a project, the invaluable ideas in Better Than Before will start you working on your own habits—even before you’ve finished the book.

Gretchen Rubin

Better Than Before

Find  Self Improvement Tips - Curated from popular Books like Atomic Habits, 48 Rules of Power, Deep Work, Rich Dad Poor Dad and way more!