One of the most intelligent case studies in design is the Chinese tea cup. They’re made without handles simply because if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to drink.

Humans naturally want to add more. Add a cardboard sleeve, add a warning on the outside of the cup, add a handle. The result of all these things never cools down the actual contents.

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the Harvard Study of Adult Development—has shown that four of the biggest predictors of a senior citizen’s well-being are not smoking excessively, drinking alcohol moderately if at all, maintaining a healthy body weight, and exercising. Even more important for well-being is good mental health

True satisfaction comes from progress in the struggle toward the goal.

Good health practices seem not to raise happiness, but rather to lower unhappiness

Dostoyevsky identifies one of life’s great paradoxes: Happiness requires purpose; purpose requires a sense of direction; a sense of direction requires goal-setting—but happiness cannot be had by realizing those goals

1. My goals in life are mere intentions, not attachments. I will focus on the struggle, the journey.

2. Conformity of thought and deed is more comfortable than freedom. But I will question everything, and think and act for myself.

3. I will turn away the narcotic snares of tech distraction that steal my time and attention in exchange for my freedom o... See more