The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
What if, instead of easy comfort, we wanted for challenges that transform us into better version of ourselves?
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
A prominent billionaire gave a graduation speech the other day. The key message? Work hard to be successful.
Another prominent billionaire gave a graduation speech a year later. The key message? Working hard is bad advice. Do what feels fun for you to be successful.
Another prominent billionaire gave a graduation speech a year later. The key message? Working hard is bad advice. Do what feels fun for you to be successful.
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
post-truth world
Work hard for yourself, for the joy you feel when you’re one step closer to the person you’ve always wanted to be, whether it’s getting in the dirt to make things grow, getting in front of a crowd to speak your truth, or going out to find love behind all those brambles.
Our souls needs proof of work to sing.
Our souls needs proof of work to sing.
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
Like an insatiable investor, dopamine constantly screams for Bigger! Better! More!
Satisfying dopamine’s demands is a losing game
Satisfying dopamine’s demands is a losing game
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
Comfort and convenience are valuable for the time it frees up. But how we use that time matters. We need voluntary challenge, not the empty victory of quick dopamine hits. Research into discomfort—like ice baths or cold showers—shows these short bursts of voluntary hardship boost mood, reduce stress, and build greater resilience.
Similarly, intermit... See more
Similarly, intermit... See more
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
Comfort and convenience are valuable for the time it frees up. But how we use that time matters. We need voluntary challenge, not the empty victory of quick dopamine hits. Research into discomfort—like ice baths or cold showers—shows these short bursts of voluntary hardship boost mood, reduce stress, and build greater resilience.
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
This is the hidden trap of comfort: the easier and quicker our desires are fulfilled, the more our brains recalibrate. Getting what we want, without struggle or delay, numbs our ability to experience real joy and satisfaction.
In short, being too comfortable actually makes us miserable.
In short, being too comfortable actually makes us miserable.
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
The siren song of the world’s largest corporations echoes the enduring message of devoted parents throughout history: to be comfortable is to be happy.
Yet this just might be the greatest lie we tell ourselves.
Yet this just might be the greatest lie we tell ourselves.
Julie Zhuo • The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work
Paradoxically, doing hard things makes us happier. Putting ourselves through struggle makes us better equipped to enjoy life.