Life
philosophical content pointing us towards living a meaningful life
Life
... See moreYou’re never so centered on yourself as when you’re depressed. You’re never so ready to forget yourself as when you are happy. Happiness releases you from self. It is suffering and pain and misery and depression that tie you to the self. Look how conscious you are of your tooth when you have a toothache. When you don’t have a toothache, you’re not
By Anthony De Mello, from the book, Awareness.
From the May 30, 2025 edition of Tim Ferriss’s 5-Bullet Friday email newsletter.
“As I go about my day, folding laundry, or thinking through what needs to be done, my clutter reminds me of the people who have filled my life and, now, my apartment.”
it is absolutely certain that if you bump into the world in some way, it will bump back, often unpredictably and to a greater extent than you think. Just do anything that’s even slightly interesting to you, without paying too much attention to what you’re trying to achieve. You will find that the world will throw behavior at you, and, at some... See more
Sasha Chapin • Some Advice Gathered From People Smarter Than Me
Many concepts can be explained concisely, in simple language, and we should all strive for clarity. But the aphorism is a mistake, for a number of thoughts approximate the carpenter’s craft, and to meaningfully reveal them requires time and attention. Sometimes these cannot simply be told to another at all, they must be grown. For a topical... See more
Simon Sarris • Long Distance Thinking
The phone is not the enemy. The enemy is fear—fear of stillness, fear of silence, fear of being alone with one's own thoughts.
So let this be the final word: use it, but do not be used by it. Hold it, but do not be held by it.
And above all, remember: the truest moments of life happen in the spaces where there is no screen.
So let this be the final word: use it, but do not be used by it. Hold it, but do not be held by it.
And above all, remember: the truest moments of life happen in the spaces where there is no screen.
Six Meditations on the Phone
Studies of individuals who report high life satisfaction consistently show one pattern: they engage in activities with naturally extended feedback loops. Mastery of skills, service to others, deep relationships, creative expression—all require tolerating periods of boredom or frustration before delivering their rewards.
The Waiting Room of Greatness: Why Boredom is the Key
I’ve concluded that the metric by which God will assess my life isn’t dollars but the individual people whose lives I’ve touched. I think that’s the way it will work for us all. Don’t worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people. This is my final recommendation:
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