A sign of emotional intelligence is moving from “You made me feel” to “This is how I reacted.” Our emotions aren’t caused by other people’s actions. They’re shaped by our interpretations. Blaming others gives them power over our feelings. Taking responsibility empowers us.

Addictions are attempts to attain bliss without releasing defensive patterns.

The health of a relationship depends on the amount of uncomfortable conversations people are willing to have.

When you're busy enough, "boredom" isn't a thing - it just feels like a break. It's fantastic and rare. A chance to think, to put things together in your head, be intentional with moves forward, and actually really wonderful.

One of the problems with being "rational" in your own estimation is that you are probably only being rational about one dimension of a surprisingly complex situation

We’re meant to experience emotional pain so we can release it. No other reason.

Spend less time focusing on "discipline," and more time in things that genuinely pull you forward... The person who requires internal force, will always get lapped by someone with genuine drive toward that thing. Obsession beats discipline all day long.

Blaming and complaining are mixtures of genuine grief and defensive anger.

How do you formulate an aim in life when you don't even know what jobs will exist in a few years, or what will be invented? You don't shoot for a specific job. You shoot for the process the job does: I want to work with the human mind, code, solve problems, fix things, etc.

What makes your mind stronger, and more able to control your emotions, is internal discipline and toughness. No one can teach you this skill; you cannot learn it by reading about it. Like any discipline, it can come only through practice, experience, even a little suffering.