Insight Axis

Insight Axis focuses on personal development through a variety of lenses including productivity, health, career advice, critical thinking, creativity, technology insights, and the philosophy of science. It emphasizes practical wisdom, embracing change, and the pursuit of intellectual growth across different domains of life.

Personal Development Productivity Health and Wellness Career Guidance Critical Thinking Creativity Technology and Innovation Science and Philosophy

The hottest Substack posts of Insight Axis

And their main takeaways

How I Won My 10 Year Battle With Procrastination

1955 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Procrastination Principles Curiosity Mindfulness Meditation
  1. Procrastination often stems from the conflict between a part of you that wants to do a task and a part that's holding you back.
  2. Direction is more important than speed - focus on progress over perfection to combat procrastination.
  3. Cultivate curiosity to overcome procrastination by being open to discomfort, using techniques like doing tasks slowly and practicing mindfulness.

The Power Of Movement Over Exercise

1402 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Movement Mindset Physical health Well-being
  1. Think of movement as more inclusive and sustainable than just exercise - align with your biology rather than work against it.
  2. Make movement a meaningful ritual instead of just a habit - care for your body intentionally.
  3. Remember that movement is constant in life - from everyday tasks to intentional workouts, aim for a sustainable approach for long-term health.

How To Tame Your Impulsive Behaviour And Make Healthier Decisions

632 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Decision-making
  1. Resisting urges leads to increased suffering because of the pain x resistance equation. It's better to embrace a state of 'couldness' rather than fighting impulses.
  2. Changing your identity to instill good habits may not work well due to the element of restriction that still leads to some suffering. The act of choosing is more impactful.
  3. Simply 'surfing the urge' by sitting with discomfort may not completely eliminate resistance. Embracing 'couldness' with near-zero resistance can lead to better decision-making and empowerment.

How To Fix Career Funk In Your 20s

889 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
  1. Avoid trying to predict the future in detail; embrace serendipity for unexpected opportunities.
  2. Prioritize being a generalist first before specializing; expertise coupled with broad knowledge is a valuable combination.
  3. Understand that linear career paths are no longer the norm; embrace change, growth, and the idea that today's job might not exist tomorrow.
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But Seriously, Why The F*ck Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

612 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Evolution Knowledge Environment
  1. Giraffes have long necks to better reach food on tall trees, increasing their chances of survival and passing on their genes.
  2. In the true story of giraffes' evolution, genes are the main characters that hold knowledge for survival in their environment.
  3. Humans, unlike giraffes, can create their own knowledge using their minds, allowing them to survive in diverse environments and even outer space.

Be Bold, Do Science

513 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🔬 Science Philosophy Research Education
  1. Science is not a master and has no master - it's about constructive argument, experiment, and refinement.
  2. Science is not confined to subjects like biology or physics - it's about diverse applications and better explanations.
  3. Science is not about hoarding facts but finding theories - it's a creative action that involves testing and humility.

Creativity is Domain Independent

671 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Science Art Writing Programming Creativity
  1. Creativity is not limited to specific fields like art or music; it is a fundamental aspect of being human, manifested across various domains like science, art, writing, and programming.
  2. The creative process involves daring to create something, followed by refining and improving upon it - a cycle present in science, art, and literature.
  3. In programming and software engineering, creativity is not just about writing code but also about the iterative process of refining, debugging, and deleting code - highlighting the importance of continuous improvement and simplification.

Roll With The Elephants

355 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy
  1. Embrace your human gifts like intellect and bravery to face challenges and make a difference
  2. Recognize the power within yourself, dormant yet magnificent, waiting to be unleashed
  3. Don't shy away from confronting your fears, instead, confront them head-on like walking with elephants

BEWARE of Occam's Razor

731 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Macroeconomics Theory Objects
  1. Occam's razor is a tool for finding the best explanations, not a one-size-fits-all solution. It should only be used in specific situations where competing explanations are equally valid.
  2. Good explanations are deep, broad, and hard to vary - not necessarily simple. Choosing simplicity over accuracy can lead to wrong conclusions, like favoring Newton's theory over Einstein's theory of relativity.
  3. Occam's razor can transfer complexity from explanations to objects, but doesn't always eliminate complexity. It's important to apply it correctly by selecting the explanation that avoids unnecessary complexity.

A Letter To Your Mind

355 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Philosophy Self-reflection Meditation
  1. The mind has been a loyal companion, shaping thoughts and feelings to guide us through life.
  2. The journey towards the true essence of the Self requires letting go of attachments to the mind.
  3. Despite parting ways with the mind, it remains an integral part of the infinite and eternal essence.

Pictures From The Past

276 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Personal Growth Reflection Life lessons
  1. Reflect on your past, but remember that time only flows forward. Your history holds the power to fuel your future potential.
  2. The pictures from your past can impact how you navigate your present and future. Be mindful of the memories you hold onto.
  3. Different types of memories like joy, regret, success, or failure can shape your thinking and behaviors. Use them as lessons to move forward.

The Thing About Change

434 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Change Acceptance Fear Pain Growth
  1. Change is often accompanied by pain, and that's okay. Accepting the pain is crucial for growth.
  2. To make a change, it's important to follow your fear, as it can show you where you need to grow.
  3. Embodying change means accepting the discomfort and fear, knowing they do not define you.

Don't Just Solve. Build.

276 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Mindset Creativity Purpose Human nature
  1. Reframe problems as opportunities to build, not just to solve them, for a mindset shift
  2. Creativity and true human potential are unlocked when you view problems as chances to build
  3. Building for a cause greater than yourself leads to creating timeless, beautiful things

The Business of Venture Capital

296 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Startups Entrepreneurship Risk management
  1. Venture capital began from the dot-com bubble era, where tech entrepreneurs set up investment firms to fund new, high-growth technology companies.
  2. VCs specifically invest in early stage companies with potential for rapid growth and huge profits, aiming to 10x their investment in 5 years.
  3. Venture capital faces challenges like misaligned incentives, high-risk investments, and the need to balance finding unicorns without funding too many duds.

Why the Turing Test is Not Enough

592 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Philosophy Science Intelligence Testing
  1. The Turing Test is a thought experiment, not a formal test, and was proposed by Alan Turing to test machine intelligence
  2. Passing the Turing Test does not necessarily indicate true intelligence in AI, as it requires reasoning capabilities and explanatory capacity
  3. Artificial General Intelligence testing should involve multi-dimensional assessments beyond the Turing Test, covering various aspects like linguistic, spatial, and mathematical intelligence

Follow These 4 Steps To Build Anything

316 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
  1. Start with WHY to establish a strong foundation. Embrace emotion and personal motivation for a clear purpose.
  2. Define your WHAT before taking action. Clearly articulating your goals provides direction and clarity.
  3. Strategize your HOW but ensure your WHY and WHAT are solid. Plans may change, but a strong foundation keeps you on track.

How To Fix Math(s) Education

276 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🚌 Education Mathematics Teaching Problem Solving Curriculum
  1. Math education should focus on real-world problems to make it interesting and meaningful for students.
  2. Students should be taught a structured process of defining, abstracting, computing, and interpreting problems in math.
  3. School math should prioritize applied mathematics to show the practical utility of math, cater to the majority, and prepare students for the future.

3 Tests AGI Must Pass

237 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Computing Testing Reasoning Creativity
  1. Computers must excel at calculations to form the foundation for any further intelligence programming.
  2. After calculation, computers need to progress to reasoning - the ability to evaluate information and use it to make value-based decisions.
  3. The ultimate test for artificial intelligence is creativity - the capability to acknowledge rules but break them intuitively to create something new.

You Can Be an Entrepreneur Without Being a Founder

217 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Risk
  1. Entrepreneurship is not limited to being a startup founder with venture capital, it is a broader concept that involves problem-solving, risk-taking, and resource management.
  2. Common definitions of entrepreneurship emphasize risk-taking and creating economic value, but a more inclusive definition should focus on problem-solving with limited resources and seeking leverage.
  3. Examples of entrepreneurship span beyond traditional business ventures and can include activities like writing on platforms such as Substack or a college student taking unconventional steps to secure internships.

Build rituals, not habits

217 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Rituals Habits Consciousness Mindfulness
  1. Building rituals is more impactful than building habits. Rituals carry conscious intention and awareness, making them more potent than habits.
  2. Ritualizing technical work, like coding or mathematics, can improve focus and clarity. Slowing down and being intentional in these tasks can lead to better outcomes.
  3. Debunk the belief that intentional actions are effortful. Being fully present in your activities, from the mundane to the complex, can bring aliveness without strain.

17. Be Antifragile by Expanding Awareness

158 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Mindset Critical Thinking Personal Development
  1. Antifragility is about gaining from stress rather than simply not breaking under it.
  2. Antifragility is a concept by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, explored in his various books like 'Antifragile' and 'The Black Swan.'
  3. Being antifragile involves thriving in a world full of unpredictable stressors by not predicting when events occur, but figuring out how to survive and benefit from them.

12. Why You Should Read Fiction

138 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
📚 Literature Evolution Philosophy Language Narrative Reading
  1. Fiction helps extract meaningful experiences and can often be more 'true' than reality.
  2. Reading fiction improves skills like remembering characters and history, which are valuable in non-fiction and technical writing.
  3. Language evolved for storytelling, making fiction a crucial part of human communication and creativity.

16. Refine Your Conscientiousness with Expanded Awareness

98 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Personality Traits Self-Improvement Mental health
  1. Conscientiousness is one of the Big Five personality traits, describing traits like carefulness and diligence.
  2. Expanded Awareness can boost positive traits of conscientiousness, like diligence, and diminish negative traits, like perfectionism.
  3. By expanding awareness, you give yourself the option to consciously choose actions, directing your diligence with finer aim.

15. How can Expanding Awareness Boost Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

98 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Therapy Mental health
  1. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on accepting difficult thoughts and emotions, choosing valued directions, and taking meaningful actions, different from traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
  2. ACT aims to improve psychological flexibility through de-fusion, acceptance, presence, observing the self, values, and committed action.
  3. Incorporating Alexander Technique (Expanded Awareness) with ACT involves modifying acronyms like FENCE and PEACE to enhance awareness, acknowledge emotions, and engage in activities mindfully.

13. Intersections with Alexander Technique (Expanded Awareness)

79 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mindfulness Body awareness Personal Growth Learning Self-Exploration
  1. Alexander Technique (AT) is not just about posture and back pain, but also emphasizes 'expanding awareness' by being open to new ways of moving and thinking.
  2. The author's exploration of AT(EA) focuses on personal experiences and intersections with topics like attention, personality traits, antifragility, and technology.
  3. The content shared in the series will hyperlink to external sources for more detailed information, emphasizing the unique perspective of how the discussed topics relate to the author's understanding of AT(EA).

10. On Emergence

79 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🔬 Science Philosophy Computation Geometry Cybernetics
  1. Emergence occurs when an entity has properties that its individual parts do not possess, displaying behaviors that only emerge in interaction.
  2. Simple computational or geometric rules can lead to unpredictable and complex outputs, showcasing the beauty of emergence.
  3. Emergence, as seen in cybernetics with Braitenberg's Vehicles, demonstrates how simple structures can give rise to emergent, complex behavior, hinting at the potential for understanding the universe through simple rules.

11. The Magic of Mimesis and Memes

59 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Memes Ideas Desire Transmission Evolution
  1. Replicating memes requires creativity and the ability to extract the core idea from transmitted words or behaviors.
  2. Errors in meme replication are not purely mistakes but can include parts of the source person being transmitted along with the meme.
  3. Compelling memes shape desires and drive imitation, creating a connection between memetics and mimesis.

9. Describing Agency Problems in Serfdom, Employment and Entrepreneurship

39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Employment Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Investment Relationships
  1. Serfdom involved extreme inequality but had direct mutual interest between lords and serfs for protection and survival.
  2. Employment dynamics often have high inequality and may involve agency problems if the employer is not a significant shareholder, highlighting indirect mutual interest.
  3. Entrepreneurship with venture capital introduces extreme inequality similar to serfdom but adds an agency problem where venture capitalists may not have a direct stake, calling for more equitable investment models.

7. The 3-floor hospital of 21st century medicine

19 implied HN points • 25 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Information processing Transhumanism
  1. Physicians have evolved over the ages and now work in the realm of modern medicine, which is just a century old.
  2. The future of medicine lies in 3 key areas: Biotechnology for advanced personalized treatments, Informatics for better decision-making through data, and Transhumanism for a shift towards peak performance and individual responsibility.
  3. A new paradigm shift is needed in the medical field to focus beyond disease treatment to achieving peak health, ushering in a more holistic approach.

6. Dancing between the physical and digital; big tech and macroeconomics

19 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Digital Macroeconomics Tech Companies Information processing Big Tech
  1. Digital innovation is faster and more flexible than physical innovation, making digital iteration more efficient.
  2. Translating between the physical and digital worlds is essential, requiring 'on-ramps' for data input and 'off-ramps' for implementation.
  3. Information processing is crucial, with 'ramps' serving as gatekeepers between physical and digital realms in big tech and macroeconomics.

2. Vote with your feet

39 implied HN points • 27 Jul 21
💼 Business Decision-making Career development
  1. Consider how your environment influences your success and well-being. Changing your environment can improve your situation.
  2. If you find yourself in a role or organization that doesn't align with your qualities or needs, don't hesitate to leave. Find a better fit to thrive.
  3. Voting with your feet - leaving a situation that doesn't work for you - is a powerful way to take control of your life and find fulfillment. Don't feel obligated to stay and fix a broken system; prioritize your own well-being and success.

5. The perils of the cohort study

0 implied HN points • 03 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Research
  1. Clinical trials based on population averages can lead to injustice for individuals.
  2. Individuals may be affected negatively if interventions are prescribed based on study outcomes.
  3. Current adjustments for confounds may not be sufficient when applying population-based science to complex individuals.