The hottest Self-Improvement Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Week in review

André Casal's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 05 Aug 24
💼 Business Self-Improvement
  1. Mastery cycles help you learn skills quickly by breaking the process into steps: try, review, and improve. This keeps you organized and focused on growth.
  2. The Dunning-Kruger effect shows that people often think they're smarter than they are at first. Overcoming challenges makes you more aware of how much there is to learn.
  3. Reflection and planning are just as important as doing the work. Taking time to think about what you've done helps you get better and avoid falling into bad habits.

The Art Of Ignoring Career Advice

Mindful Modeler • 399 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. Consider advice that resonates with you and ignore what doesn't align with your values.
  2. Question general advice that may not be specific to your unique situation and priorities.
  3. Understand that advice is often based on the experiences and biases of the person giving it, so weigh it against your own goals.
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My First McSweeney’s Submission

Shades of Greaves • 393 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
📚 Literature Self-Improvement
  1. The author reflects on their five-year writing journey, from initial rejections to significant career milestones, showing that progress in writing takes time and perseverance.
  2. They compare their first and most recent submissions to McSweeney's, highlighting improvements in storytelling and satire techniques over the years.
  3. Through self-critique and analysis, the author demonstrates the importance of continuously learning and evolving as a writer, emphasizing that growth and skill development in writing occur over years and decades.

the feedback fallacy of writing on the internet

Both Are True • 152 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. There are three types of feedback: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. Knowing the difference helps you understand how to use feedback effectively.
  2. Many people confuse appreciation for evaluation, especially when they lack clear evaluations of their work. This can lead to unnecessary anxiety about others' opinions.
  3. Creating a list of personal guidelines for evaluating work can help you focus on what matters and improve your writing process.

Kindness

Venture Prose • 379 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Self-Improvement
  1. Kindness should be a default currency when engaging with people, not something to reserve only for special situations.
  2. Expressing kindness can help to quickly determine if someone is trustworthy or not.
  3. Kindness is a valuable attribute that triggers positive responses, builds trust, and fosters happiness.

Defaults: how to make them work for you

Tranquil Thoughts • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Defaults are the choices you make without really thinking, like how you introduce yourself or what you watch on TV. It's good to be aware of them.
  2. Choosing the right defaults can save you time and help you build better habits. For example, listening to podcasts can improve your language skills.
  3. You have the power to change your defaults so they work for you instead of against you. Think about how to make your daily choices support your goals.

Becoming an active participant is a blue ocean

Hot Takes • 373 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Becoming an active participant in various projects and discussions is beneficial and fulfilling.
  2. Choosing to engage actively rather than passively can lead to personal growth and meaningful contributions.
  3. Participating in collaborative efforts, like Wikipedia, can have a significant positive impact and allows for collective creativity.

Better.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 49 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. Focus on making the best choice you can at any moment. It's more important to act now rather than dwell on past mistakes.
  2. Try to leave every interaction, place, or task better than you found it. Helping others and improving your surroundings can make you feel good too.
  3. Aim to be better than your past self every day. Small daily habits can lead to big improvements over time.

GRANTED: Your favorite ideas of 2022

Granted • 519 implied HN points • 31 Dec 22
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. Certainty is not a sign of credibility; it's better to learn from thoughtful individuals than smooth talkers.
  2. Being kind to yourself involves learning from mistakes, not beating yourself up.
  3. Collaborating with constructive critics can be more beneficial than attacking them.

#97: Không thỏa hiệp

Many One Percents • 353 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. Make decisions for your health based on personal needs, like supplementing with vitamins and taking cold showers.
  2. Engage in deeper conversations using tools like '36 questions in love' to connect with others on a more meaningful level.
  3. Consider joining courses or workshops to enhance your skills and knowledge, like a 30-day blogging course to improve writing habits.

What's got my attention this week #27

The Shift With Sam Baker • 279 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. The post discusses various interesting reads and experiences, like a New Yorker piece by Zadie Smith, aging on your terms by Anita Bhagwandas, and learning to ride a motorcycle at 50.
  2. There's a piece on surviving sibling rivalry as an adult, overcoming shame tied to perfectionism, and the rise of selfishness among the super-rich.
  3. The content is for paid subscribers, emphasizing the support needed to access more exclusive material.

Confidence vs. Arrogance

The Breaking Point • 459 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
💼 Business Self-Improvement
  1. Confidence is important in business but crossing into arrogance can lead to mistakes.
  2. Being confident means knowing your strengths and weaknesses, while being humble.
  3. Regular self-evaluation is essential to maintain a healthy perspective in business.

On Clean Living

Castalia • 499 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Switching from drinking to not drinking can change your life. It might seem tough at first, but it can lead to feeling better overall.
  2. Noticing how alcohol and caffeine affect your moods and energy levels is important. Quitting them can give you a clearer view of yourself.
  3. Sobriety opens up a chance to see other habits, like phone use or gaming, as potential addictions. Learning to be okay with free time without substances can help you discover a different way to live.

#161: Unhappy medium

Maybe Baby • 1713 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Sometimes being worse off can motivate action more than just being mildly off
  2. Region-Beta Paradox: Moving from a medium-bad situation to a worse one can lead to quicker healing or recovery
  3. In matters of indecision, taking action is often better than staying in the middle

Good At Sex: Seduction Via Narrative Reinforcement (pt 7)

Knowingless • 1188 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Seduction is seen as a collaborative activity where both parties want the same thing - to overcome barriers and enjoy sex together.
  2. People often seek to reinforce narratives about themselves, so being able to sell the right self-image to someone can be a powerful tool in seduction.
  3. Understanding and appealing to a person's core desires and self-conception can be more effective in seduction than just focusing on physical attractiveness or immediate desires.

The Eristics Test: The Scariest Personality Quiz You'll Ever Take

normality’s Substack • 17 HN points • 27 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. The Eristics Test is a unique personality quiz that helps you understand your emotions and archetype based on your responses. It asks you 16 sharp questions designed to tap into your feelings.
  2. This test categorizes emotions into six basic types and combines them to form complex emotions, resulting in nine distinct personality archetypes. Each archetype highlights different emotional strengths and responses.
  3. Taking the test may help you discover and address inner conflicts or traits you weren't aware of, potentially leading to personal growth and positive change.

The cupboards of perfection

De Pony Sum • 294 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. The concept of perfect self-improvement cupboards is explored, where individuals step in to be improved in different ways.
  2. Different versions of the cupboards were created to address issues like changing preferences and ensuring consent at each stage of improvement.
  3. Ultimately, a MetaUltimate cupboard was designed, allowing individuals to go through their preferred self-improvement process, raising questions about what the perfect self-improvement process truly is.

Entourage

Venture Prose • 359 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💼 Business Self-Improvement
  1. Entrepreneurs need a variety of support and feedback from different types of people in their circle, including friends, family, collaborators, and external contacts.
  2. Effective communication with one's circle involves sharing, confiding, and receiving feedback authentically and purposefully.
  3. Being aware of biases in interactions and being open to feedback and self-reflection can help entrepreneurs navigate their relationships and improve their decision-making.

How I've Been Transcending Jealousy

Val's Pals • 137 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Jealousy often stems from insecurity, and it's important to remember that the people we envy are also just humans with their own insecurities.
  2. Interacting with those we're jealous of can reveal that our perceptions are not always accurate, and they may even seek advice from us despite our feelings.
  3. Taking concrete steps to confront and navigate jealousy, such as interacting with those we envy and addressing our insecurities, can help us tame this complex emotion.

Edgar Allan Hoe

Sex and the State • 32 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Fear, criticism, and anger can make you push people away by assuming rejection and finding reasons not to connect before giving anyone a chance.
  2. Publicly calling people out often backfires, so it’s usually more effective to offer constructive help, ask questions, and open a dialogue when you want others to improve.
  3. Practicing likability—finding common ground, giving compliments, and showing vulnerability—is exhausting but it builds habit and slowly reduces loneliness.

The Sequence Research #673: Infinite Self-Improvement: Unpacking Sakana's Darwin Gödel Machine

TheSequence • 154 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Self-Improvement
  1. The Darwin Gödel Machine (DGM) is a new kind of AI that can change its own code to improve. It combines two ideas: self-modifying machines and evolving through trial and error.
  2. Instead of needing complicated proofs for changes, DGM tests its code edits under real-world conditions. This helps it learn quickly and safely from what works.
  3. DGM has shown significant improvement in coding benchmarks, outperforming humans and traditional methods. This means it can continually get better at coding and solving problems.

Velocity & Excellence

Venture Prose • 399 implied HN points • 02 Jan 23
💼 Business Self-Improvement
  1. Optimism is important for entrepreneurs, but clarity of vision helps avoid delusion.
  2. Balancing learning from others with making unique decisions is key for success.
  3. Balancing velocity and excellence is crucial - don't be too fast or too slow, aim for a blend of speed and quality.

On Scary Chess

Poczwardowski Notes • 177 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. Playing chess is not about intelligence but about practice and a systematic approach to learning.
  2. Chess is a game of skill and strategy, with no luck involved. It's a battle of brains where the better prepared player usually wins.
  3. Overcoming fear of judgment can lead to valuable experiences. Trying new things, like learning chess, can be rewarding and fun.

Coaching Toolkit: Balance coaching to find new perspectives

Tech and Tea • 131 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Balance coaching helps people change their perspective when they're feeling lost or stuck. It encourages exploring new ways of thinking about a situation to regain agency.
  2. Shifting mindsets can be very powerful, like moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. This means believing you can improve with effort rather than thinking you're just good or bad at something.
  3. Common mindset shifts include going from feeling like a victim to feeling more in control. Being curious and compassionate towards yourself can help in tough times.

GRANTED: Connecting with your future self and learning from the past

Granted • 399 implied HN points • 30 Nov 22
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. Learning isn't complete just by acquiring knowledge, but by consistently applying it to evolve and improve.
  2. Closing the gap between awareness and action is the ultimate test of growth.
  3. Reject the illusion of continuity for wiser choices; emotional labor is as important as physical and cognitive labor; consider reimagining work methods from hunter-gatherer societies.

The uncomfortable yet productive kind of pain

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 926 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Many of life's greatest experiences involve initially overcoming discomfort and pain, leading to growth and transcendence.
  2. Recognize and reframe feelings of discomfort to gauge if something productive might be happening on the other side.
  3. Differentiate between productive, growth-inducing discomfort and unnecessary fear that may hold you back from personal development.

The Golden Algorithm: The One Key to Unlock All of Life's Problems

The Leadership Lab • 137 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Avoiding emotions or ways of being can lead to those exact things manifesting in a stronger way in our lives.
  2. Reactive patterns often stem from avoiding certain emotions we don't want to feel, leading to unconscious behavior.
  3. Freedom and personal growth come from allowing ourselves to feel and be vulnerable, even if it is uncomfortable.

Chatter.

Finding Joy • 235 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Criticism is ineffective and counterproductive for self-improvement
  2. Self-compassion includes recognizing stress, being supportive, and acknowledging mistakes
  3. Replace self-criticism with self-compassion to unlock your potential