The hottest Self-Improvement Substack posts right now

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You need to be wholesome-maxxing.

Castles in the Sky • 46 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. Being wholesome means doing happy, simple things that bring joy. It can be as easy as taking fun photos or enjoying a favorite drink.
  2. Avoiding clichés or common interests doesn’t lead to happiness; embracing them can actually make life better. Trying things that seem cheesy can be freeing and rewarding.
  3. Wholesome-maxxing is about being true to yourself and not worrying about others' judgments. It's okay to enjoy what you love, even if it seems mainstream or silly.

Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Just Be More French.

Ladyparts • 179 implied HN points • 28 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. New Year's resolutions are approached differently in France - framed as part of living well rather than restrictive goals.
  2. French attitudes towards food, exercise, sex, and work contribute to a healthier lifestyle and longer lifespan compared to Americans.
  3. Adopting a more holistic and balanced approach to self-improvement, similar to the French way, could lead to better overall well-being and fulfillment.

Do This and You'll Feel Better

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 79 implied HN points • 26 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Indulging in short-term pleasures like drinking or doing drugs can lead to a loss of self and a cycle of inaction and anxiety.
  2. Taking action, even after failures, disappointments, or bouts of self-loathing, can help in regaining a sense of self and feeling better.
  3. Overcoming setbacks, failures, negativity, and boredom by addressing them directly can lead to a path out of inaction and back to one's true self.
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The Art of Stupid

The Palindrome • 5 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🚌 Education Self-Improvement
  1. It's okay to feel confused when learning something new. Embracing that feeling can actually help you learn better.
  2. Asking simple or 'stupid' questions is important for understanding. Don't be afraid to seek clarity on things you don't get.
  3. Worrying about how you look to others can hold you back. Focus on gaining knowledge instead of keeping up appearances.

I like how things are 🍽 — Status Quo Bias

10x your mind • 79 implied HN points • 11 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. The status quo bias makes us prefer keeping things as they are and avoid change, even when it might benefit us to try something new.
  2. People tend to be more averse to losing something they own rather than gaining something new, known as the Endowment Effect.
  3. By developing a mindset of a forever learner, being open to new skills and experiences, we can break the status quo and continue progressing in life.

Compress your life, feel better

An Educated Guess • 58 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Being busy can make life feel overwhelming and less enjoyable. Many people feel they can't fit in fun or self-care because they're too occupied.
  2. Using a tech concept called compression can help manage daily tasks better. If tasks are repetitive or similar, your brain can handle them more easily, kind of like how a ZIP file works.
  3. Stress isn't just about how much work you have. It's also about how tasks are organized and whether they're predictable, which can make a big difference in how we experience our day.

The High Performer's Trap: When Self-Criticism Starts Working Against You

The Caring Techie Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Self-Improvement
  1. Being too hard on yourself can hurt your performance. It’s better to be kind to yourself instead of listening to your inner critic.
  2. Perfectionism can create a cycle of negative self-talk. When you set high standards, you're more likely to feel like a failure when things go wrong.
  3. Treat yourself like you would a friend. Instead of blaming yourself, focus on what you can learn and do better next time.

New report: How altered states shape our minds

Monomythical • 53 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. The jhanas are meditation practices that can create strong, blissful experiences similar to psychedelics. Many people who try them report significant changes in their lives and well-being.
  2. There is still limited research on the jhanas, which makes studying their effects challenging. Most researchers have not yet focused on these practices, making it harder to find participants for studies.
  3. A new report highlights the experiences of people who attended jhana retreats, providing valuable insights. It aims to spark more questions and research into how these meditation states influence our minds.

Repairing Ourselves.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 53 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. Poetry helps us connect with our deepest feelings and can aid in personal healing. It shows us that we can rebuild ourselves through words and creativity.
  2. Water symbolizes life and healing, teaching us the importance of being adaptable and working harmoniously with our environment.
  3. Kintsugi is a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, reminding us that our scars and flaws can be beautiful and part of our unique story.

My method to boost creativity

VS Blog • 7 HN points • 02 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Boost creativity by exposing yourself to diverse and novel stimuli while moving around, triggering new ideas and solutions.
  2. Enhance creativity by letting go of control during the process and allowing associative memory and thinking to make connections.
  3. Maximize the effectiveness of this creativity-boosting method by visiting new locations with abundant, diverse, and novel stimuli, and fleshing out multiple problems beforehand.

Against "talent"

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 04 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Self-Improvement
  1. Talent is often used as an excuse for not trying something new. People might say they lack talent instead of acknowledging that skills come from hard work and practice.
  2. No one is born an expert in anything, including tech or music. Mastery in any field requires time and effort, and everyone struggles at first.
  3. Using the term 'talent' can discourage people from pursuing their interests. If someone thinks they need a special gift to succeed, they might not even try, but anyone can learn with determination.

Happy times ahead 🌈 — Optimism Bias

10x your mind • 79 implied HN points • 16 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. The optimism bias is when we tend to overestimate good things happening to us and underestimate bad things.
  2. Optimists tend to overestimate their abilities and the role of their capabilities in success, and they hate the feeling of not being in control.
  3. Understanding the optimism bias can help us make better decisions, stay motivated during tough times, and be more realistic about our plans.

Grace.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 48 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Grace is about being kind and understanding, especially during tough times. It's important to respond with patience instead of anger.
  2. Having grace means showing forgiveness and empathy towards others. This helps create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued.
  3. Grace also involves accepting our own imperfections and handling challenges with dignity. It's about staying calm and composed even when things get difficult.

The Way of Mediocre Man | #228

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 165 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Mediocre effort can lead to surprising success over time by consistently doing things you enjoy.
  2. Avoid wasting effort on things you don't want to do to prevent wasting years of your life.
  3. Embrace a stance toward life that is different from traditional success paths, focusing on emotional sophistication, ambiguity tolerance, and sustained effort.

Mechanics over Mindset

Venture Prose • 199 implied HN points • 01 Mar 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Understanding the mechanics of your actions and reactions is like understanding how a machine works - tangible and rational.
  2. It's more effective to focus on working with the dynamics of the machine (the actions) before tackling the mindset (emotions).
  3. Instead of doing what you love, focus on doing what you're great at, as this often leads to more satisfaction and success.

Chapter 17, pp.346-351 - Reading Club posting 62

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Self-Improvement
  1. Gurdjieff emphasizes the necessity of schools in working on oneself due to man's inability to keep watch on all aspects of himself without assistance.
  2. Man is described as the slave of his body, highlighting the importance of controlling muscular tension and the need for schools to help in this effort.
  3. Control over the body starts with acquiring control over muscular tension, beginning with the relaxation of facial muscles according to Gurdjieff's teachings.

Sobriety as an Inflation Hedge

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 59 implied HN points • 11 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Inflation is deliberate and will worsen, impacting people's finances through mass money printing and asset devaluation. Consider alternatives like self-managed retirement funds.
  2. Being sober can be an effective way to save money and act as an inflation hedge. Alcohol can be a costly luxury, and cutting back can lead to substantial savings.
  3. Sobriety not only helps save money but also strengthens the body, mind, and spirit, making it a valuable strategy for navigating challenging times and hardships.

How I Gave Up Drinking Without Giving Up Drinking

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 59 implied HN points • 14 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Labels like 'alcoholic' can oversimplify complex issues and may not fully capture individual circumstances and nuances.
  2. Admitting and recognizing a problem is the crucial first step towards recovery and change.
  3. Having a personalized system to track progress and set goals can help in controlling addictive behaviors and staying motivated in sobriety.

Three people I admire

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 07 May 23
💼 Business Self-Improvement
  1. David Goggins inspires hard work and resilience. He shows that facing fears and not settling for mediocrity is important for success.
  2. Ray Dalio's books offer valuable lessons on building a company and understanding societal changes. His principles on culture and feedback are especially useful for entrepreneurs.
  3. John McWhorter excels in clear and thoughtful debate. He teaches how to focus on ideas rather than personal attacks, making discussions more accessible for everyone.

PP #35 | How to Instantly Be a Better Leader, and using Emotion, Cognition, and Movement to get Unstuck

The Leadership Lab • 39 implied HN points • 04 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. Using both emotion and cognition to approach problems can help you get unstuck. If you're stuck in your thoughts, focus on how you want to feel. If trapped by your feelings, think about the best path forward and take the first step.
  2. Physical movement can help you get unstuck creatively. When facing a difficult problem, go for a walk or engage in some form of physical activity without distractions. Let your body's movement guide your mind's flow.
  3. To improve as a leader, embrace your position and responsibilities. Owning your leadership means doing what needs to be done and holding yourself and others accountable. Leadership is about making hard choices but sticking to them.