The hottest Self-Improvement Substack posts right now

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

Ladyparts • 179 implied HN points • 28 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement Healthy living Mental health Physical health Diet
  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 Addiction Recovery Self-Improvement Mental health Personal Growth
  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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I like how things are 🍽 — Status Quo Bias

10x your mind • 79 implied HN points • 11 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Self-Improvement Healthy Habits Wellness Practices
  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.

My method to boost creativity

VS Blog • 7 HN points • 02 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Creativity Brain function Self-Improvement Well-being Mental health
  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 Music Education Philosophy Arts 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 Mental health Psychology Self-Improvement Decision-making Wellness
  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.

Acceptance

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 7 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Acceptance Self-Improvement Happiness Life choices Mental health
  1. It's important to accept things we cannot change, like other people's beliefs, because trying to change them can lead to frustration. Just accept people as they are.
  2. We can only control our own happiness and responses to situations, not the world or others around us. Focusing on ourselves may bring more fulfillment.
  3. Small changes in life are more manageable and effective than trying to achieve big changes. Embracing acceptance can help us deal with challenges better.

Mechanics over Mindset

Venture Prose • 199 implied HN points • 01 Mar 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Mindset Self-Improvement Personal Development
  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 Mind-Body Connection Control Practices Human nature
  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 Sobriety Personal Finance Self-Improvement Budgeting
  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 Addiction Sobriety Recovery Self-Improvement Mental health
  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 Entrepreneurship Leadership Self-Improvement Work Culture Motivation
  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 Leadership Emotion Cognition 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.

Three step fear facing framework

A Bit Gamey • 20 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Improvement
  1. The fear-facing framework involves defining worst-case scenarios, preventing them, and preparing to repair the damage if they occur. It's about facing fears with a structured approach.
  2. The framework is rooted in Stoic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of contemplating potential negative outcomes to better handle future challenges. It's about preparing for the worst.
  3. Utilizing the fear-facing framework can lead to positive outcomes, as demonstrated by the author's experience with resolving a situation through structured fear management. Taking action on fears can be empowering.