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Author: Gabe

  • Deep Work – more than productivity hack

    Deep Work – more than productivity hack

    For months, “Deep Work” by Cal Newport popped up in my social media feeds as a productivity bible, a game-changer for focus, and the key to thriving in a distracted world. Honestly, I was starting to wonder what all the hype was about!

    In a culture obsessed with “busy,” and where simply appearing productive often takes precedence, I decided to finally pick up a copy and see if Newport’s arguments held water. Because let’s be real, in a world that rewards hustle, it’s easy to fall into the trap of prioritizing quantity of work over quality.

    What you’ll find inside:

    This book promises a path to doing the opposite – to produce truly meaningful work, and to do it with intention. In this blogpost, I’ll share what resonated with me, and ultimately, tell you whether or not this book lives up to its reputation.

    Is Your Work Valuable? (And Why It Might Not Be)

    Ever feel like you’re busy all day, but haven’t actually accomplished anything truly meaningful? You’re not alone. Cal Newport argues that we’re rapidly entering an economy where the ability to perform “deep work” – focused, distraction-free concentration that pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit – is becoming increasingly valuable, and frankly, rare.

    He posits that routine cognitive tasks are increasingly being automated. And we see this already today, that certain tasks are being fulfilled by AI. With the rise of Agentic AI, this trend might get even more traction. This means being ‘busy’ isn’t enough nor “shallow work” is something we can expect to be paid for in future.

    In essence, deep work isn’t just a productivity hack; it’s a skill. The ability to deeply focus, to wrestle with complex problems without distraction, is becoming the most valuable skill you can possess.

    Deep work isn’t about working more; it’s about working differently. It’s about reclaiming your attention and intentionally cultivating the ability to focus intensely. If you’re feeling increasingly overwhelmed and unfulfilled in your work, or worried about the future of your career, understanding the principles of deep work might just be the key to not only surviving, but thriving in the years to come.

    Beyond the Hype: Where “Deep Work” Feels Shallow

    While Newport paints a compelling picture of a future demanding “deep work,” it’s easy to fall into the narrative of seeing it as a revolutionary prophecy rather than a nuanced observation.

    The AI Revolution: Prophecy or Premature Celebration? This book has a compelling case for the rising value of “deep work” in an age of automation, predicting a future where those who can think critically will thrive. But let’s be honest: the “AI revolution” has been perpetually “just around the corner” for decades. While AI is undoubtedly advancing, the claim that it will fundamentally reshape the economy and create a clear divide between “deep” and “shallow” workers feels optimistic, to say the least. It’s a compelling narrative, certainly, but one built on a lot of “what ifs” and a somewhat selective reading of technological history. Maybe shallow work will just move along as we do into new jobs and functions.

    Distraction Isn’t the Problem – Our Brains Are.

    The book frames the struggle for focus as a modern affliction, exacerbated by smartphones and social media. But this feels like treating a symptom, not the disease. The real issue isn’t the increase of distraction, but the decades-long conditioning of our brains to crave instant gratification. From sugary cereals marketed to children to the endless scroll of social media feeds, our environment has systematically trained us to seek dopamine hits, eroding our capacity for sustained attention. We’ve become addicted to novelty.

    The Lost Art of Deep Thinking: A Matter of Neuroplasticity.

    This conditioning isn’t just a matter of willpower; it’s a neurological reality. Our brains are remarkably plastic, meaning they adapt to the stimuli they receive. Years of constant stimulation and instant gratification have literally rewired our brains, making it harder to focus, concentrate, and engage in deep, complex thought. It’s not that we can’t focus; it’s that our brains have been trained not to. The challenge isn’t simply eliminating distractions; it’s actively retraining our brains to resist them. While eliminating distractions is a good start, I hoped to learn more about what we can do to revert this conditioning.

    Habits derived from “Deep Work”

    The following are three habits, I derived from this book.

    Habit: 15-Minute Drift

    Every day, at a set time (e.g., after lunch, before dinner), I dedicate 15 minutes to intentional doing nothing. I sit comfortably, close my eyes (or gaze softly out a window), and simply allow my thoughts to wander. No phone, no book, no music – just quiet observation of whatever arises.

    Why it Works: This isn’t laziness; it’s cognitive rest. Our brains aren’t designed for constant, focused attention. This “drift” time allows the Default Mode Network (DMN) to activate. The DMN is responsible for creativity, problem-solving, and consolidating memories. By letting your mind wander, you’re essentially letting your unconscious mind process information and recharge, leading to improved focus and deeper work when you do concentrate. It’s like defragging a computer.

    Shot-down ritual to have peace in mind of today’s work assignments, but plan for the next day. Especially relevant for home office work!

    Habit: Daily Closure

    At the end of my workday, spend 5-10 minutes to recap all loose ends. I review my completed tasks, quickly note any unfinished items, and specifically write down the 1-3 most important things I need to tackle first tomorrow.

    Why it Works: This ritual creates psychological closure. It prevents work from bleeding into your personal time, which is especially crucial when your office is in your home. The act of planning the next day reduces anxiety about what needs to be done, and prioritizing those 1-3 tasks ensures you start with the most impactful work.

    Habit: Time Blocking

    Every Sunday evening, I create a detailed schedule for the entire week, blocking out 30-60 minute segment for the most important, high-value tasks (the “payout” tasks) when my energy is highest. I treat these blocks as appointments I can’t break, and I strictly adhere to the schedule, including breaks and buffer time.

    Why it Works: This is a powerful application of Parkinson’s Law (work expands to fill the time available). By timeboxing, you create artificial deadlines that force focus and prevent procrastination. Prioritizing high-value tasks first ensures you make progress on what truly matters, even if unexpected things come up. The detailed schedule reduces decision fatigue (you don’t have to constantly decide what to work on) and promotes a sense of control over your time. It’s about being proactive, not reactive. Over time, you get a feeling on how long these blocks should be. If the task is not finished, don’t extend your block but start with the next task.

    Conclusion

    The fact that this book resonates with the audience underlines the problem that many face with concentrating especially at work. While there are already several productivity and time management practices laid out with concepts like Eisenhower Matrix, GTD or Pomodoro Technique, the most important aspect of this book to understand that distraction is present and you can do something about it.

  • A theory of the dead collective

    A theory of the dead collective

    In a world that often rewards simply showing up, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. We’ve all experienced environments where things seem to drift along, fueled by a quiet expectation of nothing much happening.

    But what if you could cut through the noise, not with grand gestures, but with consistent, proactive steps? In this post, we’ll explore why taking initiative – even in small ways – can be a powerful differentiator. Because in a sea of passivity, even a ripple of proactive effort can make you stand out and drive real results.

    What you’ll find inside:

    Dead Internet Theory

    So you might already have read this before: the internet is dead. This is at least a theory that is discussed for several years already.

    The Dead Internet theory claims, that the majority of online activities is generated by bots rather than human interactions. Around 2010 people started to notice, that the majority of online traffic is generated by bots. This is for example search engine crawling websites or spambots flooding your inbox with unwanted advertisement. While it was easy to spot bot content in the early day, this game changed even more dramatically with the introduction of AI impacting not only your inbox but also all major social media platforms. This lead to the conclusion that the internet is not as real or interactive anymore.

    But this post is not about AI and how you can use it for your personal benefits to shine online. The Dead Internet theory is merely a reflection of our society with an important underlying principle.

    Pareto principle

    The pareto principle was named after Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist. He observed that approx. 80% of Italy’s land was owned by about 20% of the population. While the ration can vary, the core idea is that a large portion of results often accounts to a small portion of causes.

    This relates very well to the dead internet theory in many aspects. Be it user engagement where on any given platform, only a small percentage of users might generate the majority of discussions, feedback, and interactions. Similarly, a small percentage of creators produce the bulk of viral or impactful content.

    The Dead Internet Theory and the Pareto Principle together illustrate that they often set the stage for a small but significant proportion of people who are the cause of many influential aspects of our life and beliefs. Understanding this dynamic can help not only in the online world.

    Is it dead yet? A case for Dead Collective Theory

    Let us experiment with both, by combining the Pareto Principle with the Dead Internet Theory and postulate the “Dead Collective Theory”. In this theory we suggest that in the real world only a small percentage of individuals may be responsible for driving significant collective changes. Yeah you might have realized that already, but there is more to that:

    To some extent real life has become similar to what we experience online, so let’s face it: most of us choose to become consumers rather than produce or complete tasks ourselves, even if we have the capability to do so.

    Cooking vs. eating out, driving vs. uber, handwerker vs. DIY, consuming via social media instead of searching for blogs to read. We often prioritize convenience, quality, and efficiency by consuming services instead of producing or completing tasks
    independently.

    How many of you are capable of navigating with a map and compass? But why should you anyways, there is an app for that. In some aspects of our lifestyle, the dominant habit of consuming has caused the majority of the collective to lose certain knowledge, centralizing it instead within a few individuals

    By know you might already have a hint, where I am heading towards: your chances of being the one-eyed among the blind.

    A huge potential for your success in life

    If most of the collective is consuming and therefore passive, even the smallest initiative to take action will let you stand out the masses. Reaching the absolute peak involves various elements and is worth a separate blogpost; however, surpassing the majority, to be one of the 20%, can be simpler than anticipated.

    Learning to repair your bike is only a few YouTube videos away. From there general home improvement topics are an easy next step. It only takes some of your determination and willingness to try. Once you understood that, there is no limit to what you can learn. Each lesson you take, will compound: be it cooking, understanding the basics of quantum mechanics, file your tax reports.

    The journey toward success begins with a single, crucial step—taking action and it is ok to scratch your need first, but share it with others. It’s essential to understand that merely starting is often more important than waiting for someone else to do it for you. You can initiate this process by engaging in actions, even if they seem random at first. This approach helps cultivate a mindset of openness and awareness, enabling you to identify problems around you that resonate with your personal drive to solve them.

    Engaging in activities indiscriminately serves as an admirable starting point because it instills the habit of creating rather than consuming. As you immerse yourself in various tasks, regardless of their nature, you begin developing a proactive attitude. The real transformation occurs when these actions become intentional; that is, when you choose to engage in them with purpose and direction. This shift marks the true beginning of your ascent toward excellence.

    To truly excel, it’s vital to make taking action a habitual part of your life. Consistency in this practice reinforces discipline and builds momentum, propelling you steadily upwards.

    In conclusion, by consistently practicing intentional action, you create pathways to uncover opportunities and overcome challenges, steadily advancing toward the top.

    Habits to get sh*t done

    These aren’t revolutionary, but they’re reliable habits I use to persuade myself getting started. They work because they address common psychological barriers to productivity: procrastination and overwhelm.

    The “5-Minute Kickstart”

    Action: When you’re avoiding a task, tell yourself you’ll work on it for just 5 minutes. Set a timer.  That’s it.

    Why it Works:This bypasses the biggest hurdle: starting. Our brains often exaggerate how awful a task will be! 5 minutes feels manageable, even for things we dread. Once you start, momentum builds. You’ll often find you keep going past the 5 minutes because it’s not as bad as you thought. It’s about lowering the activation energy to get going.Think of it like pushing a swing – a little push gets it moving, and then it swings on its own.

    The “One Thing Focus Day”

    Action: Every day, identify one important thing you absolutely need to get done. Just one! Focus all your energy on completing that one thing.

    Why it Works: Overwhelm is a productivity killer. Big to-do lists feel impossible. By focusing on one thing, you eliminate decision fatigue and create a clear target. Completing that one thing gives you a sense of accomplishment, which motivates you to tackle more. It’s about prioritizing and making progress, not trying to do everything at once. Small wins build up to big results.

    Conclusion & Further readings

    In an environment where passivity prevails, taking proactive initiatives, even small ones, allows individuals to stand out by leveraging their unique strengths and adding value through action and innovation.

  • Stop Chasing Happiness: The Secret to Actually Enjoy Life

    Stop Chasing Happiness: The Secret to Actually Enjoy Life

    We’re constantly told to find happiness. To seek it out, chase it, manufacture it. But what if happiness isn’t something you find, but something you experience – a byproduct of being fully engaged in life?

    Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, in his groundbreaking work “Flow – the psychology of optimal experience” argues exactly that. He reveals how our state of consciousness dramatically impacts our quality of life, and introduces the concept of “flow” – that feeling of complete immersion in an activity where time melts away and satisfaction surges.

    Could learning to cultivate this state of “flow” be the key to not just getting more done, but to living a richer, more fulfilling life? It’s time to stop chasing happiness and start designing experiences that naturally create it.

    I enjoyed this book so much, that I have to apologize for this more in depth blog post.

    What you’ll find inside:

    What the heck is “flow”?

    Engaging in a captivating conversation with a friend often creates a flow experience, as ideas flow effortlessly and we become completely present with each other. During these moments, we lose track of time, fully immersed in the reciprocal exchange and building of understanding, feeling energized and deeply connected.

    Flow represents an intense focus on an activity that leads to a loss of self-consciousness and a feeling of great satisfaction. It’s akin to being in ‘the zone,’ where time seems to fly by, and you’re fully immersed in what you are doing.

    Mihály describes flow as the mental state that people often experience during activities that they find intrinsically rewarding. This combination leaves us with a impression of being self-fulfilled and happy.

    How to “go with the flow”

    Reaching a state of flow isn’t random; it requires certain conditions and an understanding of one’s own motivations and abilities. The interesting aspect is, that to some extent any given task can be transformed into a “flow” state.

    Mihály identifies several factors necessary for entering this optimal experience:

    Balance between challenge and skill

    One of the most crucial elements of achieving flow is finding a balance between the challenge of a task and your skill level. If a task is too easy, you become bored; if it is too difficult, you may feel overwhelmed. The sweet spot is similar to goal setting – you have to have 80% confidence in reaching the goal but leave a bit of “unknown” to make it challenging.

    Immediate Feedback

    Feedback during a “flow” state informs you whether or not you’re succeeding. It has to allow Rea-time assessment to stay in the present moment and in sync with your goals in order to progressing with the activity.

    Deep Involvement

    “Flow” requires full immersion in an activity. The sense of being deeply involved is characterized by the aforementioned concentration and a merging of action and awareness. When you are entirely absorbed, you are more likely to experience flow.

    The effect of a “flow” on your self

    Entering a state of “flow”, is more than just a means to achieve optimal performance or enjoyment; it’s an experience that has profound effects on the self. When you find yourself in flow, where your mind and body are fully engaged in what you’re doing, you don’t just accomplish tasks with heightened efficiency – you also undergo significant personal development.

    One of the remarkable outcomes of experiencing flow is the differentiation of the self. As we engage deeply with challenges and successfully navigate them, our sense of capability expands. Overcoming a challenge not only leaves us feeling more skilled but also enhances our understanding of who we are and what we can achieve.

    Flow experiences compel us to push beyond our perceived limitations, confronting tasks that stretch our abilities without exceeding them entirely. As we rise to meet these challenges, we gather evidence of our capabilities, which contributes to a richer sense of self. Each successful flow state is an opportunity for growth.

    This differentiation isn’t just about acquiring new skills; it’s also about refining them. The more we practice in the presence of clear goals and immediate feedback, the better we become at those activities, which further differentiates and develops our sense of self.

    Flow Integrates the Self

    In addition to enhancing our sense of differentiation, flow is instrumental in integrating the self. During a flow state, consciousness operates with exceptional clarity and orderliness. This profound level of focus aligns our thoughts, intentions, feelings, and senses toward a single goal. Everything converges harmoniously, which facilitates not just an efficient performance but also a unified experience!

    When we are fully immersed in an activity, there’s no room for internal conflict or distraction. Our cognitive processes synchronize with our actions, creating a seamless interaction between mind and body. This integration fosters a sense of wholeness—an alignment of all aspects of the self that contributes to a more coherent identity.

    By consistently experiencing flow, we train ourselves to enter this state of well-ordered consciousness more readily. Over time, this can lead to a general improvement in our ability to focus and integrate various elements of our lives, resulting in greater personal harmony.

    „Flow helps to integrate the self because in that state of deep concentration consciousness is unusually well ordered.“

    Source: Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s “Flow”

    The aftermath of a flow experience often leaves individuals feeling more connected—not only internally but also with others and the world around them. When thoughts, intentions, feelings, and senses are harmonized toward a common objective during flow, this unity spills over into other areas of life once the activity concludes.

    Does the “Flow” state have any side effects?

    What if your goals aren’t truly your own, or if you set them so easily that they stifle personal growth? Perhaps you’re pursuing goals that lack real meaning, simply to feel a temporary sense of accomplishment.

    This implies that with the wrong boundaries you can flow as much as you want but still stall or drift into the wrong direction. This depends on the information that keeps coming into awareness is congruent with your goals. If the information is reinforcing your goals you will experience flow.

    I am not certain yet if this is a good or a bad thing. Due to lack of better knowledge I stick to my explanation in the Goals are for losers post. As long as the net sum of energy you invested vs. gained out of your flow activity is positive, it is a good thing to continue.

    Maybe there is another book that has the answer.

    Habits to cultivate “flow”

    As mentioned earlier with a bit of practice, flow state can be achieved with by intention. The following habits might be of help.

    Practice focused attention:

    Action: Schedule dedicated blocks of time (e.g., 25-minute Pomodoro sessions) for uninterrupted work on a single task. Consciously redirect your attention back to the task whenever your mind wanders.

    Why it works:  Flow isn’t something that just happens; it requires practice. Training your ability to focus and resist distractions strengthens the neural pathways needed to enter and sustain a flow state.

    Challenge Yourself (but not too much):

    Action: Before starting any activity, define specific, manageable objectives. Break down larger tasks into smaller, actionable steps. Choose activities where the challenge matches your abilities – not so easy you’re bored, but not so difficult you’re overwhelmed. Regularly push your skills slightly beyond your current comfort zone.

    Why it works: Flow arises when skill and challenge are balanced. A moderate level of difficulty keeps you engaged and motivated, requiring focused effort without inducing anxiety or frustration. Clear goals provide direction and a sense of purpose, allowing you to focus your attention and measure progress.

    Conclusion

    What makes “Flow” particularly fascinating is its grounding in scientific research and psychological principles, providing a more empirical perspective compared to Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now,” which leans towards spirituality. While both books share themes about living in the present moment, Csíkszentmihályi offers insights that are deeply rooted in observable phenomena, making it an excellent read for those interested in how our minds work and how we can optimize our mental states for a better life.

  • Be responsible – unique skill for self-growth

    Be responsible – unique skill for self-growth

    Accept that you are responsible for your current life situation. Bad things happen to us every day. But it is about how we (re)act and what choices we make.

    What you’ll find inside:

    Life seems less of a burden, when you have someone else to blame. It takes courage to stand up for yourself. Once you get used to it, you will feel more energetic out of your victories and less anxious of consequence from failure.

    Being responsible does not stop at admitting when you have done something wrong. This is a first, but important step of a journey. It will take practice to get used to apologize. Once you get used to it, the “you’re responsible” mindset will make you try really hard to give all you have in order to fill this role of a responsible person. You will try to live up to your expectations.

    And as you don’t want to be responsible for everything, you will have to make up your mind on what is important to you.

    Responsibility – what’s the point

    What is it that you care so much about, that it is a no-brainer, you want it to be successful, safe, whole or just there for you and others. Is it your partner, your cat or your job?

    But others come second – you have to feel responsible for yourself first and this is your body and your mind. Without you being well, there is not much you will be able to do for others on the long run.

    Let us start with your mind: It is your reaction to external circumstances that you cannot control that is crucial when takin responsibility for yourself. Because who you give responsibility has the authority over you. Life is full of situations that are beyond our control, such as the weather, traffic, or other people’s actions. For example, getting upset about heavy traffic won’t make the cars move faster, but it will increase your stress levels. If you’re feeling moody simply because clouds are obscuring the sun, then you’re allowing the weather to dictate your mood.

    Neither me or you want to be dependent on random events – this is majorly stupid, but sometime, this is what we do. Therefore how you choose to respond to these circumstances is very important. You can’t control the situation, but you can control your reaction to it. This will greatly influence your happiness, stress levels, and overall well-being.

    If you blame external circumstances or other people for your feelings or actions, you’re essentially giving them authority over your life. However, if you take responsibility for your responses, you retain the authority and control over your own life. For example, instead of saying “The traffic made me late,” you could say “I didn’t plan enough time for traffic delays.” This shifts the responsibility back to you and gives you the authority to make changes in the future.

    Know what is important for you

    Accept that you are in control of what you think and how you perceive everything you read, hear or see. Observe how your brain filters all this information and molds your perception of your current situation based on your beliefs and past experiences.

    Once you acknowledge that you’re personally accountable for every aspect of your life, you truly become responsible for everything in it. However, this can be overwhelming and turn into a pitfall, as you can’t “boil the ocean” and you should not. If you know already what matters to you most, focus on it solely.

    In case you are not certain of the things that truly matter to you, start the other way around. Decide what is not important to you, and start saying “No” to those things in life. To help you with that try the following two questions to reflect:

    • Am I only doing this task out of habit, guilt, or a sense of obligation, rather than genuine necessity or desire?
    • What would happen if I simply stopped doing this task, and is that outcome acceptable to me?

    Reflecting on your answer to those questions will help to find a way forward. And if it turn out, that you took the wrong path – apologize (also to yourself) and take responsibility to change your course in life.

    Habits to strengthen your sense of responsibility

    By cultivating these habits you’ll develop a stronger sense of responsibility and become more adept at focusing your energy on the things that truly matter.

    1. Choose what you care about

    Action: Prioritize what truly matters to you based on your core values. Make a conscious decision to care about and invest your energy in those things. Ignore or disengage from trivial or unimportant issues.

    Why it works: Focusing on what’s truly important helps you take responsibility for your priorities. Choosing your battles wisely conserves energy and reduces stress. Aligning your actions with your values fosters a sense of purpose and accountability.

    2. Take Responsibility for Your Problems

    Action: Accept that problems are a natural part of life and that you are responsible for addressing them. Instead of blaming others or external circumstances, focus on what you can control. Ask yourself, “What can I do to improve or resolve this situation?”

    Why it works: Taking ownership of your problems empowers you to find solutions. Focusing on what you can control fosters proactive responsibility. Accepting problems as natural helps you build resilience and emotional maturity.

    3. Practice Rejection and Failure

    Action: Deliberately seek out experiences where you might face rejection or failure. Embrace these experiences as opportunities for growth and learning. Reflect on what you’ve gained from each experience, regardless of the outcome.

    Why it works: Facing rejection and failure builds emotional resilience and mental toughness. Embracing these experiences helps you take responsibility for your actions and their consequences. Learning from failures fosters continuous personal growth and improvement.

    Conclusion

    • Taking responsibility for your life puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to make decisions and shape your future.
    • Accepting responsibility fosters self-awareness, emotional maturity, and resilience.
    • It helps you make better, more informed decisions that align with your values and goals.
    • In order to feel responsible, you’ll have to know what you care about and what to skip.
    • Finally taking responsibility reduces your feelings of helplessness and victimhood.
  • Secrets of Longevity: Transforming Aging into Empowerment

    Secrets of Longevity: Transforming Aging into Empowerment

    My son asked me today, if we all have to die. The answer is yes. But he at least demanded that we life until 100, so we can be longer together. This inspired me to read Outlive by Peter Attia to get clarity of what most of us struggle when getting older and understand what to do about it.

    What you’ll find inside:

    According to Attia, longevity has two components. The first is your chronological lifespan – the hope of my son to spend as much time together as possible. The second component is called health span the quality of your life which he defines as free from “disability and disease”. All action you take to improve the health span will result in longer lifespan.

    Spoiler alert: eat healthy, exercise and sleep well is what impacts both. But how to do this is not so simple answer for each individual. The right tactic to approach is trying to improve the overall health aspects as well as individual measures depending on your life situation. The book will not reveal what exactly to do, but you will learn how to think about these things. It explains the system holistically, so you can adjust what might work for you to “outlive”.

    The Four Horsemen of chronic disease

    In his speech for … Steve Jobs inspired us with the quote “life you live as it was the last day”. This does not mean to go wild, but rather to make yourself aware of what is really important for you right now and also to think if you would spend your time on it, if you’d know that this is the last 24h you have.

    Attia calls out the four horsemen of death chronic disease that might challenge your quality of life.

    • Cancer: F*ck cancer! I bet you also lost someone to that.
    • Neurogenerative disease leading to performance decrease of your brain like Alzheimer.
    • Atherosclerotic disease affecting your blood flow causing heart attack or brain stroke.
    • Diabetes: disfunction of how your body handles Insulin. Causing fat liver etc.

    Today’s medicine has answers for all of these diseases. There are pills, surgeries or therapy that might get you out of trouble for some time. Due to technological advancements this will improve in future even more. Still today’s medicine is not there to address the nuances involved when treatment is applied, impacting our unique mix of symptoms and risk factors.

    “Risk is not something to be avoided at all costs; rather, it’s something we need to understand, analyze and work with”

    – Peter Attia MD, Outlive: The science and Art of Longevity

    This fall in line the what I mentioned in my post about risks, that every single thing we do in life is based on some calculation of risk versus reward.

    That is why Attia states, that at the level of the individual patient, we should be willing to ask deeper questions of risk versus reward versus cost for any therapy. You must be certain about your goals well informed and understand the true nature of these risks.

    Eat, Exercise and Sleep as health factors

    It is no surprise that Attia dwells into the topics of nutrition, exercise and quality of sleep as factors to improve your health. On the other hand he clearly states, that there is no silver bullet that fits all of us. It is rather to seek tactics that are likeliest, based on what we know now, to deliver a better-than-average return for our health span.

    Attia proposes that with some unorthodox but very reasonable lifestyle changes, you can minimize the most serious threats to your lifespan and health span and achieve your own measure of longevity alpha

    If you exercising consistently you might secure an increased mobility at high age. This on the other hand exposes you to the risk of injuries, that might decrease your chances of mobility in future.

    The same is true for what and how you eat. Calorie reduction diets or time restrictions for calorie intake might lead to weight loss. On the other hand you might miss the chance to provide your body with the nutrients required to renew cells etc. Attia calls that you might fall short on proteins with some diets.

    If you are one of them who believes that sleep is a waste of time, think twice. Evolution would have already found a way to get rid of sleep, wouldn’t this be helpful of our system. Not only your body is recovering from dem strapazen of the day, but also your brain will sink in all the information you collected. Consistent good quality of sleep is the baseline for emotional health.

    Emotional Health

    Diving into the topic of emotional health is worth another post. So spare with me, if you are here for further details. But to get you started with this topic, I’d like to leave you with the following:

    The emotional state might be the least factor you’d associate with longevity. Thinking about living beyond your 80s, life can be lonely. Not all your friends will follow your lead in consistently challenging yourself on your eating, exercising or sleeping habits to achieve longevity. You might truly outlive them – then what?

    Behind the facade of a best nutrient, exercised and out slept person in the world you might end up as an emotional douchbag constantly fighting over things you feel attached to.

    You might want to dwell into the science of belief or “The power of Now” by Eckart Tolle for further inspiration about emotional health.

    Derived habits from “Outlive”

    As summary on strategies and habits that promote longevity and enhance overall well-being, here are my three habits:

    1. Regular Physical Activity:

    • Action: Engage in a combination of aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility workouts throughout the week. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, along with strength exercises twice a week.
    • How it Helps: Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, enhances muscle strength, and boosts metabolic function. It plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and improving mental health by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

    2. Nutritional Excellence:

    • Action: Follow a balanced, nutrient-dense diet that emphasizes whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Limit the intake of processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
    • How it Helps: A nutritious diet fuels the body with essential vitamins and minerals, supports immune function, and reduces inflammation. It also helps maintain optimal body weight and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses, thereby contributing to longevity and improved quality of life.

    3. Prioritize Sleep:

    • Action: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night by establishing a regular sleep schedule, creating a restful environment, and minimizing exposure to screens and blue light before bed.
    • How it Helps: Adequate sleep is critical for cognitive function, emotional regulation, and physical health. It allows for cellular repair, supports brain function, and reduces the risk of conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and mental health disorders. Prioritizing sleep is essential for recovery and longevity.

    The more I learn about life, the more I realize it is truly a miracle. Life is like a gift that deserves to be opened with intention and care.

  • Hidden Truth About Trusting Your Instincts

    Hidden Truth About Trusting Your Instincts

    It has recently become fashionable to regard whatever we feel inside as true voice of nature speaking. Following this voice blindly might be a mistake assuming that it leads to self-improvement or personal growth.

    What you’ll find inside:

    I belief in “Follow your gut feeling”

    Since I was little I belief, that when in doubt about important decisions my gut feeling will always tell me the right thing to do. In retrospect I can proudly say that following this belief, I was true to myself. The decisions I made follow a pattern of core beliefs and experience base learnings from decades of trial and error. And in total, things worked out for me thanks to a big portion of luck.

    Trust your mind, but trust your heart more. 

    by anon

    When considering what kind of role model I want to be for my son, I’m uncertain whether adhering strictly to a “trust your instincts” philosophy remains relevant, given today’s prevalent focus on seeking instant gratification (read also why social media is fast food for you brain) and dopamine-driven behaviors.

    There are so many distractions accepted as cultural norms in our today’s life, that you might get the wrong answer when listening to your inner voice.

    Let us explore the origins of this belief of trust in our inner voice, before we answer the question when you should listen to it.

    Origin of “Trust your gut feeling”

    The concept of “trust your gut feeling” often is associated with listening to an inner voice or intuition, appears across various cultures and religious traditions, though it may not always be explicitly articulated as such.

    • Western Philosophy and Psychology: The idea of following one’s instincts or intuitions can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy. Thinkers like Plato and Aristotle recognized the role of innate knowledge or instincts in human decision-making. In modern times, this concept is explored in psychology through ideas about intuition and subconscious processing.
    • Eastern Philosophies: In many Eastern traditions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, there’s an emphasis on inner wisdom and self-awareness. The practices of meditation and mindfulness aim to quiet the mind and tune into one’s deeper understanding or “inner voice.”
    • Indigenous Cultures: Many Indigenous cultures around the world place a strong emphasis on intuition and connecting with the natural world. Wisdom is often seen as something that comes from within and through harmonious interaction with nature.
    • Christianity and Other Abrahamic Religions: While not explicitly about gut feelings, these traditions emphasize listening to one’s conscience or seeking divine guidance. The idea of an “inner voice” can be linked to the belief in a personal relationship with God or the Holy Spirit guiding believers.
    • New Age and Spiritual Movements: In more contemporary spiritual movements, there is often a focus on intuition as a source of insight and truth. Practices such as channeling, energy work, and intuitive healing emphasize trusting one’s inner wisdom.

    While “trusting your gut feeling” may not originate from any single religion or culture, it reflects a universal human experience related to accessing deeper knowledge within oneself.

    Gut feeling and todays world

    While there is a cultural foundation of trusting one’s gut feeling, I get the impression that it is used today out of its original context. This context is actually prerequisite for your inner voice to be useful and aligned with your personal development or growth ambitions.

    It is self-awareness. Without it your inner voice might lure you in the following pitfalls:

    You and I have pre-existing beliefs or desires that shape our perceptions. Relying solely on intuition can lead to decisions based on what aligns with these existing biases rather than objective reality. This is called confirmation bias and limits growth by reinforcing existing patterns and preventing new learnings.

    Intuition is often intertwined with emotions. In a world of constant stimuli and distractions, emotional response can become misleading and lack of critical thinking. This is especially true if your intuition is paired with typically quick and instinctual reactions. As an illustration of my point, consider observing your actions on a challenging morning following a poor night’s sleep, before you’ve had any caffeine or food: imagine handling a child who is resistant to getting ready for school while also having a meeting scheduled in just 30 minutes. Any difference in your behavior compared to a regular morning after a decent sleep?

    Gut feelings are often formed from subconscious processing. Your subconscious mind is your autopilot and based on beliefs and experiences you had in your past as described in the summary of “biology of beliefs”. In addition to that the subconscious mind expects immediate outcomes of benefits. How can you aim for longterm personal development or personal growth when solely building on the foundation of already existing experience driven by your subconscious?

    This is by the way also the reason around the hype of why habits work so well. You transform your personal growth plan into small micro step called habits that are executed consistently and hence transformed into your subconscious mind to run on autopilot.

    When to listen to your heart

    Any gut feeling concerning dopamine related topics will most likely not be in your favor.

    It’s crucial to understand that seeking pleasure is an instinctive reaction aimed at preserving our species rather than benefiting us personally. This explains why your brain might lean towards a healthy salad, but your instincts crave pizza instead.

    When it comes to decisions influenced by dopamine and instant gratification, relying on gut feelings often won’t be advantageous. Because you know already the answer: just one more. Be it coffee, TikTok, Peanut Butter Cupcakes etc.

    With that said, you might wonder what else to listen to, if not your gut feelings? The answer is worth a dedicated blogpost and I promise to come back this in the future. For now, just acknowledge that there are several voices talking in your head. Every single of them with their own agenda.

    Conclusion

    • Trusting our gut feelings or listening to your heart has a cultural foundation and is a universal human experience.
    • The trust is used out of its original context of being self-aware.
    • If you are not aware of yourself, all the answers you get from your gut or hear is “just one more”. This is especially true for all the dopamine influenced decisions.

    Further readings

  • Proof: Better Beliefs Lead To Better Biology

    Proof: Better Beliefs Lead To Better Biology

    While there are several books about positive thinking, this book provides scientific proof on the impact of positive thinking and negative perception. If you want to explore the biological processes that drive how our cells function and their relevance to your life, read “Biology of Belief” by Bruce Lipton.

    What you’ll find inside:

    Cooperation instead competition

    In school we learned about the “survival of the fittest” principle. This is based on Darwins theory which describes that random genetic mutations. Some genetic mutations help individuals to adopt better to their environment and are beneficial for survival. These genes are passed on to the offspring, encouraging evolutionary progress.

    Lipton points out Lamarck’s view as closer to our current understanding of evolution. The french biologist named Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Lamarck points out cooperation between species and individuals as extremely important to evolution. This is being untermauert with several examples in the book. For example when our antibodies successfully fought a virus, they “remember” how to kill it. This is then passed on to the antibody’s daughter cells. Also symbiotic relationships like each of us has with our gut bacteria, that help us to digest, are good examples of cooperation and evolution.

    So genes, the blueprint of our cells, don’t necessarily have to be passed on through reproduction, but genetic patterns can evolve independently in response to similar environmental conditions and can be shared with members of other species.

    In this context it is worth to mention the fact that Wallace Wattle in his book “the Science of getting Rich” published in 1910 also emphasises the need to transform from a competitive mind to a creative one. Read more in my blogpost “In 1910 someone discovered the science of getting rich“

    Cells membrane is what controls the cell

    Lipton did a lot of research on cells with the goal to find out what controls it or e.g. more relevant for us what turns a regular cell into a cancer cell. Following Darwins theory, it has to be in the genes, that tells the cell how to develop. But Lipton did an interesting experiment by removing the nucleus and by that all genes, the cell was still alive. It could not reproduce, but was still functional.

    Lipton identified the cell membrane and their receptors as a crucial structure that acts as a barrier and a communication hub. It is embedded with receptors — proteins that can detect and bind to specific energy signals or molecules in the environment.

    When energy signals or biochemical signals interact with the receptors on a cell’s membrane, this interaction triggers a series of reactions inside the cell. Lipton emphasizes that the environment plays a critical role in cellular behavior.

    Every living cell and organism produces energy signals in the form of electromagnetic fields, biochemical signals, and other types of subtle energy. Since cells are constantly receiving signals from their surroundings, this means that a change in the environment — whether it’s physical, emotional, or energetic — can significantly affect cellular responses. For instance, stress hormones can influence cellular behaviour in a way that might lead to negative health outcomes, whereas positive stimuli might promote healing and well-being.

    “It’s the environment, Stupid”

    by Dr. Bruce Lipton, The Biology of Belief

    This lead to the conclusion that the cell membrane is responsible for controlling the behaviour of the cell based on the signal it receives from its environment. By the way the illustration of a cell membrane as butter olive sandwich will stay forever in my head.

    Get in control of your environment

    This findings conclude that our mental and emotional states, as well as our beliefs and perceptions, can influence the energy signals we emit and thus affect the behaviour of our cells. By fostering positive thoughts and reducing stress, you may be able to positively influence your cellular health and overall well-being.

    Many of our beliefs are part of our subconscious mind. Beliefs frequently develop during formative years, often in childhood and early adolescence, through experiences, teachings, and emotional responses. Lipton states that up until you were six years old, the brains frequency is theta. A brain state, where yogis meditate or you sleep. This state enables kids to “download” information by observing and mimicking others. These early experiences are largely absorbed by the subconscious mind, where they can shape your perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about yourself and the world.

    “Your beliefs act like a filter on a camera, changing how you see the world.”

    – by Dr. Bruce Lipton, The Biology of Belief

    Now, here’s the tricky part: Many beliefs ingrained in the subconscious lead to automatic thoughts and behaviours. If you observe it carefully you will find yourself reacting very emotionally to an ordinary situation. Like getting 🤯 over a tube of toothpaste left uncapped. Another example is someone with a belief that they are not worthy of love may unconsciously sabotage relationships, even if they consciously desire connection.

    While subconscious beliefs can be deeply rooted, they are not immutable. Practices such as mindfulness, therapy, positive affirmations, and visualisation can help you access and reprogram your subconscious beliefs. The goal is to replace limiting beliefs with more empowering ones, which can lead to changes in behavior and emotional well-being.

    In summary, our beliefs are often stored in the subconscious mind, influencing our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in ways that we may not be fully aware of. Understanding this relationship enables you to explore and, if desired, change your beliefs to promote personal growth and positive change.

    In case you want to hear and see instead of reading Liptons book, watch this video from one of Tony Robbins seminars.

    Derived habits from “Biology of Belief”

    You need to be aware, in order to feel responsible. These habits can help you to be more aware of your current beliefs.

    1. Journaling for Self-Reflection:

    • Action: Dedicate at least 10-15 minutes each day to journaling. Focus on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, particularly in areas where you notice patterns or challenges.
    • How It Helps: Writing can help expose underlying beliefs that may be influencing your behaviour. Reflect on specific triggers or situations that evoke strong emotions and ask yourself what beliefs might be behind those feelings. Look for recurring themes, assumptions, or narratives that arise in your writing.

    2. Mindfulness and Meditation Practices:

    • Action: Incorporate mindfulness or meditation into your daily routine, even if just for a few minutes. You can start with guided meditations focused on awareness and self-discovery, or simply practice being mindful of your thoughts throughout your day.
    • How It Helps: Mindfulness allows you to observe your thoughts and beliefs without judgment. This practice can increase your awareness of automatic thought patterns and help you differentiate between your conscious desires and subconscious beliefs. It cultivates a sense of inner peace and clarity, making it easier to identify and address limiting beliefs.

    3. Affirmations and Reframing Techniques:

    • Action: Create a set of positive affirmations that counter your limiting beliefs. For example, if you believe “I am not good enough,” reframe it as “I am capable and deserving of success.” Practice these affirmations daily—consider saying them aloud in front of a mirror or writing them down.
    • How It Helps: Repeating positive affirmations can help overwrite negative subconscious beliefs over time. This technique encourages a shift in mindset and reinforces empowering beliefs. Additionally, when you encounter situations that trigger old beliefs, consciously reframe those thoughts by identifying a more positive or constructive perspective.

    By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you can cultivate greater awareness of your subconscious beliefs and work towards transforming any limiting beliefs into more empowering ones.

    Consistency is key, so try to engage in these practices regularly to observe meaningful shifts over time.

    Conclusion

    • Good news: It is not your genetics (fault) who you are.
    • Your cells need stimulation from the environment in order to grow or protect themselves.
    • It is the environment that shapes us paired with our beliefs on how we perceive the environment.
    • Our unconscious mind is where most of our beliefs are.
    • With a conscious mind, we can control this environment and how we react to it.

    If you found this post helpful, consider sharing it with someone who could benefit from it. Also leave a comment, if you have own experience to share.

  • How Your Vocabulary Molds Your Reality and How to Harness That Power

    How Your Vocabulary Molds Your Reality and How to Harness That Power

    Do you talk to yourself? I do it frequently, especially in stressful situations. Moreover, self-talk helps me reflect on my situation. Recently, one of my biggest mindshifts was realizing that actively using a diverse vocabulary can boost personal growth simply by focusing on the words I choose and emphasize.

    What you’ll find inside:

    Vocabulary is a brain filter of your sense

    According to studies an average adult vocabulary consists of about 20.00 – 35.000 words. But not only the number of known words matters, also how well you know those words and actively you make use of is important.

    The epiphany like mind shift I had was while reading Tony Robbins about „Power Principles“. In his book he presents the idea of words as filters between your brain and all your senses. This totally makes sense, because while I’m thinking about this post as I write, and I’m using words to sort out my thoughts. The same applies to almost all thinking processes you and I do.If your vocabulary consists of a relatively small set of words, it limits the ways you can transform sensory inputs into meaningful information for your brain.

    If this explanation is to theoretical for you, let us conduct an experiment: 

    „Describe how crocodile meat taste?“ If you had the chance to taste it, you might most likely say that it tastes like chicken. (Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tastes_like_chicken) while the more accurate description is likened to turtle or quail. There are several possible explanations for this, but the most obvious is, that we don’t have the right words to describe this tasteful experience. Our brains take a shortcut by referencing what is most familiar to us, similar to the “tastes like chicken” cliché.

    How vocabulary is influencing your reality

    Since all of as are individuals with unique experiences, each of us has different associations with certain words. This makes us think in a certain way and context. Repeated phrases stick in our brains and manifest in how we feel or behave. 

    Let us take the word „tired“ as an example. Fatherhood makes me juggle between several conflicting priorities which is sometimes exhausting and in addition I do not get the amount of sleep I need. So when people ask me how I am mostly I answer tired, but actually I feel exhausted to some extent.

    Over time, the word tired is associated for me with exhaustion. I observed, that even if think of myself being „just“ tired, my brain filter somehow shortcuts towards exhausted. As if it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy, I begin to feel out of energy and it is getting hard for me to focus on something. This makes my brain repeatedly saying to myself that I am tired, especially when I am a lot „brainwork“ to do, which increased the effect of being out of energy even more.

    Experimenting with words to change my perception

    Realising that my use of words has a miraculous effect on my brain I started an experiment to bann the word „tired“ out of my vocabulary. As first step I collected a list of synonyms instead: Worn out, fatigue, easy, sleepy, drowsy, spent, jaded. The word sleepy caught my eye as in „in need of sleep or rest“ to substitute my definition of tired. 

    Every time my brain is telling me, that I am tired I say loud to myself: „I feel sleepy – I’d better get to bed earlier today“. To my experience this calms down my brain in a way, that my focus shifts away from „being tired“-mode towards accepting the fact that I maybe had less sleep or have a lot on my plate and should take it slow. It helps me to break the cycle of repeatedly telling myself how tired I am and move on for the moment. If I keep the promise to myself to get to bed earlier, things are better off the next day.

    If words set the baseline for my brain to interpret inputs from my senses, they also limit my experience of the moment. 

    What impacts your vocabulary 

    While Reading might be the most obvious action increase your vocabulary, it is not the only one. The breadth and depth of vocabulary depends on multiple factors. One of them is the people you are communicating with on regular basis. If these people tend to use a lot of negative flavored words because they are constantly complaining, swearing or verbal aggressive, chances are high that you also accommodate these words in your everyday use.

    Learning another language can also make you more cautious about the words you know and what they mean. Also taking into consideration that different languages have unique expressions due to cultural experiences. For example the Spanish word „enmadrarse“ is often used to describe children who are emotionally attached to their mothers.

    Habits to improve your vocabulary

    1. Reflective Language Practice

    • Habit: Set aside time each day, whether it’s  morning or evening, to write in a journal. This dedicated practice allows  for thoughtful reflection on your thoughts, experiences, and the language  you use.
    • How it works: By being conscious of your language, you can ensure that your vocabulary reflects a positive and constructive mindset. Use your journal as a space to explore how specific words affect your  emotions and actions. Write about recent events or feelings using  different vocabulary sets (e.g., positive vs. negative) and notice any shifts in perception. Over time, this awareness helps shape a more optimistic reality.
    • Benefits: Encourages positivity and resilience, improves communication skills, and fosters healthier relationships.

    2. Expand Your Lexicon:

    • Habit: Dedicate time each week to learning new words and concepts.
    • How it works: Deliberately expand your vocabulary by reading diverse materials, using a thesaurus, or engaging in language games. Understanding and incorporating more precise and varied terms into your daily use can enhance clarity and creativity in expressing thoughts and emotions.
    • Benefits: Increases cognitive flexibility, enhances problem-solving skills, and improves self-expression.

    3. Engage in Positive Self-Talk:

    • Habit: Routinely replace negative internal dialogue with positive affirmations or constructive language.
    • How it works: Whenever you catch yourself engaging in self-criticism or doubt, consciously choose more empowering words. Practice gratitude and focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. This can be done through journaling, meditation, or verbal affirmations.
    • Benefits: Boosts self-esteem, reduces stress and anxiety, and creates a more optimistic outlook on life.

    Conclusion

    • We use words to sort out thoughts. Our brain uses our vocabulary as filter on the input from all our senses.
    • Observe what words you are repeating and if they have a self-fulfilling prophecy effect.
    • Our associations with words is based on individual experiences and give them positive and negative vibe. 
    • Experiment with synonyms to break a repeating cycle negative effects word have how your brain interprets your moment. 
    • Be cautious of your environment and the words used and respective feelings and behaviours caused

    Further readings: 

  • In 1910 someone discovered the science of getting rich

    In 1910 someone discovered the science of getting rich

    Wallace Wattles argues in his book “the science of getting rich” that the universe is abundant and desires to lavish its riches upon us. It appeared in print in 1910 and inspired Rhonda Byrne’s ‘The Secret’. You will also find it for free at Project Gutenberg.

    What you’ll find inside:

    The power of positive thinking

    Wattles advocates for the power of positive thinking and constant focus on one’s goals to attract wealth and success. His mantra start with the following sentence and he repeats it throughout the book.

    „Man can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon formless substance can cause the thing he thinks about to be created“

    Source:
    The Science of Getting Rich
    Wallace D. Wattles

    This might sound familiar, if you read “the secret” or are familiar with the idea of “law of attraction”. But to believe that good things are coming your way in a sense of “Just make a wish” is not what the author is up to.

    For him it is about priming yourself towards what you truly desire. To create a clear and definite mental image of the things you wish to have, to become or to do. Basically he asks you to focus on what you want with all you have. According to him, it is not about how hard you focus, but how firm you believe is.

    Transform from Competitive to a Creative mind

    Wattles states one prerequisite that is true today, as it was 100 years ago: it is to pass from the competitive to the creative mind.

    Have you ever wished for something so bad, that you were envious of others? Or have you wished to be able to do something and you tried so hard, that you didn’t recognised the solution at hand? This is the mindset that Wattles wants you to pass since it is not in harmony with the “formless intelligence” as he calls it.

    Gratitude is for him the key to align your creative mind. When you are grateful, you crowd out envy and competition. Being grateful will make you aware of your life situation and all the positive things around you. This will allow the creative energy to flow through established channels of natural growth and industrial and social order, as he states.

    This sounds very similar to thought shared by Ken Honda in his book “Happy Money“. He also emphasises on gratitude when it comes to your income, but also spending. Also in the book “Psychology of Money” you will find references towards greed vs. learning what you actually really desire.

    Believing is not enough, be useful

    While the creative mind is what enables the law of attraction, it does not imply that you get what you want. “The secret” by Bryan stops here and states, that it is enough to believe and you shall receive. Wattles believes in taking inspired action and living in harmony with nature’s intentions to achieve prosperity and personal growth.

    „In order to receive his own when it shall come to him, man must be active; and this activity can only consist in more than filling his present place.“

    Source:
    The Science of Getting Rich
    Wallace D. Wattles

    Wattles also has a timeless answer how to be active. According to his instructions, you should give everyone a use value in excess of the cash value you receive. If you think about it, he encourages you to contribute to abundance in life. So every of your transactions makes for more life.

    I would simplify this by stating that instead of just being and wishing, you could be useful to others and add your value to life. Being grateful will make you see what you have to offer already today, even if this might not seem much to you, it might mean the world to me or others.

    Conclusion

    • Be aware if your mindset is in the competitive or creative.
    • Establish an habit of gratitude. This can be in form of a question what you are thankful for in the evening or by saying thank you to yourself every time you do something that creates value e.g. spending money or finishing a craft etc.

    Further reading:

  • On taking Risks – how to make sure to stay in the game

    On taking Risks – how to make sure to stay in the game

    Every single thing you do in life is based on some calculation of risk versus reward. Even your decision of getting out of bed every morning. But live is not about avoiding risks but about knowing which ones are worth taking.

    What you’ll find inside:

    No guts, no glory

    Life means taking risks. It comes in different flavors and individual tolerance to each of us. Chances that you die because of heart decease are 80 times higher, than getting run over by a car according to the National Safety Council.

    Let me tell you a story about me being irrational about taking risks:

    My former girlfriend and I spent seven wonderful years together, and decided it was finally time to take the plunge and pop the big question. I planned the perfect moment during our ski trip in the beautiful Alps, with the sun shining and stunning views surrounding them.

    But as the first day of skiing passed, I felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach—but they weren’t just from the chilly mountain air. I had the engagement ring tucked neatly in my pocket, but every time I thought about proposing, my courage took a nosedive. The next day began with the same anxious routine.

    Panic set in when a startling thought hit me: what if something terrible happened and I missed my chance? That realization fueled my determination.

    On our break at a breathtaking spot, I took a deep breath, dropped to one knee, and finally asked my girlfrien to marry me. The combination of the stunning landscape and my finally heartfelt words made it an unforgettable moment.

    Each of us is unique, and so are our experiences. If after reading this story you wonder, “What’s wrong with this person?” that’s fine, as you might act differently.

    I wanted to share the story of proposing to my wife because it’s a perfect example of how taking risks can feel strange initially. Your body will literally try to make you stop. Emotions are the language of our bodies, and they may activate and spark thoughts or doubts about your plan simply because your body is not yet accustomed to what your mind intends.

    Most of what you’ll do for the first time feels like uncharted territory. The truth is: it is not. While you and I feel unique and special with our life situation, dreams and actions reality is it is not so unique as you think. You are not alone.

    In order to understand if the risk you are about to take is worth it, seek to understand if someone in this great wide world had already a similar challenge and shared it. From my experience Reddit is a great platform for asking such questions.

    Be Curious and upmost optimistic

    Avoiding risks is the worst you can do in your life. You and I are exposed to risk every morning we stand up. But hiding in bed will not lead to a fulfilled life.

    Hiding in bed will not lead to a fulfilled life.

    Whatever you do, commit fully. No half-hearted efforts. Your life is precious and deserves more than mediocracy. Your attitude required to take especially significant calculated risks must be utmost optimistic.

    Pursuing your dreams with all the risks included will bring numerous challenges. Your body may urge you to stop, as it feels uncomfortable. Family and friends might struggle to understand your vision and try to dissuade you. Even your surroundings might deem your plans ridiculous. Approach these headwinds with curiosity. Examine the underlying forces that fuel these arguments and the rationales behind them.

    And things will fail. You can calculate and plan for every risk expect the things that are too crazy for you to imagine. These are the ones that will do the most harm as you will not have a plan for how to deal with them.

    But the world advances, and so will you. That is why you should fail early and often. The sooner you fail and learn from it, the more likely it is that the negative impact of the risk will lessen over the course of your life. See also my post about planning.

    Be Mindful, Not Afraid

    Sh*t happens – that is why you should be mindful of the endeavors with significant risks and know that failure is part of the game. The only certain advice I have when it comes to risk taking: Don’t take risks that mean game over for you. By this I don’t imply end of your life – which is obvious to avoid, but will this drop you out of whatever you are up to?

    Fear of missing out: FOMO became famous in the context of the Crypto / Bitcoin hype. It is the anxiety or worry that you might miss an exciting or rewarding experience, and it can lead to impulsive, poorly thought-out decisions driven by the desire to avoid feeling left out or regretful.

    Overconfidence: What you should truly be wary of is taking substantial risks without any thought, which often happens when you’ve done something countless times before. But this one time, you overlook a changed parameter and, possibly in a hurry, do what you always do—potentially making things worse.

    Leveraged risk: Buying stocks using borrowed funds or adding additional people for your project to meet a deadline that is already on the critical path.These tactics might work out, but will multiply the risk with the potential consequence of you losing it all at cost of your reputation or financial bankruptcy.

    Single points of failure: If too many things of you plan rely on one thing working. Since if this fail your entire plan will fall apart.

    The Art of Risk-Taking: Habits to Keep You in the Game

    1. Habit of Taking Calculated Risks

    • Action: Evaluate potential opportunities and challenges, then make a decision to take action even if the outcome is uncertain.
    • How it Works: This habit involves a thoughtful assessment of risks and benefits. By gathering information, considering possible outcomes, and then acting, you can make informed decisions that push you out of your comfort zone while minimizing potential downsides.

    2. Habit of Persistence

    • Action: Continue to pursue goals despite obstacles and setbacks.
    • How it Works: Persistence requires a mindset that does not give up easily. When faced with challenges, this habit involves seeking alternative solutions, learning from failures, and continually moving forward. Many successful people attributes much of their success to persisting through difficulties and not allowing temporary setbacks to derail his long-term goals.

    3. Habit of Seeking Mentorship and Guidance

    • Action: Actively look for mentors and listen to their advice and experiences to guide your own journey.
    • How it Works: Mentors can provide valuable insights, support, and wisdom based on their own experiences. Seeking mentorship involves identifying individuals who have achieved what you aspire to and building a relationship with them.

    Further readings