3 Minute Monday
Hi friend,
It was World Mental Health Day on Saturday.
Mental Health is a topic incredibly close to my heart so I published a post about it on my Instagram.
Below is an extended version of that post…
I’ve spent days in bed crushed under the sheer weight of existence.
I’ve drowned in thoughts.
I’ve been angry & resentful at my own shortcomings.
The last 5 years have been spent trying to discover what it means to live a good life.
Here are some of the most important realisations I’ve come upon…
You are not your thoughts.
The voice that speaks in your head is not you.
You are the one who hears it speak.
Don’t identify with what your mind says any more than you identify with what someone on the street says.
This is one of the most liberating truths to know.
Action is the antidote to anxiety.
You’re not afraid of the future when you’re moving yourself toward it.
If you feel anxiety creeping in, use it as a trigger to lean into action, not stagnation.
Do something and you’ll feel better.
Loneliness is a kind of tax you have to pay to atone for a certain complexity of mind.
The weirder you are, the fewer people are like you, the fewer people will “get” you.
This is fine.
Your weirdness is your competitive advantage.
No one can beat you at being you.
Embrace your traumas, life experiences, scars, funny accent, whatever it is.
This is what sets you apart.
The weirder you are; the more unique you are; the more competitive & interesting you are.
Joy has to be found today, not tomorrow.
If you can’t be happy with a coffee, you won’t be happy with a yacht.
Choose to find joy in today, it’s there waiting for you.
Never lie.
Whether by omission or commission, lying degrades your virtue.
Your internal sense of self worth is keeping check, even if you aren’t.
Telling the truth is a superpower, it works for everything.
Start being radically honest today and your life will change.
Keep promises to yourself.
Your faith in your own word is vital.
Build it up by starting with small promises.
Say you’ll get up on time, say you’ll ring your parents.
Over time you can promise yourself bigger and bigger things.
Most problems are easily fixed.
90% of issues can be solved by a good sleep, a glass of water, a gym session, a walk outdoors or a chat with a friend.
Often you’ll find that low mood is accompanied by certain physical, habitual or environmental routines like staying in bed, being solitary, not eating or drinking well.
These are not a coping mechanism, they are a worsening mechanism.
Avoid them at all costs.
You are the sky, everything else is just the weather.
Your anger, frustration, anxiety & everything else is just a visitor in your mind.
Sometimes it gets cloudy so you can’t see the sun, but it’s always there if you just breathe and let go of what is holding the clouds in place.
Try and be angry for more than 5 minutes without constantly thinking about your anger, you can’t.
Realise that you are the architect of your own mood.
MODERN WISDOM
I do a podcast which has had 7 million+ downloads. You should subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This week’s upcoming episodes:
Monday.
Ali Abdaal – BD YouTuber and productivity wizard Ali takes us through his best strategies for learning & remembering anything, fast. A must listen.
Thursday.
Andrew Doyle – the man behind the Titania McGrath Twitter account returns as we try to dissect wtf is happening in 2020.
Saturday.
Annie Duke – how to make better decisions and improve your life from an academic & ex-professional poker player.
THINGS I’VE LEARNED
1.
Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want.
Happiness is built upon not wanting things to be different.
Reduce your desires, especially material ones, and your happiness will have more room to breathe.
Give yourself a good enough reason to be here, in the present moment.
Inspired by Naval Ravikant.
2.
The term “Pecking Order” comes from chickens.
Hens peck at each other to assert dominance and determine the social stratification within the group.
By having an established order, hens don’t need to re-engage in a costly & dangerous confrontation every time they need to decide who gets access to resources or mates.
Therefore there is actually a reduction in aggression once the pecking order has been developed.
Hens peck, but roosters jump & use their claws.
3.
Dogs can play volleyball.
LIFE HACK
Unfollow the people that you hate on social media.
Unfollowing or muting someone is pretty similar to them dying.
2 strikes of being triggered by something idiotic and they’re gone.
Your future you will thank you for it.
Big love,
Chris x
Listen to me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Say hi on Twitter or Instagram.
PS
I THINK I’ve decided on the next free ebook. Hold tight.
