Links:
Jonathan Haidt afterbabel.com
Nobody but You, by Charles Bukowski https://wordsfortheyear.com/2014/06/22/nobody-but-you-by-charles-bukowski/
The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358
Tim Ferriss interviews Rich Roll https://tim.blog/2022/01/04/rich-roll/
Winning the Battle Against Social Anxiety
https://getbettersoon.substack.com/p/winning-the-battle-against-social
INTRO
7 key principles for living a meaningful, fulfilling life
Principles balance personal growth, relationships, and long-term happiness
Emphasize taking control of your own story while accepting life's realities
PRINCIPLE 1: BECOME THE PROTAGONIST OF YOUR OWN STORY
Focus on what YOU can control; accept what you can't change
View life as a game: you can't change the rules, but can change how you play
Where possible, work to change systems (vote, protest, join committees)
Remember: as an adult, no heroes are coming to save you
Only you can be the master of your destiny
Reference: Charles Bukowski poem "nobody but you"
PRINCIPLE 2: DISCOVER YOUR TALENTS WHILE SECURING YOUR FUTURE
Try many things when young, especially activities outside your comfort zone
When you find something you love, double down on it
Balance passion with practicality – money matters
Find the intersection between:
Your skills
Your interests
What earns a living you're comfortable with
It's perfectly fine if your passion becomes a hobby while your career provides stability
PRINCIPLE 3: DEVELOP RESILIENCE AND WORK ETHIC
Life is hard; rejection and failure are inevitable
Learn to get back up, dust yourself off, and continue
Use setbacks as springboards to success
Ask for help when needed
Remember: "Discomfort is the price we pay to grow"
Things most worth achieving rarely come easy
PRINCIPLE 4: CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY
These people support you when life takes difficult turns
Nurture family bonds, even with imperfect families
Develop in-person communities (more valuable than online ones)
Build friendships and romantic relationships based on:
Trust
Mutual understanding
Shared experiences and interests
Consider marriage/children as one path to built-in purpose and connection
Think about long-term happiness, not just immediate satisfaction
PRINCIPLE 5: FIND PURPOSE IN A MISSION OR JOURNEY
Aim sights at larger purpose beyond day-to-day living
Being entertained ≠ being happy long-term
Examples of missions: writing a novel, learning new skills, travel goals
Without a mission: addiction, anxiety, depression find their opening
Key question to ask yourself: "Who am I becoming?"
Most meaningful missions involve serving others or contributing to something larger
PRINCIPLE 6: PRIORITIZE PHYSICAL HEALTH
You only get one body – treat it with respect
Focus on sleep, nutrition, exercise, and preventative healthcare
Physical wellbeing directly impacts mental health and productivity
Small, consistent habits yield better results than periodic extreme efforts
PRINCIPLE 7: EMBRACE GRATITUDE AND SPIRITUALITY
Develop connection with the majesty of life
Remember our smallness in the grand scheme
Practice gratitude regularly (journaling, mindful moments)
It's okay to pray even if you're atheist
Sometimes it feels good to speak desires into existence
CLOSING THOUGHTS
These principles work together to create a foundation for fulfillment
Balance between what we can control and accepting what we can't
Life requires both personal ambition and connection to something greater
Focus on becoming protagonist of your own story while recognizing you're part of something larger
You can get in touch with me at jallengetbetter@gmail.com, DM me on Substack, follow me on IG, or drop a comment below. If you like what I’m doing, please share this with a friend or family member who needs to GetBetterSoon, and if you really like what I’m doing, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This will give you access to all of my posts and podcasts, and a free hour consult on anything you want to talk about. Thanks again for your support!
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