Information & Synthesizing
I’d like to say I strive and am constantly hungry for creative ideas, from novel ideas and creative work to abstract philosophical insights. And all this has come to me by constant reflection, introspection, and a way of being that is full of curiosity. Maybe it’s how my brain is wired and that’s what my mind inclines to, naturally. But there’s a sometimes unhealthy ratio of input vs. output:
- Input: The quantity of ideas we consume (Videos, Books, etc.). When this input is greater than the application of good ideas, we become prone to “mental congestion” - It’s hard to put it into words, but information consumption is addictive, and the short-term gratification of fooling ourselves that “we’re doing stuff” often comes with a bad “hangover” of inaction, guilt, high anxiety.
- Output: Of course, it’s about the actual implementation of useful ideas and knowledge. Our brain exhaust.
As Dan Koe puts it, “If you feel lost, learn. When you have direction, act.”
Generally, it’s all about “the law of use”, made known by The Kybalion:
The Law of Use
The Kybalion compares hoarding knowledge to hoarding precious metals - both are considered foolish endeavors. The text explicitly states that "Knowledge, like wealth, is intended for Use" and describes this as a Universal Law.
Consequences of Inaction
There are two important implications:
- Personal Impact: Those who possess knowledge but fail to use it suffer by conflicting with natural forces1.
- Collective Impact: Unused knowledge brings no benefit to either the individual or to humanity as a whole1.
Practical Application
The Hermetic teachings were never meant to be merely stored away or kept secret. Instead, the wisdom should be:
- Studied through axioms and aphorisms
- Practiced and applied in daily life
- Made truly one's own through active use1
The text emphasizes that knowledge only truly belongs to you once you have put it into practice. This aligns with the broader Hermetic principle that true transformation is a mental art that requires active engagement rather than passive learning
Productivity & Everyday Striving
Generally, there are a million self-help and productivity books (non fiction), from planning to personal effectiveness, but the ones I’ve found most practical and directly relatable are:
- Brendon Burchard’s work, especially his book“high Performance Habits”
- And of course, his High Performance Planner
- Dennis Houchin’s “The achievement protocol”
Also, Dan Koe’s newsletter has made me think and revisit my own thinking about what I’m doing and why from time to time. Sometimes I’ve thought that if a certain read makes you re-evaluate things and it’s kind of uncomfortable (Faces and challenges your own ego preconceptions and it’s not just addictive information), it’s a good read.
Intelligence & Analysis
I am not a programmer or SWE, but I can work my way around simple problems and solutions by scripting. I think this has “taught me how to think” by breaking down “problems” and solutions, with logic.
Useful mental frames that come to mind by now are a couple of intensive areas of knowledge:
- Of course, mental models
- Book on “Psychology of Intelligence Analysis”:
Visualization Protocols
Martha Beck’s “Perfect day exercise”:
Philosophy
- Alan Watts’ Lectures + Books,
- Stoic Philosophy (For me, principally Epictetus + Marcus Aurelius)
- Taoism + Budhism
- Woo woo self-help that actually works: (It’s all about mindset and replacing
- The science of getting rich,
- The power of your subconscious mind,
- The game of life & how to play it