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Happy Thursday folks!
Here is my favorite passage of the week, two quotes and book of the week with two important lessons to ponder on:
Passage of the Week:
Author Ryan Holiday on discipline:
From “Discipline is Destiny” by Ryan Holiday
Two Quotes:
“When you fear something, learn as much about it as you can. Knowledge conquers fear.”
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer the negative elements in your life, don’t sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
Book of the Week with 2 Important Lessons:
The book of the week is Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff.
What a phenomenal read and it is among one of my favorite books. A transformative guide to rethinking our goals with an experimental mindset by committing to curiosity, practicing mindful productivity and collaborating with uncertainty.
In Tiny Experiments, neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals that all we need is an experimental mindset to turn challenges into self-discovery and doubt into opportunity. It offers not just practical tools for making sure our most vital work gets done but also strategies to reawaken our curiosity and drive in a noisy, busy, disaffected world so that we can discover and pursue our most authentic ambitions while making a meaningful contribution.
Systematic curiosity provides an unshakable certitude in your ability to grow even when the exact path forward is uncertain, with the knowledge that your actions can align with your most authentic ambitions.
Here are two important lessons from the book:
1) Turn Doubts into Experiments:
Confidence is built through action. When in doubt, run a personal experiment using a pact. A pact is a simple and repeatable activity that will inevitably bring you closer to achieving your authentic ambitions, regardless of the actual result of each trial. It follows a simple format:
I will [action] for [duration].
Compared to linear goals, a pact fosters an experimental mindset. An attitude of openness and curiosity, a willingness to learn with a sense of receptiveness, and a lack of preconceived notions. When we play with problems, they become a sandbox where we can experiment and relinquish control over the outcome, just like a scientist who keeps a neutral stance when observing the results and taking notes to tweak future iterations.
Just like the protocol of a scientific experiment, a pact is based on instructions that are clear and contained. That’s why “I will learn how to code” is a flawed pact, but “I will code every day for hundred days” is a great one. Instead of “I will write a book,” try “I will write every weekday for the next six months.”
The format of the pact provides a simple mechanism to commit to action, a way to rely on momentum instead of motivation. What makes it so effective is that it focuses on your outputs rather than your outcomes. You just need to get started and trust that you will naturally build confidence through repetition.
2) Seek Fellow Explorers:
The world is not just changing; it’s becoming increasingly complex. Leverage the power of social flow by being an active participant in communities. While individual curiosity can produce incredible feats, our collective curiosity is the motor behind humanity’s biggest innovations.
Conversations feed our imagination, and collaboration enables us to dream bigger. In fact, we are wired to function at our best when tapping into shared knowledge and the support of a community. When we experience social flow, the energy of the group invigorate our own thinking and the shared focus sharpens our concentration. The group’s flow pulls us deeper into our process. Beyond the increased focus, gatherings produce a profound sense of fulfillment. It enhances not only the end result but the experience of getting there.
The journey to collective curiosity does not have to be overwhelming. Start with small steps that feel comfortable. Intentionally nurture your existing relationships. Contribute your skills and experiences to communities you already belong to. Move at your own pace, listen to your needs, and incrementally make the commitments that fits this season of your life. Before long, you will look around to see a tribe that fosters social flow and supports you, fellow curious minds who expands your horizons, amplify your impact, and provide a safety net, making you more resilient to change.
Books I am currently reading:
The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby. A richly reported portrait of Demis Hassabis and DeepMind that captures both the scientific thrill of the AI race and the human complexities behind it.
Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi. One of the most beloved athletes in history and one of the most gifted men ever to step onto a tennis court, a beautiful, haunting autobiography.
READING TIP: Read actively by Taking Notes and Highlighting
Reading actively means taking notes or highlighting the important insights or creating an action plan out of your reading to apply to your daily life.
Writing helps you remember, and these highlights can also be the source for your next read.
Thank you for reading and all your support.
I am excited to keep bringing you the new and old books, great insights, and lessons.
Until next week, stay curious and happy reading!
— Ravi Shah | @readswithravi
