by design or by deafult?

It's hard to overstate the consequences of living life by making conscious choices rather than following what we "should "do.

It's not obvious that going to college, getting married, getting a job, or having children is the most optimal, fulfilling life path for everyone on earth. There's certainly nothing wrong with doing any of these things, provided you made these choices intentionally rather than outsourcing them to societal norms.

Fulfillment comes when we live life by design, not by default.

how a simple word swap doubles your willpower

A study on willpower split chocolate lovers into two groups: one said "I can't eat chocolate," the other "I don't eat chocolate." Surprisingly, the "don't" group resisted chocolate twice as much. This simple word swap taps into our self-identity. Saying "I don't" aligns with who we are, reinforcing our resolve.

Our education system emphasizes articulating thoughts with grammatical correctness. I've realized the profound impact specific words have on our identity, self-worth, and mental well-being.

This is especially true when we talk to ourselves.

Embrace Simplicity: The Surprising Effectiveness of Small Actions

Most believe that big, complex issues demand equally grand solutions. However, simple actions like planting trees or encouraging handwashing can significantly impact vast challenges like climate change and health care.

Of course they don't "solve" either problem, but every small, positive change casts a vote towards a solution.

Sometimes, the most useful, effective ideas are elegant and beautiful because of, not despite their simplicity.