I had a self realization and received the advice from myself during one of my "zen state pondering" that - being in the best shape of my health with improve EVERYTHING by 10x in my life.
A technologist for 24 years. Almost got my last product startup acquired in 2014 by a (back then) 500 million USD company. I have been obese for 15 years.
I have lost 30 pounds in last 4 months and now lifting and working out 4 days a week(I try 5 days). I look forward to working out now. I feel so much more energetic and elevated state of awareness. Everything is already so much better.
That commenter said it and I’m gonna say it too: I’ve been able to think much more deeply, thoroughly, and most importantly much further along than my old self before doing this (and even further than my coworkers in ways that has already paid off).
One day I really went off on it and wrote out my thoughts for 4 hours on some important technical ideas I’ve been ruminating on. Not in one big doc, either, but using Obsidian to connect my ideas to each other. I used those ideas to knock out a massive technical problem we were having at work with half a day’s effort. Found a quick win swimming around in my head.
It’s been a game changer.
Edit: I found the original comment!! Read it, there’s two other books there that have supercharged my life. Probably the most influential comment I’ve read on HN https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33594264
"You gotta kill the person you were born to be to become the person you want to be."
There's a lot wrapped in it: discomfort, uneasiness, and determination. It's made impact from the day-to-day life level (trying new things I wouldn't have before) to the large life-scale (quitting my job to pursue my startup).
Ultimately, you just gotta go for it.
As the father of a 20 month old, this year has been rough; she wants Mommy all the time and now that she's mobile there's not much I can do about it short of physically restraining her.
At the end of November she finally decided that I wasn't completely terrible; I went to Vegas for re:Invent and she was going from room to room looking for me. She still wants Mommy more, but Daddy has moved up a step from "unwanted intruder" to "somebody we take for granted but miss when he's gone".
Came from one of my employees.
Always struggled with being who I think the world will allow me to be as opposed to the person I am. I flip flop between those two states. That said, I think many of us do.
Not to be confused with allowing undesirable behaviors to run free, of course. I'm mindful of being the kind of person I want to be too.
Some things just feel easier when you're just being yourself and you choose not to give a shit what others think. It seems more attractive and confident.
It can feel scary because you somehow feel like you're putting your life situation or identity at risk. But I guess I've never been good at predicting the future anyway. Might as well be myself.
"There are no tricks, that's just a distraction. Just sit down and do it. Ass in chair gets you there."
This is especially true in adults relationships. If you don't put yourself out there and voluntarily assume the risk of going first, risking rejection, etc. then nothing is going to happen. Other people are not going to call you to hang out.
Advice at work by a manager. It makes discussions less confrontational, and I found that, regardless of whether it helps the discussion, it helps me keep a positive mood.
It's old, but timeless, and I found it last month.
Naming these concepts has made them easier to identify and has put me back in the driver's seat
Basically, most of the things that are put in place have a reason behind it. You don't have to agree with the reason, but you must understand it before trying to solve a problem.
I spontaneously proposed to my girlfriend last night. She said yes :)
Just taking a long time to sink in and internalize, but I think it's spot on. Worrying doesn't help the problems or generate Solutions, it only makes it worse. Everything single thing that I thought I needed to worry about can be better achieved without the anguish. You can still think, plan, and act without doing it from a place of fear and without the negative emotional baggage.
I left Australia aged 32 where my life was bogged down and meaningless and emigrated to the States where I found fulfilment. It wasn't easy, it was illegal for me to earn money but it all worked out. I think there's something about leaving one's home country that invites a brand new path, a fresh opportunity to wipe the old slate and start afresh. I strongly recommend taking the flying leap into the unknown.
Does it need to be said?
Does it need to be said now?
Does it need to be said by me?
This applies to everything. Relationships, health, personal development, business, learning etc.
If you cannot manage yourself, then how can you manage the world?
These two are the best advices I received in 2022. To be honest, I gave them to me after reading something close to them in the same week.
I will tell myself that every day. Whether it be family, work or people in general, I have seen how good reputation and goodwill get vanished within just one act of impulsiveness.
Doesn't mean I am bad. Even just a harmless tendency such as curiosity, attempting to impress someone or just forcing yourself to fit in, will sometimes cost so much trouble. I have become comfortable of editing and deleting my ideas from the internet, but that doesn't work in real life (or in emails).
I remind myself that, I have saved myself from so many problems by restraining myself from acting. Empathy is a good technique to save myself, asking myself, "how my behavior is perceived by others? Have I truly listened before I came to a conclusion? Is compromise an easier solution?"
Mediocrity is a survival technique, and it saves you from yourself. It shouldn't be ostracized. People have done more harm by trying to do the right thing they saw fit. Be the person who is generally liked, or in the worst case scenario is forgettable.
-Rewire Your Anxious Brain https://amzn.to/3B3muZ9
But here's my advice to you.
This is my command to you: love eachother.
"Wishing without work, is like fishing without bait."
Meaning listening to others more often than telling. In particular when you lead people. Not holding back my opinion but let the others contribute.
I particularly like the short, simple, concise statement saying everything.
Yeah probably not the kind of advice OP was looking for but definitely the best I have gotten for multiple years.
By my PCP. Seriously, go get checked (and presumably treated) for Vit D/B12 deficiency, sleep issues, and inflammations and it might change your life.
Earlier this year I was drunk at a bar, using the urinal while staring at the wall in front of me, which was full of stickers and scribbles. Then I saw this message, written by who knows who, and it really stuck with me.
(A timeless advice, not really an advice received in 2022)
(I kid, I kid, but being told to read some stoic philosophy was useful)
To me it basically means that if you want to become a better version of yourself you have to make changes.
Just hearing someone extremely successful with effectively limitless resources say this, hearing that this is OK.
I don't remember who I heard it from
I contrast that with how some people say "I'd like to learn X language" (like Japanese, or Italian, not like Rust) and they don't, some languages are difficult (German comes to mind), but ultimately, if you want to learn a language, you do it
“Cash is a position.”