Sophomore year in high school my teacher, Jerome, asked me what were my political stances. I had no idea. Like none. It was part of a greater project and, essentially, I had to decide if I was a liberal or conservative.
If you follow my blog, you know I don’t watch the news. But, interestingly, even at the time I felt it was a nonsense project. Why would I have to force myself to take sides? Honestly, it didn’t make much sense.
While I don’t remember the specifics, I do know that I was heavily against the death penalty and was attending a school in Northern California or liberal territory. So, I probably returned saying I identified with mostly liberals views.
Even though I felt the specific project was nonsense, the act of thinking was the most important part. Giving conscious thought to my life was the important part.
The following 11 personal commandments are my deepest values. This post has been in process for more than one year (or, arguably, my entire life). They’re the things that I truly believe in. They’re not fads, they don’t change (easily). Tell me yours in the comments or share your disagreements.
I believe this is an exercise that everyone should do for laser focus in life. It’s part of a recent and ongoing process in getting to know myself no matter how uncomfortable it might be.
For me, health comes first. Before god, before family, before friends, even before work. I believe everything starts with health and an able body. Positive relationships. Business success. Confidence. Intelligence.
In fact, I attribute my physical fitness to getting hired at Airbnb, one of the most competitive companies in Silicon Valley. I knew I wasn’t the best accountant so I played up the fact that while I noticed my coworkers getting tired and complaining about exhaustion after long days, I was full of energy. I assumed this would be music to my future boss’s ears. And, based on how I looked, believable (it was true, after all). What I might lack in skill, I would make up for in work hours.
Steal from me, I’ll hate you. Waste my time, you’re dead to me.
“…above all teach the truth that time is the greatest asset available to human beings…” (Outwitting the Devil, page 174)
Civilizations and wars have been started and ended with words. They’re used for persuasion and apology. They’re our most powerful invention, unimaginably more powerful than any bomb.
I’m not talkative, but I always try to talk to everyone. Always. I learn new things, find new opportunities, form new relationships, all with my words.
Last week in Ubud, Bali I was talking with a girl at the gym when her boyfriend aggressively approached. I used my words on him, too, and just today we all went to the beach together and it seems we’re going to be good friends.
NEVER cut off communication.
UPDATE: I believe those most content on their deathbed probably are those who ‘lived’ more lives. How you live more is by creating more experiences, more memories, seeking out embarrassment. Getting outside your comfort zone equals living more. If two people die at the same age, the one who feels they lived the equivalent of two lives is going to be content. We say they ‘lived fast’. What that means is they’ve lived more lives, done more things
Said more commonly: live outside of your comfort zone. People appreciate this. Your life becomes more fulfilling. As it relates to relationships, you create a deeper connection with each shared experience, especially when it’s outside of your comfort zones.
Discomfort is a sure sign of growth. If you’re unsure about something, go with the uncomfortable option. The one that makes you feel nervous.
Admittedly, I could use my own advice sometimes, but I try. My “awkward threshold” is much higher than most.
All energy with us today has been with us since the beginning of time. It can neither be destroyed nor created. We are all made of the same energy as was here billions of years ago.
Just as your thoughts affect your actions, your thoughts affect your reality. Everything in your reality starts in the same place: your brain.
You can devote conscious thought/energy to something and achieve an outcome. This is why the placebo effect is real. If you believe it, it’s true. This is also why affirmations don’t work. Because the majority of people doing them are not confident. They don’t believe the affirmations in the first place. If you truly feel you’re in control, you don’t need to tell yourself how special you are in front of a mirror.
In an experiment where three groups of free-throw shooters were told to either practice every day for a week, do nothing, or practice shooting with their imagination, here’s what happened:
If your friends typically return from work to watch a baseball game, you probably do, too. Or will. If your friend’s party four nights a week, you probably do, too. Or will. If your friends are driven and productive, you probably are, too. Or will be. This is tremendously difficult and even I only have a handful of friends who I consider genuine positive influences on me.
“…readers are a rare thing. Most people don’t like to read. They’d rather do just about anything else.” (How To Write Funny, Loc 291)
Books are as close to The Matrix’s downloading of skills directly into our brains as we’re going to get. A book represents someone’s expertise simmered down from years or decades to a few hundred-page book. This is my miracle.
However, just by reading doesn’t confer magic power. It’s called applied knowledge (you must DO with your knowledge). I am in love with reading.
This personal commandment has always been a natural part of me. My earliest memory was in a store as a young teen when my mom offered to buy me new sunglasses. I took over an hour deciding. I thought until I was sure I made the right decision. I had those glasses for years.
One of the first times a friend brought this to my attention was in relation to a girl I met in Pereira, Colombia. I really liked her and I wanted it to work, but she seemed rather neutral at first.
I consulted my friend who was helpful but told me I was overthinking it.
I thought about that and decided that I disagreed. I think it’s better to overthink because that means you’re being conscious about what’s going on. Although we’re in different cities, I still talk with that girl regularly.
There have been times in my past where I specifically remember thinking that if I had only thought more, I could have probably navigated that situation better. I can’t think of anything whereby thinking too much I came out worse.
Another current example is my journey in learning to dance salsa. Just taking classes is inefficient because teachers teach you complex moves that you can’t do with anyone besides the teacher.
It’s like reading a book without comprehension. For salsa, a better approach is coming up with a conscious plan on how to learn.
Learn about salsa, what works for you, what doesn’t, how many lessons until you dance in a salsa club, what will you learn week 1, week 2, week 3, etc. “What gets measured, gets managed!” If you know where that quote is from tell me in the comments.
There’s one caveat I’d like to explain. Remember that there are always two valid arguments looking at the same issue from the opposite position.
For example, in late 2020 when Bitcoin was on the rise, I had to decide whether or not to sell.
Ultimately, I decided to sell because I felt these large companies putting millions of dollars into Bitcoin was too coincidental with the 3x rise in Bitcoin up to that point (subsequently it rose to 5x before coming back down). That makes sense.
But the opposite argument is that these large companies now have a financial stake in Bitcoin. They’re incentivized to not lose money and they have lots of powerful tools at their disposal to affect this desire (like news coverage or even direct manipulation).
I didn’t think of that second point. Had I, maybe my decision to sell before year-end would have changed and I could have capitalized on more of the upside.
'Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few people engage in it.'-Henry Ford Click To Tweet“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few people engage in it.” – Henry Ford
In 2017 I became a minimalist. I sold, threw away, or gave away 90% of my things. Now the things I use on a daily basis I have with me in a backpack and carry-on luggage. It’s liberating.
I don’t accept gifts anymore. (It’s been awkward the few times I’ve been gifted or surprise gifted.) I don’t need anything that I don’t already have. If I do, I buy it. Creating a Christmas list is only valuable when you’re young and have no money and have to wait until these holidays to receive physical things you want.
I remember my brother asking me this: “Why do you want to learn to drive a motorcycle?”
It was a great question because it wasn’t the generic one “why do you want a motorcycle?” I thought about it and I didn’t have an answer at the time. There was no reason. I didn’t need to know. Ultimately, I realize that I love being able to do things.
Whether that’s driving a manual car, dancing salsa or speaking Spanish, knowing how to play chess, cook, or count cards. It’s like another tool on my tool belt or another amenity in my kitchen.
Then I realized the ‘why’. It increases the variety of life, my opportunities, my ability to connect, my understanding of the world. It increases the subjects on which I have a direct connection. It fits in with number nine. It’s the same reason why I attended military boot camp or wrote a book or competed in a boxing event. It’s another experience and/or skill.
Most people think they’re open-minded so I must go into detail about my definition.
The difference between me and someone who thinks they’re open-minded is that I know I could be wrong. That prevents me from having a close mind.
Ask a vegan, who undoubtedly will assure you of their open-mindedness, whether there’s a chance that they’re wrong about veganism. For them, it’s not possible. I’m a meat-eater. I could be wrong about eating meat. I recognize the possibility.
I strongly believe the reaction to coronavirus was extreme and overblown, but I recognize that I could be wrong.
Ask the same thing of someone who holds any strong values to find out if they’re truly open-minded. Religion. Politics. Business. Anything.
I don’t believe in conspiracy theories, but I could be wrong. I don’t believe in god, but I could be wrong. I don’t believe in global warming, but I could be wrong. I don’t believe in abortion, but I could be wrong. I believe homosexuality is a choice, but I could be wrong. By the way, only two of the above are my actual beliefs.
I remember I went on a date after the 2016 presidential election. We had been on numerous dates and had been getting along well. She was a girl I had my eye on for many years, since college. Finally, I was getting to know her more intimately. We were fooling around on my bed when she asked me who I voted for. She packed up and left. That was the last I heard from her.
It’s unacceptable behavior and I’m glad she showed it to me early. I’m sure she’s glad, too. I won’t go into the details of why this behavior is so backward (politics is so complex it’s hard to have a really strict view on anything. Both sides have really good arguments. On top of that, you’re thought processes are based on what you heard from the skewed media whichever side you happen to be on).
I think of myself as the most open-minded person you’d ever meet. I can’t think of a single thing that would make me want to hate or not be friends with someone. We might not be best friends or even hang out regularly, but I’ll still accept you.
Here’s an unpopular and politically-incorrect view: I think racism is ok. In fact, it’s natural. I know racist white people. I’ve encountered racist black and Asian people. It’s ok.
In fact, I remember once walking with my gay, black friend on Market Street in San Francisco when we encountered a small demonstration of black men. They were dressed intimidating, standing with their arms crossed while one of them was speaking with a microphone. He was straight up being racist.
He was inciting violence specifically against white people. There was one black lady in the crowd going crazy. We stood there for about 10 minutes as I was sure something was going to go down. That’s how blatantly racist these guys were. But, it’s ok. They can be racist.
As long as they don’t come up and throw a punch or spit in my face, it’s all good. I don’t know their experiences and why they’re the way they are. I’m sure they have valid reasons.
Or, alternatively, maybe she was raped by a person of certain skin color, or had various negative experiences from people of a certain skin color, and now she doesn’t like anyone with that skin color? Is it right? I don’t know.
I’m going to write an article about religion and how I hate it (I use the word hate with two things on Earth) and send it to my uncle who is a Jesuit to see what he thinks. My brain might be miswired, but I think this is ok. I’m tremendously interested in his thoughts. And, who knows, maybe he’ll change my mind. It’s happened before. That’s the freedom that comes along with extreme open-mindedness.
What are your commandments?
I agreed to most of your points of view.
And enjoy to read more of it.
Thanks man. Keep it up
Thanks for the comment. I’m curious, which ones do you not agree with?
Nice list!
While I agree that your approach and commandments are probably the most advantageous ones for you, they are certainly not smart or possible strategies for everyone, and hot take: if I read you correctly, I believe they make you a somewhat bad person.
Why? Because they require a lot of privilege to hold up. Those rules give you permission to profit off others getting screwed over by the status quo – a deck and rules designed too benefit you and other 1% holders of winning lottery tickets, while letting other people suffer. And your rules allow you to feel no responsibility for your contribution or complicity to that system.
It’s very easy for you, a tall, in your own words “above average” looking, white able bodied male, who grew up in a rich part of California – a state that offers some of the best opportunities for nutrition, education, financial literacy, I could go on… in the world, and to then say that you are extremely open-minded. No one else’s behavior costs you anything. You will always come out on top in large part because the deck is stacked very much in your favor, and for most people that is not even possible much of the time. Their rules are constrained by real needs for survival.
I definitely appreciate the caveat of confidence level in what you say, and the unassuming tone it gives your writing. I wholeheartedly agree with your criticism of Mark Manson’s writing style, for example, and you are infinitely more pleasant to read. Though admittedly some people need to be told in a very confident tone because they are extremely susceptible to appeal to authority. You are smarter than that – probably why you are atheist and quit the army after boot camp.
But there is something almost hypocritical in the criticism that he rejects what made him successful. When your rules explicitly forbid you from taking stands against behaviors, mindsets, etc., you are protecting the system that got you where you are and absolving yourself of responsibility for those you hurt in the process. Mark Manson’s rules don’t acknowledge the behavioral side of what got him where he is, just how he can operate now. Your rules don’t acknowledge the static circumstantial side of what got you where you are, just what you did from that platform.
I can give specifics, but you’re a smart and well read guy. As open minded and well-read as you are, you will quickly be able to piece together examples of how common good is harmed by people at the top refusing to take sides while profiting. Environmental destruction is an easy one, but you’ll find them across industries and domains of power.
While it is inherently presumptuous to assume we can know what’s best for people, as it’s impossible to fully know, we can get part way there. We have to choose something, because we change the world merely by being here. And we’re still responsible for trying to learn about the consequences of our choices, and trying to do right by our collective. Either you will choose selfishly, or you will choose with the greater good in mind. Most people in your position choose selfishly, and humans may well extinguish ourselves for this reason.
As a fellow atheist and skeptic (who is still willing to be proven wrong), this is one way to interpret something as wisdom point for Christianity: we are all going to fail, to sin, because we are not all-knowing. Yet we must keep trying and repenting. We can be good people by knowing that we are wrong and being diligent enough to act anyway and humble enough to change our ways when our active evidence-gathering (and it should be active) has shown us that we should.
The good news is that you’re gathering lots of evidence by reading as much as you do. And you have a platform and financial means that you can use, if you choose, to actually raise the sea level of human welfare, if just a bit more than you lower it.
You are certainly correct that prioritizing health as much as possible (with the caveat that for most people, sometimes extreme and unsustainable effort is temporarily necessary to escape limiting circumstances and level up) and a positive growth mindset will help almost anyone. But consider how everything else can be very different if you have less runway and means (or mental, physical, and socioeconomic horsepower to get it) at the start.
But I don’t know the rest of your personal code, and I could be wrong.
Congratulations on your success in your path! I look forward to reading more and am grateful for the good content.
Rock on,
Mike Willems
Sorry the paragraph ends got messed up. Posting another reply. If it works, only approve the modified one 🙂
i’m not sure which it which and I’m not going to read again to find out 🙂 let me know if i got it right
Nice list!
While I agree that your approach and commandments are probably the most advantageous ones for you, they are certainly not smart or possible strategies for everyone, and hot take: if I read you correctly, I believe they make you a somewhat bad person.
Why? Because they require a lot of privilege to hold up. Those rules give you permission to profit off others getting screwed over by the status quo – a deck and rules designed too benefit you and other 1% holders of winning lottery tickets, while letting other people suffer. And your rules allow you to feel no responsibility for your contribution or complicity to that system.
It’s very easy for you, a tall, in your own words “above average” looking, white able bodied male, who grew up in a rich part of California – a state that offers some of the best opportunities for nutrition, education, financial literacy, I could go on… in the world, and to then say that you are extremely open-minded. No one else’s behavior costs you anything. You will always come out on top in large part because the deck is stacked very much in your favor, and for most people that is not even possible much of the time. Their rules are constrained by real needs for survival.
I definitely appreciate the caveat of confidence level in what you say, and the unassuming tone it gives your writing. I wholeheartedly agree with your criticism of Mark Manson’s writing style, for example, and you are infinitely more pleasant to read. Though admittedly some people need to be told in a very confident tone because they are extremely susceptible to appeal to authority. You are smarter than that – probably why you are atheist and quit the army after boot camp.
But there is something almost hypocritical in the criticism that he rejects what made him successful. When your rules explicitly forbid you from taking stands against behaviors, mindsets, etc., you are protecting the system that got you where you are and absolving yourself of responsibility for those you hurt in the process. Mark Manson’s rules don’t acknowledge the behavioral side of what got him where he is, just how he can operate now. Your rules don’t acknowledge the static circumstantial side of what got you where you are, just what you did from that platform.
I can give specifics, but you’re a smart and well read guy. As open minded and well-read as you are, you will quickly be able to piece together examples of how common good is harmed by people at the top refusing to take sides while profiting. Environmental destruction is an easy one, but you’ll find them across industries and domains of power.
While it is inherently presumptuous to assume we can know what’s best for people, as it’s impossible to fully know, we can get part way there. We have to choose something, because we change the world merely by being here. And we’re still responsible for trying to learn about the consequences of our choices, and trying to do right by our collective. Either you will choose selfishly, or you will choose with the greater good in mind. Most people in your position choose selfishly, and humans may well extinguish ourselves for this reason.
As a fellow atheist and skeptic (who is still willing to be proven wrong), this is one way to interpret something as wisdom point for Christianity: we are all going to fail, to sin, because we are not all-knowing. Yet we must keep trying and repenting. We can be good people by knowing that we are wrong and being diligent enough to act anyway and humble enough to change our ways when our active evidence-gathering (and it should be active) has shown us that we should.
The good news is that you’re gathering lots of evidence by reading as much as you do. And you have a platform and financial means that you can use, if you choose, to actually raise the sea level of human welfare, if just a bit more than you lower it. But I don’t know the rest of your personal code, and maybe you are already. I’m merely speaking to what your rules promote.
You are certainly correct that prioritizing health as much as possible (with the caveat that for most people, sometimes extreme and unsustainable effort is temporarily necessary to escape limiting circumstances and level up) and a positive growth mindset will help almost anyone. But consider how everything else can be very different if you have less runway and means (or mental, physical, and socioeconomic horsepower to get it) at the start.
Congratulations on your success in your path! I look forward to reading more and am grateful for the good content.
Rock on,
Mike Willems
What a thoughtful comment, thank you! One thing I’ve learned while joining Twitter last year is that we are all hypocritical, including me. But your persepctive and comment is much appreciated and well-received.