3 IDEAS FROM ME
I.
“One easy way to show you care about others is to ask them questions about their life.
- What are they excited about?
- What are they working on?
- What are they hoping for?
Simply asking the question and listening thoughtfully is an act of generosity. You're giving them the gift of attention.”
II.
“Whatever you're doing, do it well. If you're writing a thank you note, take an extra minute to mention something beyond the typical thank you. If you're exercising, do each set as well as you can. If you're in conversation, really listen and don't just wait for your turn to talk.
Having high standards adds up. You can nearly always find an extra minute to do it better. And most important, you prove to yourself that you're the type of person who does things well.”
III.
“In the long-run (and often in the short-run), your willpower will never beat your environment. The more disciplined your environment is, the less disciplined you need to be. Don't swim upstream.”
2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS
I.
Roman senator, lawyer, and author Pliny the Younger reminds us of a frequent truth in life:
“An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.”
Source: Epistulae (Book II, Letter 15)
My takeaway? Do things where you enjoy the journey because many times the chase will end up being more fun than the reward.
II.
In a single sentence, author Virginia Woolf encourages us to live with a strong foundation — to know our values and be grounded in a strong sense of self — but to remain adaptable and open to life:
“I am rooted, but I flow.”
Source: The Waves
1 QUESTION FOR YOU
How can you position yourself to succeed even if things don't go your way?
Until next week,
James Clear
Author of Atomic Habits
Cofounder of Authors Equity
