Fabulous- the luck razor for me!!!! I really believe in it - it’s amazing how often it pays off. I’ve never been able to articulate the rule for myself though so it was lovely to read. Thank you for all your work. I was stuck for a while - your ideas on high agency quite literally gave me momentum again. Thank you again.
Agency is the antidote to learned helplessness—but it's also the enemy of comfort. Most people prefer the predictable misery of low agency to the uncertain responsibility of high agency. The real barrier isn't lack of knowledge or tools; it's the psychological weight of admitting you have more control than you've been willing to exercise. Increasing agency means accepting that your current circumstances are partly your creation. Are we ready to trade the safety of victimhood for the burden of authorship?
I started putting a whiteboard calendar on my fridge a few years ago. It has been my best accountability partner. Nothing has helped me workout more consistently.
One of my favorite adaptive delusions is believing I’m lucky. If I’m incorrect, I will still have reached for more opportunities that I would not have otherwise. If I am lucky, I will take advantage of all the gifts Luck offers. Lucky me. Rule #2 is a great razor to have without relying on faith!
9 is something I've experienced before but didn't come up with a good name for it. Last year I started learning how to run properly by alternating between running and walking during a run, not setting any expectations on how fast I should be able to run, and now I can run a half marathon in almost 2h sharp.
#3 is underrated. I have a few life things going on that, when viewed as problems, feel overwhelming. But when viewed as puzzles, I can see each of the variables as pieces. Makes it easier to see how everything fits together.
I love 7. It’s absolutely true. This is my favorite Substack.
Thank you Jason
Fabulous- the luck razor for me!!!! I really believe in it - it’s amazing how often it pays off. I’ve never been able to articulate the rule for myself though so it was lovely to read. Thank you for all your work. I was stuck for a while - your ideas on high agency quite literally gave me momentum again. Thank you again.
Thanks Varsha.
No. 3 is completely new to me and I love it, even if it’s absurd as you say. No. 4 ✅ and it works 😎
Yes, please! More posts on Substack 👏
enjoying it so far
Love it
Agency is the antidote to learned helplessness—but it's also the enemy of comfort. Most people prefer the predictable misery of low agency to the uncertain responsibility of high agency. The real barrier isn't lack of knowledge or tools; it's the psychological weight of admitting you have more control than you've been willing to exercise. Increasing agency means accepting that your current circumstances are partly your creation. Are we ready to trade the safety of victimhood for the burden of authorship?
Hard for me to choose between “quantum mechanics” and the Multiverse 😂
always a tough choice!
I started putting a whiteboard calendar on my fridge a few years ago. It has been my best accountability partner. Nothing has helped me workout more consistently.
staring back into your soul.
Post its!! Anything written on a post it feels way more playful than a cold list
One of my favorite adaptive delusions is believing I’m lucky. If I’m incorrect, I will still have reached for more opportunities that I would not have otherwise. If I am lucky, I will take advantage of all the gifts Luck offers. Lucky me. Rule #2 is a great razor to have without relying on faith!
9 is something I've experienced before but didn't come up with a good name for it. Last year I started learning how to run properly by alternating between running and walking during a run, not setting any expectations on how fast I should be able to run, and now I can run a half marathon in almost 2h sharp.
#3 is underrated. I have a few life things going on that, when viewed as problems, feel overwhelming. But when viewed as puzzles, I can see each of the variables as pieces. Makes it easier to see how everything fits together.
yeah such a strange low hanging fruit language hack. bizzare but weirdly works
all my life, i've been trying to solve my problems software first & only
huge mistake
Don't you mean, “But how could you live and HAVE no story to tell?" ― Fyodor Dostoevsky
I liked the luck razor and story razor, what did you mean by a "learning idea" on the quantum mechanics one? Like do exam questions, anki cards etc?
I love 5. Mantra I live by - "Vague goals create anxiety. Specific goals give direction." - Chris Williamson