Week 2 - "Love the discipline you know, and let it support you" - Marcus Aurelius
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read last week’s publication. I was very hesitant to put out some of my writing, but appreciate all the support and feedback.
Thoughts of the Week
This week, I’ve spent a good amount of time reflecting on the idea of performing without a purpose. The idea suggests that we should be ready and prepare for things by proactively seeking opportunities and challenges without needing a clear goal. In today’s hustle culture, it’s easy to feel like we always need something to work towards, whether it’s a new promotion or a personal record in the gym. But are these goals always necessary?
As a self-proclaimed “goal-oriented” individual, I do believe goals are extremely important, but I think there is something to be said about the ability to perform at our best when there isn’t a clear objective. This kind of purposeless performance keeps us ready for when the opportunity comes and frees us from always needing something to chase.
Additionally, always needing a goal seems to create some sort of a crutch when it comes to performing to one’s best ability. Without it, we are a prisoner to our preset idea of what our success looks like, which can often lead to untapped potential. I suggest trying to incorporate this mindset into some of the tasks you perform on a daily basis to see if you can perform without a clear purpose.
I believe there is a lot of power in being able to do hard things without a clear reason why and would love to get your thoughts on the matter.
“The Purpose is you.” - David Goggins
Things to think about
Your attention
Over the past two decades, the human attention span while engaging with screens has declined from over 2 minutes to an average of 47 seconds. This means that people tend to switch screens after only 47 seconds of engagement. Furthermore, this data suggests that half of all individuals have an attention span of less than 40 seconds1. This drop in attention span is noteworthy when considering the rise in popularity of short-form content through mediums like TikTok. By optimizing for this drop in attention span, these same companies are playing a large role in exacerbating the problem.
When to stop talking
In general, people are pretty bad at telling when someone else wants to leave a conversation. Studies show that when individuals try to guess when the person they are talking with wants to leave, they are usually off by half the length of the conversation. This study also shows how we usually underestimate how long someone is interested in speaking with us2. When it comes to the content of these conversations, people tend to be unaware of what kind of conversation the other person desires, and often underestimate the depth of conversation the other person is interested in exploring.
What I learned This Week
Two-Step Flow Theory
Two-step flow theory suggests the idea that individuals develop their opinions and beliefs from certain opinion leaders who are influenced by mass media. These opinion leaders are impacted by the media, and in turn, pass the information they receive to the rest of society. The theory suggests that it is through interpersonal connections and conversations that public opinion is shaped.
Pascal’s wager
Pascal’s wager is a philosophical argument presented by Blaise Pascal that examines the hypothetical wager one could make on if god exists. The wager states that regardless of the probability of god’s existence, it is always better to believe in god than not.
The Truth About Narcissism
I’ve always thought I understood what Narcissism was, but I think Dr. Conti frames it well in his definition.
“Narcissism is a deep pervasive, and unquestioned sense of inadequacy in the self that comes along with anger, fear, and vulnerability that is compensated for by aggression and the mechanics of envy.” - Dr. Paul Conti
One of the more overlooked elements of narcissistic individuals is their deep sense of inadequacy which is mistaken for arrogance. Despite their apparent self-assurance, narcissists don't act out of love for others, but rather out of a preoccupation with their self-image."3
Interesting Articles I Read This Week
The plateauing of cognitive ability among top earners
TLDR: This study examines how the relationship between wage and cognitive ability plateaus after a certain threshold.
The Danger of Minimalist Design (& the Death of Detail)
TLDR: This reflection on a popular Twitter thread examines the potential downsides of an increasingly minimalist design culture.
Training
Monday: 40 minutes/5.5 miles, Lift: Off
Tuesday: 70 minutes/10 miles(Easy with 6 x 20s strides), Lift: Legs
Wednesday: 45 minutes on stationary bike, Lift: Pull
Thursday: 70minutes/10 miles (Easy), Lift: Push
Friday: 40 minutes/5.5 miles (Easy), Lift: Legs
Saturday: 60 minutes/8.5 miles (Easy with 8 x 20s strides), Lift: Pull
Sunday: 85 minutes/12.8 miles (Long Run), Lift: Push
This week consisted of about 46 miles with 6 lifts. It included a long run which was my first moderate-hard effort in a little over a month. It was on a fairly hilly route, but I’m satisfied with it for where I am in the training cycle. My body is still adapting to the new lifting schedule, but I’ve been impressed with the way my body is reacting to all the work i’m putting it through. I’m always in awe of what the human body is capable of given the right fuel and training.
That’s all for this week! If you have any thoughts or suggestions on ways to improve this newsletter or parts you think could be in or excluded, please let me know! Feel free to comment below or message me on Instagram or email @tarun.vedula. Have a great week!
-Tarun
Modern Wisdom, Dr Gloria Mark - How To Take Control Of Your Attention, podcast audio, February 2, 2023
Modern Wisdom, Adam Masrtoianni- Are Smart People Actually Happier?, podcast audio, February 4, 2023
Lex Fridman Podcast, Paul Conti: Narcissism, Sociopathy, Envy, and the Nature of Good and Evil, February 7, 2023
This is really really good stuff, especially the commentary on the roots of narcissism.
I’m also intrigued by the concept of high performance without any goals in sight. Perhaps it could be framed as a conflict between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? To a degree, however, all goals and motivations are extrinsic. We’re socialized to hold certain values and ideas in high regard in addition to material and tangible goals.
Another potential way of framing goals is considering them devices to help manage the competing pursuits that occupy our finite time. How else would we know how much to lift, work, practice or study? Each can be done for its own sake, but can prohibit the use of one’s time for other worthwhile activities.
Thanks for sharing. Excited to read more!