Week 5 - "This too, shall pass" - Abraham Lincoln
It feels like I started this series yesterday in hopes of remembering just a small bit of all the information I consume and think about. It’s crazy to think we’re already on week 5. Thanks to everyone that’s subscribed so far!
Thoughts of the Week
As the first half of my second semester of school comes to a close, I’ve found that I have slowly been able to find beauty in the monotony of my everyday life. That might sound bad, but I’ve found it to be extremely fascinating and have been able to use it to my advantage to find fulfillment within many of the things I do.
Social media and the current nature of society pushes forward this narrative that we should all be seeking a more spontaneous adventurous life. The kind of life where you wake up in a new place every week and are always having unique and life-changing experiences. Don’t get me wrong, this sounds amazing, but I have 2 main push-backs against this sort of lifestyle. The first is the obvious aspect of how realistic this kind of life is. The unfortunate reality is that most of us can’t and won’t ever live a life like this.
The second may be a bit controversial, but I truly think this type of lifestyle isn’t sustainable as I don’t believe one can find true fulfillment living like this. It could just be me, but I think after just one to two months of traveling and experiencing the world, I’d be ready to start working towards some new goal or pursuit.
I’ve found that I’m most fulfilled when I’m working towards something, even if it means doing the same thing every day. There’s a kind of beauty in being able to work towards something far ahead in the future by taking incremental steps every day. Although the days can and will blend together, it’s the moments when you can step back and see how far you’ve come, but also what’s left, that are the most enjoyable.
Interestingly enough, it’s the seeming lack of variety in an everyday routine that makes special moments that much more meaningful. A dinner with a friend is always something to look forward to, but you’re much more likely to stay present and enjoy your time if it’s someone you rarely see as opposed to someone you spend most of your time with. Similarly, if your life is full of unique experiences, doesn’t that take away from what makes any of them unique? I’m not saying don’t spend time with those close to you or not to experience the world. I just think that there is a way to instead think about how you can apply the same principle to other parts of your life.
It’s an interesting balancing act of enjoying everything life has to offer while also contributing what you have to give. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter as it’s something I feel everyone has to decide for themselves.
Something to think about
Everything passes
We often get caught up in the unfortunate circumstances that surround us and it can be difficult to remember that almost all of the emotions we have are temporary. Dwelling on negative experiences can be good to learn from one’s mistakes, but it’s important to remember that the experience and the emotions that come along with them are always non permanent. Similarly, it’s important to remember that the positive moments in our lives are just as temporary. We should cherish them while they last while remembering they will ultimately come to an end. Change is inevitable in all aspects of life and exists to remind us that nothing is permanent. Regardless of what you’re going through, keep in mind that it will eventually pass.
What I learned This Week
Yerkes-Dodson Law
The Yerkes-Dodson law proposes a model of a relationship between stress and performance. It suggests that for different activities, there is an optimal level of stress that leads to peak performance. This varies depending on the activity. For example, reading a book would not be conducive to a high level of stress while playing a high-pressure sport would not be conducive to a low level of stress. For each activity, there lies a perfect medium of arousal to achieve peak performance.
From “What the Yerkes-Dodson Law Says About Stress and Performance”(Ann Pietrangelo) Dunning-Krueger Effect
The Dunning-Krueger effect examines the relationship between confidence and competence to suggest that when one first comprehends and learns about a subject, their confidence level is bound to increase as they are unaware of what they don’t know. It is only as one becomes more competent in a subject does their confidence begin to increase linearly.
From Wikimedia Commons
Interesting content I consumed this week
The Bhagavad-Gita-Translated By Barbara Miller
TLDR: This week I started and finished Barbara Miller’s translated version of the essential Hindu text, The Bhagavad-Gita. I read the book as part of an assignment for my Hinduism class, but would highly recommend it to anyone regardless of religious affiliation. It contains some of the most interesting takes I have seen on self-discipline and its role in our lives.
When Richard Feynman Met Albert Einstein
TLDR: This short article covers the fascinating first encounter between 2 of the most impactful physicists and humans of the last century. Highly recommend giving it a read if you’re at all interested in anything science related.
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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
I think that there needs to be a balance with this stuff. I personally can learn from you in the love for the time between the special moments. I think we should pursue those special moments actively, but not sulk on the times we are in routine
I agree that it is the rarity of an experience that contributes to our experience of its meaning and pleasure. But one way that apparently makes the more regular experiences equally special is to practice gratitude (ex: extending thanks at dinner every day).