Daily Wonder

Strokes from the Eric Berne’s Transactional Analysis framework refers to a unit of recognition.

Strokes can be:

verbal / non-verbal

positive / negative

conditional / unconditional

being / doing

“Stroke economy” - People feel strokes are a scarce resource when in fact it is not.

Unhealthy behaviors from thinking strokes are scarce:

Don’t give strokes when you have them to give Don’t ask for strokes when you need them Don’t accept strokes if you want them Don’t reject strokes when you don’t want them Don’t give yourself strokes

“Stroke filters” - when you only allow a part of the stroke to reach you

I put on layers and layers of costumes and anonymities Because I am afraid of what others think of me Because I can only think of myself based on what others think Because I am ashamed of myself

In doing so, I am no one I do not exist

Life is an experiment. It all started with two molecules randomly bumped into each other and accidentally stuck together. The only way to move forward is to try all the permutations and find what fits. The universe is constantly increasing in entropy to allow this experimentation. We as humans need to feel there’s a forward progress and that can only be achieved through massive experimentation.

By Mark Manson

Takeaways:

Happiness comes from solving problems

Choose and prioritize your values

Being responsible for a problem doesn't necessarily mean fault

The more something threatens your identity, the more you will avoid doing it (both success and failture)

Don't let the idea of yourself trap you - keep discovering who you are

Action isn't just the effect of motivation, it's also the cause of it

Paradox of choice: keeping breath open denies us from experiencing depth

"If there's no reason to do anything, there's also no reason not to do anything."

Ernest Backer's "Denial of Death": humans can conceptualize our own death and create "immortality projects" to live on. These projects reflect our values, but are problematic. People need to be comfortable with the reality of death and choose our values more freely.

In the last year of Vincent van Gogh’s life, he was in an asylum and created 130 paintings of the irises in the garden. Even in his darkest hour, he found wonder in the simplest of things.