Fearlessness
Distinguish between rational fears, with real consequences, and irrational fears, where there really aren’t any consequences. (Tim Ferris)
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“How can I become antifragile?”
“Aim not just for courage, but fearlessness.“
“Isn’t fear useful? It keeps us alive.”
“Some fears are useful; most fears are useless. Useless fears are irrational. Useless fears are the main obstacle that keeps you from reaching your potential.
Whenever you experience fear, ask yourself:
Is this a useful or a useless fear?
Every time you identify a useless fear, practice fearlessness.”
Two types of thoughts
There are only two things you can control with certainty: your actions and your thoughts. So focus all your effort on improving those things and bringing them into true alignment.
Waste no thought on the things you cannot control.
We don’t control our thoughts.
We aren’t the ones who decide what thoughts to think. We just experience them and their consequences.
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“How might we reconcile these two ideas?”
“There are two kinds of thoughts:
Voluntary Thoughts – within our control
Involuntary Thoughts – outside our control
Our thoughts create our reality, and most thoughts are involuntary.”
“Then where’s our control?”
“We can control our voluntary thoughts, and our response to involuntary thoughts.
Remember that beautiful quote about improvisation?
When you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note you play that determines if it’s good or bad. (Miles Davis)
We cannot control our involuntary thoughts, but we can answer unresourceful involuntary thoughts with voluntary thoughts.
The voluntary thought is the next note you play.“
The Art of Anchoring 5
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“What is the best Memento Mori reminder?”
“Your breath, because it’s always with you. Imagine the last breath you’ll ever take, and savor this breath as if it was your last.”
“What is the second-best reminder?”
“People. Acknowledge your common humanity. Imagine the last breath they’ll ever take, and revel in the shared moment as if it was their last.”
The most important daily practice
Lost time is never found again. (Benjamin Franklin)
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“What is the most important daily practice?”
“Memento Mori.
Contemplating death.”
“Isn’t that a bit grim?
Why not contemplate life?”
“In contemplating death you are contemplating life. They’re two sides of the same coin.
There’s also value in their contrasting [<link; short read] effect. No better way to appreciate the immeasurable value of your time.”
“I keep forgetting it.”
“That’s why it’s a daily practice.”
The Art of Perception 7
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“It took me TWO HOURS to send a little package at the post-office.”
“It doesn’t matter what happened. The only thing that matters is how you respond to it.
What is the antifragile response?
In an important sense, the Art of Living is the Art of Perception. You’re upset only because of your interpretation of it. And your interpretation is largely a matter of what you choose to focus on.
How can you beautify this interpretation?
Design interpretation, then design behavior.
How could you have beautified that time?“
The Challenge Principle
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“I can’t meditate. My mind is racing / I’m feeling x.”
“That’s the BEST time to meditate.
Remember the ultimate goal of the practice.”
“Achieving Stillness under ANY conditions.“
“Keep that in mind always, and treasure any opportunity to practice it.”
The Art of Perception 4
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“Every obstacle is a Gift.”
“It’s easy to say that in hindsight.
The Art is seeing/feeling it in the moment.”
“How?”
“Make every obstacle an anchor that connects you to the universe of Meaning.
With every obstacle, practice SEEING the Macro in the Micro [<link; medium read].“
Turning obstacles upside down 2
Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate. (Chuang Tzu)
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“I woke up in an unresourceful state again.”
“How does that make you feel?”
“Frustrated.”
“Why?”
“It messes with my morning practice.”
“So it messes with an expectation for things to be in a certain way.”
“I guess it does.”
“What’s in your control?”
“How I RESPOND to it.“
“NEVER forget that.
What’s the best response?”
“Inversion[<link; medium read].
The Obstacle is the Way.“
“That’s the spirit.
Let go of expectations.
Whenever you encounter an obstacle, that BECOMES your practice.
Embrace it.
Give it your full attention.
Turn every obstacle into MEDITATION.
Every obstacle is ALL obstacles.
Every obstacle is a potential Evolution-Point.
Whenever you encounter an obstacle, EVOLVE.“
On Self-Actualization and Mastery
The study of forms leave forms (Josh Waitzkin, The Art of Learning)
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“What does Mastery look like in the context of Self-Actualization?”
“One way to think of it is by analogy with Chess.
Over the years, the Chess-Master accumulates a vast amount of chess-related knowledge and integrates it so profoundly, that it allows him to intuitively find the best move in any situation in an instant.
In the same way, over the years, the Sage accumulates a vast amount of practical knowledge and integrates it so profoundly, that it allows him to intuitively make the best decision in any situation in an instant.”
Antifragility
Fragments from imaginary dialogues
“How are you dealing with this cold?”
“I thank it for strengthening me.“
Dani Trusca 
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