Self Advice

...for the hard days.
Apr 4, 2023Last updated: Aug 18, 2023

Small bits of advice, labelled by the epistemic status of my ability to follow them.

โ„น๏ธ See also Questions for Self-Introspection.

Epistemic Status Key

  • ๐Ÿ˜‡: Very Satisfied.
  • ๐Ÿ™‚: Satisfied.
  • ๐Ÿ˜: OK.
  • ๐Ÿ˜ฌ: Requires Improvement.
  • ๐Ÿ˜ž: Disappointed.

Advice

  • Use sunscreen. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • Sleep, a lot. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • Be kind. Don't be an asshole. Don't be a push over either. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • Lift weights. Build muscle. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Get hammered. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • You will break hearts. Own up to mistakes. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • Your heart will be broken. Learn to live with it. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • Don't panic. Be a detached Buddha. ๐Ÿ˜‡
  • Have a hobby project. Don't bother finishing it. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • Purpose is fleeting - only comes from work or relationships like parents, s/o, kids, etc. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Motivation is a myth. Just show up. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Your ideas suck. Do it anyway. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Everything is a practice. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Pick an industry instead of a job. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • Figure out the optimal amount of hassle. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
  • Communicate explicitly. ๐Ÿ˜
  • You will always under-communicate. Be better. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
  • Remember compounding (of money, knowledge, everything). ๐Ÿ™‚
  • Thought experiments in extremes. ๐Ÿ˜ž
  • Show, then tell. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Build taste. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Everyone has an agenda. Figure it out and adapt. ๐Ÿ˜
  • Always account for bias. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • Things wonโ€™t get easier. Just get better at handling them. ๐Ÿ˜

Miscellaneous

Every time I read about Charles Darwin, I come out more impressed. This time, it is not the science, but his perseverance. See Charles Darwin And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

ยฉ 2023 Sanyam Kapoor