Date: 18.10.2023

What are the obstacles blocking you from achieving your desired state?

While there are probably many problems. There is one that usually remains under the radar of your consciousness...

It's called opportunistic thinking.

When you operate under the influence of this thinking style, you are always looking for the next big thing that will make you money and/or alter your state towards good in the current moment.

Today is "How can I make money with AI and be the first to get the new iPhone", tomorrow is something else, and yesterday it was some other hot concept already forgotten.

Opportunity seekers buy lots of products and consume a wide range of "content" - usually subscribed to dozens of famous people, thinking that if they aren't following the celebrities, they will miss out on some secret formula for success.

And while these folks consume a large portfolio of "things", they tend to use very few of them. And even these few do get abandoned when the next so-called “easy” or “trendy” way to get attention, appreciation, and money comes by.

If you have “opportunistic thinking”, the question that circles in your headspace is usually this: "What's the fastest way to feel good right now?"

And why do you have this thought in the first place?

Well, it's because you are unsure of what you want out of life.

People who know what they want out of life operate in the complete opposite. They may review a lot of products and ideas, but when they get something, they stick to it. Not because they don't have an interest in what new is happening, but because they understand that new things and new ideas aren't necessarily better than what they already have.

The Easterlin Paradox

The Easterlin paradox refers to the observation made by the economist Richard Easterlin. What he found is that within a country, higher income or economic growth does not necessarily lead to increased happiness. This paradox suggests that while economic development may improve the average standard of living, it does not guarantee a matching increase in overall happiness.

Put simply, the Easterlin paradox means that even if a country becomes wealthier and its people have more money, it doesn't automatically make them happier. People may have more material things, but they might not feel any more satisfied or content with their lives. This paradox challenges the notion that wealth directly translates to happiness.

A natural question that arises here is this: Why? Why money can't buy happiness?

Well, one explanation is related to our natural tendency to compare with others. Basically, it's not only about how wealthy we are, but how wealthy we are compared to other people.

If you are the richest in your neighborhood, your joy may last longer than if you are the poorest.

From my desk:

• Motivation vs. Discipline: Which Helps You Go Further? "Many people believe that motivation and discipline are the same thing. They use them interchangeably, thinking that motivation is discipline – and that discipline is motivation. Though they have some touching points, they mean quite different things."

From around the web:

• Born to Be Mild: "Born to Be Mild explores the uncommon hobbies practiced by the members of the Dull Men’s Club – an online community that connects 'dull men, and women who appreciate dull men.'" - this is an unusually good video.

In the next issue, I'm going to share what you can do if you are frustrated with your progress. If you are overwhelmed with the amount of work you need to get done and, despite the effort, you are getting marginal results.

Talk soon,

Ivaylo Durmonski