Jay Alto
@theJayAlto
thinking different
modern self-reliance is being able to think without chatgpt. form opinions without algorithms. be content without scrolling. act without chasing likes. define yourself without trends. we live in a world that programs subservience. your job is to resist it.
unpopular opinion: if you spend more time on tiktok than with your own thoughts, don't blame the 'system' for being sad. happiness isn't a right. it's a privilege. the result of taking responsibility for your life. figuring out what you want. and having the courage to go get it.
if you want to understand human motivation, know it works exactly like energy. every form is either non-renewable (money, status, validation) or renewable (curiosity, fulfilment, purpose). non-renewables are a great way to get going. but renewables are the only way to keep going.
this documentary is the only thing you need to watch to understand why constraints are the secret to creativity
technology has made the cost of inaction greater than ever. if you're a doer, you now have more leverage than most countries did 50 years ago. but if you're a bystander, you are in an absolute dogfight for your attention, health, and livelihood. your choice. pick wisely.
how to be more optimistic: - never play the victim - delete instagram/tiktok - cut out negative people - avoid the news - go on long walks - do hard things - take nothing personally - remember 'shit happens'
if you want to find your purpose in life, there are four archetypes: 1/ master (pursuing greatness) 2/ sovereign (cultivating self-reliance) 3/ provider (providing for your family) 4/ missionary (serving a greater cause) one is mandatory. all four is peak existence.
the most dangerous forms of 'entertainment' are those that pretend not to be. news channels pretend to keep you informed. self-help gurus pretend to make you happy. dating apps pretend to find you love. don't let them fool you into thinking they deserve your attention.
i used to love youtube, but it's becoming unusable. just had to delete it from my phone. fed up with them forcing shorts down my throat (had it to listen/watch podcasts, lectures etc). i'd pay good money to be able to remove them. but that won't happen. shame. rip youtube.
the decline in optimism is an existential risk. without it, we'd be nothing. still sitting in caves, terrified of the 'wild'. but we aren't. far from it. everything we have exists because someone vividly imagined a better future and had the audacity to try and make it a reality.
you can't escape existential dread. you just have to decide whether you’re going to distract yourself from it or use it. most will pick the first. procrastinating life. but eventually, the deadline will become very real. and this isn't one you can cram for.
the happiest people i know always have some weird project on the go. learning how to solder. building a massive lego set. designing their own board game. training for a full planche. carving spoons from scrap wood. never for money or attention. just for the joy of doing it.
stop asking "what advice would you give your younger self?" and start asking "what advice would your younger self give you?" your answer might remind you to stop taking life too seriously. resist the monotony of adulthood. and do something your 8-year-old self would be proud of.