Armchair filosofy

Let us now conduct some good old-fashioned armchair philosophy.

In my latest email, I described how I was currently feeling a bit lost in life.

I got many replies from readers describing how they were in a similar situation.

Well, it’s a messy time, to say the least.

So far, I’d been trying to tackle this challenge by “reflecting” – By sitting on my balcony and journaling excessively.

But… 

That didn’t work. 🥲

So here’s how I’ll tackle this challenge from now on:

There’s a theory in evolutionary biology called Fisher’s Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection.

It’s the idea that variance equals strength, because the more diverse a species is … the more chances it has to develop new traits that provide an evolutionary advantage.

But I’m convinced that this isn’t only true for populations…

It’s also
true for individuals.

Here’s what I mean:

The more diverse an individual’s set of experiences … the more chances it has to develop character traits that unlock a life more aligned with their dreams and desires.

Variance = strength.

The more things you experience – i.e., the more unique situations you put yourself into – the higher your chances of learning and consequently developing character traits/skills that make you a better person.

It’s an obvious idea.

But let us ask the question: 

How have YOU been practicing
this philosophy lately?

Admittedly, I haven’t been.

See, it’s easy to stay inside all day and “reflect”. You’re not taking any risks … sticking to what you already know … never exposing yourself to the world.

But according to evolution…

This is what
makes you WEAK.

So the answer to the “meaning question” might just be…

…to leave your fucking house more.

Meet more people … do more stupid shyt … try new cafes … go to new places … risk rejection … work on new projects … rediscover old hobbies … aimlessly wander through your city … sign up for classes … and so on.

Put more bluntly:

Whip out your fucking balls … and show them to the world!

(Umm okay … don’t ACTUALLY do this. It’s a metaphor, okay?)

The main thing? 

Stop sitting around all day waiting for answers to come to you.

Yes, reflection is important. 

But there comes a point at which it’s just too much. (Especially if you’re naturally introspective like me, it can become just another form of procrastination.)

There you have it.

Hope this email gave you some ideas to munch on. I’ll report on how this works for me. 🫡

As always, feel free to reply with your thoughts. I always appreciate hearing from you.

Talk soon,

Tim <3