#007 Friday's Findings
Discover more from The Meandering Mind
#007 Friday's Findings
Decoupling happiness from our goals, Robert Pantano on writing and more.
Hello,
It has been a hectic week for me and my friends nonetheless. I got a very real reminder that we truly will not be here forever!
Here are some things that resonated with me throughout the week.
Enjoy your weekend.
Suggested readings
In 1945, French mathematician Jacques Hadamard set out to explore how mathematicians invent ideas in what would become The Mathematician’s Mind: The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field (public library) — an introspective inquiry into the process of discovery, using both his own experience and first-hand accounts by such celebrated scientists as Claude Lévi-Strauss and Albert Einstein. In staging the scene of his investigation, Hadamard quotes a letter from Mozart in which the legendary composer — who had plunged into the creative life at a young age — details his ideation and editing process, touching on some of the most universal principles of the creative experience long before contemporary psychology demonstrated them… (Mozart on Creativity and the Ideation Process)
Stoicism emerged as a philosophy, a way of life — similar to a religion, really — most famously in ancient Rome somewhere around 50-100 AD (even though it was Greeks who pioneered the thinking). Two millennia later, the philosophy is enjoying a revival of sorts, and it’s not hard to understand why… (5 Ancient Stoic Tactics for Modern Life)
“When I achieve this goal, then I will be happy.” If you’ve ever experienced such a when/then thought pattern, you’re not alone. Whether you’re aiming to run a marathon, get a promotion at work or buy your first house, having a goal in mind can increase your motivation. However, we often mistakenly believe that achieving our goals will make us happy. That tendency is called the arrival fallacy. It usually goes like this: upon meeting a goal, you will initially feel delighted. But, very quickly, you find yourself back at your usual level of happiness, or even facing a sense of emptiness… (The arrival fallacy: why we should decouple our happiness from our goals)
Recently, I asked a friend if she had watched a show I like. “Oh I don’t watch TV anymore,” she responded. I waited for her to explain that she’d taken up reading or was just too busy. “Ever since getting TikTok I just can’t focus for a whole episode,” she said instead. I was shocked, but I guess I shouldn't be. In a modern world inundated by digital screens and the constant "ping" and/or vibration of notifications, it's no surprise that our attention spans are dwindling down to nothing… (5 Things To Do For Better Focus & A Longer Attention Span)
Does time exist? The answer to this question may seem obvious: of course it does! Just look at a calendar or a clock. But developments in physics suggest the non-existence of time is an open possibility, and one that we should take seriously. How can that be, and what would it mean? It’ll take a little while to explain, but don’t worry: even if time doesn’t exist, our lives will go on as usual... (Time might not exist, according to physicists and philosophers – but that’s okay)
A quote I’m contemplating: “I write because it feels like there’s a lot to say and no way to say it.” — Robert Pantano
Tools and Proposals
FS Blog — I suggest you try this incredible newsletter! FS is a weekly newsletter packed with timeless insights and actionable ideas from a wide range of disciplines.
Read CV — I recommend you sign up for this new platform that allows you to create a resume. It is a simple and clean way to present your work, and there are also job listings here.
Unicopy — I encourage you to try this website I created. It allows you to easily copy Unicode characters and symbols, just by clicking.
Sounds
Until next time,
Magnus