The Importance of Forgiveness

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Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, healing us even if others don't notice. It may seem counterintuitive, but forgiving others is actually a selfish act that benefits us. This concept of selflessness being the most selfish thing you can do aligns with the paradoxical logic of the universe. It taps into our instinct for group survival and has evolutionary roots. Forgiveness also involves accepting the apology we may never receive and finding closure without waiting for others to go first. Another crucial insight is not to compare our lives with others and imitate their idea of success. Instead, we should define our own measure of success and appreciate different perspectives, such as the Amish community's focus on family and shared meals as the ultimate success criteria.

When Kevin Kelly turned 68 years old, he began writing down notes and thoughts about all the lessons he’d learned in his life and the ones he wished he’d learned earlier. While those notes were originally intended for his young adult children, they eventually became the book Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier, which was released in May 2023. On this episode of the Knowledge Project, Kelly goes in-depth on some of the book’s most essential lessons, including learning, setting deadlines, perfection, forgiveness, living a meaningful life, reasoning, and so much more. Kelly is the co-founder of the magazine Wired, which twice won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence while he served as publication’s Executive Editor during the 1990s. He is also the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, a membership organization that champions long-term thinking, as well as the founder of the popular Cool Tools website, which has been reviewing tools daily for 20 years. He is also an artist as well as the author of 14 books.

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