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#18 Naval Ravikant: The Angel Philosopher

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

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The Insignificance of the Self and Finding Happiness

The insignificance of the self is crucial in finding happiness. Viewing oneself as the most important thing leads to the expectation that the universe should conform to one's desires. However, if one sees oneself as a material in a meadow or views one's works as fleeting, like writing on water or building castles in the sand, then there is no expectation of how life should be. Accepting life as it is leads to a neutral state, which is actually a state of perfection. In this state, one can be truly happy, similar to how little children are happy when they fully immerse themselves in the present moment without personal preferences and desires. The key to maintaining happiness is to not get too caught up in one's own thoughts and attachments.

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