Break the Habit of Uncontrolled Thinking

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By consciously cultivating experiences and states of mind, engaging in activities that facilitate detachment from the constant chatter of the mind, individuals can work towards breaking the habit of uncontrolled thinking. This habit, which often manifests as constant self-talk, judging and fantasizing, can hinder one's happiness by pulling them away from the present moment. While it may be challenging to completely eliminate uncontrolled thinking, it is possible to uncondition oneself from this habit through deliberate effort and a desire for change. Rather than allowing the mind to control and drive one's thoughts 24/7, the goal is to develop a more detached and muted sense of self, enabling a deeper appreciation for the realities of nature and the present moment. This journey towards breaking the habit of uncontrolled thinking requires a guided approach based on intuition and experience, rather than logical thinking. Ultimately, the aim is to live in the present reality and find happiness within, rather than constantly seeking external circumstances to fulfill preconceived notions.

Naval Ravikant is the CEO and co-founder of AngelList. He’s invested in more than 100 companies, including Uber, Twitter, Yammer, and many others.

It’s difficult to nail down exactly what we discuss in our conversation because I had so many questions to ask him. Naval is an incredibly deep thinker who challenges the status quo on so many things. This is an interview you’ll want to listen to, think a bit, and then listen to again.

Here are just a few of the many things we cover in this episode:

What a “typical day” looks like (not the answer I expected, and not one you’ve likely heard before)
How Naval developed his legendary reading habits and how he finds time to read no matter how busy life gets
How the internet has impacted book reading (both good and bad) and how to make sure you’re getting the best information from the most reliable sources
What popular habit advice Naval thinks is BS and why
Naval’s habit stacking technique that helped him overcome a desire for alcohol and other potentially destructive habits
How Naval’s core values give direction to his life and how those values developed over time
Naval’s thoughts on the current education system and what we can do to facilitate better learning for our children
Naval’s favorite mental models for making critical high-stakes decisions
His brilliant two-factor calendar authentication concept to keep him focused on only the most important projects
Naval’s definition for the meaning of life (buckle up for this one)
His amazing response to the investor who wanted to be just like Steve Jobs

And so, so much more.

Just a heads up, this is the longest podcast I’ve ever done. While it felt like only thirty minutes, our conversation lasted over two hours!

And although it is the longest, it’s also our most downloaded episode on the Knowledge Project, so make sure you have a pen and paper handy. There’s a lot of wisdom up for grabs here.

Enjoy this amazing conversation.

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