Becoming Antifragile

Lessons from the book of Proverbs. Attributed to King Solomon, Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, parables and poetry that teaches the importance of getting wisdom and understanding. Proverbs is one of three wisdom literature in the Old Testament. - 00:00 - Excerpt from Proverbs and short background 04:20 - Why read Proverbs 05:40 - Embrace Lady Wisdom 07:30 - Avoid the Temptress 09:40 - Overcome and slay your lower man 15:35 - The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom 17:45 - Gaining wisdom is a long-term play 18:30 - Proverbs = probability 20:05 - What is more valuable than gold? 21:15 - What is the path to wisdom? 24:25 - Control your tongue 25:20 - Be action-oriented 29:00 - Gaining immortality 30:00 - The Queen’s secret lesson for kings 32:00 - Self-control & sobriety movement 34:50 - Why patience is required for wisdom 36:05 - Lady wisdom vs. Lady Folly (the Temptress) 38:10 - Challenge - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He was a professor of psychology and education at the University of Chicago, and he's the author of the bestselling Flow. Finding Flow is a guide to reclaiming ownership of our lives. And a call to dedicate our lives to increasing our capacity for flow states through complete engagement to achieve higher satisfaction levels. - 00:00- What is flow? 04:43 - Why you want flow states in your life? 06:20 - Psychic entropy 08:00 - Industrial revolution and the desire for leisure time 09:47 - The difference in work styles of the West and tribes 12:10 - Workaholic vs. craftsman 14:50 - Happiness requires flow states 16:25 - Do activities that give you purpose and dream big 19:10 - Why having a goal is a perquisite for achieving flow 20:25 - Don’t let genetics or environment determine your life 23:48 - Meditation as an example of getting into flow 27:00 - The opposite of flow is hell 30:15 - Active vs. passive leisure activities 41:02 - The killer of flow states & embracing solitude to increase your capacity for flow 46:00 - Autotelic individual and doing work that decreases entropy 51:05 - Challenges - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from studying Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger. In Be Useful, Arnold reveals his tool kit for how he achieved all his dreams, and why he believes you can use the same tool for your life. Arnold is the world’s greatest bodybuilder, highest-paid movie star, and was leader of the world’s sixth-largest economy. He achieved all this by following a process of clear vision, big thinking, hard work, direct communication, resilient problem-solving, open-minded curiosity, and giving back. His father taught him one lesson: be useful. He never forgot it Freya India's article - No, not everyone needs therapy. - 00:00:00 - Why Arnold wrote Be Useful 00:03:24 - Having a vision for your life 00:05:20 - How Arnold achieve all his impossible dreams 00:08:05 - Your 85-year-old self time travelling to you 00:10:45 - What is vision? 00:13:20 - The discipline of staying consistent even with the little habits 00:15:00 - The power of visualization and emotionally charging them 00:18:45 - Pain is temporary & characters are built amid pain 00:20:00 - The problem of suffering 00:22:00 - Amor fati, Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence 00:24:50 - “Wenn schon, denn schon” & why James Cameron inspired Arnold 00:28:20 - Don’t let the doubters, the haters, stop you from achieving your vision 00:30:15 - There is no plan B! Plan B is to succeed at plan A 00:34:00 - Believe in yourself! 00:36:00 - You only fail if you quit, so don't quit 00:38:20 - Victim mindset leading to unhealthy therapy culture (Freya India) 00:40:00 - Don’t be a victim of your circumstances 00:43:00 - “Two ears, one mouth” and why you should never stop reading and learning 00:46:30 - Don’t let your curiosity turn into a brittle brick 00:49:00 - Finding the greatest meaning in helping others - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from The Dhammapada by The Buddha. A collection of sayings/teachings from The Buddha on how you can master your mind, how to not let outside events affect you, and how to achieve enlightenment. - 00:00:00 - Control your mind, find happiness 00:03:50 - On dying well 00:06:55 - The impermanence of life 00:09:10 - Chasing world desires vs. Enlightenment 00:12:57 - How to control your mind 00:14:50 - How the Buddha became the Buddha 00:19:00 - Live a life of moderation not overindulgence 00:23:57 - Self discipline = freedom 00:28:00 - Hedonist life vs. virtuous life 00:28:40 - Protect your mind from the monsoon rain 00:31:30 - Practice what you preach 00:34:10 - Reflecting on your life 00:35:40 - Moderation is the key to happiness 00:37:10 - How to become wise 00:38:40 - No-one has a monopoly on truth 00:40:00 - Attaining nirvana, keep bad company away 00:42:00 - Better to live a short virtuous life than long mediocre life - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from The Manual (Enchiridion) by Epictetus. The Manual (complied by Arrian) is a set of 53 short practical precepts. The goal of the book is to guide and help Stoics navigate daily life. Epictetus was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 2nd century. He’s one of the most influential figures in Stoicism. He was born into slavery. But later gained his freedom becoming a teacher. - 00:00:00 - Stop waiting for other people's approval 00:02:16 - Epictetus’ background 00:04:44 - How should we act as humans? 00:05:22 - Control what is in your power to be happy 00:07:50 - Higher man vs. lower man 00:09:13 - Practice non-attachment 00:12:00 - Death of a child, how to be a friend in times of suffering, how to grieve with your friend 00:14:14 - Your opinion about death causes you to suffer 00:18:41 - When you love, you take the risk of suffering 00:20:30 - How to live in a chaotic world 00:23:20 - How to dine among the gods 00:26:12 - Becoming free 00:28:30 - Don’t let others opinions affect your inner peace 00:33:00 - Don’t be a people-pleaser (if you live for the praises of others, you’re a slave) 00:37:00 - Don’t be an a**hole either (instead live in harmony with opposites) 00:38:55 - Master your mind 00:41:24 - Avoid overindulgence for it weakens the mind 00:44:10 - A philosopher takes responsibility for all things that happen to him 00:45:36 - Take care who you surround yourself with - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lesson from Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. Psycho-Cybernetics is a well-known self-improvement book. Its author, Maxwell Maltz, was a plastic surgeon who discovered that his patients frequently needed more than surgery to improve their self-image. In the book, Maltz details techniques for cultivating a positive internal goal, which he believes can lead to positive external outcomes. The book draws on the works of Preston Lecky, Norbert Wiener, and John von Neumann. - 00:00:00 - A new self-image 00:06:35 - What is Psycho-Cybernetics 00:08:15 - “You” are not a machine 00:10:43 - Zig-zag servo-mechanism 00:12:00 - “You” are not a failure 00:14:30 - Your current identity is built by your past narratives 00:16:23 - What stories are you telling yourself 00:21:00 - Get the “winning” feeling 00:23:55 - Make your inner reality more real than your external environment 00:25:50 - How Conor McGregor became the most successful athlete 00:31:40 - Integrate your emotions into your vision 00:33:00 - You already self-hypnotize unconsciously 00:38:15 - Why do you need goals for your creative-mechanism to function 00:39:44 - Viktor Frankl and why you need higher purposely goals 00:42:10 -Why knowing your purpose is crucial 00:43:45 - Trust the process 00:47:50 - Act as if you've achieved your goal 00:52:40 - Forgiveness = getting an emotional facelift 00:57:00 - The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. acronym - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French pioneering aviator, author, and poet. He saw flying as a way to discover the world and human solidarity. Saint-Exupéry died in 1944 when his plane was shot down in Marseille. - 00:00:00 - Taming the Fox 00:04:10 - Overview of the Little Prince 00:06:04 - What is friendship 00:11:09 - The thief of joy 00:13:07 - Time, the price you pay 00:14:11 - The dichotomy of life 00:16:03 - Rekindling love in your 70s 00:18:58 - The King’s Planet 00:22:00 - Babao trees 00:23:30 - The planet is your mind 00:24:40 - Don’t lose your dreams 00:26:00 - The Conceited Man’s planet 00:26:50 - Having a community 00:28:00 - The Drunkard’s planet 00:29:25 - The Business Man’s planet 00:30:10 - Not losing focus on the important things 00:30:43 - Health is vital 00:32:45 - Know when enough is enough 00:33:46 - The Lamplighter’s planet 00:35:08 - CEO of your own time 00:37:00 - The Geographer’s planet 00:38:10 - Walking in the way 00:38:48 - Travelling to Earth 00:40:00 - Meeting the Snake 00:41:25 - Friend of death 00:41:55 - Finding water 00:43:15 - In the simple life is depth - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from Tribe by Sebastian Junger. Sebastian Junger is a New York Times bestselling author, long-time war correspondent and filmmaker. Sebastian's debut film, Restrepo received an Academy Award nomination, and he won the Grand Jury Prize for the film at Sundance. - 00:00:00 - Why humans need a community 00:06:50 - Dangers of isolation 00:07:20 - Lifestyle difference between American Indians & America 00:10:00 - Henri Bouquet 00:12:06 - 1612: Why American Indian tribes attracted settlers 00:14:15 - Effects of Liberal societies 00:16:14 - Egalitarian society 00:19:50 - Freedom = controlling your time 00:25:35 - Daycare 00:27:45 - Common good 00:30:10 - Loneliness and solitude 00:33:40 - Side effects of affluence 00:36:00 - Infants bonding with stuffed animals 00:41:40 - Seeking strong bonds 00:42:24 - Disasters creating tribal-like communities 00:48:10 - Who would you die for? 00:49:07 - Warriors 00:50:44 - Cleansing rituals to help warriors after wars 00:51:15 - Gregory Gomez & sun dance ceremony 00:54:00 - Importance of having rituals 00:55:00 - The power of being present 00:57:32 - Altered states of consciousness 01:00:00 - Society vs. modern warriors - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from reading Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (1960 - present). Skin in the Game argues that many of the world's problems spring from decision-makers unwilling to bear the risks of their ideas. Taleb argues that having skin in the game is necessary in life, commerce, and politics. Nassim Taleb is a scholar, former options trader, statistician, and risk analyst. Taleb is known for his work on probabilities, randomness, and risk. - 00:00:00 - Dying in battle 00:01:45 - Living with skin in the game 00:05:45 - The Silver Rule 00:07:44 - Hammurabi code 00:10:21 - Why experts don’t have skin in the game 00:12:50 - Intellectual Yet Idiots 00:13:45 - GMO companies vs. scientists 00:14:48 - Bob Rubin & bureaucrats getting rich 00:17:35 - A captain who abandons his ship 00:18:24 - Willing to bear the risk 00:22:35 - Tolstoy and his friends 00:24:45 - The difference between Napoleon and Julian the Apostate 00:26:55 - Corporate slaves vs. entrepreneurs 00:30:27 - Modern universities 00:32:00 - Harrow sparrows and virtue signalling 00:34:10 - Why God must have skin in the game 00:37:24 - The Minority Rule 00:41:40 - Live well - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠⁠ Website ⁠⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠⁠ Newsletter ⁠⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com

Lessons from reading Confession, a spiritual-philosophical reflection by Leo Tolstoy (Sep 9, 1828 - Nov 20, 1910) as he struggles with existential despair and the meaning of life. Leo Tolstoy attained the kind of success only a few reached. He had enormous wealth, an estate that stretched for 16,200 acres, a mansion, 300 horses, two of his books (War & Peace and Anna Karenina) were considered masterpieces, and he was already regarded as one of the greatest novelists. And it’s here that we pick up 'Confession'. Not a memoir nor a novel, but Tolstoy’s personal spiritual-philosophical reflection as he struggles with existential despair and the question of the meaning of life. - 00:00:00 - The question of life 00:01:48 - The success of Tolstoy 00:02:30 - Living without meaning 00:05:18 - Keeping up appearances 00:06:15 - All is vanity 00:07:20 - Why we’re reading these books 00:08:20 - The 80-year-old version of you 00:08:35 - The Fable 00:12:50 - Is life meaningless? 00:13:50 - Importance of having skin in the game 00:16:40 - Cultivate a strong reputation with yourself 00:20:00 - Tolstoy undermining his ethics 00:23:23 - The breakthrough 00:29:00 - Gaining the world, losing your soul 00:31:18 - Can science and philosophy provide the answer to the question of life 00:37:45 - The people who live with meaning 00:41:30 - Living in community 00:44:00 - Who is more successful: Khabib vs. Conor? 00:46:22 - Face your mortality 00:48:00 - Wealth and craftsmanship - IJ Makan is a philosopher, designer, and martial artist. - Social & Website Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ijmakan⁠ Twitter ⁠https://twitter.com/ijmakan⁠ Website ⁠https://becomingantifragile.com⁠ Newsletter ⁠https://ijmakan.substack.com