On the side of a bus is a big advertisement emblazoned with the word “Freedom!”
It’s an ad for a local casino.
Society is selling us the wrong form of happiness, Brian Johnson remarks in his year-long Optimize Mastery course.
Brian quotes the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti: “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
The science shows us too many of these quick pleasures lead to sadness and depression.
It’s a choice between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: doing something to earn a reward like fame, wealth, and “hotness” vs. doing something because it’s personally rewarding to us – improving relationships, finding ways to make an authentic contribution to the world
Hercules was given the choice to experience the joys of life without any work at all or to engage life fully, with the knowledge that there would be hardship and struggles to overcome.
He chose virtue over vice.
The hero is willing to do the hard work to make difference in the world.
That’s us, too.
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Reflection: Are there areas of my life where I am playing “the wrong game.”
Action: Ask: am I willing to take action to minimize or eliminate these forces from my life?
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