Random Walk Newsletter, Issue 26#
Observations & Insights#
The content shared in this issue is from the James Clear Newsletter.
Types of Value in Things
"In some areas of life, value is unlocked by starting. Even a five-minute workout or a short walk can reset your mood and benefit your body.
In other areas, value is unlocked by finishing. It does you no good to build a bridge halfway across the river. You need to complete the project to realize the value.
Do you need to start or finish? Are you building a body or building a bridge?"
The author says that things can be divided into two types. Some things have value when you start them, like a 5-minute workout, which can improve your mood and physical condition. Other things require completion to realize their value, such as building a bridge. Starting or finishing depends on the nature of the task.
The Value of Sports
"One of the great gifts of sports is learning how to fail in public.
People never go to the gym because they're scared of looking stupid, never share their writing because they're scared of judgment, never open their heart because they're scared of rejection.
Sports train you to face your fear."
The author says that one of the greatest benefits of sports is learning to accept failure in public. We often hesitate to speak up because we fear rejection, or we hesitate to share our writing because we fear criticism. These are all manifestations of avoiding negative feedback. Sports help develop the ability to face these fears.
For example, I have always enjoyed playing soccer since I was young, but I would get extremely nervous before slightly more serious matches, and my performance would suffer. It all boils down to fear. I remember in high school, during a soccer match between classes, I was very nervous before going on the field. However, after making a minor mistake, I suddenly became more relaxed and performed better. It was because I let go of the mental burden and no longer feared making mistakes.
Consideration of Multiple Factors
Asking what makes someone successful is like asking which ingredient makes a recipe taste good. It’s not any single ingredient. It is the combination of many ingredients in the right proportions and in the right order—and the absence of anything that would ruin the mixture.
The author uses an analogy to explain that asking what makes someone successful is similar to asking which ingredient makes a dish taste good. A delicious dish requires a combination of different ingredients in the right proportions, cooking order, and time. Success is also determined by multiple factors. In my understanding, when someone claims that they achieved success because of a certain action, it doesn't provide much reference value because success is determined by a combination of factors.
This question also reminded me of another article I read, which mentioned how we often envy someone's life. In such moments, you should ask yourself if you are willing to exchange everything with that person, not just the successful parts, but everything. Asking this question may not guarantee a change of mind, but it will at least make you hesitate for a moment, and that hesitation is enough.
Audiobooks & Books#
There is no specific content I feel motivated to share this week, so I'll leave it blank this time.
That's all for this issue of the Newsletter. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thank you for reading.