What I’ve been reading:
Walking by Henry David Thoreau
After over a year of weekly reading recommendations, I have lost count of how many times Thoreau has been featured in them. But I know he is one of the most frequently mentioned names in Existential Espresso.
It never ceases to amaze me that a thinker could’ve been at the same time so high above ordinary minds, yet so ordinary and so human in the best sense of those words.
Although, at first glance, this is a treatise on the importance of walking as one of the most primal and essential human activities, don’t be fooled to think it’s just an interesting read that will encourage you to go out for a walk.
Like everything Thoreau wrote, it challenges and shakes the foundations of our modern way of life. If you are not willing to question the way you live, do not read this.
What I’ve listened to:
The power of vulnerability: Ted Talk by Brené Brown
This is, as I’ve been told, one of the most-viewed Ted Talks of all time. I decided to watch it as I’ve been coming across clips of Brené Brown quite often recently.
Why I think this is a great talk to watch and an amazing learning opportunity: In a talk about vulnerability, Brené Brown shows her vulnerability, talks openly about her flaws, and achieves two things with it.
-She connects with the audience and makes herself relatable and enjoyable to listen to.
-By doing that, she proves her point about how vulnerability can be a positive force.
What I’ve been thinking about:
If a person has numerous internal and external struggles they are dealing with, what they usually need the most is “just” to know that they are not alone.
And I choose to believe that no one is truly alone in this world.
So if we could only remind others of that, and also ourselves, we could make those dark moments of life a bit easier to bear.
I don’t say this lightly. I’ve felt alone and have almost let my self-destructive thoughts get the best of me, even when I had clear proof that I have people in my life who care deeply about me. So I can imagine how difficult it might be for someone less fortunate to believe that they are not alone in this world.
But you are not alone. A stranger’s smile you encounter on the street could bring you out of a dark place. And you could be that stranger for someone. How can you then be alone in this world?
What I’ve been working on:
The Journey Beyond
Beyond who you are right now. Beyond what your life is.
Beyond the limits you think you have.
Beyond being the product of your environment. Beyond being the victim of life’s circumstances.
Beyond just existing and letting life pass you by.
Beyond wondering, “What if I tried?”
Beyond “valuable” information with zero application.
Beyond all talk and no action.
Beyond plenty of ideas and goals but zero action and progress.
“The Journey Beyond” is a 7-week interactive experience that I will be hosting starting next week.
Over the course of 7 weeks, I will hold 7 live video workshops where we will together go through some of the most powerful exercises used to understand yourself better, rewrite the story of your life, create a new path for yourself, and start making progress on it.
If you are not able to attend some of the workshops during the live stream or you want to revisit the exercise, you will have lifetime access to all the recordings and additional resources for each session.
I will guide you through the process step-by-step and keep you accountable to actually do the work and not just consume more information without using it.
You will also get a chance to ask me questions and get feedback on the work you're doing.
The goal of The Journey Beyond is that neither you nor I will be the same people after those 7 weeks are over. When I say I'm going through this experience with you, I really mean that.
Since this is going to be the first edition of The Journey Beyond, I want the barrier to entry to be as low as reasonably possible.
That’s why this 7-week guided transformation will be free for anyone who joins the Sisyphus Society.
The amount of value you get inside the Sisyphus Society already justifies the membership price that’s kept at a minimum compared to what you receive.
So I’m confident that, for those who have seen my commitment to providing value, joining the Sisyphus Society and embarking on The Journey Beyond with me will be the best decision they’ve made in a long time.
I hope to see you inside.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
Free Resources:
My free ebook: The Lost Art of Reading
Paid Resources:
The Art of Showing Up: A Clear and Practical Method for Mastering Consistency
The Gold Pill: Timeless Ideas for a Life Worth Living
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