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Philosopher's Code

Short essays on who we are, peaceful living, and creative life — each with a sketch. Read a few, then get the next one in your inbox.

Earlier issues

We often try to solve our lives like equations, hoping to find a universal rule that makes every choice easy. yet even the most powerful computers struggle to solve problems with as many variables as a human life. If we can’t actually do the math on our future happiness, how are we supposed to choose between two good options?

Making the perfect decision

Uncertainty is scary, but nonetheless it can't be solved. We have to go through life embracing it, making choices without knowing what lies ahead

Ethics

When does the drive to do what you love start costing more than it provides? Chasing a singular dream frequently leads to burnout and a neglected personal life, yet we feel pressured to keep running. Reclaiming your time requires looking at the "golden mean" and learning to enjoy interests without needing to excel.

From Burning Passion to Ever-flame

We are told to "follow our passion", but we don't always needs these words of encouragement. We sometimes feel a fire burning within us to pursue it will all our hearts, to see if there's something good, unique, worthwhile we can create, a sense of purpose and belonging in this world. But we also have to stop ourselves and ask - what is the cost? It's hard to slowly follow your passion, to truly develop it requires most if not all of our free time, and it can also take over hours we have set aside for other aspects of our lives, like family, work and rest. How do we make sure that following our passion adds instead of removes happiness to our lives? It requires self awareness, to be able to detach from that burning sensation to see if the cost is really worth while, is it really in tune with our goals, our values, and the other things that matter in our lives, and especially, to put our passion in perspective. Perhaps it's okay not to be the best of the best, as long as we set aside time to practice. That way we can convert passion from a burning fire that leads to burnout, to an ever-flame that illuminate our life.

Motivation

Huge annual resolutions often feel like trying to climb a cliff. We overpromise in January and burn out by March. Is there a way to keep the momentum of a fresh start without the inevitable crash?

A Good Way to Start the Year

The start of a new year is a great opportunity for boosting our motivation to continue on our path of small incremental changes, instead of grand goals that will be impossible to implement

Motivation

Much of our daily choices aren't choices at all. We live on auto-pilot mode of the time, which often leads to regretful behavior. How can we bridge the gap between our good intentions and our actual actions? The answer lies in harnessing how our lazy brain works.

Why Good Intentions Fall Short

We need to work smarter, not harder to get better results

Habits

We all compare ourselves, but this often leads to inadequacy or burnout. How can we refocus this natural tendency to achieve genuine progress?

Make the Right Comparisons

Our wellbeing is affected by who and we compare ourselves to and how

Motivation

We guard our time fiercely, yet one small unexpected event can ruin an entire day. How can we manage our schedules effectively when life consistently refuses to follow the plan?

Prepare for Chaos, not Perfection

A good approach to habits is to make them adaptable to changes

Self-Control

We constantly wish for more time while dreading life's ultimate deadline. But what if the very scarcity we fear is actually the profound source of meaning, purpose, and urgency in our lives? Is it possible that embracing our finite nature is the key to truly living aligned with what matters?

The Gift of Not Enough

The concept of "finiteness," particularly mortality, as the source of all meaning, urgency, and authenticity, guiding purposeful living and choices.

Mindset

Is life just about accepting the tough times, or is there more to it? Many of us feel helpless in a world filled with challenges, but what if the line between control and helplessness is more flexible than we think? How can a simple mindset shift change our reality and help us reclaim our narrative?

proactive optimism

Our duty is to expand our circle of control, aiming high yet adjusting our expectations according to reality

Mindset

Is creativity simply reimagining existing ideas in new ways? What if the true essence of innovation lies not in creating something entirely original but in skillfully blending familiar elements? Discover how your unique experiences and perspectives can unlock your creative potential and lead to extraordinary insights. Are you ready to explore the art of creativity?

Creativity as a Rubik's Cube

To create something new is more a question of form than essence. It is to find with your unique view the mixture of existing ideas and objects that together will bring innovation to life.

Creativity

Who do you truly want to be? Have you ever felt trapped by perfectionism, waiting for the "right moment" to pursue your dreams? Discover how taking action, instead of waiting for destiny to unfold, can redefine your path and identity.

Doing Precedes Being

Identity follows action, not the other way around

Identity

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