I have been listening to Chris Williamson and Naval Ravikant podcast for 3 different days now. And every time Naval throws out an idea, I immediately pause to ponder.
This stood out:
The more seriously you take yourself, the unhappier you are going to be.
Naval Ravikant
He explains that if you take life too seriously you are going to trap yourself into a limited set of behaviors and outcomes that keep you from being free, that keep you from being spontaneous, that keep you from being happy.
He then adds that if you take life too seriously, you get too emotional.
I remember Nassim Taleb always harps in his books and tweets on productivity gurus with their routines and tight schedule – hoping to maximize their time. Taleb always reminds that this is not freedom but rather a prison. Taleb is a fan of unplanned excursions inviting and celebrating the randomness of life.
I needed this reminder.
I’ve always believed in working hard. But there’s a fine line between discipline and obsession. Between structure and suffocation. Between building your life and being trapped in the system you created.
Freedom isn’t always in control. Sometimes, it’s in letting go.