Sunday Insider - Edition #11

The Daily Habit For Doers

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” 

- Albert Einstein

Here’s some stuff that inspired us this last week. 

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Listen: 438: Act Like a Teenager, Pick Up Your Food in Person, and “Ask Us Anything” About Writing

Listen here.

Read: Turning Fear of Failure into Increments of Curiosity

When I was younger, I badly wanted to live in Japan. Japan is a country with very strict immigration laws, but my university had an exchange program where you could go spend a semester and study in another country.

There was only one problem: the Japanese university they had a partnership with was one of the most selective in the country. I remember thinking: “There is no way I’ll get accepted.”

I told my mom about my doubts.

“It’s not your decision to make,” she said.

And, as often, she was right. We constantly limit our options by deciding for others. All I had to do was apply, and it then became the university’s job to accept my application or not.

You probably have seen this pattern countless times in yourself and others. It’s far easier not to fail when you haven’t tried. It’s far easier to not be wrong when you’re not putting yourself out there. But it’s also much harder to grow as a human being when we avoid getting out of our comfort zone.

If this fear of failure is so bad for our personal and professional growth, why is it so common?

Read here. 

Watch: The best thing to do for your brain | David Eagleman on The TED Interview

David Eagleman is a neuroscientist who decodes the web of neurons and electricity that make our minds tick–and make us human. In this episode of The TED Interview podcast, Eagleman shares tips on how to be a good steward to your brain so that you can build mental resilience. Listen to the rest of the episode where Eagleman explains the mysteries of the brain, considers consciousness, and what it means to be human.

Watch here.

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