There’s a particular kind of mental math we all do, usually without realizing it. We add up achievements, subtract failures, and calculate whether we’re worthy of respect, love, or even basic self-acceptance. The equation feels logical: land the dream job = valuable person. Write the perfect book = deserve happiness. Get 500 likes = temporarily ... Read More The post Breaking Free from Conditional Self-Worth appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
When we abandon the myth of the perfect hero and practice selective admiration, something liberating happens: we stop waiting for perfect moral exemplars and start learning from imperfect humans.| Ness Labs
When the deadline looms, your brain kicks into overdrive. That deadline high can feel productive (even thrilling) but it doesn’t increase performance.| Ness Labs
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to our Tools for Thought interview series, where we meet with founders on a mission to help us think better and work smarter. Arun Bahl is the cofounder of Aloe, a tool designed to support human cognition in our information-dense world – an AI computer that acts as a “superhuman attention.” In ... Read More The post Interview: The Future of Information with Arun Bahl, cofounder of Aloe appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
Have you ever made a decision that looked right on paper but felt wrong in your gut? Or found yourself following rules simply because that’s what you were taught, not because they align with who you are today? If so, you’ve experienced the tension between external expectations and your own internal compass. Self-authorship is the ... Read More The post Self-Authorship: The Art of Trusting Your Own Authority appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
When I write knowing someone will read it, something changes. Having readers forces me to think harder about what I’m trying to say. My arguments become sharper and my examples clearer. Yet I notice the temptation to gravitate toward topics I know will get engagement. Should I explore the philosophy of boredom or write about ... Read More The post The Audience Effect: Why We Change When Others Are Watching appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
Here’s one of my favorite quotes: “I am not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and other people.” This comes from the diary of John Steinbeck, who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. This kind of intellectual self-doubt is common among high achievers. The smarter they are, the more acutely they seem to question ... Read More The post Intellectual Self-Doubt: The Psychology Behind Questioning Your Competence appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
How does ChatGPT affect memory, brain activity, and critical thinking? A neuroscientist breaks down the science behind the MIT study. The post Is ChatGPT really rotting our brains? appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us think better and work smarter. Dave Radparvar is the co-founder of Reflection, private AI-enhanced guided journaling app. In this interview, we talked about the transformative potential of journaling, how AI can make the ... Read More The post Go deeper with AI-supported journaling: an interview with Dave Radparvar, co-founder of Reflection appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
YAMA is the radical acceptance that missing out is inevitable, so there’s no need to stress about it. Rather than trying to optimize every decision or avoid regret, it reminds us that we’re finite beings in an infinite world. The post YAMA: You’re Always Missing Out (And That’s A-Okay) appeared first on Ness Labs.| Ness Labs
Just like a scientist who observes the world, formulates hypotheses and tests them, you can run personal experiments to gain profound insights into your own life.| Ness Labs
Your mental gym should include activities that challenge cognitive and emotional skills. You need to balance those activities across four pillars: curiosity, creativity, mindfulness, and rest.| Ness Labs
We spend years of our lives attending school, but there are many life skills missing from the typical curriculum. Critical thinking, constructive conversations, handling money, business writing, time management, and self-care are just but a few. Another skill we don’t spend enough time honing is learning how to learn. It’s a shame, because there are ... Read More| Ness Labs
In a circular model of growth, nobody is more advanced than anyone. There is no “up” or “down.” People are at a particular point of their own, unique growth loop. Everyone only competes against one’s self. The circular model can be more daunting, as there is no predefined direction — you need to design your own personal growth process — but it can also be infinitely more rewarding.| Ness Labs
I have always struggled with a thought: it’s too late. Too late to publish a book, to start a company, to learn a new language. This is called time anxiety.| Ness Labs
Mental models affect how we see problems and people. Depending on how you use them, mental models can be incredibly constructive or destructive.| Ness Labs
