Whats rare is valuable (149)

What’s rare is valuable

Go against the masses. If everyone is doing something, the odds are that there is no advantage to doing that thing anymore. A few examples below.

Don’t take on debt. Pay for things up front. There is some Egyptian wisdom where they never take loans, they only pay for things up front. If you can’t buy it twice, you can’t afford it. 50 year mortgages and 8 year car loans have to be some of the biggest psyops and scams I have ever heard of. The interest is going to eat you alive.

Avoid social media, or at least minimize the doom scrolling. There is valuable content on social media (I prefer X over Instagram/TikTok), but it is still a big funnel. The top creators are all in it to make money off of their audience in some way or another. Break free and think independently, or better yet, become a creator.

Read books. Most people today would rather get bombarded with cheap dopamine than read a book. There is value in reading books besides what you learn from reading them. There is a sense of accomplishment, serenity, and perspective that comes from finishing a great book. Plus your attention span will thank you.

Study something. Spend your time learning a new skill rather than watching the newest brain rot from Netflix or Prime. It can literaly be anything you want. Coding, photography, calligraphy, yoga, winemaking, writing. Bonus points if it helps you stay active, social, creative, or make more money.

Be bored. This is probably the hardest one. However, following the logic that what is rare is valuable, this is probably the most important one. Go on walks with no music or podcast. Sit in silence alone and meditate. Reflect on your life without your notes app. You need space to process life and ponder what’s next. Being bored

Even more: avoid trends, don’t take shortcuts and understand that real shortcuts do not exist, stand up and look people in the eye when you shake their hand, call people on the phone instead of texting, have friends in real life, use a flip phone, become financially literate, stay up to date with worldly events, the list goes on and on….

Don’t think I am some savant who does all of these things all of the time. I try, but it is tough to go against the flow of society. I am simply striving to be a more present and focused individual.

When there is nothing more to take away

What does your perfect day consist of? Seriously, take some time to think about this. When are you waking up, eating, sleeping, working, going outside, etc? What do you want to do and when? I have gone through this exercise and my day usually consists of a few blocks of deep work (on what… whatever is interesting to me), lots of space to relax/go outside/go on walks, and then valuable company and meaningful conversations at night. And of course eating good food throughout the day.

When I apply this thinking, I try to imagine the bare minimum things that I would need in order to say I had an amazing day. Time to read/reflect, a sense of accomplishment (could be work or an adventure or a workout), and meaningful connection. Maybe some good meals. I think what I am trying to say here is that a perfect day is not necessarily a day that’s jam-packed with activity, I think there is a lot to be gained in the empty space in between.

Some pieces I want to write

• How to read books

• Contrarian thinking in the modern world (similar to what’s rare is valuable)

• Money, how it broke in 1971, and what you can do about it

What would you like me to write about? Happily taking recommendations for interesting topics. Respond to this email!!! :)

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Thanks for reading!

Lucas