This week's ideas:


Bad idea:
Hold yourself to a standard that (given your traits now) you can rarely meet. Punish yourself (e.g., with “I’m a failure”) when you don’t meet it.

Good idea: 
Hold yourself to a standard that you can meet most of the time if you make a real effort. Feel good when you do.


This week's question for you:

Suppose you commit to asking yourself one open-ended question every three months (and writing down your answer) with the goal of choosing the question so that it improves your life (or helps you achieve what you care about) as much as possible. What question would you choose?

You can read other people's answers or join the ongoing discussion about this question on Twitter or Facebook. 


Here is the newest Clearer Thinking podcast episode for you:

Behind the scenes of the online dating world (with Tom Quisel)


Lastly, here's an essay that I recently put up on my website that you may find valuable: 

Soldier Altruists vs. Scout Altruists 


Until next week!

Spencer Greenberg