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Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

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271–280 of 281 posts

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Machines trick you into thinking you're progressing. The first time I went from Smith machine squats to free weight squats, I couldn't walk the next day (went from 150kg on the machine to 80kg free weight).

I just don’t think my knees could handle squats. I was thinking to do a leg press with lower weight. Like 20 reps.

With good form, your knees shouldn't be involved that much: https://exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BWSquat - your knees shouldn't go past your toes.

fwiw high weight + low reps (4-6) if you want to get stronger, lower weight with more reps for getting bigger (8-12)

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#272
post #225

For young, single heterosexual men; cultivate deep platonic friendships with women. Get a hobby, do charity work, find something where you meet and become good friends with multiple women of different ages and backgrounds. Do not ever attempt to date any of these women. Why? Because most men know woefully few women, and your life will be much richer. A lot of men know very little about the experiences, fears, and hop…

A woman will very unlikely give you an honest advice. They are usually not made for that with friends. They usually just re-assure and "support" you. That's been my experience. There are two types of woman who will be-friend you platonically: Woman who are interested in you sexually as a partner and want to be close to your radar, just in case. Woman who are not interested in you but find value in your friendship (ei…

Holy shit.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#273
post #22

I think often about this one I read a while ago (paraphrased): “one of the quickest path to unhappiness is to not follow your true self”. I believe we often face situations where we would rather be someone else or present traits that are not natural to us (eg to appear more likable). However, any behavior that is not led by who we really are, will inevitably make us like ourselves less. Stay true to yourself, your be…

That's beautiful! That kind of explains why things have been dragging me down lately.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#274

I followed the advice of lifting weights. Before that I was feeling pretty tired of my life, barely played with my little son, was exhasuted in my work as data scientist and my personal relationships with my wife, family and friends were poor. Also I didn't had the energy to pursue my hobbies, was abusing cannabis and alcohol and had poor eating and sleeping habits. Since I started going to the gym and found this sim…

Would it be terrible to mostly use weight machines? That’s all my gym has?

Using mostly machines is fine, don’t worry about what others think is optimal. The truth is, if you push yourself hard, you can get great results regardless of the equipment available to you (and you still need to push yourself hard with free weights too).

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#275
post #3

Some piece of psychology research said having others depend on you is a deep source of happiness. You were contributing to the hunter gatherer tribe or whatnot. Another piece of psychological research. When you did something for a gold star reward, and they took the reward away, people stopped enjoying the activity. Aka, just do kind deeds for others. Everything will be alright. Also, do stuff for others, for free, u…

> Some piece of psychology research said having others depend on you is a deep source of happiness. I find it to be the absolute opposite. It's absolutely draining. You can quickly become exhausted and apathic when constantly having people rely on you.

There's a difference between interdependence and dependence, I believe the former is what he meant based on the tribe context

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#276
This isn’t advice that was given to me but something I wanted for myself that changed my life.

Advice: Figure out how to exercise for the sake of exercise

In the past I exercised for a weight loss goal. I’d reach the goal then stop exercising. I spent all of last year experimenting trying to figure out how to be like those people who run in -20C. I wanted to love some type of exercise so much I’d do it in -20C.

I’m now training for a marathon. I look forward to running and get excited about hill training (running up and down a hill at moderate exertion). I find running enjoyable and meditative.

The lessons I learned I apply to other areas of my life. For example, when my brain initially rejects something I know is good for me, I think “not today” and put on my running shoes (ie do the thing).

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#277

1. “Sometimes, you just have to trust people.” Said to me by the owner of a shop at a farmer’s market after I explained I didn’t have cash on hand to pay for an item so I couldn’t accept it, but would go to an ATM to get it. She gave me the items anyway, and I promptly went to an ATM to bring her the money. I grew up in an environment where I was constantly told about all the bad intentions everyone around me had, an…

Great advice, all four. Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#279

From a girlfriend who was my intellectually superior (which I had a hard time dealing with) You are responsible for your actions - no one else. "But I did it because...". No. You chose to do it. You are responsible. Other people are responsible for their actions. Not you. She was/is right.

> From a girlfriend who was my intellectually superior (which I had a hard time dealing with)

Did she end the relationship?

Re: Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?

#280
post #239
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A woman will very unlikely give you an honest advice. They are usually not made for that with friends. They usually just re-assure and "support" you. That's been my experience. There are two types of woman who will be-friend you platonically: Woman who are interested in you sexually as a partner and want to be close to your radar, just in case. Woman who are not interested in you but find value in your friendship (ei…

Holy shit you have not met many women.

Or people, by the looks of it.
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