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"Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy." Will counter and say, it's impossible to achieve dreams (or the first big exit) without putting your head down, working insane hours, neglecting friends, and being miserable. Need to live the bad times, ultimate lows, to fully realize happiness and no regrets.
I'd put at the bottom of my to-do list "...Die unfulfilled and unhappy"
I figured seeing that at the bottom of my to-do list would remind me to make sure it doesn't happen. And maybe even rethink the items on top.
"Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy." Will counter and say, it's impossible to achieve dreams (or the first big exit) without putting your head down, working insane hours, neglecting friends, and being miserable. Need to live the bad times, ultimate lows, to fully realize happiness and no regrets.
I know this, now I have to go out and actually do it.
People who live fear-based avoid things. They avoid things that might cause heartache, pain, difficulty, etc. but all of the most interesting pursuits in life have the potential to cause these things sometimes.
People who live love-based move towards things that bring happiness and satisfaction in the long term. They work hard and play hard, and when they hurt they know that things may get better.
I heard this several years ago now, and I see one of these approaches in most people around me.
"Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy." Will counter and say, it's impossible to achieve dreams (or the first big exit) without putting your head down, working insane hours, neglecting friends, and being miserable. Need to live the bad times, ultimate lows, to fully realize happiness and no regrets.
The thing about dreams is, they don't need to be achieved; even failing to achieve them is better than not trying - at least you've tried. I know this, now I have to go out and actually do it.
Actively working towards those goals is the only way you'll actually achieve them. Instead of putting these generic statements at the top of your list, put some concrete action or goal there.
This is something I'm trying to live right now. A month ago I quit my job [1] to travel the world after having saved and dreamed about it for years. During the time I was dreaming we put together a plan, set aside money, and tried to reign in expenses. All tangible actions that lead to an end.
[1] http://orofino.me/homeless-and-jobless-travelling-the-world/
I'd rework Paul Graham's list a little, as the first two items are phrased in negative terms (it's easier to do stuff than to not do stuff). " Follow your dreams; take a break; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy." The idea of putting them at the top of your todo list is interesting. At the moment I organise myself with Trello, one list per project, and at the top of each list I have a card that remin…
Re: adding items to your todo lists, i feel like PG's 5 exhortations (which seem more like general advice than specific prescriptions) fit into something like the "epics" that were recently introduced into Pivotal Tracker, than actual items to do. One should take a look at each of the items placed on a todo list and ask "does this item take me closer or further from my goals?"
I would change it to: don't ignore your feelings. How you act on them is where wisdom comes in.