One Daily Nugget

2022-05-26 07:35:15 Issue #316 | Alix Strauss on the Upside to Negative Thinking

Conventional wisdom has it that optimists are happier and more productive. But that’s not necessarily the case. As Alix Strauss points out in today’s nugget, published by Sonima, there are surprising upsides to negative thinking.

For example, according to Julie Norem, a professor of psychology at Wellesley College, attempts to push out negative thoughts paradoxically make you think about them even more, a phenomenon known as “ironic processing.” In addition, when you focus only on the positive side, you tend to miss important details and fail to be well-prepared.

Read on to learn why it might pay to be a pessimist — and what, specifically, you should do to get the most out of negative thinking!

The Surprising Upside to Negative Thinking

Sonima • 7-minute read Open / Comment

2022-05-25 22:35:18 “We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect. The judgement of the intellect is only part of the truth.” – Carl Jung

#quotesoftheday Open / Comment

2022-05-25 07:35:07 Issue #315 | Seneca’s Perspectives on Friendship

“If you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship,” Muhammad Ali once said, “you really haven’t learned anything.” Indeed, as Jeffrey Hall argued in issue 99 of One Daily Nugget, friendship is not only a pleasure, but a necessity.

Let’s learn about friendship, then! In today’s nugget, The Marginalian’s Maria Popova quotes Seneca on the nature of friendship, the dangers of seeing others merely as utilitarian tools to help advance our own goals, the tendency of people to mistake flattery for friendship, and more. Read on!

Seneca on True and False Friendship

The Marginalian • 4-minute read Open / Comment

2022-05-24 22:35:35 “If I want to be free, I've got to be me. Not the me you think I should be. Not the me I think my wife thinks I should be. Not the me I think my kids think I should be. If I want to be free, I've got to be me. So I better know who me is.” – Bill Gove

#quotesoftheday Open / Comment

2022-05-24 20:40:00 Issue #314 | It’s Time to “Retire” from Conformist Activities

The word “retirement” is typically associated with quitting work. Interestingly, while the term quitting often has a negative connotation, the term retiring is much more aspirational.

Today’s nugget, published by The School of Life, makes a compelling case for taking advantage of this dichotomy and broadening our concept of retirement. More specifically, how about “retiring” from a host of activities that you are currently performing merely due to society’s punishing pressures to conform?

For example, instead of feeling ashamed about turning down all kinds of invitations, just say you are “retired from social life.” Thus framed, your decision, which may otherwise leave you appearing gauche, instantly acquires nobility and prestige! Ditto for other activities, such as our quest to accumulate material possessions etc.

Read on to learn more!

How to Retire Early

The School of Life • 3-minute read Open / Comment

2022-05-23 22:35:21 “When men and women agree, it is only in their conclusions; their reasons are always different.” – George Santayana

#quotesoftheday Open / Comment

2022-05-23 07:35:09 Issue #313 | Scott Young on Why You Should Focus On One (Short) Project at a Time

Scott H. Young is a prolific blogger and best-selling author. If the name rings a bell, it’s perhaps because you’ve read about his famous “MIT Challenge,” a successful attempt at completing MIT’s 4-year computer science curriculum, without taking classes, in a single year.

In short, Young knows a thing or two about successfully completing challenging projects. In today’s nugget, he shares an important insight about why so many projects remain incomplete: People tend to try to do too much at once! It’s tempting to keep one’s options open, and it’s inspiring to imagine oneself having completed all sorts of projects.

Young advises that you focus on one — short — project at a time.

Read on to learn more!

You’re Trying to Do Too Much

Scott H. Young • 4-minute read Open / Comment

2022-05-22 22:35:22 “I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them.” – Phyllis Diller

#quotesoftheday Open / Comment

2022-05-22 21:36:00 Probably, you wonder which issue came on top in the previous poll. The Nuggeteering gold goes to…

When You Say Goodbye, Remember That It Might Be Your Last Time

In case you didn’t have a chance to enjoy it last week, feel free to check it out now. Open / Comment

2022-05-22 21:33:01 Open / Comment