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    “How can I overlap the things I enjoy? For example, maybe you want to exercise and spend time with your spouse. What type of exercise sounds fun to do with your spouse? Or perhaps you’d like to hang out with friends and build your career. How can you find ways to work with people you like being around? It doesn’t always work, but there are usually a few areas of life you can overlap in an enjoyable way. Look for the overlap.”

    James Clear

      “Move toward the next thing, not away from the last thing. Same direction. Completely different energy.”

      James Clear

        “You will never find one answer to what makes you happy. There are many answers, and they change based on your current state. People need to relax, but if all you do is sit on the beach, it gets old. People find meaning in work, but if all you do is work, it gets exhausting. People benefit from exercise, but if all you do is exercise, it gets unhealthy. Happiness will always be fleeting because your needs change over time. The question is: what do you need right now?”

        James Clear

          “If you already live a comfortable life, then choosing to make more money but live a worse daily life is a bad trade. And yet, we talk ourselves into it all the time. We take promotions that pay more, but swallow our free time. We already have a successful business, but we break ourselves trying to make it even more successful. Too much focus on wealth, not enough focus on lifestyle.”

          James Clear

            “When I notice myself worrying about ‘what other people will think’ I find I’m usually not worried about any single person’s opinion. If I pick a specific person, I‘m rarely concerned about what they will think. What I fear is the collective opinion in my head. It’s imaginary.”

            James Clear

              “I split problems into two groups: muddy puddles and leaky ceilings. Some problems are like muddy puddles. The way to clear a muddy puddle is to leave it alone. The more you mess with it, the muddier it becomes. Many of the problems I dream up when I’m overthinking or worrying or ruminating fall into this category. Is life really falling apart or am I just in a sour mood? Is this as hard as I’m making it or do I just need to go workout? Drink some water. Go for a walk. Get some sleep. Go do something else and give the puddle time to turn clear. Other problems are like a leaky ceiling. Ignore a small leak and it will always widen. Relationship tension that goes unaddressed. Overspending that becomes a habit. One missed workout drifting into months of inactivity. Some problems multiply when left unattended. You need to intervene now. Are you dealing with a leak or a puddle?”

              James Clear

                “Some people get addicted to chain-smoking their problems. They spend all day going from sorrow to sorrow. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can live each day going from joy to joy—like a sunflower that turns to face the sun as it moves across the sky. It’s not about having a problem-free life, but about focusing on the light. Sunflowers still have shadows, but they are always behind them.”

                James Clear

                  “Convincing someone to change their mind is really the process of convincing someone to change their tribe. If they abandon their beliefs, they run the risk of losing social ties. You can’t expect someone to change their mind if you take away their community too. You have to give them somewhere to go. Nobody wants their worldview torn apart if loneliness is the outcome.”

                  James Clear

                    “There will never be a perfect time to do something that stretches you. That’s true whether you are starting a business, having a child, changing careers, or wrestling with any number of challenges. That’s not a license to be reckless and never think things through, but at some point you have to embrace the uncertainty because it is the only path forward. If you were ready for it, it wouldn’t be growth.”

                    James Clear

                      “We need to redefine ‘hard work’ to include ‘hard thinking.’ The person who outsmarts you is out working you. The person who finds shortcuts is out working you. The person with a better strategy is out working you. Usually, the hardest work is thinking of a better way to do it.”

                      James Clear

                        “The things you take pride in are the same things you are likely to be biased about. How might the things you take pride in be misleading you? The tighter you cling to your current identity, the harder it becomes to grow beyond it.”

                        James Clear

                          “You have to live with your mistakes, but you don’t have to compound them. To follow up an error with a foolish reaction is to lose twice. Given the reality of where you are right now, what is the best next action? A wise response may not erase a dumb mistake, but it can redeem it.”

                          James Clear

                            “Imagine there is a small version of you and a big version. When you are playing small, your behavior is timid, you feel less than, and you are often surrounded by people and projects that drain you. When you are playing big, your behavior is confident, you feel motivated, and you tend to be investing in people and projects that energize you. How can you spend more time playing the big version of yourself this year?”

                            James Clear

                              “Pay attention to how readily people talk themselves out of things—and be wary of adopting the same narrative. People will often try to convince you their limiting beliefs should become your own. They do not. Find your own ceiling.”

                              James Clear

                                “If you want a recipe for unhappiness, spend your time accumulating a lot of money and let your health and relationships deteriorate.”

                                James Clear

                                  “Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself. Life is easier when you expect a lot of yourself and little of the world. High standards, low expectations.”

                                  James Clear

                                    “One of the most unexpected gifts you can receive is an early loss: Missing out on a job you really wanted; Trying a business idea that fails; Suffering a heartbreak. An early setback can become the catalyst for a wonderful next chapter—if you channel the emotion effectively. Disappointment is a hot burning fuel. Let it light your fire to become better.”

                                    James Clear

                                      “You probably don’t want maximum effectiveness. For example, the most effective way to make money likely requires a lifestyle you don’t want to live. Instead, you want the most effective path that fits your desired lifestyle. How do you want to spend your days? Start there, then optimize.”

                                      James Clear

                                        “Exerting more effort doesn’t help if you’re on the wrong trajectory.

                                        – Working harder on the wrong thing just wastes more time.

                                        – Learning more from a biased source will lead you further from the truth.

                                        – Doubling down on a toxic relationship only sets you up for more headaches.

                                        Before you try harder, make sure you are walking a path that leads where you want to go.”

                                        James Clear

                                          “For each headache you face, ask yourself, ‘Is this mostly real or mostly imagined?’ Solve the real problems, release the imaginary ones.”

                                          James Clear