A Winding Path of Progress on jneidel

Doing what feels right

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
something I started doing recently was engaging with strangers much more positively. Saying hello with a big smile makes both of our lives better. It’s literally spreading positive vibes. (I don’t do this on the streets of Berlin, only in my small town, around the office and with cashiers.)

In the past I would have apprehensions about saying hello first to people in the forest. I had no problem to respond, but it mostly felt unnatural to be on the offensive. Now it feels completely natural to me. This is not something I decided to change. It just happened as a side-effect of the other things I did in my life. In this same way many other previous “problems” have also gone away.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: until Mar01
Read one book at a time until Mar19
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (14x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

Looked into German politics in preparation for the elections. Resume of the Ampel coalition, current hot topics and likely future outlook.
Various continued unfocused research on nutrition and health.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Keep doing the jhanas every morning.

I was able to get into a deep meditation most days. Each day I sat primarily in one jhana.¹ The dominant vibration of the jhana would stay with me for practically the whole day² after the meditation. This was hugely impactful. In 20 minutes I could set a constructive mood, which would carry through the entire day. Past meditation and relaxation exercises only brought a temporary release. A good measure for sure, but no discernible effect, which I could still detect 8 hours later. With jhanas it’s different. They’re that strong for me.

I will keep working toward jhana mastery.

Next one #

Usually my mind sets a schedule, decides what I eat, when I go to bed and much more. The last months I have developed a greater awareness of what would be good for me at any moment. What feels right. That feeling is routinely overruled by my mind though. I enact this self-control all the time. Even when there isn’t any need for it.

The jhanas have also demonstrated to me the power of aligned action. In J3 my body would shake itself just in the way needed, to fix any physical imbalances. One arm is tense? 10s of wild shaking later everything would be nice and relaxed and balanced. So for this week:

Do what feels right. What my body and intuition tell me.

Where this will be useful

Here are some instances where I went against my instinct:

Stayed awake for two more hours even though I’m already very tired
Ate based on appetite, not hunger
Got hung up and work on an unimportant topic based on some irrational fear
Worked past my limits without a break
Stayed inside, even though the sun way very enticing

The above will be improved with this challenge. A disconnect from my body also denies me opportunity for very aligned action like:

Eat this
Move like that
Go outside
Take a break
Drink some water
Time to work
Spend time with my partner

I also want to further develop this sensitivity.

Both the coordinated and directed actions of my mind and the sensitive and balanced actions of my intuition have their place. Currently I’m skewed too much towards planning and thinking. This challenge intends to bring about a better balance.

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

_{You can sign up for this newsletter here, if you aren’t already.}

This was in line with my goals. To gain a better understanding of the jhanas and perhaps even mastery, I would need to sit in each individual jhana for a long time. I got my definition of jhana mastery from this retreat (specifically in “An Introduction to the Jhānas.”) Among other things, it is a thorough familiarity with all of a jhana’s aspects. ↩︎
It only waned as I got tired in the evenings. ↩︎

Jhanas, meditation as concentration and the benefits of boredom

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
previously I thought the point of meditation was relaxation or a state of not thinking. That’s why I stopped doing it. I had found better tools to relax and to stop myself from thinking.

Meditation is about concentration. At least the entry level. You concentrate on a meditation object. That is: the breath, an image, a sensation or whatever. If you are unable to do that, you will not be able to proceed. (Neither with meditation, nor with life:smile:)

Thoughts are perhaps our most direct distraction, so let’s not have those. Relaxation helps to concentrate, by moving attention off of areas of tension. Not thinking and relaxation have their place, as subcomponents to concentration.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: until Mar01
Read one book at a time until Mar19
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (13x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

This week I did jhanas. After a minimal amount of research I just tried it, with immediate success. Over the next few days I went into the jhanas deeper, quicker, under different circumstances. I’m a big fan of the tranquil, concentrated, knowing state I find myself in, especially after a deep session. My wife was not so amused at first. She said “I want my husband back” and “I don’t want to talk to Buddah anymore” :wink:

My path to jhana

What worked for me?

Neurostream to bring me into a relaxed state
An image as my meditation object (vision is my strongest sense)
Followed the steps from this guide:
1. Focus on meditation object and let the piti build (happened in my hands, as described)
2. Switch focus to piti and let the piti build further
3. Get pulled into first jhana (you know it, when it happens)
4. …
5. Profit

How far did I get?

I didn’t read much of anything about the jhanas. I only heard the categorization of J1-J4, J5-J8 (formless) and J9 (“enlightenment”?). That J1 is very recognizable and that the phases transitions are clear is all I think anybody needs to know (apart from how to get to J1.)

In my first session I went to J6, before I had enough. In the next session I went to J9 and got lightly ejected.

All jhanas are distinct and have consistent characteristics that stay the same with every visit, though they can differ in intensity. For me, most carry a strong visual component.

Why do I think it was so easy for me?

Even at a retreat where they focus only on this and provided individual support, only 70% of people achieve J1 or more after 40h+ of practice. I don’t know the rate of going beyond J4, but it’s certainly much lower than that. Others online speak about “months and years of practice.”

On Reddit I found this:

I think the cause for first jhana is just release from the 5 hindrances.

The classic list of five hindrances is:

Sensory desire: seeking for pleasure through the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and physical feeling.
Ill-will: feelings of hostility, resentment, hatred and bitterness.
Sloth-and-torpor: half-hearted action with little or no effort or concentration.
Restlessness-and-worry: the inability to calm the mind and focus one’s energy.
Doubt: lack of conviction or trust in one’s abilities.

All of which I have worked on in the past years. I think my previous efforts of “no complaining” (Ill-will), being present (Restlessness and worry), building self-confidence (Doubt) and other projects and habits prepared me for this.

I have not eaten 100% raw, in a (successful) attempt make the diet work better for me. I will probably settle at around 95% raw.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Doing nothing

When I let myself be bored, I found that I mostly needed a break or that I was tired. Other times I found something to do that was just right for me (at that moment.)

I realized – as anytime I tried this in the past – that: 1. doing nothing is hard 2. doing nothing is great for me. To make it more concrete, I would point to these benefits:

An opportunity to listen to myself:
I tend to plan ahead: breakfast, work on XYZ until the daily, then another meeting, walk, lunch, etc. That is: I let my conscious mind dictates what I will do. I don’t listen to myself, to what I want and need.

Less overexertion:
By listening to myself, I can catch when I put too much on my plate. I can self-correct, before my body takes more extreme measures (can take different shapes: extreme tiredness during the day, sickness, entertainment seeking, cravings for sugar, etc.)

Go with the flow:
Besides an awareness of my own needs, I am also more receptive to the pull of “the universe.” I can more nimbly adjust my actions. I’m more attentive to others needs. I get the message, without having to run head-first into this or that wall.

Next one #

Keep doing the jhanas every morning. I want to see:

What kind of resistance arises in response
How I can get better results in less time
How long I can maintain the high level of awareness/tranquility/concentration created by it
How I handle a variety of circumstances (Berlin, colleagues, work, shopping, etc.)
What cumulative effects can be observed? (Or does each night act as a reset?)

New articles #

Some updates here and there. Behind the scenes stuff and research for /foods :slightly_smiling_face:

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

_{You can sign up for this newsletter here, if you aren’t already.}

Self-acceptance and doing nothing

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
the other day we went to the hardware store. We wanted two shelves, but they only had one in stock. Why not ask if we can buy the display model?

In the past I would have never done that. I would have found another solution that didn’t involve talking to an employee and asking for something I considered “out of the ordinary.” I didn’t want to “inconvenience” them. I would feel really uncomfortable about making somebody else “uncomfortable.”

I recognize this behavior as weird in hindsight. Shame, disgust or suppressing the memory are unhelpful responses. Instead, I have to come to terms with and accept what happened (which does not mean to approve of it or that I wouldn’t do things differently in the future.) Analysis of why I did what I did will not address the issue at it’s core. Self-acceptance is required.

The ability to accept and be kind with myself enables me in a few ways:

I’m less likely to repeat the unhelpful behavior.
It will be easier for me to catch myself in weird behaviors in real-time, allowing me to still change course!
I find it easier to accept others behavior without judging them – though that does not mean I have to tolerate the behavior.

So, back to the story: I went around to ask for the display model and we got it:+1: I had no initial resistance to the idea. I did not feel awkward or questioned myself through-out or afterwards.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: until Mar01
Read one book at a time until Mar19
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (12x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

This week my internal drive dropped to a new low. I’m suspecting my diet, as it went along with an insatiable hunger (indicator that I’m lacking something.) I think I already found the missing piece to my diet. I will test if this also addresses the lack of motivation and a few other symptoms that have come up.

I took a further look into the book I had read about water. I wanted to analyze the claims made and think through the philosophy presented using the method of “How to read a book.” I only got as far as the prologue, as I investigated the author and his assumption first. This basis is needed to evaluate and fully understand his arguments and bias.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Next one #

I’ve been busying myself. I had no internal drive to work towards something worthwhile, so I would busy myself with anything.

Instead I want to do nothing.

No watching documentaries for hours or thinking through some random stuff. Just lie there and do nothing instead. After a while of that I will probably find something good to do and if not, that’s okay too.

Boredom is great. I should try it sometime.

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

_{You can sign up for this newsletter here, if you aren’t already.}

Improving my water

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
I started to thank my water. Just a “thank you” after filling my bottle. Sounds stupid, but it will really propel you forward.¹ How? The positive attention will improve the structure of the water² and, more importantly, you will feel better! When I say it with full honesty, I get a deep sense of gratitude.

We all know that practicing gratitude is amazing for us. I certainly used it too little. This is an easy way for me to practice gratitude multiple times a day.

“Mmmh, sounds like the Christian tradition of thanking the food before a meal.” Indeed. I believe it works in the same way. Through the act of gratitude you improve the structure of the water within the food and the people (both are mostly made of water) and you raise the vibrations of everyone around the table. All of this will work to make the food taste better and be more nourishing.³

The church has an understanding of the workings of the universe and the principle of resonance that is behind this. The church is further set up in a way that the knowledgable high officials encode their understanding into practices that will deliver the positive effects, like the prayer of thanking “god” for the meal. They design the practice so that you reap the benefits, even if you lack the understanding (i.e. the commonfolk, most everyone) of why it works. I’m not in a religion, but I can still appreciate the wisdom of a purposefully designed practice.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: at least until Mar01
Read one book at a time until Mar19
To become profitable at trading
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (11x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

To improve our water quality we got a water filtration system (based on activated charcoal.) There is plenty in the tap water to be concerned about. In my mind, a lot can be gained by cleaning what we drink every day. If you don’t have a filter, you are the filter.
Decided to buy organic whenever possible.
Eating more salads again. With sprouts as the base (50-70% of the portion.)

All that I’m working on are small unconcentrated efforts. I’m lacking a larger mission or purpose. I know what to do about that, I just have not done it yet. When the time is right, everything will fall into place.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Connect to the inner body

It was easy to do and I felt quite present this week. By bringing about this connection intentionally, I get used to it and increase the likelihood that it will happen unconsciously. The little time it took was well spent.

On previous challenges #

Being allowed to only read one book at a time feels like it dissuades me from committing to a book I don’t want to fully dive into. Which means I read less, but I also distract myself less.

New articles #

Everything I know about avocados^:de: : prices, picking them out at the store and when to eat them

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

_{You can sign up for this newsletter here, if you aren’t already.}

I believe that a little practice like this can have profound effects. Not this one practice in isolation, but all of the little things you do every day in accumulation. It’s the little things in life that matter, because they ultimately make up your life. If you want to read more about this philosophy, I would recommend The Slight Edge. ↩︎
About the structure of water: See the works of Masaru Emoto, or the documentary Secret of Water. ↩︎
More nourishment not in the sense of more calories, but in the sense that what is there is processed better and that your organism gains more from it. ↩︎

Wild herbs and connecting to the inner body

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
this was an unproductive week. I found the culprit in a violation of one of my fundamental habits, which are: 1) walk every day,¹ 2) stay present,² 3) sleep 8h and get up around 5:15.³ A day that lacks any of these is in trouble. I was in violation of 3). How did I come to fall asleep at 2:00? I don’t know:shrug: Possibly a leftover from new years. Either way, it was negligence on my part to keep it that way.

For me, this served as a reminder of the importance those fundamental habits have for my life and as a reaffirmation to stand my ground with them. I’ve already taken corrective action by moving up my sleep cycle.⁴

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: at least until Mar01
To become profitable at trading
Read one book at a time until Mar19
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (10x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

I attempted to start the next focus challenge⁵ on trading, but it was like wading through slime. So much resistance and distraction, despite clearing up all imagined roadblocks before. I will get on with this, when the time is right.
I took my first steps into identifying wild herbs. It’s a lot of fun to get to know the plants growing around me! Today, I was munching on these in the forest:

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Read one book at a time

Finished the first book and have not started with a new one yet. I felt that this restriction gave me a useful motivation to finish up the topic and the book I was reading, as well as stopping me from diving straight into a project I’m not sure I want to commit to.

I will report more finding over time.

Next one #

Connect to the inner body in the morning and to reconnect with that connection through-out the day.

‘Inner body’ explanation

To stay present in everyday life, it helps to be deeply rooted with-in yourself; otherwise, the mind, which has incredible momentum, will drag you along like a wild river. [To be rooted within yourself] means to inhabit your body fully. To always have some of your attention in the inner energy field of your body. To feel the body from within, so to speak. Body awareness keeps you present. It anchors you in the Now.

– Eckart Tolle in The Power of Now, beginning of Chapter 5

I have attempted this before with mixed results. I am coming back to it, because of the power inherent to the concept. When I’m connected to my inner body, all of my thoughts seem ephemeral. They are only passing through, they are not me. I feel the separation between the thoughts and me, because I feel myself so deeply underneath it all. It does not like a return to the present after being distracted by thought, but instead, like I never left, like I truly remained present through-out.

New articles #

As a result of my research, you’re getting:

Why do aliens matter? Regardless if they are real or not.

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

_{You can sign up for this newsletter here, if you aren’t already.}

Walking serves as a mental reset for me. Without it: I get headaches, my mind gets foggy and I become unfocused and distracted by thought.

I first got introduced to the magic of walking every day because I was searching for a cure to a minor back pain I had developed by being on the computer all day. Walking did the trick. ↩︎
If I don’t make an effort to be present, I will become stressed and overwhelmed running after my thoughts. I will be in a bad humor, more afraid (of doing the things I have to) and will create or engage in unnecessary conflict. ↩︎
Without my 8h of sleep I can’t perform and will engage in more entertainment seeking, need to relax more and have a tendency to eat worse. Without getting up between 5:00-6:00 I don’t get to work during my most productive hours and thus cripple my output. ↩︎
One can only move their sleep cycle by 2h in either direction per night, without incurring penalties. Anything more will be a big disturbance to sleep quality, as your inner clock fails to adequately adjust. ↩︎
What is a focus challenge?
I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:
- I hid all my off-topic projects.
- I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
- I only read on-topic books.
- I only listened to instrumental music.
- I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
- I did not make any online purchases.
↩︎

Read one book at a time

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
this week was great. I felt present, productive and engaged without entertainment in my life (see last weeks intro story.) I went to YouTube and could scroll past the entertainment no problem. I had no desire for it.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

To become profitable at trading
Eat raw^:de: , at least until Mar01
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (9x streak:sunglasses:)
Read one book at a time, until Mar19 (see next challenge below)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

I was meaning to start my next focus challenge on trading this week, but I didn’t. Multiple other topics caught my interest and it didn’t feel right to just brush them aside.

I investigated and started taking activated charcoal.
Alien encounters piqued my interest. An essay about it’s relevance will follow next week.
I was made aware of the negative effect of blue light^:de: . I had blue light filters on my devices already, but got myself these glasses as an add-on:

I do intend to get back to trading next week.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Amused detachment (laughing at my own thoughts)

This worked amazingly! I get positive indicators (smile, improvement in mood, more relaxed), it very effectively stops me from further thought and really brings out the essence of presence: the joy of the moment. It helps to not take myself so seriously.

Next one #

Read one book at a time.

As someone who read exclusively nonfiction for nearly 15 years, I can tell you […]: It’s not productive to read two fact-based books at the same time¹

I have the tendency to switch to another book, when the book I’m reading requires more of me, than I am willing or able to give at that time (in terms of energy, time, dedication.) The excitement of picking up a new book (plus the fluffy introduction) usually make for the easier option. Staying with a book and pushing through the hurdle usually results in more growth though.

My reasons why

Channel energy into the focused exploration of a chosen resource.
It’s any easy rule that helps me say No to distractions.
This practice of “reading” many books concurrently has increased with the introduction of my focus challenges², as inside and outside of them I would read different books. And usually also multiple books on a given topic. The challenge helps to reverse that.
It’s uncomfortable to fight through the hard sections of a book. I want to push through that discomfort.
I’m more likely to write an article about a topic that I engage with over a longer time. If I’m constantly jumping between topics (or even between books on the same subject), I’m less likely to be able to focus my energy enough to produce an artifact that meets my standards.
I can check the resource off my mental list. No more thoughts like “Oh, I should finish xyz. The beginning was so great.”

Problems I (fore)see

Jumping between books allows to follow my fleeting, but strong instinctual interests. There lies great power behind these short-term motivations. With this challenge I’m putting a damper on those

I will need to stay in tune with what I’m feeling drawn to, as not not force and exhaust myself on a topic, which has overstayed its welcome.

Specifics

§1) This challenge concerns only non-fiction books. As of the last few months I have not read fiction anyway (except for manga.)

§2) This will be an ongoing challenge. I want to see the effect on me, as I go through multiple books and different kinds of books. Three months seems like a fair evaluation period. I will supply a list of books I read at the end. (I might extend it.)

§3) This challenge also applies to audiobooks and online courses. The problem there is much the same. One at a time maximum from any of these categories.

§4) I can make the decision to abandon a book at any time. It’s something I have become comfortable with and have no qualms about.

§5) I am not making a commitment to completeness. I can and do skip sections at will.

§6) Concerning my focus challenges² I will commit to one book per focus challenge topic. If I want to read a book during the focus challenge break, I will have to finish/abandon it within that break.

§7) Exceptions include:

reference books, like: mushroom handbook, books where I look up a reference
episodic books, like: Tools of Titans, How to live, The Market Wizards series
a book to read for 5 mins on the go, when I did not bring anything else (currently Naked Chocolate)
The Power of Now: I use as a tool to get into the present moment

New articles #

I finished my project to create/validate a reliable stock market strategy^:de: and added a conclusion and reflections
Description of a simple indicator I programmed for determining the market condition: SPX Ampel^:de:

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

_{You can sign up for this newsletter here, if you aren’t already.}

Tim Ferris - 4-Hour Work Week p91 ↩︎
What is a focus challenge?
I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:
- I hid all my off-topic projects.
- I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
- I only read on-topic books.
- I only listened to instrumental music.
- I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
- I did not make any online purchases.
↩︎ ↩︎

Laughing at my thoughts instead of judging them

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
with video games I used to repeat a cycle over and over again. It went like this: temptation, followed by a downward spiral where the games suck me in more and more and everything else in my life falls into disrepair, things get out of hand and I stop myself, uninstall and swear to never touch video games again, then I repeat it from the start.

After the last time in my life that I played video games, something was different though. No big drama, I just knew I was done with it. It was not something I did consciously. The idea of it does not tempt me anymore. I now feel a mix of contempt and disgust for it.

The video games are in the past, but with entertainment media I had a similar cycle going just until this week. Coming off my no media challenge, I lost two days to entertainment. I had tried in the past to combat my desire for entertainment on an analytical level: creating rules, restricting access, understanding what lays behind it and banning it altogether for a time (= no media challenge.) To no avail. Despite making the experience that I was much better off without it, I would always returned to it.

I think I successfully engineered a change similar to what I unconsciously did with the video games. I went into my unconscious and negotiated the decision to forsake entertainment and wholeheartedly accept all that comes with it. I have not been drawn to entertainment media since. What I consumed habitually with entertainment as the intent, I quickly aborted, because I found it to be dull and tasteless. A great success indeed:slightly_smiling_face:

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: at least until Mar01
To become profitable at trading
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (8x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

Eating raw is no problem at all. Even in a social occasion I was not tempted by the non-raw food and bringing my own food was fine too.
I had and have some maintenance stuff to do, before I can jump into my next trading focus challenge.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Next one #

Don’t judge my thoughts. Laugh at them and dismiss them.

Most all of my thoughts are unhelpful and distract me from the moment. To have one thought after the other, even though I keep dismissing them, can be disheartening at times. I would imagine that taking a more cheerful attitude by laughing at them would help to improve my state and presence level.

New articles #

Updated my raw definition^:de: , though it’s still not complete:smiling_face_with_tear:

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

Insights into a short focus challenge on eating raw

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
I don’t have an intro story prepared. Sorry, folks. Tune in again next week:wink:

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Eat raw^:de: at least until Mar01
To become profitable at trading (will pick this topic up next week)
No media challenge until Jan10
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (7x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

Last week I started a short focus challenge¹ to get into the raw diet. Which I did. I already started eating raw and will continue to do so for at least two months, probably more.

Start eating raw
Which I did. See the article^:de: about the challenge and my motivations for doing this in the first place.
Research what makes raw work
I answered some fundamental open questions I had about how this is supposed to work. There are still a lot of details open, but I will figure those out with time and practice.
Compile own raw foods wiki with everything I know
I already started with this over at /foods^:de: and will expand continuously. I need this for myself and I might as well make it public.

With this I’m almost done with my quick focus challenge. I’ll get back into trading shortly. I have to take care of some maintenance tasks first.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: No explaining

There were not many opportunities to practice this. I did map out some if this, then that logic for how to react to different people in scenarios that are bound to come up. For example: “Why do you eat raw?”, “What are you working on?” from a person who is just trying to make conversation.

On no media #

After I got over the initial hurdle of the No Media Challenge, my desire for the quick dopamine fix went down drastically. It astonishes me every time how hard it is at first to stop consuming media and then how easy it is to maintain it.

My personal problem with media is not about anything I consume in particular. It’s about how it reprograms my mind to look for the easy dopamine hit. I want the easy reward and become unwilling to do the hard work.

New articles #

Project definition: Eating raw experiment^:de:
My definition of what eating raw means^:de: and why it makes sense to me
Wrote a rundown of implementing a technical documentation framework at my job

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

What is a focus challenge?
I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:
- I hid all my off-topic projects.
- I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
- I only read on-topic books.
- I only listened to instrumental music.
- I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
- I did not make any online purchases.
↩︎

No explaining challenge

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
one of these evenings I was watching a movie with my wife. At some point she gets up from the couch, because watching what’s going to happen it is too much for her. She listens from nearby. This is not an uncommon occurrence, but it always annoys me as I want to cuddle. Also I misinterpret it as a lack of interest in the movie (which it is not.)

Then shes asks me to pause the movie, she needs to do something real quick. My initial reaction is annoyance and I think “You already got up, you don’t really want to watch this, why are you ruining my movie-watching experience?” But I just let those thoughts go and sat there patiently.

After ca. 7 mins she comes back. We talk. She had a legitimate reason why she needed me to pause. She really did want to watch the movie with me. My annoyed judgement was completely wrong. It would have been destructive (to my mood and the relationship) had I let it take over (like in the past.)

It was easy to patiently wait for her, because I was present. I just sat there. Being present and not resisting what is happening (I want to watch, but I can’t) led to much better outcomes than getting annoyed. It helped me to keep the vibe up and strengthened the trust I have in my wife word.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

No media challenge until Jan10
To become profitable at trading
Generate 10 ideas every day
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (6x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

Over Christmas I spent most of my time with family and friends. Even after I was back home it was hard to dive into the writing, like I had planned. I found myself craving the easy dopamine of media and unable to work on anything substantial. This is of course nothing unusual. Usually I won’t let it come this far, but Christmas messed with my timing on my regular no media detox schedule. Anyway, I’m doing no media now as I prepare things to launch into my next focus challenge¹ (2-3 weeks on trading) sometime next week.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: No arguing

I caught myself multiple times as the discussion was devolving into an argument. In all of the cases stopping was the correct path of action. I noticed this about those arguments, they were:

About something I don’t care about or there was no value in arguing
Arguing coincided with negative indicators (worse mood)

I’m sure I also had some conversations that could would fit the definition of “arguing”. I did not notice (or categorize) them, probably because I instinctively know the kind of ill-intentioned, bad faith argument I was targeting with this challenge.

Next one #

Besides starting pointless arguments, I also often comment unasked on things I know very little about.

I will do the No explaining challenge, or “Don’t explain unless spoken to”.²

Challenge details

I will not explain:

how X works/happens
how I think/feel about X
my reasons for doing/thinking X

I will not explain unasked. And even if the other person asks me I will say “I don’t know”. Exceptions apply (other person is very present, I it preface by saying “I heard that…”, etc.) Generally though: avoid explaining.

Why do this challenge?

I don’t know shit
Most of the time I don’t really know my own reasons for why I did things
The vast majority of my thoughts are useless and not worth repeating
I want to de-emphasize ego identification
Most people care only about themselves, they don’t really want to know what I think

New articles #

I’ll see what I can get done before starting the next focus challenge.

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

What is a focus challenge?
I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:
- I hid all my off-topic projects.
- I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
- I only read on-topic books.
- I only listened to instrumental music.
- I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
- I did not make any online purchases.
↩︎
Hopefully the play on “don’t speak unless spoken to” is obvious enough:slightly_smiling_face: ↩︎

No Arguing over Christmas

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
the last week did not feel productive. The holidays loomed over my topic of focus. I could not make a decision that I need to make. The time and focus to research it and to follow through were not there.

I was torn between the end of the focus challenge and upcoming holidays. I went from a narrow focus to diffuse exploration.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

To become profitable at trading
Don’t buy sweets and such, until the end of the year
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (5x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

Nothing much over the Christmas holidays. In the past I used to plan a bunch of stuff to work on while I was with my family. It always frustrated me. For some reason or another I would fall way behind what was planned.

Before the end of the year I want to publish all the half-done articles and a few other ones. I will work on that in the mornings (which I have for myself.)

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Next one #

For next week I will do No Arguing.

I will not engage in argument, combatitive discussion or negotation. I won’t fight for my viewpoint or against somebody elses.

The aim is to be less identified with what “I believe.” “My opinions” are a tool of the ego to disconnect me from other people. I want to foster that connection instead.

Details

Timing:

The is the ideal time for the challenge. A combination of being around people (I will want to argue) and not being at my job (I’m not taking my ability away to contribute at work.)

Rules:

I can say Yes/No to something
I can propose an alternative
- I will not argue the merit of my option/opinion/plan
- I will not argue the flaws/dismerit of the others option/opinion/plan

Expectations:

More harmony
Other people will perceive me as more charming and warm
I feel less ego driven and judgemental
Ocasionally we get worse outcomes, because I did not fight for the “best” outcome

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

Don't let the tail wag the dog

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
this week I was pondering this quote:

Don’t let the tail wag the dog.

An example of this would be copying a trading method just because it is profitable, regardless of what it might entail. It chooses profit over your priorities and personality. You don’t want to make yourself fit the method. Make the method fit you.

A related saying is to “put the cart in front of the horse.” They are slightly different, but both are about mistaking the means for the end.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

To become profitable at trading
Focus challenge¹ on trading, until Dec19
Don’t buy sweets and such, until the end of the year
Generate 10 ideas every day
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (4x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

My focus challenge¹ is coming to it’s end. With Christmas coming up and the markets slowing, I will mostly turn my focus elsewhere until new years.

I will keep practice trading and do some writing over the holidays.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

While unannounced, last weeks challenge was: Note down nothing

It came as a logical conclusion of being more present. Don’t write down what I’m thinking. Instead of engaging with thought (and thus giving it more room), just let the thought go. Most of it is nonsense anyway.

There were no adverse outcomes. Just more presence and less notes to process in my weekly review.

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

What is a focus challenge?
I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:
- I hid all my off-topic projects.
- I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
- I only read on-topic books.
- I only listened to instrumental music.
- I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
- I did not make any online purchases.
↩︎ ↩︎

A decision about day trading and unlocking more presence

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
two big things happened for me this week:

A decision about day trading

After playing with the idea last week, I now made a decision. I will seriously dedicate myself to make day trading work. This is my new all-encompassing focus. See the full write-up.

Unlocking more presence

I did an NLP technique to investigate any mental barriers to being more present. I already had two challenges over the course of this newsletter to try to improve in this area. I found a significant roadblock. In essence I had to decide if I wanted to be more present. To accept everything that comes along with it. Making that decision I reconfigured my subconscious and got instant¹ (and lasting) results. I got a markedly increased sensation of presence and some other goodies.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

To become profitable at day trading
Focus challenge² on trading, until Dec19
Don’t buy sweets and such, until the end of the year
Generate 10 ideas every day
Favorite from last week: 10 ideas to make my life 1% better in 5 mins
Publish this newsletter every Sunday (3x streak:sunglasses:)

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

Due to my focus challenge², everything I’m working on is about trading.

trade day trading strategy
It was exciting to be in the markets. I did the first few trades. Getting familiar with the strategy I’m using.
research & deliberate trading practice See day trading.
do internal analysis See day trading.
I have adjusted my behavior to be more present while staring at the chart and to not be greedy about unrealized profits.
trade options strategy^:de:
I got a good hit rate on paper³. Seems promising so far.
improve trading journal
Added the capacity to accumulate important metrics in one place (hit rate, P/L both global and by trade type) and more. At this point it works well enough that I can turn my attention elsewhere.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Keeping the vibe up

I found it a helpful reminder about how important my current state really is in everything I do. It has been adopted into my personal philosophy.

Next one #

Nothing particularly caught my eye. Skipping for this week.

On previous challenges #

I’ve been tracking how my morning routine (get out of bed with alarm and stretching) is correlated with my outcomes (how I felt and what intensity I brought to my work.) As part of this I looked at my awareness, my level of presence during stretching.

I have made it a rule to continue stretching until I’m in the present. The days when I’m not is when I need it the most. Where otherwise I would bring those scattered and distracted thoughts into my next task.

New articles #

Day trading project definition: How did this come about? What is motivation?

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

Not literally instant. It took 10-20 mins. Which is still pretty quick considering the change. ↩︎
What is a focus challenge?
I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:
- I hid all my off-topic projects.
- I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
- I only read on-topic books.
- I only listened to instrumental music.
- I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
- I did not make any online purchases.
↩︎ ↩︎
The number is 85%, but some of those trades were tests. I don’t take this number so seriously. ↩︎

Keep the vibe up!

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

My new profile picture

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
it can become much more clear to me how much of trading the stock market is really about your personality. Sure, “personality leads, money follows”, but how is that supposed to work?

Fear and pain, hope and greed interfere with my decision-making and my ability to execute my strategy.
I need to be able to wait paitiently and withstand the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen.
Ego and fear stop me from seeing things for what they are.

If you are interestested in reading more, I highly recommend: Best Loser Wins¹.

Becoming a better human being will make you a better trader.²

I am thinking about dedicating myself to becoming a day trader. This to me, was the most curious development. I had strongly objected the depiction of that lifestyle in the past. After all, my aim is financial independence, not another job. What got me was this quote:

Perhaps it is time to acknowledge trading for what it is? It is a great way to expose all your flaws. It is a great way to highlight your strengths. Through my trading and my research, I have uncovered weaknesses in my character. – Tom Hougaard¹

Day trading does not interest me because it is easy, but because it is hard. My intention going in would be to grow as a person. Profits would be nice, but secondary.

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

apply internal analysis
Spend a certain amount of trading time on analysing my emotional reactions
create trading records system
Implemented in emacs, it is well underway: script to create a trade, insert a chart screenshot
read Best loser wins¹
use short put strategy
Have been putting these trades on all week in paper. Going well so far.

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments are:

Focus challenge until December 19th
No buying sweets and such until the end of the year
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday (2x streak:sunglasses:)

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning or philosophy for a week (see project.)

Last one #

Last weeks challenge was: Don’t react. Create!

Despite seeing it multiple times per day, I did not use it. Only in retrospect I would “apply” this to my behavior. Because “what I want to create” needs to be translated in the moment, I could not apply this as an automatic rule³. Nice story, but doesn’t work (for me.)

Next one #

The next challenge is similar and easy to apply automatically³:
Keep the vibe up!

Halte Deinen Vibe oben. Reg Dich nicht auf, wenn Du die Emotionen runter marschierst. Wenn Du schlecht drauf wirst, ist es Deine oberste Pflicht, deinen Vibe zu reparieren, denn Du bist sonst eine wandelnde Dreckschleuder. – Alex Fischer⁴

English translation

Keep up the vibe. Don’t get upset, as you’re going down through the emotions. If you are in a sour mood, it is your chief priority to reapir your vibe. Otherwise you are a walking polluter.⁴

An example where I noticed this: During some code review I was pissed: “So much copy-pasted ChatGPT crap that I will have to clean up:angry:” I noticed my negative vibe, left the review and later the code looked mostly fine!

New articles #

Nothing to see here folks.

See you next week,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

Best Loser Wins - Tom Hougaard: A book about the mental attitudes required to be a successful trader. It’s the best book on the stock market I’ve engaged with so far. The author is a real one. He knows what he’s talking about, is genuine and he lives what teaches. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
From a talk by Tom Hougaard: The ideal trading mindset ↩︎
I mean the automatic application of a rule in the sense that there is a clear trigger in my head (if this then apply that). What is executed could be an automatic reaction (notice my water bottle is empty and I go to refill it, notice time-tracking is in the wrong category and I fix it) or a phrase that pops into my head (like I’m not present, I’m want to interrupt this person.) ↩︎ ↩︎
Quelle und Inspiration ↩︎ ↩︎

Focus challenge and Creating over Reacting

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:

Since the last newsletter I wasn’t unproductive. Two out of those three weeks I consumed very little media, did a lot of programming¹ and busied myself. I noticed two things:

While programming, I displayed some of the same obsessive tendencies that I dislike in consuming media (don’t want to stop even though I should, I do it instead of something else I promised to do, etc.) The behavior is similar. Only how I feel about the activity differs.
I worked on the wrong things. My efforts where spent on a wide array of topics. Whatever seemed relevant at the moment. Most of it was unimportant and almost none of it aligned with my current priority.

Last week, I started what I call a focus challenge, to address point number two. My subject in focus is developing a stock market strategy^:de: . This was my declared priority before, I just didn’t work on it.

Focus challenge definition

I commit to work on a topic (a subject) for a period of time. The leading principle is: Stay on-topic at all times. That means any task, project, action, media shall pertain to the selected topic. Anything off-topic is to be noted for later without receiving much attention.

Exceptions apply for established habits, outside work, chores, FFF, etc.

Some applications of this principle:

I hid all my off-topic projects.
I only listed to on-topic audiobooks and podcasts.
I only read on-topic books.
I only listened to instrumental music.
I did not process any off-topic notes in my note-taking system.
I did not make any online purchases.

For this past week the challenge has already worked really well!

What I’m working on #

For context, see /now.

I attended the first in a series of private lectures from Torsten Böttcher. He teaches the stock market strategy he has been successfully utilzing for some years.

Consequently I’m applying what I’ve learned (selling naked puts) in paper trading².

I’m also developing my own type of trading journal in emacs org-mode. As one great trader said:

The fruits of your success will be in direct ratio to the honesty and sincerity of your own effort in keeping your own records, doing your own thinking, and reaching your own conclusions. – Jesse Livermore

Commitments #

My ongoing commitments:

Focus challenge until December 19th
No buying sweets and such until the end of the year
Publishing this newsletter every Sunday, no matter what

I want to encourage you to call me out, if there is no Newsletter:smile:. Stakes³ will be added soon^:tm:.

Challenges #

Applying a specific learning/philosophy/trick for a week.

Last one #

The last challenge was: Applying data hierarchies

First up: I did not do any of the tasks I listed. I spent some time with each of them, but didn’t take them to completion. I will not do this kind of challenge in the future. It neither worked for me nor this newsletter.

Next one #

Don’t react. Create!

Instead of reacting automatically, I want to pause and choose to create something. A positive feeling, a relationship, an opportunity, a moment of presence. Anything I want to create.

The section that inspired this.

Quoting from Crazy Good, by Steve Chandler:

This guy needs to be taught a lesson

I receive a negative, nasty email.

Someone hates me. That’s my first thought.

So then I think revenge. How could I be hated? How can that be? My ego has to be protected from that, even though I know, deep down, that my ego is, as Ken Wilber says, kept in existence by a collection of emotional insults. Still. What would be a clever put-down? How can I humiliate this idiot and show him he should not be messing with me at this level, words against words?

This guy said he’d purchased one of my very first audio programs and it was awful. It was worse than awful. My voice was so slow and monotonous he couldn’t stand it.

“It made me want to kill myself,” he said.

Wow. That’s a heavy criticism.

So . . . How should I defend myself?

I start to compose a reply. I’ll tell him that only idiots want what he wants—some ranting and raving motivational type guy who spits spittle from a red face hyped with passion popping out of it. Some raving secular evangelist selling a speed-rap of monetized passion.

I’ll say my audio is for thoughtful people, so I speak slowly. I’ll tell him I put a lot of time into my words. I don’t want to insult the listener by sounding like I’m in a shouting contest. I’ll say if you need to be motivated by the tone of someone’s voice, by the urgency in their screeching throat, then you are in a self-induced coma. You are not an awakened human being. Stay away from me or I’ll have you locked up.

I back away from the keyboard before I send all that.

I see that I’m reacting.

I start to worry about how upset I’ve made myself and how it will impact the work I have to do. I am now considering cancelling some of my work today. Then my anger turns from hot to cold. I’ve worn myself out, mentally. I’ve descended from wired-up to just mildly unraveled. I am slumping in my chair. I re-read his words.

Then I realize I have a choice. I don’t have to react to this guy. I can do the opposite.

If only I can remember the opposite.

What is the opposite of reacting? Oh, right! Creating! I can create. Reacting and creating have the exact same letters in them. That helps me remember.

Deep breath. Okay. What do I want to create?

How about I create a relationship? Why not shoot for that? I could create a bond with him, maybe, based on my desire to serve people. Am I shooting for the moon with that? So what? President Kennedy got a lot of mileage out of shooting for the moon.

But we’re not off to a good start, this guy and me, I have to acknowledge that. Am I even sure he’s still alive? He said he felt like killing himself after listening to me.

I’m sure that was just an expression. Okay. I will see what I can create.

So I write back. I decide to be completely honest.

I say, “Dear Harmon,” (because his name is Harmon) “I hear you. In fact, I agree with you. My early recordings are just flat out bad. I think the current ones are getting better, but I could be fooling myself. I have to say I appreciate people like you who have the courage to reach out and tell me the truth. You are helping me get better. I am sorry for your negative experience and I want to make it up to you. If you send me your mailing address, I’ll send my two latest books to you. You can read those to yourself at your own chosen speed. Thanks for taking the time to communicate with me.”

This is my response to Harmon. A few days go by and I get an email from him: “Well, that was unexpected. I must say you take criticism pretty well. Was I too negative? I do like your books. Did I tell you that? I enjoy reading them.”

I send two books out to him. A relationship is being created. Created! In the old days I would have just gone with my first reaction.⁴

If you enjoyed this, I’m sure you will enjoy the rest of Crazy Good and some of Steve Chandlers other work.

New articles #

I have concluded/aborted my writing challenge and rounded off the article accordingly.

I also played around with the format of this newsletter. Like this, it was more fun for me to write and (hopefully for you to read:slightly_smiling_face:.)

All the best,
Jonathan

PS: Please let me know if you have any comments, feedback or criticism.

I had an intense day implementing ES based search for my note-taking system. Besides that I worked on my Emacs setup, getting it to the point where I can do more tasks from inside of it. ↩︎
Paper trading means I’m using the same software, but am not using real money. ↩︎
I’m thinking of something like a Wikipedia pact or Beeminder. ↩︎
Crazy Good - Steve Chandler Pages 37-39 ↩︎

Applying data hierarchies

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
I’m still getting used to dark November mornings and the sun going down so early here in Germany. It felt like the change happened so quickly. Maybe I just was not paying attention before or it was the return to winter time. Either way, it caught me a bit off-guard.

Onto the newsletter though!

Next challenge #

Not all information is equally important. There are, for example, pieces of data that are trivial and those that you would be totally lost without. Thus there is a hierarchy. One attribute of the data hierarchy is, that everything on the bottom can be derived and deducted from the 1-2 top categories.¹

Some of this seems obvious, but the implication is profound: I should spend (much) more time with the information at the top of the hierarchy and reduce how much I engage with that at the bottom. Especially when learning something new.

For my challenge to apply data hierarchies, over the next two weeks I will:

extract and grasp the principles of a field (trading and/or investing)
create at least one essay about a principle
come up and implement ways to spend less time with the two categories at the bottom of the hierarchy

Review of the last challenge #

Last weeks challenge was: Being present

To illustrate this concept of data hierarchies for the next challenge, I took last weeks actions and ordered them by importance.

Being present hierarchy #

1. Principles

There is only the now.
An empty mind is most effective.
(and more)

2. Superior laws and definitions

Curiosity is the desire to know.

3. Guidelines and realm-specific laws

Derived from There is only the now:

Make decisions at the time when you can do something about them.
Schedule less.
Affirm the importance of being present.

Derived from An empty mind is most effective:

Get recurring thoughts out of my head.
Don’t multi-task.
Don’t act on every idea that pops into my head.

4. Detail-uses

Do this, then that:

Being curious about my surroundings always puts me in the present.
Listening to the audiobook of The Power of Now reliably puts me into the present moment.
To stay present in everyday life, it helps to be deeply rooted with-in yourself.
Keep my phone in the hall, instead of next to my bed.

5. Trivial

…

Conclusions #

In the creation of this hierarchy, I realized that with last week list I 1.) didn’t even mention the core principles and 2.) didn’t differentiate between more and less important actions. Those two points have an impact on the ease of applying and understanding it.

And it showed. In my practice of last weeks challenge, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information (too many different actions to take and things to watch out for.) I ended up mostly focusing on the core principles, which I had already internalized, instead of the list of actions.

The action steps that I did apply, were the those that could formulated into a rule and “automated” (i.e. applied without continuous effort.)

Examples

“Keep my phone in the hall, instead of next to my bed."
Configured. Done.
“Block time from multi-tasking."
Configure to not use my computer while eating. Done.
“If want to be more present -> listen to audiobook of The Power of Now”
Understood.
“Get recurring thoughts out of my head."
Carry a small notebook with me to jot down thoughts.
“Affirm the importance of being present."
Add to my philosophy. Done.

Overall, I did reorient myself toward being present, which is a quality of life improvement to me.

New articles #

I completely redid my now page. The new site is made up of the activities I do regularly and should give the reader a better picture of what my life looks like right now.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Primary source^:de: . It’s best read in the context of one of the booklets (it’s right at the start of it.) ↩︎

Strengthening my focus on the present

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
this edition of the newsletter is a bit late. That is due to sickness last week and a failure to write on my end week prior. When this happens, I usually just keep doing the current challenge (if I’m able to.)

Review of the last challenge #

The last challenge was: Generating 10 ideas every day.

This was a great challenge. Easy to do, flexible, provides useful output and trains a valuable skill.

A valuable skill? Ideas are the currency of the 21st century¹.

I found that I make new connections. For example: How an underused concept like accountability could apply to solve a problem I’m facing.

I found the principle of ‘There are no stupid ideas.’ useful to generate ideas. It lets the ideas flow out, without questioning each one too much. Beyond the stupid ideas (there were plenty of those), lay better ones.

For some lists it felt like going to failure lifting at the gym. I had to exert myself to get to that 10th idea. You learn, though, that you can always come up with 10 ideas:slightly_smiling_face:

The output is useful, because I can generate a list of solutions to a problem I’m facing, a list of questions I can ask somebody I will meet, etc. Whatever might be relevant in your life, you can generate some ideas for.

I highly recommend you to try this one. ‘10 idea lists to write’ is a good first list to write:wink:

Next challenge #

I had noticed a marked absence of presence, these last few days. So, this week, I will focus on being present. That is: my attention is in the moment, I’m not thinking about the past or planning for the future.

Some might say, this challenge sounds familiar. Yes, but these challenges don’t always have to be original. Their purpose is to make me focus on some area of my life that I want to improve. If I feel the need to “repeat”² a challenge (like presence or no media), then maybe there is a lesson there that I haven’t learned yet. Maybe the last challenge was not enough to thoroughly integrate it into my life. Or maybe just I half-assed the last challenge:slightly_smiling_face:

For the why: I am a better person, when I’m present. My work output is improved, I am more capable of listening to others and I just feel better.

This is what I will do, to be present more of the time (generated as ‘10 ideas to be more present’:smiley:):

Block time from multi-tasking. Just be present while walking, driving, eating or doing chores. Don’t add another thing.
Be curious about my surroundings. Observe what is there. This always puts me in the present.
Maintain body awareness.
Affirm the importance of being present. I will reinstate listening to my philosophy while making breakfast. That is, a recording that lists the attitudes that I hold and want to emphasize. This does not count as multi-tasking, because it doesn’t require my attention: low volume and repetitive.
Schedule less. If I stuffed my whole day full of tasks, I constantly think about the future (what I will do.)
Keep my phone in the hall, instead of next to my bed. This avoids that I do something on my phone at night or read my emails in the morning.
Get recurring thoughts out of my head. Ideas and tasks for later go into my note-taking system, thoughts and tasks for the day onto my notepad.
Don’t act on every idea that pops into my head. I don’t have to look that up right now.
I will make decisions in the moment, when I can actually do something about them. Instead of planning ahead so much.
Listening to the audiobook of The Power of Now reliably puts me into the present moment. I will use that, if I otherwise have a hard time to get into that state.

In closing, a quote:

English translation

If you stand in front of a door waiting, you are standing in front of a door waiting.

If you are bickering with your wife, you are bickering with your wife.

That is mindfulness.

If you using the time while you are waiting in front of the door to also bicker with your wife in your thoughts – that isn't mindfulness.

That's just plain stupid.
– Karsten Dusse, Achtsam morden (Murdering mindfully)

Wenn Sie vor einer Tür stehen und warten, stehen Sie vor einer Tür und warten.

Wenn Sie sich mit Ihrer Frau streiten, streiten Sie sich mit Ihrer Frau.

Das ist Achtsamkeit.

Wenn Sie vor einer Tür stehen und warten und die Wartezeit dazu nutzen, sich in Gedanken zusätzlich noch mit Ihrer Frau zu streiten – dann ist das nicht Achtsamkeit.

Dann ist das einfach nur blöde.
– Karsten Dusse, Achtsam morden

On previous challenges #

I had decided to do two weeks no media every two months. The first of these recurring media detoxes is now underway. It came at a good time too.

New articles #

I digitized my papers^:de: and a project report on it.

Cheers,
Jonathan

James Altucher in Choose Yourself and The Choose Yourself Guide to Wealth. Christof Niederwieser said this about the coming air period: Daten, Informationen und Ideen sind das neue Gold. ↩︎
A repetition is never really the same, since I, the person doing the challenge, is much different to the last time. ↩︎

Becoming an idea machine

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
this newsletter now has a logo (see top left) and a name:
A Winding Path of Progress.
I was super motivated last week. Like I had not been in a long time. Did some (long) overdue chores and get a start on some new projects.

Review of the last challenge #

Last week’s challenge was: 4x4 + Visualizations

I think about my goals rarely and only bring them to the forefront of my mind when there is a noticeable absence of direction. That was the baseline, with which I went into this challenge.

4x4 #

What? #

Write down four goals. Then write them down again, until you have done four cycles.

Why? #

I have noted these benefits:

My work is more focused toward my goals, as I regularly engage with them.
Clarity. When I started, it was hard for me to answer “What are my goals?” I sort of knew, but they weren’t clear. In writing about the goals, I would look at them from different perspectives and distill them down to their essence. Through that I acquired clarity about them.
The process is calming. Given the repetition of writing about the same things.
It updates the goals in my mind. Goals subtly change over time, as I change. New information effects the why, what and how. Priorities shift ever so slightly. This practice brings the goals up-to-date.

I had a similar practice in the past, where I observed similar positive effects.

How? #

I picked the goals that are the most important or were on my mind. From day to day I switched most of them up. The stock market strategy^:de: came up every day though.

As far as tips go, I can say that I often used the grammatical sense that conveys future achievement. As if I had already completed my goal:

I will have developed …
:de: Ich werde … entwickelt haben.

These questions I found helpful in looking at my goals from different perspectives:

What does this mean?
What changes as a result (in your life)?
Why do I want this?
What exactly do I want to accomplish?

Visualization #

Through NLP, I was used to get myself into a deeply relaxed state (Milton hypnotic patterns) and play a scene in my mind. The Neurostream “Die Zukunft schauen” made it easier, but was optional.

I felt these visualizations weren’t so useful, since I was already very convinced I would achieve the goals I was visualizing. Preaching to the choir. I will keep it in mind, as a tool in my arsenal, if I have a goal where I need a little more persuasion.

Issues #

The biggest issue was, that this practice is pretty time-consuming. I averaged 27 mins for the 4x4 and 11 mins for the visualizations. With repetition the 4x4 got longer, not shorter. Because the 4x4 also is not the easiest thing to do, I noticed myself procrastinating it.

In it’s current form the practice is not sustainable for me. Even if it becomes (more) automatic with time, it’s still a huge chunk of time. I know myself well enough, to know that I would drop it, if the times are tough. It’s not easy (like write a paragraph) nor powerful enough (like walking every day.)

Future application #

I got the sense that this practice is something that would have to be tested over a span of three months, to be able to judge it fairly. The value really kicks in, when you would have otherwise lost track of your goals, but the practice keep you focused. I will continue to do an adjusted form of the 4x4, by only looking at two goals. A 2x4 if you will. I will report any results.

On previous challenges #

I am retaining the spirit of no media, eventhough I have relaxed the rules a bit. Also, I have decided to do the extreme two-week version of the challenge every two months. As a reset and preventive measure. With time, I have the tendency to lower my guard and slip back into behaviors that don’t serve me.

For my sun salutations in the morning, my yoga mat now greets me every day in my office. Making sure I don’t forget.

I did the No Complaining challenge last year. I was struggling back then and eventually moved on. Now, I picked it up again, because my wife was doing something similar. It just seemed natural. On the first day I noticed that I was complaining. But nothing since. Makes me appreciate how far I’ve come.

Next challenge #

I will write down 10 ideas every day. On a whim, I had already started doing this last week. I had wanted to come up with a name for this newsletter and proceeded to generate 70 ideas over the course of the week. Surprising how much you can come up with if you just sit down and focus on it.

The point of this daily practice is to exercise your idea muscle, as James Altucher calls it. It is not about the ideas themselves, but increasing your capacity to generate them.

I’ve always thought of myself as being good at coming up with optimizations within the box, but having a hard time thinking outside of the box. This practice might serve as a way to collect evidence to the contrary.

New articles #

This week I wrote:

What I understand NLP to be: What is NLP?
A project report on how I named this newsletter.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Newsletter #6: 4x4 and Visualizations

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
I had been wandering aimlessly, without a clear goal for some time now. This week I finally sat down to figure out what I want to focus on next. What my next big project would be. I wrote project post^:de: about it.

Review of the last challenge #

Last week’s challenge was: Doing some sun salutations after waking up

I did them every morning. Not always right after waking up, but after getting out of bed. I put my clothes on my yoga mat, so I wouldn’t forget (it’s called habit stacking¹.) My body was very stiff when I started, on those day where I did the exercise right after waking up and noticably warmed up afterwards. Over the week I even saw some progression in my ability to stretch, but this was most likely just a return to a previous form. I did 10.5 mins of stretching on average (post on how I track my time is to follow.) I will keep this up, as I want to add more exercise to my life anyway.

Next challenge #

For next week, I want to prime myself and increase the focus on my the goal I created for myself. The technique I will use is: 4x4 + Visualizations

4x4 means writing down four times my four greatest goals (of this or the next years, or any subgoals).
For visualizations I’ll start with this script:

Take one of the 4x4 goals. Close your eyes. Relax and get myself into trance. Breath deeply 10 times. Float into the situation, in which you have accomplished your goal. Really go into the situation and turn up the submodalities (an NLP technique.) All while listening to the approriate Neurostream (Die Zukunft schauen.)

I have a few more optimizations to play around with, but this will be plenty to start. I will try before and after breakfast. Before is probably better.

New articles #

Description of the stock market strategy project^:de:

Cheers,
Jonathan

By doing a new habit right after or before an existing one, you can hook onto the working habit. It makes it much easier to adopt something new. Reference: Atomic Habits. ↩︎

Newsletter #5: No media conclusions

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
let’s get straight into the…

Review of the last challenge #

Last week’s challenge was: No audio-visual media

The challenge went well and I feel much better because of it. I will keep it up indefinitely, making exceptions where I’m positively drawn to something, e.g. an on-topic audiobook during a long drive, Tolle to become more present, a new chapter of a manga when I feel like it.

Some new and re-enforced learnings:

On the first day, I didn’t start the challenge in earnest, eventhough I had already decided that I would do it, because I hadn’t sent out the newsletter annoucing it yet. Without the commitment I lacked resolve.
Boredom quickly overcame me. I soon found other things to do: stuff that came up urgently, tasks that I had been postponing, ideas that just popped into my head. I like the boredom much better than the automatic busyness of being so drawn to consume.
I got more intrinsic motivation to write and more satisfaction from the process. I didn’t feel constantly pulled toward some easier way to get a dopamine kick.
Consuming media is not relaxing. If what I need is a break, media consumption is not a suitable alternative. It’s stressful for the brain, giving it a lot to process. This quote describes it beautifully:

This new technology paralyzed us into atonia — we became an awake brain locked in a motionless body [..]¹
I had three instances of long (5h+) media binges. One reading the complete run of a manga and the other two on reddit. These interfered with my sleep and I felt like I couldn’t stop. Not great. Reddit is getting banned (that scrolling is pointless.) For the manga, complete abstinence doesn’t seem like the way. I don’t have all of the answers (yet) for the best approach to handling this whole topic of media consumption. More experimentation will be necessary.

Next challenge #

This week I’ll do some sun salutations (a simple yoga sequence) as the first thing after getting out of bed. This will help structure my morning. And I wanted to introduce more stretching/exercise to my life anyway, with this being an easy start since I already know the sequence by heart.

New articles #

If you don’t have time, you don’t have priorities.
How do I use AI in creating this website?

Cheers,
Jonathan

Source: Exit the supersensorium ↩︎

Newsletter #4: No audio-visual media challenge

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
my YouTube ‘addiction’ kicked in hard again. (It’s more than just YouTube.) It ate up a lot of time and drew my focus away from what was important.

Unlike the last time this happened, I didn’t dig myself into a deep hole. I got my job done on time, held up most established practices, kept up relationships and did some reading and productive work. Being so drawn to consuming media takes up a lot of my focus and time. So naturally, I have to get rid of this habit again.

Next challenge #

And the way I got rid of that ‘addiction’ successfully in the past was through this No audio-visual media challenge. It’s my spin on the “dopamine detox” concept.

Like the name says, it prohibits me from consuming media that falls under the audio-visual umbrella. Purely audio counts all the same.

Especially (but not limited to):

No YouTube
No documentaries
No comedy specials
No audiobooks
No podcasts, including educational
No manga
No porn
No movies, series (weren’t allowed before either)

Explicitly allowed are only music and any course material I’m actively studying (e.g. a language course.)

This procedure will stop me from passively consuming and make me bored again. And boredom, in turn, sparks my interest for projects, reading, writing, chores, etc.

I will run this for at least two weeks (starting Sep10.)

Review of the last challenge #

The last challenge was: Wearing formal clothes for improved performance

When I put on my formal clothes, it felt helpful. I was focused and did my work. Adverse behaviors only happened when I didn’t have them on. The caveat: I didn’t put them on a lot.

Putting on the clothes acted like a commitment. I knew that, if I put them on, I would commit myself to focus on the task at hand, and I did. But nothing happened when I didn’t put them on. When I didn’t want to commit. These clothes can enhance my focus, but only if I am willing to commit to it. They are useful. But it’s not exactly what I need right now. I will keep this in mind for future application, though.

New articles #

I wrote down some thoughts on a documentary showing Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine from a civilian perspective.

As usual: I got more in the pipeline that didn’t get finished in time :smile:.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Newsletter #3: Effects of formal clothing

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi :slightly_smiling_face:,
at the start of the week I was already fully recovered from being sick. Despite that, I took it too chill. Even though I got stuff done this week, my mindset was one of “let’s not take on too much.”

I had an idea for a great new project, but I’ve was hesitant to start it. The work of post-processing my notes for the NLP seminar, doing my taxes, writing this newsletter, etc. and the burden of daily life already seemed like a lot.

But it’s not a lot. My plate is actually quite empty right now. The NLP notes are not that big of a project, I did a lot of prep for my taxes already and the newsletter takes 1.5h. The amount of work is not the problem.

My mindset is. This thought of “it’s a lot” makes me less energetic in my approach. Everything feels like heavy a burden and thus is harder. As a result the belief that I can barely handle stuff and that I need more relaxation is reinforced. I keep thinking that I can’t do anymore and should do less, and the downward spiral continues.

As this reflection should tell you: I’m better already and will that new project next week.

Review of last challenge #

Last week’s challenge was: Improve presence in daily life

I certainly wasn’t easy to always keep a part of my consciousness on the inner body (Tolles term, not the same as your physical, outer body) and not be completely sucked into the activity. Succeeding in retaining awareness added a different quality to the activity though. I was less reactive and distracted, focused more on what’s important.

I also caught myself a lot being unaware, which is a moment of awareness in itself. As a result of this challenge, I was present for a greater percentage of my time and that was quite enjoyable.

I will keep doing it. After reading the Power of Now again, I wanted to integrate more presence into my life, while at the same time keeping up the work on my projects that I so enjoy. This technique seems like a good fit over the “dedicate your full focus” approach that was advocated up to this point in the book. That also has it’s place also but doesn’t pair as well with working.

To read more, check out Chapter 6 of The Power of Now.

Next challenge #

Wear formal clothing while working to promote abstract thinking.

Wearing more formal clothing is associated with higher action identification level¹, greater category inclusiveness² and an enhanced global processing advantage³.⁴ These different metrics are indicators for abstract thinking.

I want to test if it makes a difference for me to wear dress shirt, dress pants and sports coat in the home office. I will only wear them while working, as to associate the clothing with concentration. As they are less comfortable than t-shirt and shorts, so slacking off on the couch should also decrease.

New articles #

Review of open ear headphones: why they have become my most used headphones

A “higher action identification level” refers to describing actions in more abstract, high-level terms rather than concrete, low-level terms. ↩︎
Greater category inclusiveness is associated with more abstract, broader thinking. ↩︎
A global processing advantage" refers to an increased tendency to focus on the overall, big-picture aspects of visual information rather than its individual details. ↩︎
Paper (DOI: 10.1177/1948550615579462) ↩︎

Newsletter #2: Presence in Daily Life

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi, the last 3 weeks I had an NLP seminar which required my full focus, followed by a virus infection to ensure that I got my rest after the seminar :slightly_smiling_face:

Review of last challenge #

Last week’s challenge definition

I better understood hypnotic language patterns of the Milton model through their application. Applying them to my thoughts positively influenced my self-talk. But it also required a lot of conscious effort. I’ll keep using it as a tool to bring about a desired state.

Remembering the names of other participants went well for the times it was necessary (usually we had name tags.) By concentrating on retaining the name I could remember pretty well. Much better than in the past.

In Teaching Excellence Richard Bandler describes an optimized NLP strategy for remembering names. I’ll adopt that at some point in the future when I know there will be many new names for me to remember.

Next challenge #

I’ve been getting in Eckart Tolles “The Power of Now” again. At the beginning of chapter 5 he writes:

To stay present in everyday life, it helps to be deeply rooted with-in yourself; otherwise, the mind, which has incredible momentum, will drag you along like a wild river. [To be rooted within yourself] means to inhabit your body fully. To always have some of your attention in the inner energy field of your body. To feel the body from within, so to speak. Body awareness keeps you present. It anchors you in the Now.

I interpret it like this: if I want to identify with the mind, I should completely hand over my awareness to it, but focus a part of my attention on my body. I take a spot in my body that I will consciously feel to stay anchored in the present moment, while doing “mind work.”

New articles #

I wrote some, but finished none.

Step by step I will work through the contents of the NLP seminar and create a series of articles out of them.

Newsletter #1: Thoughts on the Hemingway trick

web@jneidel.com (Jonathan Neidel) — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hi, this is the first edition of my weekly newsletter. I’m sure the format will evolve over time.

Last challenge #

Last weeks challenge was, for a second time, to apply the Hemingway trick. Here the quick version of it:

The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day when you are writing a novel, you will never be stuck – Ernest Hemingway

I have already put down some more detailed thoughts that I will turn into an essay. Just to say this: it works and it’s not as easy if you are not writing a novel but are working on many different things.

Next challenge #

From the upcoming Saturday on I’ll be attending a week-long NLP Practitioner seminar. I have been preparing by studying the provided theory.

For next weeks challenge I want to learn the different hypnotic language patterns of the Milton model and apply them to my self-talk.

Then on Sat and Sun, the start of the seminar, I want to focus on remembering peoples names. If somebody introduces themselves, I want to be able to remember their name. I’ve struggled with that in the past (I know it’s hard for everyone), but I want to make an effort.

New articles #

I produced two german articles this week, which cover somewhat Germany-specific topics. I doubt I will translate them.