You are fighting a battle against yourself, in which you are the enemy.

The more you struggle and criticize yourself, the more defeated you will feel.

Instead of fighting your ego, you should make peace with it.

Your ego functions as a compass, guiding you through life.

It indicates when you need to change course and when you deserve better.

To find your true path, you must learn to listen to your ego constructively.

Recognize when it is speaking the truth and when it is motivated by fear or self-doubt.

When you learn to be kind and understanding to yourself, you create a positive feedback loop that fuels your inner motivation and drive.

Making peace with yourself entails taking a new perspective that focuses on your stronger sides.

You can conquer the world with confidence and inner strength if you approach yourself more positively rather than getting in a conflict with yourself.

You're facing resistance to change because you're forcing it.

Instead, try to leverage what you're good at and focus on that.

Other shortcomings will fix themselves when you increase your competence and sharpness.

You're not starting from scratch.

I am convinced that each and every person has specific abilities and attributes that make them special.

Find yours and use it to get you to your goals and what you desire.

Become special in your own mind and you'll be able to achieve what you thought was impossible.

Internal beliefs shape our behavior more than you would think.

Make peace with yourself so you can go to war together.

I've come to the conclusion that what is easy is not worth it.

What takes time, effort, persistence and sometimes part of your sanity is what is worth it.

Because the process is what's worth it.

Not the end results.

It's the pain and the growth that comes from it.

It's the struggles, the successes, the wins, the losses and all that comes with it that makes life worth it.

It's the discomfort that creates memories.

It's the hard work that makes the results worth enjoying.

If you are anything like me, you don't want to feel less than yourself.

If you are anything like me, you know that life has more to offer than the easy way out.

They say fall in love with the process, and I hate this saying.

You have to hate and love it.

You have to enjoy and suffer for it.

Life is a balance.

What comes with no effort has no taste.

For anything you want to get, you need to make sacrifices.

There is always a price to pay.

And when you take the shortcuts, it's your soul and personal satisfaction that you pay with.

Do not seek the easy way.

Enjoy the hardships. Look forward to struggles.

Put in the work, and reap what you sow.

A harsh message on this Monday morning, but I wouldn't want you to get sloppy right on the first day of the week.

Go and own it.

Learn when to shut up and when to speak.

There is nothing more crucial than this.

You have to be aware of the power dynamics, you have to have a high level of situational awareness.

You need to be aware of everything that is going on around you.

Not out of curiosity, but out of a necessity of being aware of your surroundings.

This will save you a lot of trouble and open doors of opportunities to you.

Controlling silence is important.

Everybody knows that.

But what most won't tell you is that knowing when to speak and make your point heard is equally important.

Silence wouldn't exist if noise didn't.

So as much as you need to control silence, you also need to learn how to control noise.

Both are tools to use in your favor.

Being too silent might relegate you to a secondary role in your own life.
Being too noisy might hinder you from getting what you want.

You need to know how to use both.

You need to be a master of silence and a master if speech.

I've said this before and I'll say it again:

Everything in life is about balance.

Someone asked me to write about cognitive biases.

So I'm sharing this Social Skills University article with you.

I'm sure you'll learn a thing or two from it.

I truly believe that everything comes down to how strong of a self-image you have.

How solid is the idea that you hold of yourself?

How high are the standards you hold yourself to?

How loyal to your own values and code are you?

No matter what you do, whether you're an entrepreneur, an employee or even unemployed, the only thing that matters is this internal image you have of yourself.

Because that's what allows for change, and that's what allows growth.

If I think of myself as a loser, then I have no reason to protect and fight for myself.

You see, everything in life depends on one thing:

"Do you think you deserve everything you want?"

If the answer isn't a categorical YES, you have work to do.

You have to make peace with yourself.

Strengthen your mind so that you have the tools to face and conquer the outside world.

Your internal self-image, or Ego as it should be called, defines your level of self-approval and certainty.

If you have a solid ego, you do not doubt yourself.

If you have a solid ego, you know your worth.

If you have a solid ego, you have something to put boundaries around.

Without those, you're at the mercy of other people who will use you to satisfy their own self-interest.

This a necessity and not a luxury.

Understand this:

"Self-esteem is not a luxury; it is a profound spiritual need."

That's what all life is about.

A spiritual quest. A journey where you learn to live with yourself.

Learn to appreciate yourself. Enjoy yourself.

In Africa, there is a famous proverb that says:

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

But here's the thing: you won't always be able to make everyone your ally, and some people may even become your enemy if you're not careful.

One way to make allies is through politeness and compliments. These small acts of kindness can go a long way in building positive relationships with others.

As Dale Carnegie once said, "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."

Think about it: if someone compliments you or treats you with kindness and respect, you're more likely to view them favorably and want to build a positive relationship with them. The same is true in reverse: if you are kind and polite to others, they will be more likely to view you favorably and want to build a positive relationship with you.

But here's the catch: you don't want to be nice or polite just because you have nothing else to offer. Being genuinely kind and respectful should come from a place of sincerity and authenticity. People can often tell when you're being insincere, and that can backfire and make them view you negatively.

So how can you cultivate a sense of authenticity in your interactions with others?

It's as simple as starting by focusing on your behavior.

Are you treating others with respect and decency, even when you disagree with them?

Are you radiating a benevolent energy that makes others feel comfortable and valued?

Answering these questions objectively can help you build genuine connections with others, even if you don't always agree with them.

Of course, making allies should never come at the cost of your well-being or values.

You should never compromise your integrity or sense of self just to make others like you.

I know.

It's a fine line to walk.

But there is no other way, that's how humans work.

It is a work of constantly balancing your self-interest and the interests of the people around you. Because the lone wolf is a myth and being too agreeable is self-destructive. So choosing one over the other will always lead to negative outcomes.

Instead, you could solidify your sense of self and boundaries and then approach social situations with more authenticity and genuineness.

Be a hand of steel in a velvet glove.

Nice and soft until someone tries to force it.

This is exactly what we teach at Social Skills University.

The ability to be an independent critical thinker while being able to negotiate and navigate the different social settings you'll find yourself in.

The ability to make genuine allies and friends that will have your back while knowing how to deal with malicious and manipulative people.

And it's only 15$/mo.

Join here.

Being called delusional is often a sign of great potential and brilliance.

Many historical figures who achieved great success were initially viewed as delusional by others because they had ideas and visions that were beyond the understanding of their contemporaries.

When Thomas Edison was trying to invent the light bulb, people called him "crazy" and "delusional." But he persisted, saying, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Eventually, he invented the light bulb and changed the world.

The Wright brothers were ridiculed for their idea of human flight. But they persevered and ultimately achieved their dream. As Orville Wright said, "If we worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true really is true, then there would be little hope for advance."

Trust your own judgment and vision.

Most innovative and successful people have often faced resistance and criticism before ultimately achieving their goals.

This resistance can come from various sources, including peers, family members, and even complete strangers.

None of them can see the vision you have in your mind.

Ignore those who do not understand or appreciate your ideas, as long as you are confident in your own vision and understand what you are doing.

If you are willing to stick to your ideas and work towards your goals despite opposition and resistance, you are more likely to succeed in the end.

"All great men are misunderstood."

It takes courage and determination to overcome criticism and achieve greatness. So, ignore the naysayers, stay focused on your vision, and keep pushing forward.

Didn't make a thread in a while so there you go!

If you want to convince someone, you have to focus on their self-interest.

Most people are driven by "what's in it for them".

Everyone will tell you that if you can make that clear right from the start, then you've put your foot in the door.

I think that's wrong in most cases.

Because figuring out what you can give them in exchange of what you want is a leverage you have.

Showing your hand right from the start is a mistake.

Any time you'll try to convince someone of something or try to negotiate with them, you should expect resistance.

Very few people are willing to compromise right from the get go.

And if you feel like the person in front does not want to meet you halfway, then it's often better to start with a ridiculous demand.

Then bargain back to what you actually want by introducing what you're really ready to offer them at a later stage.

It should come in as an element of surprise and a sign of your willingness to concede a little bit on your demands.

This makes the person in front feel that you're taking a step towards them.

But if you did that right from the beginning, they'd ask to get more and give you less.

How you frame the discussion is of paramount importance. You cannot afford to always seek the satisfaction of everyone.

With many people, coming in good faith will be detrimental to you.

Know who you're dealing with so you know how to deal with them.

Most people are unhappy because they chase the abstract concept of happiness instead of the inner satisfaction of fulfillment.

Don't just focus on being happy.

Focus on getting shit done and taking on challenges one after the other.

Look forward to adversity and challenges.

The satisfaction you feel when you meet your goals is the easiest way to get "happy", and setting rewarding goals will make this even better.

The best part?

It's not temporary. It's permanent.

Your ability to achieve your goals and challenge yourself grows and solidifies your sense of self.

One way to experience happiness through hard work is to achieve 'flow', where you lose track of everything and immerse yourself in something you love doing.

But it's not just about being "happy".

Seeking challenges keeps your brain active and learning, which becomes increasingly important as you'll get older.

It takes practice, repetition, and persistence to bed in new thinking, so be prepared to put in the effort required to create a new brain map in the motor cortex.

Through consistent challenge and stimuli, you will gradually build new neural pathways in your brain, which will become stronger and more efficient with practice.

If you want to find happiness:

Never stop challenging yourself.

Set your goals (short, mid, and long term), set an action plan for each then follow it relentlessly.

You will not find happiness by chance.

In fact, you will not find happiness.

You will have to create it.

And it starts within.

Seek self-fulfillment through growth and happiness will become your default state.

If you don't know where to start, enroll in The White Pill Program.

The Program usually costs 97$, but it's free for all Social Skills University members.

Thread time:

https://twitter.com/EgoDriv/status/1636701702756749312

In the next 5 minutes, you'll know exactly what you should do to replace your negative habits with more positive ones and reinforce them.

No matter what angle you chose to look at how you can optimize and improve your life, you will circle back to the fact that everything depends on your habits and default actions.

I mean that you, as a human, are inevitably conditioned to behave and think in specific ways.

So am I, and so is everyone else.

And that's nobody's fault, just the way we are.

Nor is it the end of the world; because it can be changed.

It can be changed by taking control of said habits, identifying them, replacing them then reinforcing the new practices to make sure they last and you don't relapse to your old ways.

Now, to do that, you'll need to follow 2 crucial steps..

So let me break that down for you.

Step 1: Get to the Root Cause

You can identify the bad habit quite easily if you're being honest with yourself.

Habits are:

Subconscious, as if it was almost an automated action or thought.

A reaction to a trigger.

And that second point is what matters most here.

Because identifying subconscious habits you have might not be challenging, but it is useless to only contemplate them.

And if you can't identify what trigger that behavior, then you can't change it.

So it's of paramount importance that you put the finger on what actually triggers those negative habits.

Listing down negative habits and writing them on a piece of paper might help keep a closer tab on them and remember them better.

Step 2: Reinforcing Good Habits

You and I both know:

The challenge is not in doing the above, it's in continuing to do it consistently.

As with anything else you want to learn and adapt, you will need consistent repetition for this new habit to truly become a default action and replace your old one.

This is why you need to approach it with a willingness to change.

But that's not enough.

Because that is intangible.

What you can do, however, is help yourself and proactively give prevent yourself from relapsing.

You're blessed to be living in an era of technology.

You can set basic reminders that keep you on track.

You'll see those as messages from your past self, and you won't want to disappoint.

One last thing that you can start doing is reframing that habit as something of the past.

As many people know, I've struggled with severe drug addiction for years.

And one of the things that helped me quit was telling myself that I already quit when I was trying to.

So "I take drugs" became "I used to take drugs", even though I had not completely quit at the time.

Talking and thinking about it in the past helped me put a distance between who I wanted to become and who I was.

And framing it this way made it easier for me to move on.

You too can use this to get over any bad habit you want and create structure in your life.

It works for everything.

You too can use this to get over any bad habit you want and create structure in your life.

This framework is the simplest and easiest way to reprogram yourself into the person you want to become.

Apply this to every negative habit you have and get rid of them.

One by one.

If you'd like a more comprehensive and detailed approach, with daily instructions and clear templates to fill; enroll in the White Pill Program.

Thread time:

https://twitter.com/EgoDriv/status/1638906665365032962

Why would you care about those who talk shit about you?

Those who believe them are no better than them.

Cut out both.

Anyone who has time to gossip about you has nothing worthy going on in their life.

Again:

Why would you care about the opinion of such people?

Why would it take a toll on you?

Why would it affect you at all?

Don't direct any energy or thought towards them.

Let them rot in their mediocrity.

All they can do is criticize what they can't be.

Ignore.

Pave you way.

Your future self is waiting for you.

Cleans Hands, Clean Mind
Dirty Hands, Dirty Mind

This is a lesson about how being clean influences your moral choices and how you can use this to convince people.

We often use the idea of being clean as a way to talk about being good and moral. For example, we might say that someone who lives a good life is living a "clean life."

Some researchers wanted to see if thinking about cleanliness could actually make people more moral. They asked some students to clean their hands with a special towel and then asked everyone to rate how moral they thought different social issues were. The students who had cleaned their hands actually rated the issues as less moral than the students who hadn't cleaned their hands. This means that thinking about cleanliness might make people more likely to be moral, while thinking about dirtiness might make people less moral.

So if you want to encourage someone to make a good, moral decision, you have to make them clean. And if you want to discourage someone from making a moral decision, you want to make them feel dirty.

If you want someone to feel clean and good, you can ask them to wash their hands, make the place clean and neat, and use words that mean "clean living" or "pure intentions".

But if you want someone to feel dirty and not so good, you can show them a messy place, have them touch something dirty, and use words like "stained reputation" or "dirty secrets".

This sets up the tone and will influence their moral judgment depending on where you're leading them.

Make good use of this.

HOW TO THINK !

But when you think, you act immediately.

The purpose of all thought is to find solutions.

You completely decide where you stand mentally.

Mental fortitude comes down to one thing:

What the fuck is going on between your ears?

What are you saying to yourself that nobody else is listening to.

This is not about repeating affirmations brainlessly.

This is about thinking intentionally.

Living purposefully.

Your subconscious is powerful.

But if you let it lead the dance, you'll find yourself down bad very soon.

Your subconscious doesn't think, it just reacts.

If you don't learn to think:

You are never going to make it.

The difference between those who make it and those who don't, is that those who make it take full responsibility for every action they make.

Because every action they make is thoughtful and well processed.

They act.

They don't react.

They shape the world.

They're not shaped by the world.

Know where you fucking stand.

Fix your mind and you'll fix the whole world.

You are a conscious being.

Act like it.

It all comes down to your mental frames.

How do you think?

How do you approach things you encounter?

How do you perceive the world around you and the people in it?

If you tend to have a negative lens, you condition yourself to feel more negative feelings.

That's why they say that how you see the world says more about you than it says about the world.

Understand this:

Your brain understands the world by associating elements together and making connections.

Just think about instincts:

Food + Hunger = No Hunger

Or think about how language is learned:

A + N + D make the word AND.

With a better understanding of how your mind functions, you can take control over it by supervising the way it perceives everything.

If you see something as a "chore", you will do it with against your will and it will drain your energy.

If you see the same thing as a "necessity", your whole approach to it becomes different.

Because "Chore" has negative connotations to it, it implies that you're forced to do it.

While "Necessity" also implies that it's non-negotiable, it also implies that there are long term consequences to it.

This is a very slight change but it bears consequences on your life experience and how much you actually enjoy what you're doing.

A good rule of thumb is to always phrase things as if they were part of a grand plan you have.

Your duties are no longer boxes to check but new bricks added on the wall you're building.

Master mental reframing and you will notice a considerable increase in your fulfillment.