Today I released a new podcast episode where I do a 20 minute reading of the "learning happiness" chapter of the book...

"The Almanack of Naval Ravikant."

I have mentioned this book before.

And I will certainly mention it again.

If I think back to all the books I have read over the years, this one continues to follow me every where I go.

I take it with me in my work bag.

I bring it with me on vacation.

It sits on my coffee table to stare at me every morning.

It is not just a book to me.

It is a symbol.

It represents what I want to build my life into.

It represents the principles I WILL UTILIZE to become my greatest self.

And I hope to have help as many people become introduced to this book as I can.

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Listen to today's podcast episode on Apple Podcasts

Listen to today's podcast episode on Spotify

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Here is additional excerpt from the "learning happiness" chapter.

HAPPINESS IS BUILT BY HABITS

Start on page 145 of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

My most surprising discovery in the last five years is that peace and happiness are skills. These are not things you are born with. Yes, there is a genetic range. And a lot of it is conditioning from your environment, but you can un-condition and recondition yourself.

You can increase your happiness over time, and it starts with believing you can do it.

It's a skill. Just like nutrition is a skill, dieting is a skill, working out is a skill, making money is a skill, meeting girls and guys is a skill, having good relationships is a skill, even love is a skill. It starts with realizing they're skills you can learn. When you put your intention and focus to it, the world can become a better place.

---> When working, surround yourself with people more successful than you

---> When playing, surround yourself with people happier than you.

What type of skill is happiness?

It's all trial and error. You just see what works. You can try sitting meditation. Did that work? Was it Tantra meditation or was it Vipassana meditation? Was it a ten-day retreat or was twenty minutes enough?

Okay. None of those worked. But what if I tried yoga? What if I kite-surfed? What if I go car racing? What about cooking? Does that make me Zen? You literally have to try all of these things until you find something that works for you.

When it comes to medicines for the mind, the placebo effect is 100 percent effective. When it comes to your mind, you want to be positively inclined, not incredulous in belief. If it is fully internal, you should have a positive mindset."

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Okay CJ is back. :)

Here is the thing, you, me, we... are not always going to be happy or at peace.

Yet, what separate people is the ability to maintain peace and happiness even when your external environment is stressful.

Can you be at peace when shit is hitting the fan?

IDK about you, but I struggle so hard to do that!

But the struggle is where the gold is.

Every year I can feel myself getting better and better at maintaining a high level of peace and happiness in my life.

And it all stems from being willing to keep pushing through the struggles.

Today, I hope to encourage you to do the same.

Let's step forward on the path towards learning happiness... TOGETHER.

And then let's go out into the world and bring others onto the path with us.

#thriveon

CJ

p.s. today I am grateful for the time I have been able to spend with my brother, his wife, and their puppy. Today is the last full day I have with them here in Austin, and I intend to embrace and cherish every moment of it.