36: Notes To Self

Yo, it’s Luke!

I’ve got something a lil different for you this time. Instead of 5 wide-ranging topics, I’ve got 2 in-depth one’s: agency and mental health.

The ideas below have impacted more than most I’ve ever come across. I think you’ll resonate with them too!

1. The Agency Trifecta

Agency is the most under talked about but useful approach to life. It’s so simple. But until you define it, toy with it, and try it out — it seems unapproachable. In short, agency is “manifesting determination to make shit happen”. Think of your friend who grabs life by the balls. They have lots of agency. And you can too!

These are by far the 3 best essays to get started:

• How To Be More Agentic - Written by the goat of agency — Cate Hall. In her 30s, she was a supreme court advocate; ranked the #1 female poker player in the world; started art and perfume companies; and co-founded a pandemic medicine company that set the record for the fastest startup to take a drug to clinical trials. Pretty sick! But she wasn’t always that way. This essay describes how she developed agency by finding edges (aka things you are willing to do that others aren’t).

• The Most Precious Resource Is Agency - This is a short essay on the world being a malleable place. We forget to teach our children that and they build imaginary cages on what they can and can’t do.

• Things You’re Allowed to Do - A list of things that will break your frame. You will realize how many silly cages you put around every aspect of your life. At least I did.

Now, onto mental health.

2. Every mental health insight I’ve learned, as concisely as possible

I wrote this essay a few days ago.

It isn’t one of those bullshit listicle articles that give you basic insights like “go outside and talk to friends.” Nor is it one that will baby you with validating statements.

This is meant to be useful insights, packaged in a concise-and-thought-provoking way. They are reminders to myself as much as they are directives to you. I don’t expect you to adopt them, but I hope you will take the time to mull over them. Think about ‘em. And if you’re feeling dangerous, take ‘em for a test drive!

Click here to read.

Thanks for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday! If you liked this edition, send it over to a friend who would like it too 🤝 

Cheers,

Luke

PS: Have a topic you think I’d like learning about? Send it to me here.

PPS: Got questions you want me to answer? I made an anonymous form for that.

PPPS: you can find more rabbit holes here & my writing here.