🕶️ The Friday Brush Pass | November 8, 2024
One article, podcast episode, video, and quote that stuck with me this week.
IoNTELLIGENCE draws on science and philosophy to help busy people achieve professional success, personal transformation, and lasting happiness in five minutes a week.
The term “brush pass” comes from espionage and intelligence-gathering. It describes a brief encounter in which something valuable is passed between a case officer and an agent.
🎧 Listen to This
The Rest is History on the Moonwalkers
I don’t know about you, but I definitely needed a break from the news by the end of this week. When that feeling strikes, I turn to history as an emotional and intellectual balm, and there are no more calming voices to my ear than Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland of “The Rest is History” podcast. Last night, I got lost in an April episode on the Apollo lunar missions (with guest host Tom Hanks, no less!). It took me back to a more hopeful time when a united America could come together to accomplish great things. It might perform the same magic for you.
📖 Read This
There's an Evolutionary Advantage to Forgetting Things All The Time
I’m fascinated by the vagaries of memory. Even though I would love to remember everything I read, forgetting most of it is essential.
Here’s the strange truth about the evolutionary purpose of recalling anything at all: memory’s primary purpose is to help us better predict the future. That’s why memories have to be dynamic: we need to update our maps of the past to prepare for what’s coming.
This article offers a tantalizing glimpse into the why and how of forgetting and will make you feel much better about your memory lapses. It did for me, at least!
👓 Watch This
Avoiding Distractions & Doing Deep Work | Dr. Cal Newport & Dr. Andrew Huberman
These two are the Batman and Superman of podcast doctors, so their team-up here is notable. Everyone knows about Huberman, but Newport should probably be a bigger deal. Reading his masterpiece, “Deep Work,” eight years ago transformed how I structured my work day. Deep work refers to the ability to concentrate fully on demanding tasks without succumbing to interruptions, a feat increasingly difficult in an era dominated by smartphones and social media.
This video will give you several tips and tricks for going deep, along with a pointed discussion of the cognitive and productivity costs of giving in to your dopamine addictions. These ten minutes will give you some valuable weapons in the war over your attention.
🧠 Weekend Wisdom
Another week came and went, delivering another dose of high angst. In these tumultuous times, we should seek solace in the wisdom of the ancients. The Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius had this insight almost 2,000 years ago, and it still holds up today:
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” –Marcus Aurelius.
If you found this post interesting and valuable, please share it with friends or click the ❤️ button so more people can discover it. Thanks!