The Drop №. 88 with Chase Hobby

VRB’s weekly list of things to read, watch, listen to, and try that have helped us live better and be better. Brought to you this week by Chase Hobby.

The Science of Transcendence and Self-Actualization

Listen to this podcast on The Science of Transcendence and Self-Actualization. Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman is a cognitive scientist and humanistic psychologist who has taught at Columbia, Yale, NYU, and Penn. In this interview, Kaufman presents a new hierarchy of human needs for the 21st century, one that allows for the fulfillment of individual potential as well as the actualization of transcendent purpose and peak experiences. According to Kaufman, “Growth is a result of sustained discipline, not a static disposition.” This is a good one.

Jack Dempsey - The Most Vicious Heavyweight In History

Watch this short video about Jack Dempsey. Most of us will have heard of Dempsey and could maybe recall that he was a legendary boxer way back when. In this short summary of his origins and career, you’ll begin to wrap your head around why your great-grandfather idolized this guy. Jack Dempsey was the single most ferocious fighter the world had seen to that point and took boxing from barely legal to the biggest sport in America.

The Psychology of Money

Read The Psychology of Money. This book will make you think of money and how you invest it differently. Morgan Housel does a tremendous job of offering a new perspective on not only your own spending habits but also those around you. This new way of viewing spending will leave you better positioned and prepared to understand how to maximize your savings and growth. Recommend reading this before you pick up your next book on personal finances.

Morning Pages

Try Incorporating Morning Pages - three pages of stream-of-consciousness journaling done first thing every morning - into your morning routine. This type of journaling is a cathartic, ritualistic writing process that clears your mind, builds confidence, and creates a path for greater creativity. I’ve been doing 2-3 pages every morning for over a year and have seen very real benefits including increased overall sense of wellbeing, decreased anxiety, along with, in a lot of cases, a shortened and more efficient decision cycle on hard problems. Turns out that sitting and writing about problems forces you to think clearly about the drivers, consequences, and potential solutions.