Welcome to the realm of uncomfortable truths, where I, Mark Manson, will make you question everything you’ve ever believed in. Buckle up, buttercup. Let’s dive into the rabbit hole of reality. Truth #1: You’re Wrong About (Almost) Everything One day, everything you believe today will be proven to be completely and utterly wrong or incomplete. Remember the past you? The one with embarrassing beliefs and naïve ideas? Well, guess what, future you will look back at present you with the same cringe-worthy disgust. The Lesson: Next time you’re absolutely sure about something, take a step back and a ..read more

The internet is inundated with countless videos and advice columns promising to teach you how to become more successful than 99% of the world’s population. Most of these claims revolve around setting goals, developing discipline, and eliminating distractions. But let’s face it: if you take a close look at the habits of highly successful people, you’ll quickly realize that they don’t strictly adhere to a regimented lifestyle or adopt monk-like behavior. So, what is it that truly sets the wildly successful apart from the rest? The Real Pillars of Extreme Success To genuinely rise above 99% of t ..read more

We’re living in an era where anxiety seems to be omnipresent, and everyone is struggling with it to some degree. It’s important to remember that the reasons behind our anxiety may not be as crucial as our reactions to it. In this guide, let’s explore five comprehensive ways to help you deal with anxiety, along with one slower, long-term approach. Emotions & Physiology: The Undeniable Connection Our emotions are deeply intertwined with our physiological state. When we repeatedly experience certain emotions, especially during our formative years, our bodies can adapt to this state as a natu ..read more

Many of us harbor a deep-seated desire to adopt a particular identity, often picturing ourselves as something that we are not. For example, I’ve longed to be a surfer for years. The idea fascinated me so much that I even booked several weeks of surf lessons in Costa Rica. Surfing can be incredibly meditative. It compels you to surrender control and simply respond to the unpredictability of the ocean. The nature of surfing is such that you can’t control the waves. All you can do is react to them. It encourages a zen-like mindset where you learn to accept whatever comes your way and respond to i ..read more

All ye readers, buckle up. Today, I’m giving you 14 non-fiction books I believe everyone should read. For each book, I’ve provided a brief summary. Now it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth your time. Let’s dig in. 1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk This book dives deep into the world of trauma, discussing its effects on the mind, body, and daily life. If you want to know everything about trauma and how to deal with it, this is your go-to guide. 2. The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz With more choices, we often feel less satisfied. This book argues for simplifying our l ..read more

Hey party people! It’s Mark Manson, and today I want to talk about Dr. Jordan Peterson and his books, “12 Rules for Life” and “12 More Rules for Life.” I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with him on his podcast and even got some F-bombs out of him. But what really stuck with me was the idea of creating our own rules for life—guiding principles and codes that help define us as individuals. So, without further ado, let me share my rules for life. Disclaimer: These are MY rules for life, not a prescription for everyone. Take them or leave them, but let’s dive in. Rule #1: Radical Responsibility T ..read more

Hey there, you beautiful bastards. Today, we’re diving into the infinite complexities of the self. We’ll be exploring the concept of self at five different levels, from simple explanations to brain-melting ideas that’ll leave you questioning your very existence. Ready? Let’s do this. Level 1: The Child Self – I Can Control My Hand! At this level, the concept of self is pretty straightforward. Whatever you feel or control in your environment is part of you. You can control your hand? Boom, part of yourself. Can’t control the chair without touching it? That’s not you. Simple, right? Level 2: Th ..read more

Ever find yourself drowning in a sea of negativity, wondering how you can escape the relentless tidal wave of self-doubt and judgment? Well, you’re not alone. We all suffer from negative thoughts, and it’s about time we learned how to deal with them effectively. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore three steps that can help you manage negative thinking, accept failure, and ultimately achieve more of your goals. Step 1: Accept Failure as a Natural Part of Life One of the most important things we can do when dealing with negative thoughts is to accept that failure is a natural and necessa ..read more

There’s this weird fantasy we all share of not giving a flying fuck about what people think. We all wish we could be impervious to others’ opinions, like Superman deflecting bullets. But instead of bullets, we’re out here trying to deflect the fucks we wish we didn’t give. We imagine a perfect mental state where our insecurities vanish and we conquer the world. But then reality sets in, and we realize it’s not so easy. To tackle this issue, I’ll break down the short answer, the long answer, and a surprising one. The Short Answer: Embrace Your Humanity The short answer to why we care about wha ..read more

Today, we’re going to talk about a question I get asked all the time: How do I become great at this one thing? And you know what? I’ve broken it down into three easy repeatable steps that will help you become an expert in any field. Let’s dive right in. Step 1: Master the Fundamentals First things first, you need to figure out the 20% that drives 80% of the results. This is based on the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. It applies to nearly everything, from economic output to customer purchases, taxes, and even corruption. To become great at something, you must identify the 20 ..read more