- The Quest Newsletter
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- The Quest Newsletter
Read time: 3 minutes
Welcome to Quest, a weekly newsletter where I share ideas to help you build a life you love — one filled with more energy, purpose, and joy.
Preview:
Quote: Habits
Useful Ideas: Something New, Growth Mindset, Low Energy
Exercise: Play
Story: Will Ferrell Career Path
Thought: Good Day
Quote
John Mark Comer on what our habits reveal:
“Show me a person’s habits, and I will show you what they are truly most passionate about, most dedicated to, most willing to suffer for, and most in love with. And I will show you who they will become.”
Source: Practicing the Way
Useful Ideas
I.
When you start something new, the effort required of you is high and the reward is low.
After time, the effort required decreases and the reward increases.
Why does the effort required decrease? Habits.
Why do the rewards increase? Compounding.
This underscores the importance of delayed gratification. Of not quitting before you see results.
Many people aren’t willing to commit to consistent effort over a period of time without seeing results.
This works to your benefit.
Continue the habit even when you don’t fully see the results and let the magic of compounding go to work.
II.
A damaging thought: “this is just who I am.”
No.
Your personality, mindset, and identity don’t have to be fixed.
A growth mindset believes you can change who you are.
Neuroscience supports this idea — you can rewire your brain.
And if you can rewire your brain, you can redesign your life.
III.
A recipe for low energy:
• Going to bed too late
• Too much screen time
• Unhealthy food
• No purpose
• No movement
• No social connection
• No sunlight or outdoors
• Blood sugar spikes
• Not enough water
Exercise
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw
We need more “play” in our lives.
Many people think it’s for kids.
Or it’s something we do once we get the important things done.
No. As Adam Grant said: “Play isn’t a reward for finally making it through your to-do list. It belongs on your to-do list.”
When we grow up we lose the sense of wonder or “play” that we had when we were younger.
Here’s the challenge: think of something fun that you would enjoy doing and either do it today or schedule it on the calendar.
Interesting story about Will Ferrell’s transition from pursuing a career as a sportscaster to doing comedy.
One big takeaway: “pay attention to what you pay attention to.”
In college, Will Ferrell was pursuing a career as a sportscaster.
Then, at a low point, he had the idea to sift his memories for clues—any information that might help him discern what he’s really meant to do with his life.
“There was a moment in high school,” Will explained,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
— Billy Oppenheimer (@bpoppenheimer)
Dec 6, 2023
Thought
What would make today a really good day? Go do that.
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Make it a great weekend.
Much love,
Beau Burns