On the quiet strength of confident shyness. — When I go to a party, I avoid standing in the middle of the room. When I sit at a table with more than five people, I hate being the only person talking. When I meet new people, the vast possibilities of greeting them intimidate me: Should I give them…

Sometimes, real growth means giving up on growth. — This year, I had two exam periods that couldn’t have been more different. During the first one, I was highly committed. I had to confront five exams in four days — which included studying the most difficult philosophical text I’d ever read, the entire history of Romance languages, and the…

A story about navigating uncertainty and living the questions. — “Can I be frank?” The lady across from me looked up from the forms in her hand and peeked over the half-moon glasses that throned on her pointy nose. I stared at her like a deer caught in headlights, petrified. After an awkward silence, she allowed herself to proceed. “You…

An unexpected lesson on the good life — courtesy of butlers, painters, and my Portuguese professor. — “Why are some people so much happier than others?” This question didn’t come up in one of my philosophy seminars but, unexpectedly, in Portuguese class. We’d been talking about the pretérito mais-que-perfeito do conjuntivo (the past perfect subjunctive) and had discussed a few examples. My professor said the easiest way…

Being stuck in a rut isn’t a sign of defeat but a necessary response. — A few months ago, I got stuck in a deep rut for several weeks. I don’t mean the type of muddy rut where you get jammed with your feet or tires. …

Thinking (too) deeply about life is an essential human feature. — Every few months, I sink into a deep existential crisis where I question everything — who I am, what I’m doing, the point of it all. It feels like getting sucked into a vicious grinder that pulverizes any sense of purpose I created for myself. Or like waking up on…

After sieving out all the dirt, these three gems remained. — In the past year, I published 72 articles, sent out 21 newsletters, and penned down 1,238 ideas in my note-taking app. I also built a website and started toying around with several book ideas. This is a problem. Not in the sense that I should’ve churned out more content, but…

Every time you do something could be the last time you do it. — Recently, a relative told me a bizarre story. It all started like a typical day, he told me. He drove to work and did his job as usual. Then, at lunch, one of his co-workers approached him. “You know what,” she said unsuspectingly, “I feel like I need to exercise…

Why the pursuit of living in the present can make you miserable. — Recently, I visited Liseberg — a stunning amusement park in Göteborg, Sweden. It promised an absurd amount of fun. But when I got on the most popular roller coaster — a majestic, green, space-themed colossus of steel — something strange happened: I was stressed out. Not because I’m scared of…

The art of embracing imperfections while delivering remarkable work. — In case you’re wondering: Yes. I put that typo in the headline on purpose. Because one day, I'd like to be that kind of person. One who doesn’t sweat the details but still delivers remarkable work. An imperfectionist. After all, you still understood the title and clicked on it, right…

How to appreciate the little things in life again. — It crushes me to say this, but it’s true: For the longest time, I never knew how to appreciate the little things in life. And so, even my greatest achievements caused great disappointments. When I submitted my bachelor thesis after six months of draining work I was dead-tired for two…

The real reasons behind bedtime procrastination — and how to solve it. — It happened again. I feel as though a truck ran over me while I was sleeping. My brain is more like a blob of porridge than a block of well-functioning neurons. I’m uninspired, moody, and, of course, tired. The reason is something I’ve been struggling with for quite some time…

How to practice Wu Wei — the art of effortless action. — A few months ago, a 15-minute run changed my life forever. I know, I know, it sounds stupid. But let me explain. I used to have a toxic relationship with running. On every run, I’d tell myself, “You have to run for at least 30 minutes, at least 5 miles…

Use the micro-sabbatical to deeply recharge on your own schedule. — Not too long ago, I was so stressed that even a single thought about writing turned my entire stomach upside down. I lost myself in insignificant details, neglected my health, and stopped responding to messages. Concepts like calm or clarity felt alien to me. But then, everything changed. I decided…

How not to overcomplicate absolutely everything. — A few weeks ago, I tapped into the power of a simple life. I had a 7kg rucksack strapped to my back, held a wooden stick in my right hand, and was hiking the Camino de Santiago. I made peace with myself and the world. Life felt light. But before…

3 powerful mindsets to relieve regret, anxiety, and confusion. — It hit me on an airplane somewhere over Argentina. Anxiety and regret started ricocheting through my skull like bullets in a fiberglass chamber. I sat strapped to my seat, staring out of the oval window at this beautiful sunset — peach-colored clouds intertwined with deep purple paintbrush strokes. And I…

10 key lessons from ‘The School of Life: An Emotional Education’ — I graduated from high school believing I had received the best education possible. I learned how to calculate the exact speed at which the universe is expanding. I spent thousands of hours translating the incredible (and dead) language of Cicero, Ovid, and Seneca. …

How to change your life in a year or less. — Using these ideas, I turned my life around in less than six months. I quit my Master’s program — and with that four years of engineering. (Take that, sunk cost fallacy!) Shortly after, I cleared out my apartment, crammed my most valuable possessions into a backpack, and moved to Portugal…

But not in the way you might think. — I’ve had the enormous privilege to travel the world at a young age. I visited the breathtaking beaches of Hawaii, roamed the raw outdoors of Alaska, and hiked through the stunning nature of Argentina. …

How to make unhappiness work for you, not against you. — Let’s be completely honest here: We spend most of our lives unhappy. In the summer it’s too hot. During winter it’s too cold. Everything in between is too inconsistent and unpredictable. We crave relationships. But once we get into them, we complain that they’re messy and complicated. We like the…