The most critical concept in life is self-reliance. Emerson wrote a fantastic essay on the matter. A politically correct society harms one's personal growth. A man is revealed in how he reacts during difficulty. It is easy to be excellent in peaceful times.
"Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
I see that frequently. Instead of celebrating business greatness, some-investors opt to celebrate diversity before celebrating competence. One should be able to do both. It is not hard, but it is possible. Recently I have seen biases towards both ways. You shall never celebrate race or gender before competence.
Instead of conforming to social expectations, work on being a well-mannered misfit. Follow your voice rather than an intermediary while being honest with others.
When something adverse happens to you, connect with God and ask yourself: was this a product of my behavior? What could I have done to prevent it from happening? What is the best course of action? Know that you are not alone. Trust your inner voice.
The compounding power of putting in an extra 6-10 hours a week for the last decade helped me tremendously on the quest towards Munger/Naval freedom.
Beauty and peace are always available. Take the time to observe the atomic miracle of life and understand the absolute insignificance of our mental obsessions.
The busier you are, the more you must stop and slow down. Instead of instant happiness, search for peace. Happiness fades rapidly. Peace can be permanent.
