#25, the twenty fifth one. Nourishing the Mind.
Nourishing the Mind: A Parallel Between Mental and Physical Diets, and Quarterly Review.
Nourishing the Mind: A Parallel Between Mental and Physical Diets.
Health, love, and your mission, in that order. Nothing else matters.
In today's fast-paced world, maintaining our mental well-being is as crucial as taking care of our physical health. Just as we carefully select the foods we eat to nourish our bodies, we must also be mindful of the information and experiences we consume to nurture our minds.
I believe many of us, especially younger generations, have a good understanding of maintaining physical health—recognising what foods are beneficial and which are harmful. In this discussion, I aim to extend this understanding to mental well-being, exploring the distinction between 'junk' and 'nutritious' content for our brains.
To sustain our physical health, a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, coupled with regular exercise, is essential. Conversely, foods high in unhealthy fats, sugar, and other additives are considered detrimental to our well-being.
Similarly, for optimal brain health and mental function, engaging in diverse and stimulating experiences is crucial. These experiences should be novel and enriching, keeping our neural networks active and engaged. In essence, consuming high-quality information—such as reputable news sources, thought-provoking reads, and intellectually stimulating media—plays a vital role in nourishing our minds.
Now, the question is: how do we differentiate between 'nutritional' brain food and 'junk' content? Here's my perspective.
If I am reading a book and I’m getting confused, it is just like working out and the muscles getting sore or tired, except now my brain is being overwhelmed. In the long run I’m getting smarter because I’m absorbing new concepts from working at the limit or edge of my capability.
Nutritional brain food endures, providing lasting value, while junk content quickly fades into irrelevance. Think of classic books, or explanation of such books, good blogs, timeless TV shows, or insightful movies—they withstand the test of time, offering enduring lessons and wisdom. In contrast, junk content, like everyday news updates, click-baits or never-ending Instagram/TikTok reels/posts, provides momentary excitement but lacks substance like the processed foods, or sugary treats.
Just like nutritious foods may not always taste as immediately satisfying as sugary snacks (remember the broccoli or greens we dislike), they leave us feeling good in the long run. Conversely, while junk foods may provide a quick energy boost, they lack the essential nutrients needed for optimal health.
Likewise, consuming enriching mental content might not always feel as immediately pleasurable as indulging in entertainment or social media, but it nourishes our mind in a way that fosters a sense of calmness and deeper understanding of self and the world. While junk content may offer momentary pleasure and sometimes, an illusionary sense of knowledge, it often leaves us feeling mentally depleted over time, hindering our ability to grasp complex concepts or connect with ourselves and others.
Consistently eating nutritious food and maintaining regular exercise habits over time leads to physical fitness and the ability to engage in various activities, such as sports or playing with loved ones, the benefits are not immediate. It's a gradual process; simply eating a balanced diet and exercising yesterday or last month won't transform us into a healthier person or an athlete overnight.
In the same vein, consuming enriching mental content over time, coupled with regular reflection (such as journaling or mindfulness practices)—similar to exercising for the mind—allows for the absorption of knowledge and the development of mental capabilities. This fosters clear thinking, which profoundly impacts various aspects of daily life, including relationships and career choices. The rewards of clear thinking become evident through consistent practice.
So, just as maintaining physical fitness requires consistent effort, nurturing mental well-being also demands ongoing dedication.
“Clear Thinking” is a better compliment than “Smart.”
Clear thinkers appeal to their own authority.
As our modern unhealthy lifestyles have led to emergence of various diets like keto, zero-sugar, and fasting to restore balance, it's important not to overthink these dietary approaches. Instead, focus on the basics: ensure we meet our nutritional needs daily, maintain regular exercise, and prioritise quality sleep to support our body's natural functions.
Similarly, to counteract the overconsumption of junk content, practices such as silent retreats, meditation, and mindfulness have become increasingly popular. However, it's essential to stick to fundamental principles. Cultivate curiosity and engage in daily learning, take time for reflection and meditation, and prioritise sufficient sleep to allow our brain to function optimally.
Comparably, meditation and mindfulness for our brain can be likened to fasting for our body. Just as fasting gives its body time to digest food and reset, practicing meditation and mindfulness provides our mind with essential breaks from excessive consumption, particularly in the age of internet and social media. By allowing our mind daily intervals to process information and recharge, we can thrive without the need for occasional extravagant retreats, which, while beneficial, may not be sustainable for everyone in the long term.
Time spent undistracted and alone, in self-examination, journaling, meditation, resolves the unresolved and takes us from mentally fat to fit.
In summary, identifying quality brain food involves several key factors. First and foremost, being curious and engaging in daily learning develops our intuitive ability to distinguish between beneficial and detrimental content.
Content that endures over time, such as classic books or insightful blogs that draw lessons from timeless wisdom. Additionally, individuals who possess the mental agility to identify trends across generations and cultures contribute to this category.
Personal and authentic experiences, like travel to enriching destinations and the practice of writing or journaling, offer valuable insights into reality.
Avoid fast-fading and clickbait news. Be mindful about social-media usage.
Reading Science, Math, and Philosophy one hour per day will likely put you at the upper echelon of human success within seven years.
Over time, the benefits of consuming such brain-nourishing content become evident:
Sense of calmness and improved clarity of thought, allowing for reflection on personal experiences, emotions, and decision-making processes.
Enhanced self-understanding and a deeper comprehension of the world around us.
The cultivation of original ideas through multidisciplinary and first principles thinking, distinct from the influences or experiences of one’s parents or friends.
Enhanced ability to envision the future and navigate life's challenges with resilience and grace.
An overall better decision-maker. Decision making is everything.
These benefits, while intangible, parallel the enduring rewards of maintaining a nutritious diet. Just as the effects of good food are felt over time, the enriching experiences and insights gained from consuming valuable brain food contribute to long-term mental well-being.
It's evident that the science in this area is still developing. Just as we haven't reached complete understanding in terms of physical nutrition, the study of brain food is still in its infancy.
Outside of math, physics, and chemistry, there isn’t much “settled science.” We’re still arguing over what the optimal diet is.
Conclusion
The specifics of our daily diet—whether vegetarian, non-vegetarian, or vegan—are less important than ensuring our meals are wholesome and balanced to nourish our bodies for long, healthy, and active living. Similarly, the journey of learning isn't about the individual topics we explore each day; it's the everyday engagement that shapes our minds and enriches our understanding of the world.
Moreover, it almost doesn’t matter what we read. Eventually, as we explore various topics aligned with our interests, our curiosity leads us to discover diverse yet interconnected learning experiences that profoundly impact our lives. Just be mindful to avoid junk content, such as click-baits and reels, and instead, opt for stimulating material like insightful blogs, documentaries, or well-crafted shows—akin to choosing well-cooked, balanced meals over processed foods and sugary treats.
The Modern Struggle:
Lone individuals summoning inhuman willpower, fasting, meditating, and exercising..
Up against armies of scientists and statisticians weaponising abundant food, screens, and medicine into junk food, clickbait news, infinite porn, endless games, and addictive drugs.
On a side note
Just as we can't directly consume nutrients in the form of tablets but need them to be absorbed through the food we eat, knowledge can't simply be memorised as quotes or facts. It must be integrated with our experiences and reflections to truly imprint in our neural networks.
Repetition is crucial for maintaining both physical and mental well-being. Just as we ensure essential nutrients in our everyday diet remain consistent, even as the types of meals vary, exposing ourselves to timeless lessons and wisdom from time to time, even if it's through different forms of learning—from books and blogs to tweets, videos, and travel experiences—is vital for strengthening our mental capabilities.
Learning a skill for our career is similar to training for a particular sport; it's beneficial, but it's not everything. Just as we prioritise maintaining a balanced life and spending time with family and friends, it's essential to nurture our curiosity and keep learning new things beyond work. This ongoing curiosity serves as 'brain food,' nourishing our mind and enhancing our everyday life experiences.
In this age of information abundance, spiritual and self-help leaders offer transformative "super foods" for the mind. However, these quick fixes may not suffice in addressing the diverse challenges we face daily. Similar to how a balanced diet is crucial for physical health, a diverse mental diet—comprising various sources of learning, critical thinking, and meaningful connections—is essential for sustained mental well-being amidst the complexities of modern life.
Experiencing stress and anxiety from daily life and relationships can cause mental fatigue, similar to how fever exhausts us physically and weakens our ability to fight infections. Without essential mental frameworks like multidisciplinary and first principles thinking, our minds struggle to handle daily challenges, leading to stress and anxiety akin to the effects of nutrient deficiency, and weakened muscles.
Just as fast food offers quick gratification, entertainment and news provide instant stimulation. Conversely, crafting a well-written piece or producing a quality movie demands time and effort, similar to preparing nutritious, wholesome meals.
A calm mind, a fit body, a house full of love.
These things cannot be bought. They must be earned.
Sources of inspiration
I firmly believe that my thoughts are often influenced by the knowledge I've gained from diverse learning habits. While I may not always trace them back to their exact origins, I feel it's important to acknowledge the significant sources of inspiration, but not limited to, that have influenced my thinking over time.
Naval Ravikant - All quotes I pulled
Book - The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Goodreads, TwitterFS - Brain Food
Stop Reading News
Dangers of Clickbait
The Noise Bottleneck: When More Information is HarmfulMorgan House - Active vs Passive Learning
Gurwinder - The Intellectual Obesity Crisis
Education
Now, let's turn our attention to education. Expanding on the concept of mental nourishment, let's explore how our approach to learning impacts our overall well-being.
It’s not about “educated” vs. “uneducated.” It’s about “likes to read” and “doesn’t like to read.”
Education used to focus on specific knowledge needed for the industrial age, akin to tailored diets for athletes. However, with abundant resources and a rapidly changing world, rigid school structures and curriculums aren't helping. Instead of nourishing young minds, they're leaving students mentally undernourished, hindering their ability to meaningfully contribute to today's progress and the growing creator economy.
A generation of autodidacts, educated by the Internet & leveraged by technology, will eventually starve the industrial-education system.
Despite our limited understanding of how our brains function and how learning occurs, it's impractical to simply avoid the internet, which has granted us access to a wealth of knowledge, both positive and negative. Yet, many schools treat internet usage as taboo, striving to evade it entirely. This approach is akin to perpetual fasting, resulting in our brains being severely undernourished, deprived of essential nutrients and thus unable to meaningfully contribute to the future progress of our world.
Free education is abundant, all over the internet. It’s the desire to learn that’s scarce.
In the realm of education, developing a well-nourished mind goes beyond the pursuit of career or higher education. It encompasses cultivating self-awareness, understanding the world, and discovering meaningful ways to contribute to it. This process nurtures curiosity, instills a grounded sense of calmness, and fosters rational, clear thinking, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their lives and pursue happiness.
Furthermore, education is not solely about acquiring specific skills; rather, it's about cultivating a zest for life. Unlike skills, taste is rarely confined to one domain. An individual with refined taste, nurtured though diverse learning experiences and mental nourishment, often expresses it across multiple aspects of one’s life, even if they haven't fully developed their skills in each one.
Quarterly Review
I have 50 odd subscribers today, thanks to my friends and extended network. However my goal is to provide value through this newsletter or the readings I share. If there are areas where I can improve or if there's something specific you'd like to see, I'm all ears. I always love good feedback.
It's tough to deal with rejection, and it stings a bit when people unsubscribe. I completely respect their choice, but I won't deny it's disheartening. I want to clarify that I'm not trying to influence anyone's decision to stay subscribed indefinitely. Nevertheless, I believe receiving feedback or sharing their overall experience would’ve been humane and appreciated.
I still can’t write as much as I believe I'm capable of. Drawing a parallel to the post above, I don't consider myself a master chef when it comes to crafting quality content; I see it more as an art form. Simply writing for the sake of it, I fear, could lead to more junk content on the internet. However, I try to share my personal thoughts occasionally to explore and refine my writing skills. So it’s a work in progress.
If wisdom could be imparted through words alone, we’d all be done here.
I’m also concerned about potentially violating copyrights by sharing others' work in my newsletter. However, my intention is not for monetary or personal gain; rather, I believe everyone deserves access to valuable content on the internet to develop a healthy mental diet
What do you think?
You can share your thoughts on comments below.
And if you’re new - you can just say hi & introduce yourself here. Welcome!
Think a friend would enjoy this? Share the love by clicking below :)