3-2-1 Finding the Upside, Humor and Sunscreen

3 Insights from Me 

1. Finding the Upside

I admire the idea of looking for the upside rather than dwelling on the negative. Don’t make false dramas. Remember compliments. Forget the insults. 

This is undeniable optimism. 

If you succeed in mastering this, tell me how. 

2. The Importance of Humor 

A smart man once told me "you should make a sense of humor your default emotion.” 

Imagine the future you looking back and laughing at the present you.

3. Deconstruct Your Success 

Isn’t it interesting? So much of content that people like to consume books, podcasts, autobiographies, memoirs is deconstructing the success of others. So we’ll happily dissect success in other people and yet only dissect failure in ourselves. This is an odd asymmetry.

I’ve learned that when things are going well, given that's what you want to have more of, it may be worth deconstructing that.

2 Quotes from Others

1. On engineering satisfaction:

“You can’t guarantee happiness, but you can reduce suffering. And that’s a win.”
— Matthew McConaughey

Instead of chasing highs, try removing what consistently causes pain. Satisfaction is less about addition and more about subtraction.

2. On emotional intelligence:

“Feelings are much like waves. We can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.”
— Jonatan Martensson

Awareness gives you options. You don’t need to be ruled by emotion—you can ride it skillfully.

1 Question for You

What’s one small thing you can do today that your future self will look back on and say: “That mattered”?

Start there. That’s how momentum is built.

Have a great week.

P.S. Wear your Sunscreen ;)