🫂 Nudge 01: The Only Real Safety Net
When overwhelm strikes, default to community.
After a brief hiatus, I’m back—this time with a new series. Nudges are quick, 3-minute reads offering timely, distilled insights with a nudge towards action. The usual deep dives will return next week!
Pending your exposure to feeds and algorithms, things can seem more overwhelming than ever. If you don’t feel this way, congratulations to you—keep doing what you’re doing.
For the rest of you, between politics, climate change, and AI’s advancements, things can feel quite unsettling. However, I’d like to share one guaranteed, universal salve to this uncertainty today.
Your relationships.
The certainty you are seeking does not exist in…
The promises of renewing a five-year plan
The surprising reassurance of your AI chatbot
The (unconscious) attempt at control through longevity hacks
The productivity boost from a new routine
The snippet of information you may find in your podcast feed
The stability you crave will never come from any of these.1
There is only one long-term solution.
Your people.
The safety and security that a strong sense of community can provide is unparalleled. When our deepest fears materialize (or come close to it in our minds), there is no greater comfort than a trusted friend—or several. Alternatively, no greater misfortune than being alone.
When the world is overwhelming, default to those nearest and dearest to you.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking of you. Want to share a meal this week and catch up?”
“What’s your week looking like? I’m craving a nice convo and even nicer company 😇”
“Hey, life’s been a lot lately. Up for hanging out and maybe lending an ear?”
The nudge for this issue, is for you to carve out some time with someone you care about this week. Trust me, whatever tasks you were going to accomplish from the endless to-do list instead, can wait.
So I dare you—pick up your phone and reach out. It’s easier than you think, they’ll love hearing from you, and know this: whatever vulnerability is required comes from strength.2
‘Till the next nudge,
Armand
To summarize from Buddhist Psychology: Life is impermanent, change is constant. As a result, no attempts to stabilize this on-going change will be satisfactory, as it will change yet again, requiring new solutions. Instead of resisting this phenomena, surrender to it with acceptance, and design your life accordingly.
Shout out to Brène Brown.