Welcome to Revolution of One’s newsletter, where you’ll get thoughtful perspectives from different thinkers that can help you hone your own.
If you’re someone that cares about what goes on in the world but want to understand our problems more deeply to form your own opinion, this newsletter is for you.
Popular consensus is that we live in the Information Age, but it's deeper than that—we're also in the Age of Ideas.
No matter your interest—from sports to entertainment to money to history—the world is starving for people who are the best at communicating information and ideas surrounding these subjects in a clear and compelling way.
Traditionally, ideas can be transmitted and explored in a number of creative ways:
Dave Chappelle shares his point of view via stand-up comedy
Shakespeare explores ideas about trust and loyalty via the character of Othello
Lauryn Hill explored concepts like love and heartache on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Hideo Kojima explores ideas about war, technology, and authoritarianism via the Metal Gear Solid video games
...and so on. Better still, the internet now provides avenues for people all over the world to share ideas with each other instantly:
Marques Brown Lee became one of the world's biggest YouTubers by giving his insights about technology
Joe Rogan makes hundreds of millions of dollars exploring ideas with his podcast guests
YouTuber Eric July recently launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to start his own comic book publishing company
Issa Rae dramatized her ideas about how we navigate relationships in a web series that launched her career
Even the potentially catastrophic consequences of sharing one's ideas—such as being “cancelled”—can be mitigated by the internet, as those with highly polarizing and controversial opinions can still find an audience and profit immensely.
But normal people with no desire to join the onslaught of influencers can also profit from learning how to think and communicate more powerfully.
Whether writing an essay for admission to college, entertaining friends with well-told stories, holding compelling conversations with the cutie at the coffee shop, or negotiating for higher pay—the future belongs to whomever learns to develop and share their unique perspectives in a fresh and memorable way.
Here are 6 ideas to help you do that in 2024:
HIT THE GYM.
Even our noggins need to jog. While resistance training such as lifting weights is extremely popular and highly beneficial (when implemented safely), you don't have to be a bodybuilder or powerlifter. Running, martial arts, yoga, whatever—all not only strengthen the body, they strengthen the mind by building concentration and focus, and the perseverence to endure discomfort and fatigue. The discipline of bringing yourself to do something difficult, even when you don't feel like it, builds confidence, and will serve you for the rest of your life—which will now be longer due to your commitment to taking care of your body.
BEAUTIFY YOUR LIFE.
Depression and anxiety are at all time highs. Airwaves and algorithms are filled with gloomy headlines of war, crime, and chaos. Even in our own lives we experience, sadly, humanity's ugliness at some point.
Beauty is the solution to the pollution. It's soul food, and there's no downside to filling yourself and your life with as much of it as possible.
Take a walk in nature. Visit a museum. Bask in the glow of dawn or dusk. Fall in love. Plant a garden. Admire some architecture. Look at the stars. Be inspired by how Whitney hit that note, how Jordan hit that fade-away, or how Ali landed that jab.
Beauty is healing. It's one of the most effective killers of negativity and pessimism.Best of all, you can find it everywhere you look for it.
BE MORE CHILL.
A calm, focused mind is the ideal foundation for building inner strength. Today the average human is bombarded with more stimuli per hour than his ancestors saw in their entire lives. If something happens on one side of the world, the other side knows in seconds. Advertisers and pundits and influencers and coworkers and loved ones all vie for our attention, and thanks to our smartphones they can reach us at all times. Sometimes the constant noise and pressure can seem unbearable.
Those who learn to create stillness and peace within their mind—be it through meditation, prayer, Stoicism, exercise, etc.—will be the most powerful.
The world needs those with clarity, who are immune to chaos and hysteria.
Let that be you.
DON'T “GROW UP.”
The world is endlessly new when seen through the eyes of a child. They love asking questions, they're scarily proficient learning machines, and they love sharing what they've learned with people around them. They can even be entertaining storytellers, to boot. Never lose the openness of a child.
Stay curious to the wide open world around you. Ask questions. Probe more deeply. Make a habit of learning about the things that interest you, and pursue them with the zeal of a child, then share that passion with the world. People make fortunes on YouTube doing this.
LEARN HOW TO THINK.
Balance the wonder of a child with the wisdom of an adult. Thinking well is a function of the body. It requires enormous strength, skill, and stamina. Think of your mind as a muscle, which like other muscles needs regular exercise. It can be trained for strenghth, speed, agility, and flexibility. It needs proper nutrition (i.e. logic, philosophy, literature, podcasts and lectures, non-fiction) with minimal junk food (i.e. guilty pleasures like TikTok or The Bachelor).
Over time, a strong mind—like a strong body—can improve, extend, and even save your life.
LEARN TO CREATE.
There are cave paintings thought to be as much as 65,000 years old. The creative impulse in man is as natural as breath. In other words, if you're not developing and engaging your creative imagination, you're cutting off life itself. Whether you write rhymes, create business plans, paint, or innovate on the basketball court, your ability to think creatively—not just logically—will give you a superpower...and not to mention provide a healthy outlet to channel the more challenging emotions of life.
Intellect is not enough—cultivate creativity.
THE WRAP UP:
With economic turmoil, international conflicts, and a presidential election on the horizon it's no wonder doomsayers claim that 2024 will be nuts.
Things very well may become chaotic—and if that's the case, people will be looking for interesting, authentic, clear-minded and creative leaders who can rise above the fray to educate, entertain, and inspire others...or at least someone with common sense.
It's the most exciting time in human history to be alive. Billions around the world are sharing knowledge and creativity, solving problems, and revolutionizing our lives from year to year in the Marketplace of Ideas. If you would be one of those people, focus on:
Body.
Beauty.
Calmness.
Curiosity.
Clarity.
Creativity.
And, as always, remember: Stay Free. Happy 2024!