[antifragile 4 🔥 - 🏥 hospital edition] an ode to mothers, enlightened book on being an ass, Aldous Huxley on doing less, cosmic insignificance therapy.
#12: a weekly 4-item newsletter created to inspire dads to use the challenges of fatherhood as fuel for building an incredible life & an antifragile mind.
👶🏻 This week’s edition comes to you from a delivery room as my wife patiently coaxes our second baby into the world.
Welcome to the 12th edition of the antifragile 4 🔥.
It’s a weekly 4-item newsletter from The Antifragile Dad created to inspire dads to use the challenges of fatherhood as fuel for building an incredible life & an antifragile mind. Expect it every Friday.
Here’s this week’s antifragile 4 🔥:
an ode to mothers 🤰🏻
an enlightened book 📖 on being an ass
a quote from Aldous Huxley 💬 on doing less.
a short audiobook chapter 🔭 on the delights of cosmic insignificance
☝️ (if you’re feeling overwhelmed, 100% worth a listen)
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1.) an ode to mothers 🤰🏻
I’m not sure mothers can ever be appropriately appreciated for the sacrifices they make in bringing new life into our world.
To get another up-close view on the physical, mental & emotional challenges my wife has endured during this pregnancy has again left me in awe of her strength and commitment.
It can be a painful, thankless, lonely journey for her at times - and it’s my job to make sure she knows that at least one person understands the full extent of her sacrifice.
You are truly amazing creatures ❤️
2.) an enlightened book 📖 on being an ass
Anthony de Mello was an Indian-born Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. Despite his priesthood, his thinking was not limited by Christian dogma and he created incredible work on happiness and what it means to be truly aware and truly present.
So much so that the church called for the censorship of his work (that’s how you know it’s good!).
One of his favorite phrases was “I’m an ass, you’re an ass” - referring to the constant state of delusion (i.e. being lost in thought) that we all live in.
I’ll stop there and leave you with a couple quotes. But his book Awareness found me at the right time. Perhaps it’ll do the same for you.
We were told that happiness is a smooth complexion, a holiday resort. It isn’t these things, but we have subtle ways of making our happiness depend on other things, both within us and outside us…There’s only one reason why you’re not experiencing bliss at this present moment, and it’s because you’re thinking or focusing on what you don’t have…You have everything you need to be in bliss.
Anthony de Mello, Awareness
To a disciple who was forever complaining about others, the Master said, ‘If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth.
Anthony de Mello
3.) a quote from Aldous Huxley 💬 on doing less.
It's dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humorless little prig.
Lightly, lightly – it's the best advice ever given me... So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly.Aldous Huxley
Makes me think of Kudu from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Do less.
4.) a short audiobook chapter 🔭 on the delights of cosmic insignificance
This is a chapter called “Cosmic Insignifigance Therapy” from the book Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.
It’s 20 minutes long - short enough for a drive or walk. And can be a salve if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Some may think this kind of philosophy is…morbid? Depressing? I think the complete opposite. It magnifies the magic of every moment we’re able to experience in this freak existence called reality.
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Two last things for you this week:
Give love to the mothers in your life. They are amazing creatures.
Be fire and wish for the wind 🔥
With love,
Chris