004 Three Totally Fake And True Math Formulas To Live By
Remembered on the happiest day of the year.
1.The Happiest Day Of The Year
Last Thursday was the happiest day of the year here in New York City. It was the first unequivocally nice day—sunny, warm, and clear. People shed their outer layers and tumbled out onto the streets to smile at each other. As I walked my dog I turned and noticed my neighbor’s bare feet, as though disconnected from his body, dangling from the balcony above.
When I reached Sunset Park there was a man pushing his ice cream cart; kids trying to launch a red kite; and teenagers setting up a bright blue tightrope between two trees. Was an invisible stage manager telling everyone to take their places? I turned to the view of the city and the skyscrapers were so clear that I could almost reach out and pick them up like building blocks. I stretched my arms out wide above my head embracing the day and the world. Then I had a peculiar thought. As though in praise I exclaimed:
“Thank you for the contrast!”
Thank you for the Contrast? Was I seriously indirectly praising this world for winter so as to provide Contrast for one decent day! What kind of self-betrayal was this?!
But Contrast is a word that has been genuinely helpful for the sometimes mildly-toxic cultures around self-development. I like how Contrast has been used to debunk the aspiration for being happy all-of-the-time. It’s an idea that level sets us humans back into the miraculous phenomenon of our own humanity. Good and Bad. Happy and Sad. Fellow Brooklynite Walt Whitman said it:
I am large, I contain multitudes.
Why limit ourselves to happiness, when we can have crashing love if we risk crashing grief as well.
2. Three Totally Fake Mathematical Assertions For Life
Inspired by Contrast and our human multitudes, for this week’s newsletter I’ve listed some totally fake mathematical assertions that I personally live by.
There’s No Constant Value
There’s no Plateau. You are either growing and developing as a person (happy ascending) or becoming a tiny bit of an asshole (miserable descending). However, growing as a person is inherently uncomfortable. Therefore, to feel happy you need to also feel discomfort. This is my faux mathematical proof for Contrast.
50:50 Contrast Ratio
Why not embrace the fake-mathematical-truth that life is 50:50. 50% challenge, grief, conflict and 50% joy, freedom, connection. This is true no matter what goals you reach, or what humans you surround yourself with. When you get x your are not going to be y. Especially if x=one million dollars, and y=love and happiness. When you get to x you will have new joys and new problems, 50:50.
100% Worthiness
Okay so there is one constant value, your self worth, and its 100%. Your self worth is not to be confused for your net worth. Your self worth is not connected to your achievements, your social status, or your relationships. Your self worth is already (and is always) 100%. Sometimes mathematics is poetic and this is one of those times: your self worth is innate and infinite.
3. One-On-One Map Sessions with Rachel
Map Sessions are magical if you are:
Feeling stuck—Disempowered, or you’ve hit a ceiling.
Experiencing a life transition—Graduating college, retiring, etc.
Looking to pivot—Career change, business change, somethings next but what?
Until May 10 One-On-One sessions are half price if you use the code matesrates.
Use code: matesrates
And you can still join Q2 Power Mapping up until next Tuesday. Click below.
Here, Michael Leunig illustrates the process of Mapping better than I ever could.