3-2-1: The need for personal responsibility, what makes a brilliant mind, and the value of daily surprises

Happy 3-2-1 Thursday!

Before we begin, I know many people are buying gifts for the holidays. You can use the links below to find the lowest prices on my various products.

• For Atomic Habits, click here.
• For habit journals, click here (back in stock tomorrow).
• For Atomic Habits engraved pens, click here.
• For MasterClass memberships, click here.

Alright, let's get to it.

Here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week...

I.

"You are not the cause of everything that happens to you, but you are responsible for how you respond to everything that happens to you."

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​II.

"It is not too late to do what you want to do—if you stop waiting for the time to be right."

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III.

"Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself.

Life is easier when you expect a lot of yourself and little of the world.

High standards, low expectations."

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I.

Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald on what makes a brilliant mind:

"The test of a first-rate intellect is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in your head at the same time, and still retain the ability to function."

Source: The Crack-Up​

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​II.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on the value of daily surprises:

"Try to be surprised by something every day. It could be something you see, hear, or read about. Stop to look at the unusual car parked at the curb, taste the new item on the cafeteria menu, actually listen to your colleague at the office. How is this different from other similar cars, dishes or conversations? What is its essence? Don't assume that you already know what these things are all about, or that even if you knew them, they wouldn't matter anyway. Experience this one thing for what it is, not what you think it is. Be open to what the world is telling you. Life is nothing more than a stream of experiences — the more widely and deeply you swim in it, the richer your life will be."

Source: Creativity ​

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Challenge yourself to do something out of your normal routine. What is one thing you can do this week that is different than what you do on a normal week?

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Want to share this issue of 3-2-1 via text, social media, or email? Just copy and paste this link:

https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/november-30-2023

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Until next week,

James Clear
​Author of Atomic Habits and keynote speaker​​

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p.s. Me, after checking my inbox