3-2-1: On creating the conditions for joy, how to go to hell, and the simple way to clarify your thinking

Happy 3-2-1 Thursday!

Before I get into today's issue, I want to share a new project I'm excited about called Authors Equity.

I want to live in a world where creators have control of their work and are rewarded for their performance. Authors Equity is a book publisher that will pay authors more profits than traditional publishers and provide better distribution than self-publishing options. (You can read the New York Times profile here.)

I invested in the company because it will help authors get paid more, get paid faster, and get to create books on their own terms—all while getting the editorial skill and mainstream distribution that is a strength of traditional publishing.

I'll have more to say about all of this in the future, but in the meantime... if you ever consider writing a book, I hope you give Authors Equity a look.

And now, here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week...

I.

"You can go to hell without moving an inch, just focus on what you lack.

You can taste heaven without leaving earth, just rejoice in what you have."

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​II.

"The simplest way to clarify your thinking is to write a full page about whatever you are dealing with and then delete everything except the 1-2 sentences that explain it best."

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III.

"The reason people get good ideas in the shower is because it's the only time during the day when most people are away from screens long enough to think clearly. The lesson is not to take more showers, but rather to make more time to think."

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I.

Poet and art critic Charles Baudelaire explains how great ideas arise:

"Inspiration is merely the reward for working every day."

Source: Curiosites Esthetiques (1868)
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​II.

A tiny poem from Emily Dickinson, written on the back of an envelope:

"In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much – how little – is
Within our power"

Source: Poem 1287

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When have I felt most joyful this year and what steps can I take to recreate those conditions?

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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/march-7-2024

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Until next week,

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

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p.s. Try putting your phone down for an hour, you'll love it...