Don’t be hard on yourself

The other day, I saw an Instagram post that resonated a lot, from one of the tech world’s more polarizing characters — Bryan Johnson, who is trying to reverse aging.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7ispEquq71/

Actually, there is nothing polarizing about Bryan, but some people get triggered by his ambition — to “not die.” I respect Bryan a lot. He isn’t condescending in his content. He has the resources to experiment with his body and pursues a very respectable mission: to understand and slow down the process of aging.

In his post, he mentioned his mental struggles earlier in life and spoke out against the David Goggins-style, scream-from-the-top-of-your-lungs, get-your-shit-together motivation.

He’s so right.

The world of self-improvement needs more of this kind of advice. Too many bloggers and speakers advocate for quick fixes that are supposed to make you a better and more productive person almost immediately. Your new life isn’t starting today and probably not tomorrow morning either. It’s all just life, always happening.

Nothing good I’ve achieved in my life happened quickly. Getting rid of bad habits or acquiring good ones takes time; it’s the very nature of habit-building — doing something over and over again over a long period of time. Worse, the journey to self-improvement is often saddled with setbacks. The strategy of seeking dramatic improvement can lead to frustration and failure.