How We Secretly Trap Ourselves

122 people had breakthroughs this week. Will the next one be you?

Two things for you to think about

The more stimulation you have, the more you will feel you need. Entertainment can become its own form of prison.

“If you are immune to boredom, there is literally nothing you cannot accomplish. It is the key to modern life.” – David Foster Wallace

Two things for you to ask yourself

Where are you most addicted to stimulation and entertainment? Is it harming you?

One thing for you to try this week

Challenge yourself to put away a piece of entertainment for the week. Unplug the video games. Block the social media site. Stop binging that show. See what happens.

Come Meet Me Down Under?

If you enjoy this newsletter, my books, my podcast, or my YouTube videos even a little bit, you’re going to love what I’ve prepared for you for my Australia and New Zealand tour this November.

Join me in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, or Auckland for an evening of laughs—maybe tears—but definitely breakthroughs in a room full of people who want to get their act together, just like you.

I’ve heard from a lot of people who’ve already got tickets and can’t wait for November to roll around. Well, me too, I am excited to meet you all.

Tickets are going fast, don’t miss out. Slam the link below for dates and prices.

Last week’s breakthroughs

In last week’s newsletter, I asked you to go fail at something, preferably spectacularly.

This rarely happens, but a couple readers replied to share about the exact same struggle:

I’ve been too afraid to sit the medical entrance exam (Australia) because I didn’t think I could cope with the emotional devastation of failing it. I’ve distracted myself with all kinds of other shit that leads to nowhere and nothing just to procrastinate. In news that shocks nobody I hate my job and I am stuck. Made all the excuses to not even try. I didn’t even show up for it when I enrolled in 2022. I’m 41 years old and old enough to know better for christ’s sake.

Next GAMSAT exam will be in March 2025. I’m going to sit it and I’m going to fuck it right up, seven ways to Sunday.

Let’s see how I’m doing in April.

The above reader might take courage from the fact that failure isn’t stopping our next reader Homa:

Last year I quit my job as a Registered Nurse to study for the Medical School Admissions exam (GAMSAT). I was told that this would be the hardest exam of my academic life. I did well, above the minimum average to apply to schools. Three months of waking up at 5am, going to the gym, making it back home, studying until my brain gave up each day.

The application process was very long and stressful. I did everything that every school had asked for. Then I waited, from May to September, before receiving an email to say I have been unsuccessful.

I will do it again, I will quit my job for another three months and will go through it all again.

Our final reader learned from failure and shared their lesson with all of us:

I actually experienced failure with school last year and it ended up really beneficial.

I was studying to be a powerline technician. One day, we were outside learning how to put up cross arms on the poles. As I was climbing up, I made a mistake when putting my belt over a bracket and fell. I fell about 20-25 feet before my belt choked off and caught me. I tried to climb back up but couldn’t as I was terrified. So I dropped out and applied for the electrical course. I spent many days and nights beating myself up over it. I viewed that failure as the end.

However, a week later, I got a job with a locksmithing company and learned a lot. I made a really good friend and worked there for about seven months. I left as I got accepted into school for the electrical program which I start this week.

At the end of the day, that failure which destroyed me at first, ended up leading to a job which gave me experience with tools. I learned how to pick locks and install doors and hardware and made a good friend.

I also learned that failure is a necessary part of life. When you fail, you can either let it destroy you, or you let it benefit you.

As always, send your breakthroughs by simply replying to this email. Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.

Until next week,

Mark Manson

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author
My Website – My Books – My YouTube Channel – My Podcast