We’ve been lied to. The endless podcasts, productivity hacks, Twitter threads, and “life-changing” Substack essays are not making us better. In fact, they’re quietly sabotaging our growth.
And I came to this realisation from an youtube video I saw recently. The people making the biggest progress in life, they have one thing in common. They don't overthink with small decisions. They are such a force of nature that bends reality to their will. They don't get into analysis paralysis which is a syndrome of constantly finding the best option, researching stuff online before making a decision. We consume advice, research, and other people’s opinions like it’s our job. We feel busy, but rarely make real progress. Constant consumption crowds out your own thinking. Think about your x feed, what do you feel after scrolling. Believe it or not, When your brain is always digesting someone else’s ideas, there’s no room left for your own. You become a sponge for other people’s thoughts instead of developing your own judgement. Over time, this crowds your own thinking. This mistake I've been making is keeping me stuck. We fill every pockets of time whether its waiting in line, commuting, or even lying in bed with more content. Even though its productive, self help content or a youtube video on whether ai will take our job. We lose our original way of thinking, become a slave of others thinking.
here's a radical suggestion: stop feeding this mental junk food, that helps you go nowhere. Live intentionally, don't pick up your phone whenever you're free to scroll x, instagram or youtube. I'm not telling you to cut off everything, but start trusting your own judgements again. The answers you’re looking for are already inside you — but you’ll never hear them if you keep drowning them out with noise. Cut the mental junk food. Your future self will thank you.