How to Think Better

I think for myself, ultimately one of my greatest passions is thinking and thoughts. And also health. But the question is this; how does one actually think better, and also, towards what ends?


1. Outside?

Whenever I wake up, it is typically a slow start. It takes a while to get my thoughts going.

Typically I start off the day with ERIC KIM OMAKASE COFFEE, and I permit myself to have as many shots of espresso as I would like. I keep taking shots until I feel good.

Then I actually think the more critical component is just going outside, going outside in the direct sun, getting direct UV exposure, to the direct sun and the direct light.
Some theories:

First, I have a theory that man is not that different from plant, except we move quicker. Let us consider how plants and flowers bloom when the sun is out, and the shrivel when there is no sun.

There’s a funny saying amongst gardeners that the most critical thing to grow plants is lots of love, sunlight, water, and good soil. I wonder if the same applies to humans?

The question is how much sun is enough sun? And how long should we be outside? I say just follow your gut; it is just a feeling. If I haven’t had enough time outdoors, I spend more time outdoors. But if my skin is starting to hurt because the sun is starting to get too strong on my skin, I just go inside.

2. Your skin is the most important organ?

Another thought on health; I’ve discovered that actually, it seems that the best indicator of health is skin. That is, you could determine the health of somebody just by looking at the quality of their skin.

Also one thing that I’ve learned from one of my doctor friends, a past workshop student is that the best way to determine how old somebody is, to look at their hands. You can get lots of cosmetic surgery on your face and other parts of your body, but typically the hands tell all.

Even common gym dwellers; even though they may spend all day in the gym, and get impressive muscles and physique, typically bodybuilders before they get ready for a competition they either go out in the sun, and sunbathe a lot, or they get these fake dark brown spray tans to accentuate their muscles. But what I actually think what they’re trying to do is trying to show that they’re healthy by getting a fake spray tan.

This is tricky because there is a dosage issue here; too much time in the sun causes your skin to wear too quickly. If you are a poor migrant worker, and do not have any protective covering when you’re in the sun all day, your skin will age poorly. So there’s a fine line here; you don’t want to be the typical office worker or tech worker who is simply stuck indoors all day, without access to adequate sun or sunlight.

In fact, even going to some of the most elite shopping malls and places and looking at other humans, it is actually very rare that you could see somebody with healthy looking real skin, with healthy skin and a healthy tan.

Even a lot of people, I think they would look more beautiful if they spent more time outdoors in the direct sun, without a shirt on, getting a good tan.

3. Physical activity, walking and moving

Nietzsche one said, ”Trust no thought which doesn’t come to you while walking outdoors!” Also, don’t trust any thoughts while you are sitting. He had a funny Latin pun, in which the only sin against the Holy Spirit was sitting on your ass.

The last few days and week, I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time driving in a car, and I’ve been away from the gym for about five days. As a consequence, I actually literally feel my ligaments, tendons, sinews, and body atrophying. My theory is that when you spend a lot of time sitting or sedentary, there is not as much an opportunity for your body to bear the weight of your body on your hips, your back, your knees, ankles feet etc. Therefore literally any time spent sitting is bad for you.

My personal theory on happiness is that happiness is walking. Any life or lifestyle which promotes walking is the greatest blessing.

4. Thinking and thoughts for the sake of what?

One of the greatest things on my mind is that ultimately, what is the point in desired end of thinking and thoughts?

The first of the hugely pragmatic one; often your thoughts manifest your desires and motivators etc.

For example, if you’re always thinking about money, making more money, buying that new car, etc., then your real life activities will manifest in wasting lots of time to trying earn more money. But, what if a more effective approach instead would be to think; what is my personal philosophy of money? What do I want money for, what is the meaning of money, is this a worthwhile goal for me? And or how much time should I devote to trying to earn money? Also, how much money is enough?

Even Seneca once said,

What if right now, you already have too much money?

Nobody ever thinks this! Even back in ancient Roman times.

5. Ultimately, it comes down to philosophy?

Currently speaking, the most worshiped thing is business, economics, entrepreneurship, capital, capitalism, production, producerism, consumerism, media, or money and money accumulation.

However, perhaps a more interesting thing to consider is that philosophy is more critical.

For example, Elon Musk. Tesla and SpaceX. The underlying philosophical question is; should we strive to go to Mars or become an intergalactic species? Because in theory, I think if we took all the world resources, human talent and effort to create spaceships and stuff, we probably could do it.

Also with Tesla; the philosophical question is should we produce, drive, and operate electric cars? Certainly the execution of producing electric cars and putting them into existence is more difficult, but the first philosophical question is, should we do this?


6. What we eat, how we eat?

Currently speaking, my new favorite food may be beef intestines, specifically, large beef intestines. The other night Cindy and I went to our favorite all you can eat Korean barbecue restaurant, and after sampling and eating all of the foods, I think my personal favorite was the large beef intestine. It is so insanely rich, it feels like you’re eating liquid gold. Similar and akin to bone marrow.
Maybe even better than beef liver?

I personally believe this to be critical. Why? I think a lot of the modern day philosophies on diet and nutrition is nonsensical. Example there is a strange quantification of calories, protein, carbs, sugar, etc. But I think maybe a more interesting thought is trying to be more critical about the substances we consume.

For example, let us say that we broke down beef intestines into a certain quantified measure, and compared it and measured it to some sort of fake vegetable supplement. Would it yield the same thing? No.

Or another example; is eating 4 pounds of ribeye beef steak equivalent to eating 4 pounds of pea protein powder a day? Assuming that the grammage of protein was the same? No.

My personal thought on the anti-meat conspiracy is that ultimately it comes down to economics; meat is not efficient. It spoils to quickly, it’s not shelf stable, and also doesn’t yield great profit margins.

Also, this strange modern day trend we have towards “animal rights“; for example, animals, pets, dogs and cats have just become another consumer item. For example, getting that pug or Shiba Inu is almost like buying a new Louis Vuitton bag, or a Cartier watch. Also social media; for the most part everyone likes cute dogs and pets and animals. They don’t really offend anybody.


7. Take on the sun!

I thought while weightlifting and taking on things, I think my only enemy is the sun and physics!

It is so funny because just other day, I remember Southern California being so cold during the cruel winter. Now the sun is insanely hot, even I can barely take it. Now I understand why people wear baseball caps; it keeps the top of your forehead from burning, and also gives you a little bit better visibility when looking into the distance.

This is also another plus one for Tesla solar, or Tesla in general; if you could indeed harness all the power from the sun and convert into electricity energy, we’re set.

8. Think Beyond

To think beyond and look beyond — the generalized idea I have is that life is too short for the petty and inconsequential. Perhaps the greatest thing we could do it is to think beyond, and look beyond, which means, only grant yourself the privilege of attempting monsters of a task, things that the normal human being would not even think of or attempt!

For example, as I write these words it is currently the year 2023. Just three years ago, before all this Covid stuff happened, it was the year 2020. This was supposed to be an insanely important and pivotal year; the future.

Yet, we are still falling into the same memes, the same modes of living, the same boring old stuff. Why not attempt to look beyond, and become beyond?

9. Becoming the uberman

What is the time modern day man deserves to become? A beast, a monster, something else?

Why not just drive to become man? The most glorious and peak and over notion of a man?

Thus, my current life task and direction is becoming my own over man, the uberman as Nietzsche says.

What does this mean?

  1. Create a new type of aesthetic; I call it demigod aesthetics.
  2. Ignore what all of this nonsense call modern day advice on food; just look at what the ancient Greek heroes ate. Bone marrow, oxen.

10. Sleep

The last critical ingredient is sleep. Sleep is the ultimate tonic; even the gods sleep.

Throughout the day if you’re tired, the most effective thing to do is just take a nap. Also ironically enough, if you’re tired, don’t drink coffee. I think coffee ironically should be done this way:

Only drink coffee when you feel good.

During the day, if you’re tired, just take a nap! Power Nap or turbo nap.

Also, one of the best ways to deal with insomnia is simple; hit the hot sauna at least once or twice a day. Just go to your local gym membership place and do it there, or sign up for some sort of hot yoga, CorePower, local studio etc.


Thoughts on my mind

Thoughts on being an Asian American man in America

Thoughts on racism

Thoughts on justice and revenge


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Fortune favors the insanely brave!

ERIC


LOOK *BEYOND*

Life is too short to be basic. My personal recommendation instead is to think beyond and look behind. What does that mean? That means don’t just be another basic human being; set yourself insanely audacious life goals. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter whether you achieve them or not, what is more critical is the vision and the attempt!

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PHILOSOPHY BY KIM

Essays by KIM

  1. BECOMING MORE IMMORAL?
  2. ‘LUCK’ VS COURAGE
  3. ‘SKILL’ VS MERIT?
  4. Becoming Antifragile
  5. How to “Improve” Men
  6. The Art of Virtue
  7. How to Dominate
  8. JUST SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND WISDOM WITH OTHERS.
  9. How to Get More Done in a Single Day – MEMENTO MORI PHILOSOPHY
  10. THINK FOR YOURSELF
  11. Cruel?
  12. GO DEMIGOD.
  13. How to Be Happy: Challenge and Danger Philosophy
  14. To Become Greater, You Must Become *LESS* Productive!
  15. Imperfect Beauty
  16. The Philosophy of Pleasure
  17. What Interests You?
  18. Anti Theory of Everything
  19. Become?
  20. STRONGER OR NOT?
  21. Carte Blanche Ideals
  22. CHOOSE JOY
  23. Don’t Judge Your Impulses
  24. On Becoming Less Human
  25. COWARDICE.
  26. The Philosophy of Futurism
  27. PHILOSOPHY IS VALUE-SETTING
  28. PHILOSOPHY IS NOT LIFESTYLE
  29. WHY STANDARDIZATION IS BAD.
  30. YOUR OWN TABLE OF VALUES.
  31. RETRO IS BAD.
  32. INSANELY LOFTY THOUGHTS.
  33. Strive to *Lose* Weight, Not *Gain* Weight
  34. DIABLO II ANALOGIES FOR REAL LIFE.
  35. If You Know Your *WHY* You Can Discover Any *HOW*
  36. Life is Too Short to Be Miserable
  37. What Consumption Takes Skill?
  38. OFF THE GRID.
  39. REALITY IS CRUEL.
  40. Pain is Information
  41. WHY REMOVE VULGARITY AND DISORDER FROM OUR EYES?
  42. AUTOTELIC.
  43. UNPLUG.
  44. How to Become a Philosopher
  45. SUBOPTIMAL IS OPTIMAL
  46. THE LUST FOR MORE.
  47. TO DO IS TO BECOME.
  48. IN PRAISE OF AGGRESSIVE.
  49. THE PHILOSOPHY OF OPTIMISM
  50. OUR PHILOSOPHICAL WILL TO EXISTENCE
  51. Is Hope a Vice?
  52. MOVE MEAN
  53. Carte Blanche Ideals
  54. One Interesting Thought
  55. What Lasts? What Doesn’t Last?
  56. A WOUND STIMULATES THE RECUPERATIVE POWERS
  57. Children & Purpose
  58. Thoughts on Becoming a Parent
  59. Where Does Our Desire to Upgrade Come From?
  60. WE ALWAYS NEED SOMETHING FURTHER TO ASPIRE TO.
  61. Self-Task Yourself an Awesome Mission in Life
  62. Differentiation vs Equalization
  63. My Passion to *Become* Something More
  64. No Aesthetic or Ethos is Forever
  65. What is Your Higher Purpose in Life?
  66. IT WILL NEVER SATISFY YOU.
  67. How to Decide
  68. Things You *Want* to Do vs Things You *MUST* Do
  69. Towards a More Beautiful Mode of Existence and Future
  70. EXTREME GRATITUDE.
  71. AMAP (As Much as Possible) or None.
  72. Why or How Does it Matter?
  73. The Philosophy of Time and Events
  74. How *Not* to Resent
  75. FORWARD LOOKING
  76. DOMAIN FLEXIBILITY.
  77. The Miracle of Human Growth
  78. EXTREME ADAPTATION.
  79. Why Plan?
  80. You Don’t Need to Justify Yourself
  81. The Philosophy of Ego
  82. True vs False Passions
  83. How to Achieve Tranquility
  84. On Making Your Own Philosophy
  85. The Purpose of Life is to Create New Life
  86. Think On!
  87. The Wisdom of Doing Nothing
  88. Congruency
  89. My Thoughts on Meditation
  90. The Philosophy of Purpose
  91. Emulate Yourself
  92. Good Fear, Bad Fear
  93. For the Betterment of Humanity or Just Yourself?
  94. What you *really* believe in and care for is manifested through your actions (or non-actions)
  95. Why Culture is Your Enemy
  96. YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE KING.
  97. LIFE IS INHERENTLY GOOD.
  98. Artistic, Physical, and Philosophical Muscles
  99. All New Experiences are Good Experiences
  100. What is the Purpose of X?
  101. UTILITY.
  102. Philosophy is a Luxury
  103. The Attempt is More Interesting than the Result
  104. Joyfulness vs “Happiness”
  105. Effectiveness Over Happiness
  106. Self Actualization
  107. MAXIMAL ENGAGEMENT
  108. Life & Pain
  109. On Living Every Day with No Regret
  110. Learn as if you’re going to live forever, live as if you’re going to die tomorrow
  111. Live Every Day Like it Were the Last Day of Your Life
  112. Self-Determination
  113. FALSE GRATITUDE vs REAL GRATITUDE
  114. HOW TO LIVE MORE
  115. THE UPSIDE OF TRAGEDY
  116. Satisfaction is a Sucker’s Game
  117. Supreme Repose
  118. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE? According to ERIC KIM
  119. STUBBORN, FLEXIBLE
  120. EVERYTHING HAPPENS AS IT *SHOULD* HAVE HAD HAPPENED
  121. Good Addiction, Bad Addiction?
  122. What is the Best Life?
  123. The Philosophy of Thinking
  124. The Philosophy of Conspiracies
  125. Conspiracies
  126. Growth
  127. Skepticism.
  128. What Do You Really Want Out of Life?
  129. Seem or Be?
  130. Learn Through Pain
  131. Respect Yourself
  132. In Praise of Elitism
  133. Why Independent Thinking?
  134. I Will Never Die
  135. Bitter is Better
  136. The Genesis of Nihilism and Existential Dread
  137. The Ethics of Personal Enrichment
  138. Good vs Not Good
  139. Punished by Privilege
  140. Abstinence Over Moderation
  141. Just Leave Others Alone
  142. You Can Only Critique that Which You Truly Understand and Love
  143. ERIC KIM Critique of Metaphysics
  144. Only Trust Philosophers Who Deadlift
  145. Heuristic: If Someone Talks Shit About Others Behind Their Back, Most Likely They’re Also Talking Shit About You Behind Your Back
  146. Virtue is a Privilege
  147. What Are Your Life Goals?
  148. Honesty
  149. Why I’m Anti Moderation
  150. No Spite, No Malice.
  151. Ascending Life or Descending Life?
  152. Double Edged Sword
  153. Ignorance.
  154. Why I Don’t Trust “Nice Guys”
  155. Why You Must Share Your Opinion
  156. Selfish Isn’t Evil
  157. Wisdom is the Goal
  158. YOU ARE KING.
  159. MASTER YOURSELF
  160. What is “Good” for You is Often what is Bad for You
  161. Care.
  162. BITTERSWEET
  163. ONE REP MAX
  164. Morality and Ethics is the Snare
  165. BY HELPING YOURSELF, YOU BEST HELP OTHERS
  166. Insanity is Good.
  167. Think Deep.
  168. PHILOSOPHY IS THE FUTURE.
  169. Open Mind vs Closed Mind
  170. ENTHUSIASM IS GENIUS
  171. Towards a More Critical and Rigorous Line of Thinking
  172. How to Encourage and a Foster Independent and Free Thinking
  173. What is the Purpose of Life?
  174. WHY PHILOSOPHY IS SUPREME.
  175. Elitism.
  176. I Cannot Form an Opinion About Somebody Until I’ve Met Them in the Flesh
  177. ALL GENETICS ARE GOOD GENETICS.
  178. Happiness vs Freedom
  179. The Birth of a Hater
  180. My Way Isn’t the Right Way
  181. Walking as an Existential Thing
  182. Why I’m So Tolerant
  183. Mortal Gods
  184. THE HUMAN SPECIES
  185. Why I’m So Skeptical
  186. Just Follow the Money
  187. Why Selfish?
  188. WHY WE CANNOT BLAME OTHERS
  189. Why Are We So Anti Elitism?
  190. What Actually Interests You?
  191. How to Become Yourself
  192. SELF HATE
  193. Optimistic Fatalism
  194. Death is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
  195. FLUX.
  196. How to Think for Yourself
  197. FLESH
  198. How to Live the Best Life
  199. Why Live a Life Without Regrets?
  200. Why Plato Ruined Art and Aesthetics for Us
  201. Self Respect
  202. Hypocrite vs Contradict
  203. Ideals vs Reality
  204. Spaceship Philosophy
  205. What is Your Ideal Life?
  206. MY EXTREME GRATITUDE TOWARDS LIFE AND BEING ALIVE!
  207. Critique of Utilitarianism
  208. Don’t Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
  209. The Eternal Recurrence of Tragedy and Joy in Life
  210. Elite Asceticism
  211. Why I Don’t Like Numbers
  212. Action and Reaction, Cause and Effect
  213. The Antidote to Nihilism: The Philosophy of Nothingness
  214. ERIC KIM Notes on Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
  215. EXPLOIT CHAOS.
  216. WHY I DON’T BELIEVE IN GENETICS
  217. Self-Wisdom
  218. The Future Belongs to the Fearless
  219. INDIVIDUALISM
  220. Why Live Forever?
  221. THIS TOO WILL PASS.
  222. Why Education?
  223. How to Become Yourself
  224. Things Shouldn’t Go Back to the Way They Used to Be
  225. Why Am I So Cruel?
  226. The Great Joy of Existence
  227. Virtue for the Sake of Virtue
  228. NO DISDAIN.
  229. INTELLIGENT IGNORANCE
  230. A LIFE WITHOUT PAIN, DIFFICULTY OR TRAGEDY ISN’T A LIFE WORTH LIVING
  231. BITTER IS BETTER.
  232. EXPLOIT THE BEST FROM TRAGEDY AND LIFE 
  233. DISREGARD FOR SELF-PRESERVATION
  234. PAIN.
  235. WHAT IF EVERYTHING IS NOT GONNA BE ALRIGHT?
  236. Tomorrow is Never
  237. Life is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
  238. EMBODIED REALITY
  239. BLACK SWAN
  240. THINGS WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE
  241. What are you *really* afraid of?
  242. HAPPINESS ISN’T THE GOAL
  243. Philosophy is King
  244. Why is Selfish Evil?
  245. YOU’RE CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF BECOMING
  246. ENTITLEMENT A SIN?
  247. NARCISSISM
  248. BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF
  249. WHY FREE WILL?
  250. OBEY YOUR OPINION
  251. EGO IS GOOD.
  252. WHY IT IS GOOD TO BE INTO YOURSELF
  253. Seek the Good Pain
  254. Anti-Perfection in Photography, Art, and Life
  255. Can You Become an End into Yourself?
  256. WHY I LIVE
  257. Why I Hate Decline
  258. Why I Eat
  259. Why am I So Positive and Optimistic?
  260. EFFORT IS ENJOYMENT
  261. Never Stop Gaining
  262. TRUST YOURSELF
  263. A Life of Maximal Personal Independence
  264. What Do You Desire to Become?
  265. What Do I Want from Technology?
  266. Stratified Society
  267. Do You Love or Hate Reality?
  268. On the Brian, Body and Mind
  269. I’m Maximally Happy, Now What?
  270. Care over Fame
  271. ACTIVE NIHILISM
  272. Never Stop Subtracting
  273. How to Live a Happier and More Epic Life
  274. A Risker Life is a Better Life
  275. Only Work on Things You Can Imagine Doing for Eternity
  276. How to Maximize Your Happiness
  277. Influence
  278. The Gladiator Makes His Plans once He Enters the Ring
  279. Meditations on Meaning in Life
  280. There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings
  281. Is Hope a Vice?
  282. EGO
  283. Why Be Unique?
  284. Happiness is Metabolism Health and Strength
  285. You’re the Hero
  286. Is Productivity a Virtue or Vice?
  287. Why Do We Prize the Rare?
  288. The Joy of Uncertainty
  289. How Should I Best Use My Time and Life?
  290. A Life Without Pain or Suffering Isn’t a Life Worth Living
  291. Free or Unfree?
  292. What Do You Really Care For in Life?
  293. Anti-Satisfaction in Life
  294. Why Think?
  295. The Eternal Return
  296. Only Do What is Best for You!
  297. Truthiness
  298. Why Be Happy?
  299. Permissionless Living
  300. In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom
  301. Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World
  302. Happiness
  303. Beyond Freedom
  304. Idolize People, Not Stuff
  305. What Makes You Stronger? What Makes You Weaker?
  306. Why Hate?
  307. The Secret of Happiness
  308. You’re Constantly in a State of Becoming
  309. Life is about Choices, Not Obligations
  310. Anti-Nihilism
  311. First, Do What is Best for You.
  312. Live Dynamic
  313. How to Prosper
  314. Is the Point of Life to Be Satisfied?
  315. SUPREME EFFORT OF WILL.
  316. How to Become more Idealistic
  317. Thrivival 101
  318. Create Yourself
  319. Non-Small
  320. Inspiration
  321. How to Live a Heroic Life: Dare the Heights!
  322. Human Augmentation
  323. Prune
  324. Happiness: Do What You Want to Do (And Don’t Do What You Don’t Want to Do)
  325. Avoid Vain (Empty) Pursuits in Life
  326. Modern Slavery
  327. Kill the Leeches
  328. Wisdom Augmentation
  329. Why We Need Friction in Life
  330. Straight Line Philosophy
  331. What’s Your End-Game in Life?
  332. Create Your Own Happiness Today
  333. Desire Both Pain and Pleasure in Life
  334. Try the Impossible
  335. SELF-RESPECT
  336. Anti-Social Extrovert
  337. Never Blame Anybody But Yourself
  338. Human Flourishing
  339. Simpler, Not Better.
  340. How to be Free
  341. Embrace the Extremes
  342. Cultivate Your Own Culture
  343. COURAGE.
  344. Thrivival
  345. Inner Power
  346. How to Live a Purposeful Life
  347. My Definition of Happiness
  348. Why Change is Good
  349. Why Work?
  350. How to Live the Happiest Possible Life
  351. The Two-Pronged Approach to Maximize Joy in Your Life
  352. You Always Have Another Option!
  353. INFINITISM
  354. Never Stop!
  355. What is Your Self-Directed Purpose in Life?
  356. Live Today Like it Were Your Last
  357. Do You Photograph to Live, or Live to Photograph?
  358. ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER
  359. Live Life to the Fullest!
  360. In Praise of Selfishness
  361. Why You Must Be a YAY-SAYER to Succeed in Entrepreneurship and Life
  362. Why I Love Walking
  363. Live Life Like a Video Game!
  364. Simple Luxuries in Life
  365. Treat Your Life Like a Fun Experiment!
  366. Only Prove it to Yourself
  367. You Don’t Always Need to Feel Joyful to Live a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
  368. Life is Too Short to Be Bored!
  369. Money Cannot Destroy Boredom
  370. How to Find Inspiration in Life
  371. Why You Must Ignore Haters to Succeed and Win in Life
  372. An Active Life is a Happy Life
  373. My Simple Joys in Life
  374. Never Stop Striving
  375. How to Motivate Yourself in Life
  376. How to Be Optimistic in Life
  377. How to Dictate Your Purpose in Life
  378. In Praise of a Dynamic Life
  379. PURPOSE.
  380. How to Enjoy Life
  381. Photography Therapy
  382. How to Conquer Regret
  383. Take Your Play Very Seriously.
  384. How to Prosper
  385. Memento Vivere
  386. Destroy in Order to CREATE
  387. Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind
  388. Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life
  389. Seek Knowledge, Not Information
  390. The Purpose of Human Life
  391. How to Overcome Impedence
  392. Why I Love Death
  393. How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now
  394. How to Be Happy
  395. Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?
  396. Why I’m Happy
  397. Why?
  398. Why I’m So Prolific
  399. How to Reduce LAG in Life

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How to Think Better

I think for myself, ultimately one of my greatest passions is thinking and thoughts. And also health. But the question is this; how does one actually think better, and also, towards what ends?

1. Outside?

Whenever I wake up, it is typically a slow start. It takes a while to get my thoughts going.

Typically I start off the day with ERIC KIM OMAKASE COFFEE, and I permit myself to have as many shots of espresso as I would like. I keep taking shots until I feel good.

Then I actually think the more critical component is just going outside, going outside in the direct sun, getting direct UV exposure, to the direct sun and the direct light.
Some theories:

First, I have a theory that man is not that different from plant, except we move quicker. Let us consider how plants and flowers bloom when the sun is out, and the shrivel when there is no sun.

There’s a funny saying amongst gardeners that the most critical thing to grow plants is lots of love, sunlight, water, and good soil. I wonder if the same applies to humans?

The question is how much sun is enough sun? And how long should we be outside? I say just follow your gut; it is just a feeling. If I haven’t had enough time outdoors, I spend more time outdoors. But if my skin is starting to hurt because the sun is starting to get too strong on my skin, I just go inside.

2. Your skin is the most important organ?

Another thought on health; I’ve discovered that actually, it seems that the best indicator of health is skin. That is, you could determine the health of somebody just by looking at the quality of their skin.

Also one thing that I’ve learned from one of my doctor friends, a past workshop student is that the best way to determine how old somebody is, to look at their hands. You can get lots of cosmetic surgery on your face and other parts of your body, but typically the hands tell all.

Even common gym dwellers; even though they may spend all day in the gym, and get impressive muscles and physique, typically bodybuilders before they get ready for a competition they either go out in the sun, and sunbathe a lot, or they get these fake dark brown spray tans to accentuate their muscles. But what I actually think what they’re trying to do is trying to show that they’re healthy by getting a fake spray tan.

This is tricky because there is a dosage issue here; too much time in the sun causes your skin to wear too quickly. If you are a poor migrant worker, and do not have any protective covering when you’re in the sun all day, your skin will age poorly. So there’s a fine line here; you don’t want to be the typical office worker or tech worker who is simply stuck indoors all day, without access to adequate sun or sunlight.

In fact, even going to some of the most elite shopping malls and places and looking at other humans, it is actually very rare that you could see somebody with healthy looking real skin, with healthy skin and a healthy tan.

Even a lot of people, I think they would look more beautiful if they spent more time outdoors in the direct sun, without a shirt on, getting a good tan.

3. Physical activity, walking and moving

Nietzsche one said, ”Trust no thought which doesn’t come to you while walking outdoors!” Also, don’t trust any thoughts while you are sitting. He had a funny Latin pun, in which the only sin against the Holy Spirit was sitting on your ass.

The last few days and week, I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time driving in a car, and I’ve been away from the gym for about five days. As a consequence, I actually literally feel my ligaments, tendons, sinews, and body atrophying. My theory is that when you spend a lot of time sitting or sedentary, there is not as much an opportunity for your body to bear the weight of your body on your hips, your back, your knees, ankles feet etc. Therefore literally any time spent sitting is bad for you.

My personal theory on happiness is that happiness is walking. Any life or lifestyle which promotes walking is the greatest blessing.

4. Thinking and thoughts for the sake of what?

One of the greatest things on my mind is that ultimately, what is the point in desired end of thinking and thoughts?

The first of the hugely pragmatic one; off in your thoughts manifest your desires and motivators etc.

For example, if you’re always thinking about money, making more money, buying that new car, etc., then your real life activities will manifest in wasting lots of time to try to earn more money. But, I’m more effective approach instead would be to think; what is my personal philosophy of money? What do I want money for, what is the meaning of money, is this a worthwhile goal for me? And or how much time should I devote to trying to earn money? Also, how much money is enough?

Even Seneca once said,

What if right now, you already have too much money?

Nobody ever thinks this! Even back in ancient Roman times.

I WANT TO DO IT ALL!

A thought while getting hyped up with ERIC KIM OMAKASE COFFEE:

I want to do it all!


EK MEDIA

YouTube morning routine


How and why?

I think for myself, entrepreneurship is in my veins. It is my passion, my lust, my personal interest, that which I am the most passionate about.

I think this is the great glory and gratitude and joy of America, being born in America, etc. Essentially the gist is that in America, you could do anything, become anything, create anything, attempt anything.

In America the nuance is that success or “making it“ is not guaranteed or promised. In fact, in America, the only privilege you have is the freedom to attempt something, not to succeed.

How does this matter?

Several things to consider;

First, you are alive, and one day you will die.

Second, it seems that a lot of life is personal preferences, and also, you have the power to dictate a certain type of lifestyle approach.

For example, we all have certain preferences, and to some degree we can control where we want to live, what kind of work to do, what to spend money on, what not to spend our money on, etc.

I think the biggest thing in modern day times is in regards to media. The reason why I discourage any sort of consumption of watching of sports is that it is essentially prostituted athleticism.

Let us consider why we like to watch sports. Essentially what it is is we get a second hand adrenaline high from watching and consuming sports.

I think the best visual that I have is from battle Angel Alita, the manga comic, in which in this dystopic future, we can get a first hand, POV of other athletes fighting racing and doing other dangerous things. Essentially we literally put ourselves in the shoes of others.

Unstoppable!

Perhaps a good way to visualize things or how to think about it is this; there is a certain desired outcome that you have, and, there might be a certain things which get in your way.

But is this true?

I think not.

For example, I think the big problem is in today’s world, we simply don’t know what we want in life.
The reason why I innovated Zen of Eric, or the why app is essentially a means to encourage people to think more critically about their desired outcomes in life.

Disregard foreign philosophies

It seems that a great downside of modern day times and living is that we believe that we must kowtow to some sort of other foreign authority. That we are not permitted to become our own authority.

For example, now that I critically think about it, maybe studying too much Taoism, zen, stoicism has been detrimental to myself.

I think aesthetically, to read philosophy is almost like reading practical and pragmatic philosophy. But ultimately we shouldn’t take things too literally.

Also another strange bias; in modern day times we are indoctrinated that reading more books is more better for us. That is, to read 1000 pages a day is considered virtuous.

However what I believe in is the opposite. Perhaps actually we should read less, walk more, think more, contemplate more, go to the gym more frequently, use the hot sauna more, drink more fine robusta, lift more, one rep max more, etc.

Why thoughts, innovation is critical

I think the problem in modern-day society, America, most of the westernized world, capitalism and consumerism is that we have to purchase happiness, well-being, innovation etc. For example, I’m a huge fan of Tesla Musk, Tesla, electric cars, car culture design, aesthetics etc.

I think the reason why critical thinking is so useful is that it cut to the chase.

For example, a lot of people desire or lust after a certain car; a Mercedes-Benz AMG wagon, a Porsche GT3 RS, a certain model of Tesla, Ferrari Lamborghini etc. Often times people spend an inordinate amount of time thinking and considering these things whereas maybe the best timesaver is this:

What if I just took all of that time effort and money and just invested in my self in my own body, perhaps this would give me more happiness?

For example, the other day while househunting in LA, I walked down Rodeo Drive with Seneca, and trolled around Beverly Hills a bit, and I realize that in regards to cars, everyone is just following the same old memes.

Also a fun trick; instead of looking in the car, look really hard at who the driver is.

For example the typical trope I see is that a lot of these high powered big SUVs are driven by women with sunglasses on, or a lot of these convertible sports cars with the top down is driven with men for balding, old, often over-fat.

So the funny thing is in regards to cars, when we see impressive cars, the question is this:

Do you desire the car, or find the car fascinating? Or do you desire to become the person who is driving the car?

We want to be happy?

HAPPY?

We want to become insanely happy?

Most people are unwell. Most people have poor health, even people who go to the gym every single day. Health can be characterized by many things, some of it is mental health, some of it is physical health, but ultimately all of it is physiological. That is, happiness joy and health cannot exist outside of your human body.

I personally believe in a “mortal” soul. That is, we all have a soul, which is essentially a metaphorical configuration of the blood, sinews, electric impulses, DNA, everything which is contained within this 3-D wire mesh which we call our human body. When we die our soul dies with us.

How are people unwell? People are unwell in regards to many things;

  1. A lot of modern day people do not spend enough time outside, in the direct elements, in the direct sun. Therefore I wonder if a lot of people are lacking melanin in their skin.
  2. A lot of people have weak legs, thighs, calves, hips, back, shoulders, feet. Even guys who go to the gym every single day, my simple heuristic is first to look at their legs and then look at everything else. If a man does not have calves or thighs or legs which resemble the Farnese Hercules, write them off.
  3. The modern day mode of living is bad; too much time sitting, while sitting in a car stuck in traffic, sitting at a desk at the office, even a standing desk is bad in so far much as you’re stuck in a static position. Even a walking standing desk treadmill desk is bad in so far much as the movement is too regular; a more optimal thing is perhaps walking in some sort of uneven terrain, like walking in some sort of park or natural place with random tree roots bulging out etc., maybe just walking around with your iPad Pro and voice dictating your thoughts. Or just doing work on your iPhone.
  4. I think the modern day man, or even woman can be characterized as some sort of sick animal; domesticated, caged, both literally and metaphorically, and are essentially like little battery pods in the Matrix, in which metabolic energy is extracted for driving consumerism.
  5. Over consumption of sugar, fake sugars, strange beverages, and anemic plants. For example, in terms of beverages, I truly believe that the best approach is to just stick to water, plain tapwater or filtered tap water is fine, and black coffee with nothing added to it. I prefer EK COFFEE, straight up. I don’t drink any sort of alcohol, no beer, no wine, no whiskey, no spirits, nothing weird and foreign. I don’t even smoke weed or do drugs.

What do I desire to do?

Currently speaking, there are a lot of things on the chopping block:

  1. Coffee innovation: it seems that in modern-day times, most adults drink coffee every single day, often several times a day. I think it is actually one of the things which is the most overlooked; we are not critical about the coffee we consume, we just simply treat it as a thing that gives us more power and energy. Yet perhaps we should become more discerning; everyone seems to be obsessed about health, but how come nobody ever talks about health in regards to coffee? ERIC KIM OMAKASE FINE ROBUSTA as the first step.
  2. Diet health and fitness; I believe this to be really really critical; I’ve been obsessed with diet health and fitness ever since I was a fat kid, a fat kid at 11 and 12 years old in Bayside Queens New York. Now at the age of 35, being born in 1988, I’ve experimented and gone through a lot of the exercise fads, food fads, etc. Why is diet health and fitness so critical? I think people want to feel good, to feel strong, abundant, healthy and strong. It seems that the most critical thing then to consider is this trifecta. What do you eat and what you don’t eat, what you drink and what you don’t drink, what you consume and you don’t consume, when to eat, how much to eat, went to stop eating, went to start eating, etc. For example my recent visit to LA, going to Erewhon etc — LA people simply do not look well. They think it is “healthy“, to consume strange juices, and also don’t eat enough meat. It seems that nowadays the big moneymaker is beverages; some sort of miracle tonic, which promises a lot, but ultimately had some sort of fake sugar added to it. Also the reason why you should not trust a lot of these beverages which have “zero sugar added” is that they just put another strange chemical in it, which taste sweet. My personal theory is that even zero calorie sweeteners make you fat, because when your body senses or taste something sweet, your body will excrete insulin, which is one of the precursor to fat storage.
  3. Weight lifting approaches — my one rep max atlas lift as example. Fitness is also another huge industry, and I think a lot of people follow fitness regimens like sheep. This is why I don’t trust anyone who does CrossFit, yoga, or any sort of standardized way of exercise. Also I don’t trust “powerlifters“, or “bodybuilders“; a more robust term to use is weightlifter. Why? My joy and passion is simply lifting weights, I consider it very fun and enjoyable and interesting and thrilling. A lot of these other categories follow some sort of strange approach and regimen.
  4. Innovative thinking, philosophy; I think at the end of the day, what a lot of people desire is discovering some sort of deeper meaning in life. This means, philosophy is the way.

WORKSHOPS

I’m super pumped to announce my first, insanely unique INTRODUCTION TO STOICISM WORKSHOP. This workshop is limited to only three passionate individuals, and it will take place in downtown LA, December 2, 2023. If you’ve been curious about learning more about stoicism, or deepening your philosophical inquiry to life, this workshop is for you!

STOICISM WORKSHOP >

Also, I am very excited to go back to Philly, October 14th! Cindy is going to Philly for a conference, and concurrently I will also teach a CONQUER STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP there!

PHILLY STREET WORKSHOP >

Also, November 4th I am also teaching a DISCOVER YOUR CREATIVE MISSION IN LIFE WORKSHOP in DOWNTOWN LA, NOVEMBER 4th. If you want to turbo charge your creativity and artistry, this workshop is for you.

Learn More >


Now what?

I encourage you to start your own blog! My new thought is don’t limit yourself by anything. Permit yourself to talk about anything and everything your heart desires.

For example for myself, my passion not only for photography, street photography, but philosophy, life, entrepreneurship, and everything in between.


START HERE

When in doubt, start here.

More turbo thoughts to come!

And stay posted on the blog or newsletter, for more fire! Also, feel free to forward this to a friend!


WHY?

Think more with ZEN OF ERIC

WHY?


I WANT TO DO IT ALL!

A thought while getting hyped up with ERIC KIM OMAKASE COFFEE:

I want to do it all!


EK MEDIA

YouTube morning routine


How and why?

I think for myself, entrepreneurship is in my veins. It is my passion, my lust, my personal interest, that which I am the most passionate about.

I think this is the great glory and gratitude and joy of America, being born in America, etc. Essentially the gist is that in America, you could do anything, become anything, create anything, attempt anything.

In America the nuance is that success or “making it“ is not guaranteed or promised. In fact, in America, the only privilege you have is the freedom to attempt something, not to succeed.

How does this matter?

Several things to consider;

First, you are alive, and one day you will die.

Second, it seems that a lot of life is personal preferences, and also, you have the power to dictate a certain type of lifestyle approach.

For example, we all have certain preferences, and to some degree we can control where we want to live, what kind of work to do, what to spend money on, what not to spend our money on, etc.

I think the biggest thing in modern day times is in regards to media. The reason why I discourage any sort of consumption of watching of sports is that it is essentially prostituted athleticism.

Let us consider why we like to watch sports. Essentially what it is is we get a second hand adrenaline high from watching and consuming sports.

I think the best visual that I have is from battle Angel Alita, the manga comic, in which in this dystopic future, we can get a first hand, POV of other athletes fighting racing and doing other dangerous things. Essentially we literally put ourselves in the shoes of others.

Unstoppable!

Design Thoughts

When people seem to universally love a certain design, it is a sign that it is a bad design?

For example, the new Prius or Prius Prime. Zero innovation in it?

Or taken further —

Any sort of design which isn’t polarizing ain’t good?

DESIGN THOUGHTS

hand red black macro ERIC KIM
  1. INSANELY LIGHTWEIGHT
  2. MORE AGGRESSIVE DESIGN
  3. COMPROMISE DESIGN.
  4. ‘WASTEFUL’?
  5. Tight vs Loose
  6. Thick vs Thin
  7. Why Lamborghini is No Longer Interesting to Me
  8. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IS AN ETHOS.
  9. LESS SURFACE AREA.
  10. ANTI IN-BETWEEN
  11. CLASSIC/TIMELESS IS BORING.
  12. Photographers are Designers
  13. Why Perfect?
  14. Beautiful but Boring
  15. AGGRESSIVE DESIGN.
  16. DESIGN IS KING.
  17. WHY DESIGN?
  18. THE RAGING BULL.
  19. BARE BONES.
  20. The Best Car for Thinking
  21. Zen Aesthetics
  22. Why Minimalism?
  23. SPARTAN DESIGN.
  24. Generic Design
  25. An Elite Aesthetic
  26. Not Hateful Design
  27. New Forward Facing Design vs Retrospective and Nostalgic Design
  28. Depressing Design vs Uplifting Design
  29. The Best Design Towards What Ends?
  30. Exciting or Boring Design?
  31. On Design & Photography
  32. A Designer Desires to Design and Create Things!
  33. Delightful Technology and Design
  34. Dynamic Aesthetics
  35. Design vs Brand Prestige
  36. Classic Proportions, Modern Design
  37. Why Does Design Matter?
  38. The Best Design
  39. MUSCULAR DESIGN.
  40. Camera Design
  41. Watch Design