Maximising focus, intelligence and work ethic
#21
Then perish.
#22
(03-11-2023, 10:01 AM)arms_race Wrote: Then perish.

[Image: image.png]
#23
I don't think you can really increase intelligence at least if we are defining at as some sort of range of intellectual capabilities. The only positive advice I can give is to avoid tutorial-braining yourself. This tends to fail to apply to more mechanical tasks, however. Value that you can derive from things all originates in the desire to play with effects. Though, in your Intellectual Journey you also have to seriously decuck yourself so you can even figure out wtf you want to begin with. By default you typically reach mature age filled with extraneous nonesense put there by others. Starting this thread with a vague desire for more indicates you will need to proceed more with decucking (though I am not a doctor cannot give you a troo diagnosis.) Wanting to be a dictator isn't crystalline enough, a dictator is just a vague template for you to mentally fill for the type of power you are seeking. Why are you seeking this power? So far the reasoning seems to be an obligation to right wrongs. Not bad, but only a starting point. 

If you have an abstract goal you should seek opportunities to experience smaller fractal portions of that goal as a means of test. I don't know exactly which element of dictator you desire, but find some way to obtain the power and more important The Feeling and see if you like it. Not videogames, since I am at least I am assuming you are already familiar with the feeling of FANTASY of a dictator, what you need then to expand on it is taste of it for real, both for bad and good, to see if it's worth it. It's a cliche that goals are achieved in small steps, this frames it wrong though, it's not about forced effort or kicking your own ass, TASTE things around you and be curious and see what you like, if you are quickly apprehending and getting intuitive pictures of your environment and various pursuits, you will quickly find things which are natural fit and give you a certain indescribable sense of RIGHTNESS in your actions. But these pangs of desire and ascendency have to be located first, until then you are still in the cave and you are forced to derive effort, almost always in vain and towards illogical or self-annihilating ends.
#24
I think I have the same perspective as you Grimm. Over the years I've filled untold hours with tedious work in pursuit of "worldly success;" paying attention and taking notes when I'd prefer to daydream, and doing projects etc when I'd prefer to be reading. Obviously a lot of people use adderal but I avoid it and think it would have a disastrous effect on your overall mental composition. There's no secret or hack, you just have to do it. It helps if you get it done earlier in the day, before you do anything else. The Pomodoro technique I've also found to be helpful. 

I don't think this forum is necessarily the best place to go for constructive advice about work ethic, as others have already pointed out political visionaries are not famous for this quality. My work ethic is still not very good if I'm being honest. I attribute most of my success to innate talent and the fact that I'm a better writer than all of my peers.

I don't have a response to Anthony's points. I think that it would be very interesting to hear BAP's perspective on this topic, though.
#25
Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.
#26
Anger is a stress response. Reduce stress and the anger will go away. The question is: What makes you angry?
#27
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.

As someone with strong anger issues myself, I have found that deep breathing helps. Long, solid, deep breath in through the nose, hold, and similarly out through the mouth. It's basic, but it works well.
#28
Opiates and ashwagandha are serotonergic, they don't really help with estrogen toxicity or any other forms of excitotoxic states. Anger, hostility, these sorts of over-excited reactions are usually stimulated by estrogen. Estrogen acts as a stimulant and lends cells towards excitotoxicity from cortisol and dietary substances like glutamate (the most common excitotoxin). What does help is sufficient dietary protein (i.e. allowing the liver to rid the body of excess estrogen), fat soluble vitamins (inhibit aromatase), and a good metabolism to regulate the prior.
#29
(03-20-2023, 10:16 AM)JohnnyRomero Wrote:
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger?
As someone with strong anger issues myself, I have found that deep breathing helps. Long, solid, deep breath in through the nose, hold, and similarly out through the mouth. It's basic, but it works well.

Psychologically, I'd say self-awareness in the moment of anger and subsequent implementation of some sort of self-regulation is key. Notice the anger coming on, and consciously focus on something else. Counting down from ten, breathing, or leave the room.

On topic, I wrote a post yesterday but apparently didn't send it, which might be testament to how well I'm managing my focus. I don't want to rewrite, but to summarise: I think obvious choices to increase focus and productivity are caffeine and theobromine consumption for short term, streamlining your day-to-day logistics for long term.

I'd be interested in hearing about experiences using nicotine as a nootropic.
#30
I’m not big on nicotine as a nootropic. It feels like it makes me smarter in a very narrow dosage range where it is very strong but not strong enough to make you sick. And tolerance builds quickly. Optimal would probably be no drugs at all or a cup of coffee + 3 mg nicotine once per day in the morning.
#31
I don't think you can beat caffeine to be honest, as far as the trade-offs go. I have tried adderall and it didn't help focus, but it's nice to take before social occasions... like drinking a cup of coffee but lasts 2-3h.
#32
(03-20-2023, 10:16 AM)JohnnyRomero Wrote:
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.

As someone with strong anger issues myself, I have found that deep breathing helps. Long, solid, deep breath in through the nose, hold, and similarly out through the mouth. It's basic, but it works well.

I was thinking the opposite, plastic bag breathing to reduce oxygen levels and cortisol. Is this peaty or am I being a chud?
#33
(04-02-2023, 08:15 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote:
(03-20-2023, 10:16 AM)JohnnyRomero Wrote:
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.

As someone with strong anger issues myself, I have found that deep breathing helps. Long, solid, deep breath in through the nose, hold, and similarly out through the mouth. It's basic, but it works well.

I was thinking the opposite, plastic bag breathing to reduce oxygen levels and cortisol. Is this peaty or am I being a chud?

Reducing O2 levels is Butekyo style breathing. I've never heard of this bag technique. You can do it through willpower alone, and this is also helpful when you are training (endurance, etc.) Over-breathing is a large endurance drain.

Easy way to practice: Exhale for twice as long as you inhale. Harder than it sounds. Use only nose of course.
#34
(04-02-2023, 08:15 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote:
(03-20-2023, 10:16 AM)JohnnyRomero Wrote:
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.

As someone with strong anger issues myself, I have found that deep breathing helps. Long, solid, deep breath in through the nose, hold, and similarly out through the mouth. It's basic, but it works well.

I was thinking the opposite, plastic bag breathing to reduce oxygen levels and cortisol. Is this peaty or am I being a chud?

It's about increasing CO2 levels, not necessarily decreasing oxygen. But yes, you are correct. Johnny's approach probably works as well because he is holding the breath long enough, which has then the same effect as breathing more shallow or rebreathing the same air from a bag.

We are currently living in an atmosphere with suboptimal CO2 levels, so all successful breathing techniques have to somehow compensate this, whether it's Buteyko, breathing in a paper bag (Peat) or pranayama (Hatha Yoga). It's always the same principle.

Ray Peat was the first to put it all in context:
#35
(02-26-2023, 10:11 AM)Grimm Wrote: In a similar vein to the “sharpening of the will” thread, but concerning more specifically academic or workplace success. 
If we want our side to win we need to get as many people into the upper ranks of society where unfortunately leftists thrive, as the world is catered for midwits.

I’ve seen many people, myself included struggle with this unbearable feeling when forced to do something that doesn’t immediately interest them, and at the same time no amount of discipline seems to work and only makes the attitude towards work worse.

I realise it’s a difficult situation with no clear cut answer but I’m hoping this could serve as a thread to discuss anything ranging from increasing intelligence/raw IQ, and sharing advice if anyone who's gone through a similar feeling has managed to surmount it…
Adderall
#36
(03-21-2023, 02:51 AM)Hamamelis Wrote:
(03-20-2023, 10:16 AM)JohnnyRomero Wrote:
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger?
As someone with strong anger issues myself, I have found that deep breathing helps. Long, solid, deep breath in through the nose, hold, and similarly out through the mouth. It's basic, but it works well.

Psychologically, I'd say self-awareness in the moment of anger and subsequent implementation of some sort of self-regulation is key. Notice the anger coming on, and consciously focus on something else. Counting down from ten, breathing, or leave the room.

On topic, I wrote a post yesterday but apparently didn't send it, which might be testament to how well I'm managing my focus. I don't want to rewrite, but to summarise: I think obvious choices to increase focus and productivity are caffeine and theobromine consumption for short term, streamlining your day-to-day logistics for long term.

I'd be interested in hearing about experiences using nicotine as a nootropic.

As someone who spends a lot of time perfecting both their academic life and weightlifting, tobacco is a godsend. Its improvements in cognitive function and aromatase inhibition don't last *that* long although that can be solved through consuming it in even breaks throughout the day (ie once every 2-4 hours). I prefer smoking filterless cigarettes as I read or walk to the gym—one of life's greatest joys IMO. 

Just make sure to consume a lot of caffeine to neutralize its negative effects, peat says 5 strong cups of coffee render an individual immune to tobacco's ill effects.

(04-02-2023, 04:19 PM)Eckart Wrote: It's about increasing CO2 levels, not necessarily decreasing oxygen. But yes, you are correct. Johnny's approach probably works as well because he is holding the breath long enough, which has then the same effect as breathing more shallow or rebreathing the same air from a bag.

We are currently living in an atmosphere with suboptimal CO2 levels, so all successful breathing techniques have to somehow compensate this, whether it's Buteyko, breathing in a paper bag (Peat) or pranayama (Hatha Yoga). It's always the same principle.

Ray Peat was the first to put it all in context:

 This was indeed very helpful, thank you. I've been controlling my anger these past couple of months mainly through breathing exercises and by working on communication. I find healthy joys such as sex and intimacy also help (at least in my case). Idk if it's longhoused but whenever I'm talking to my girlfriend I feel like a completely different person, which has helped me be calmer and avoid trouble in stressful situations.
#37
(04-27-2023, 04:36 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote:
(03-21-2023, 02:51 AM)Hamamelis Wrote: I'd be interested in hearing about experiences using nicotine as a nootropic.

As someone who spends a lot of time perfecting both their academic life and weightlifting, tobacco is a godsend. Its improvements in cognitive function and aromatase inhibition don't last *that* long although that can be solved through consuming it in even breaks throughout the day (ie once every 2-4 hours). I prefer smoking filterless cigarettes as I read or walk to the gym—one of life's greatest joys IMO. 

Just make sure to consume a lot of caffeine to neutralize its negative effects, peat says 5 strong cups of coffee render an individual immune to tobacco's ill effects.

I have tried nicotine gum a few times now, at the lowest concentration available, and have found it to be very helpful. I will likely use this continually to aid studying or writing.

Your girlfriend is supposed to longhouse you (a bit), and it's quite alright to enjoy this. Trust yourself to know the difference between comfort & intimacy and pussy-whipped submission.
#38
(03-15-2023, 06:08 AM)Herculean Degenerate Wrote: Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.

GABAergic substances can help, benzodiazepines are an obvious clinical choice but there's generally better natural options with lesser side effects. Chamomile, lemon balm, red reishi, lions mane, and many others are basically natural benzos with other benefits in cognitive function. There's some that aren't GABAergic like rhodiola rosea that have been reported to help with anger as well, that one is also a good addition for an ADHD stack. There could be a genetic factor contributing to some neurotransmitter fuckery which would most likely be dopamine involved so you could get a dna test (ideally from a company that doesn't sell your information to the CCP, I chose livingDNA) and plug the results into various screening sites (for example: https://geneticgenie.org/methylation-analysis/) that will point out certain genes that could be involved which you can account for with correct supplementation. 

Doctors are generally not knowledgeable about biology, health, or treating ailments. Once you take a DNA test you basically more about your physiology than a Dr. ever will, which makes you alone the best person to find out how to treat your problems.
#39
Focusing your eyes on one point for a minute supposedly upregulates your nor-epinephrine and helps give you motivation, seems to work.
Supposedly the opposite, where you unfocus your eyes, downregulates the same and helps "control anger". I suppose that physiological motivation is a prerequisite of sorts for the physiological anger? Haven't tried this.
#40
Matter of time preference I reckon. If you only focus on the immediate benefit of reading or studying something you will often be disinterested. But if you consider the long term benefit to your intelligence of studying not just a particular thing, but developing a habit of study, it becomes motivating if you conceptualize individual acts of study as part of that. Same as motivating yourself to lift weights or whatever.

I would not think this way when considering whether or not to study a particular thing, though. In my experience a particular book becomes disinteresting when it is no longer insightful. I am not a proponent of filling your head with a bunch of stupid shit. Rather, for example if you want to study finance, conceptualizing acts of study, with properly chosen materials that you aren't just going to slog through for the sake of it, as part of a long term financial acuity stat.



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