Maximising focus, intelligence and work ethic

[arms_race]

Then perish.

[anthony]

Then perish.

[Image: https://i.ibb.co/tP5D83s/image.png]

[a system is failing]

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.

[Francois]

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.

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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.

[Herculean Degenerate]

Does anyone have any suggestions for reducing anger? I have anger issues and ashwagandha, mild opiate use doesn't help.

[Guest]

Anger is a stress response. Reduce stress and the anger will go away. The question is: What makes you angry?

[JohnnyRomero]

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.

[Menthe]

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.

[Hamamelis]

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.

[BillyONare]

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.

[Hamamelis]

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.