Ahri's unqualified thoughts #36

Random articles, quotes, videos, musings. Easy to consume content: 1 quote, 1 tweet/storm and 1 article/video.

In today's edition, we're featuring a tweet about hard web3 truths and an article about the Japanese concept of “Ikigai”.

1 quotable thingy to look brilliant in your next young socialites’ meet-up

“For every good reason, there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth.” Bo Bennett

1 tweet/storm to keep you up to date

I agree with the majority of these points. However, I'm less bullish about #8. While the future is uncertain, I choose to proceed with caution. This doesn't mean I lack belief in it; I'm simply being prudent.

Oh and #4 resonates with me the most. I recently discussed with a younger friend the self-proclaimed "gurus" in the online sphere. She found it challenging to trust my take. In my opinion, a vast majority of these gurus are only motivated by profit, aiming to sell their products or exploit their followers as exit liquidity.

1 article/video to discover something new, maybe

To commemorate the first anniversary of his blog,

Massimo Pigliucci

delves into the topic of Ikigai. Being fond of both Japanese culture and Stoicism, I found the piece deeply engaging. Rather than showcasing the typical Ikigai image that countless self-proclaimed gurus/motivational speakers on Instagram/TikTok showcase, I chose to emphasize his comparison between eudaimonia and Ikigai. On that note, I highly recommend his podcast, where he frequently discusses such concepts.

A few years ago, I came across a book titled “Ikigai” that consistently ranks high on Amazon, etc. To put it gently, it was underwhelming. Despite not being an expert on the matter, I felt that the content was filled with superficial statements that steered away from the genuine essence of Ikigai, simplifying the concept to an extreme.

The contemporary interpretation of ikigai sometimes hints at unhealthy work obsessions, mirroring Japan's notorious overwork culture among other extremes we can find in other cultures. At its core, Ikigai emphasizes that life carries intrinsic value and purpose.