ERIC KIM

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True vs False Passions

True passions: an unadultured passion you’ve had since you were a kid, teenager or high school/college student. For example my passion for working out, fitness, diet and nutrition, modding cars, photography, blogging, travel, new experiences, desire to become self employed.

False passions: passions society superimposes unto you — for example, desire for luxury cars, buying a home, money, etc.

Then it seems in life, one of the great steps towards self wisdom is learning how to distinguish between true and false passions, and to devote more time and effort towards your true passions, while becoming even more mercurial towards the false passions.

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YOU ARE THE CAMERA.

You are the camera, the tool, the instrument. You decide what to photograph and what *not* to photograph.

You don’t need to ‘buy’ a new camera if *you* are the camera!

The Philosophy of Space

Typically we are taught: “The more space, the better”. But through my life experiences, I’ve found this to be patently false. More often than not (due to complex scaling effects) bigger, more space, more heavy, more stuff is worse.

In terms of space, let’s talk about living scenarios. The more space you got, the more difficult it is to light up and brighten, the more difficult it is to keep clean and vacuum, harder to reach or find your stuff, etc.

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The Philosophy of Rationality

Rational — ratio, to compute (reor). Comes from PIE (hreh) to think, which is a reanalyzed root of her- (to put together).

So in some ways, to be “rational” means:

Make decisions based on a “well put together” series of thoughtful reflections.

But this is to give too much credence to “thinking” or “rational thought”. It is of my belief that much of our “thoughts” are simply after-the-fact rationalizations of our “irrational” body-mind.

Thus, rationality doesn’t exist. It is simply a phantom or chimera of our bodily sensations. The mind and brain as the laggard behind our true decision making processes which actually occur in the body.

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Certainty of Decision Making

Life is a series of decision making. But how do you know what the “best” or “right” decision is?

You don’t. But I’ve discovered for myself, the happiest I am is when I have deep certainty in the decisions I’ve made, which are typically more emotional and subjective than “rational” and “logical”.

Self Knowledge

Know thyself

Oracle at Delphi

The only and most meaningful knowledge which can be more accurately ascertained — your knowledge of your self. Self knowledge.

How “Logic” is Overrated

We are taught and trained that logic is supreme and irrationality is bad. But what if logic is overrated, and if we desire to live the best and most supreme life, we should harness our “irrational exuberance” to the extreme?

Strong Desires for Your True Preferences

Obey your desires, especially the strong ones.

And another thing:

Ensure that your desires at the “true” ones — don’t get suckered into desiring “false” things you don’t truly care for.

In other words, obey your strong desires for your true desires and true preferences. Ruthlessly shun false, fake, or the desires of others. And also ignore your “weak” desires.

SHOOT WITH YOUR SOUL.

What is the secret behind making immortal photos? Simple:

Shoot with your soul.

You cannot fake love and enthusiasm, especially when it comes to your photos. Shoot with your entire soul and being, and impute all your artistic faculties, skills, techniques and powers to make the most aesthetically beautiful and powerful images.

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Love and Sacrifice

“Love without sacrifice is theft.” – Nassim Taleb

What makes love so great? The level or degree of sacrifice we put forth in order to verify that love.

The other night when doing the midnight shift taking care of baby Seneca — I remembered and thought:

If having a baby were so easy, the profundity and elevation of joy and love associated with parenthood wouldn’t be verified.

In other words, anything you get, do, receive in life which doesn’t require sacrifice or “skin in the game” isn’t meaningful. In simpler words:

The more we sacrifice for something, the more meaning it has.

Good Impulses, Bad Impulses

It seems modernity says impulses are bad. But there can also be great wisdom behind impulsive behaviors, especially when it comes to art.

Simple thought:

Impulses which come to our “base pleasures” are bad, or financial ones.

Good impulses are related to artistic thoughts, philosophical or poetic thoughts, or anything around your artistic creation!

Living an Entrepreneurial Life is the Best Life

Dear friends I am convinced:

If you desire to extract the maximum from existence, live as maximally a risky, entrepreneurial and adventurous life as possible!

Hypothesis:

Much of our boredom, ennui, depression and existential dread comes from a life and lifestyle which is *too* predictable, caged, domesticated and static.