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The newsletter that provides actionable life lessons to a wealthier, healthier, and happier future.

Second-Order Thinking

The first domino never looks dangerous.

It’s small. Harmless. Easy to tap.

You tell yourself, “It’s just one late night… just one missed workout… just one impulse purchase.”

But here’s the truth: that one small action rarely stands alone. It’s the first in a chain reaction, quietly knocking over everything that follows.

Let’s say you skip your workout on Monday. No big deal, right?

But Tuesday you wake up feeling a little off, so you hit snooze.

Now you're rushing through your morning, skipping breakfast, reacting instead of responding.

By Thursday, you’ve lost your groove. Motivation dips. Guilt creeps in. You’re not just tired, you’re off balance.

Every time you break a small promise to yourself, it leaves a mark, subconsciously chipping away at your self-trust . The next slip gets easier, and before you know it, you’re not just off track you’re unsure if you can even stay on one.

That’s the real danger of the first domino.

Enter… Second-Order Thinking.

It’s the ability to pause and ask: “And then what?”

Not just “what happens now?”, but “what does this lead to?”

Most people stop at the first domino.

Second-order thinkers look ahead, three, four, five dominos down the line.

They see that one decision to go to bed early might lead to better energy, better choices, better results.

That saying “no” to one night out could open space to say “yes” to a bigger opportunity later.

That not replying out of anger might preserve a relationship worth keeping.

The point isn’t to overthink everything. It’s to think a little further than most.

Try This:

• When making a decision this week, pause and ask: “What happens next?”
  Then ask it again: “And then?” Keep going until you see the ripple.

• Draw your own domino trail.
  Start with a small choice (good or bad) and sketch out where it might lead.
  You’ll be surprised how quickly clarity shows up.

Your life isn’t shaped by one big choice. It’s shaped by all the tiny ones that silently knock over everything that comes next.

In this thought-provoking conversation, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* author Mark Manson joins host Chris Williamson on Modern Wisdom to unpack what it really takes to grow up, stand up for yourself, and live with clarity in a noisy, distracted world.

This isn’t surface-level self-help, it’s a raw and refreshingly honest look at what personal growth actually feels like.

What They Cover:

• How to set better boundaries (and stop betraying yourself)

• Why real confidence comes from action, not affirmation

• Why it’s okay to feel lost when you’re doing something meaningful

• The truth about relationships: if it wrecks your peace, it’s not love

• Why starting before you're ready is the secret to success

• The case for trusting people more (even when it’s scary)

• How to build a life you’re proud of, one hard truth at a time

If you’ve been craving no-nonsense wisdom on how to be more courageous, confident, and true to yourself, this conversation delivers.

It’s packed with reminders, reframes, and real talk to help you stop drifting and start showing up.

We hear it all the time, “you only live once”.

Don’t wait for a crisis to remind you what matters.

This is it. One life. No replays. Make it count while you can still choose how.

The other night I looked up from my phone and somehow it was 10:47 AM. Again.

I’d meant to be asleep by 9PM to get up at 4:30AM. I wasn’t even doing anything urgent, just scrolling, answering one more message, watching one more video on the T.V. And then it hit me: I never miss my morning alarm, but I always miss my bedtime and it is becoming a bad habit.

We all set alarms in the morning to get up for work or other commitments.

So I tried came across this idea that is ridiculously simple: Set a bedtime alarm. Not to wake me up, but to remind me it’s time to shut things down. It goes off at 9:00 PM. That’s my cue to stop working, stop scrolling, and start winding down.

I have used a greyscale mode in the past but after a while, I just kept turning it back to color mode. I will give this a try and see what results it brings!

This has also made me realize, we don’t need more hours, we just need better boundaries.

Try setting your own reverse alarm this week. Your future self will thank you.

Ambitious Question

What are you pretending not to know?

In case you missed this week's newsletter, I spoke about:

TEACH – T-Shaped Thinking – Master one deep skill like a power tool, but keep a broad set of supporting tools to stay adaptable and impactful.

INSIGHTS – Herbs for Parasites – Functional medicine expert Evan Brand reveals how overlooked issues like parasites, mold, and toxins may be the real reason your energy and health feel stuck.

MOTIVATION – Energy and Attention – Focus isn’t about willpower—it’s about protecting your energy from what doesn’t deserve it.

EXPLORE – Reverse Bucket List – Celebrate what you’ve already done to fuel gratitude, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for your journey so far.

Ambitious Question – If your attention is your most valuable currency, what are you currently overpaying for?

Check it out here.

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THANKS FOR READING LEGENDS!