Juan David’s Newsletter - January 3rd, 2023
Less Reasoning, More Finding Out
Happy New Year!
Last week, I wrote this essay about Christmas, and many people resonated with it.
I continued to reflect on why some perspectives and experiences feel heavier as I get older.
Just like Doc from Back to the Future, I often wonder why some things seem heavier now.
That is one thing I want to fix for 2023, and I want to take things more lightly by being more open.
When I say “open,” I don’t mean bullshit like being “open-minded” or being “present.”
Being open means letting go of our beliefs, convictions, and thoughts and allowing ourselves to observe, experience, and find out. Not everything has to be about action, moving fast, and working hard.
I could reason, think hard, and develop projects to fix certain feelings. Sometimes, that’s the right approach, but there are times when it’s not, and that’s where being open is key.
Simone Weil described being open beautifully, “The great human error is to reason in place of finding out.”
I have often made the mistake of relying too heavily on reasoning and argumentation instead of on the process of discovery and learning. True understanding comes not from imposing our preconceptions on the world, but rather from being open and receptive to what the world has to teach us.
Listening and paying attention is a very underrated way to gain understanding.
I arrived at a similar conclusion independently earlier in my life, and it’s one of the most important things I’ve learned in this life:
The Paradox of Intentionality
If you want something, you need to intensely want it but also be indifferent about it.
Most people are either all in or nihilistic.
When it comes to experiencing life, I need to be almost nihilistic to experience whatever happens. However, when something catches my attention fully, I can turn on my “all-in” energy and move forward.
While writing my Annual Review, I realized that was a big reason why I lost momentum with the flying project. I was so committed to figuring out why and how everything worked and allowed myself little time to be open to new possibilities, such as different projects.
My state of mind was all reasoning, little finding out. That has been true for a long time in my life, and something I want to improve on in 2023.
So next time an experience, person, or event seems heavy, remember to be open to going through whatever happens.
For years, I had the phrase "Search, Find, and Follow" on my website as a reminder of the importance of staying open and receptive to new experiences and ideas.
Now more than ever, I need to learn and internalize it once and for all.
I want to approach life with an open and receptive mindset. By letting go of my preconceived beliefs and allowing myself to observe, experience, and learn, I can gain a deeper understanding of the world around me.
As I reflect on my own experiences and mistakes, I am reminded of the value of being open and attentive to new possibilities. In the coming year, I want to remain open to truly finding out.
The 2022 Annual Review is coming this weekend so get ready! It’s the most vulnerable and personal writing I publish every year.
Back to writing the 2022 Annual Review,
Juan David Campolargo