Tag: YouTube

Bryant H. McGill, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, The Conversation, Tim Ferriss, and a Japanese Proverb

Bryant H. McGill, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, The Conversation, Tim Ferriss, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 8, 2024

Sunday Supplement #187 (December 8th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”

– Bryant H. McGill

Book of the Week:

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t – Steven Pressfield

I featured Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art in Sunday Supplement #37. Pressfield is most famous for his novels The Legend of Bagger Vance and Gates of Fire. His life story includes bouncing around jobs, like advertising, tractor-trailer driver, and fruit picker, amidst bouts of homelessness.

Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t is primarily aimed toward writers, but I found it to be an excellent guide for connecting with others.

In chapter four, Pressfield states, “When you understand that nobody wants to read your shit, you develop empathy.” He explains how putting yourself in your reader’s shoes allows you to develop this empathy skill.

The book is short and easy to read. The chapters exemplify the message they impart. Whether you’re a writer or not, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t is an excellent book on how to move past your ego.

Movie of the Week:

The Conversation

The 1975 Academy Awards featured many classic films, including Chinatown, Murder on the Orient Express, Lenny, and The Godfather Part II.

Francis Ford Coppola won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing for The Godfather Part II. However, he was also nominated in each of these categories (Original Screenplay for Writing) for his film The Conversation.

The Conversation follows a paranoid surveillance expert as he experiences a crisis of conscience after he suspects the couple he is spying on will be murdered.

Gene Hackman performs brilliantly in the leading role of the surveillance expert, along with a notable supporting role performance from John Cazale.

The Conversation can be overlooked in Cinema history, but it is worth watching for film buffs or moviegoers who enjoy a slow-burn story.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Negotiate (or, “The Art of Dealmaking”) | Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, top-rated podcaster, and lifestyle blogger. I’ve featured his books, interviews, and quotes in previous Sunday Supplements.

This video is a seven-minute breakdown of Tim’s principles of negotiation. He starts the video by expressing how you have to persuade others in some capacity throughout life.

While listening to others is important, you shouldn’t have to belittle yourself to make someone else feel understood or accepted.

Tim shares many valuable tips in this video and recommends further reading for those interested in the art of negotiation.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The mouth is the origin of disasters.” (口は災いの元)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb is a fairly straightforward reminder that you should be mindful of what you say because your words might have unintended consequences.

I’m also reminded of how it can be easy to interrupt someone when you have something you want to say rather than actively engaging in listening to what the other person has to say.

What I take away from this proverb is not to rush when conversing with someone. Take time to listen and understand what the other person is saying.

Create space to listen to yourself and others, and have a blessed week ahead!

Louise L. Hay, Siddhartha, The Fountain, Daily Stoic, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 24, 2024

Sunday Supplement #185 (November 24th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, for ‘we’ are the only thinkers in our mind. When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, we will find it in our lives.”

– Louise L. Hay

Book of the Week:

Siddhartha – Herman Hesse

Herman Hesse’s 1922 novel tells the story of a wealthy Indian Brahmin who casts off a life of privilege to seek spiritual fulfillment.

The Indian Brahmin Siddhartha experiences homelessness, fasting, and meditation with his friend Govinda at the start of his journey.

Siddhartha eventually takes his own path and pursues a partnership with a woman, Kamala, while attaining wealth. His final journey leads him on another pilgrimage to enlightenment.

Hesse’s classic novel meditates on various philosophies, including Eastern religions, Western individualism, and Jungian archetypes.

I highly recommend this novel for a meaningful exploration of purpose and balance in life.

Movie of the Week:

The Fountain

Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky has had an incredible film career, with films such as Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Black Swan, and The Whale.

However, my favorite Aronofsky film remains The Fountain.

The film consists of three storylines involving a quest for immortality, a dying love, and a pursuit of avoiding fate in this life or the next.

One story is set in the Spanish Conquistador era, one in the present, and one in the 26th century. Each features versions of the same main characters portrayed by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz.

The Fountain is a brilliant film that utilizes every element of the medium to craft a beautiful story.

Brainfood of the Week:

How Stoics Find Balance in Their Life | Daily Stoic

Ryan Holiday is a bestselling author, businessman, and podcaster. His YouTube Channel, Daily Stoic, has almost two million followers and features videos on Stoicism for modern times.

I featured Ryan Holiday’s book The Obstacle is the Way in Sunday Supplement #36 and another Daily Stoic video in Sunday Supplement #102.

In this video, Holiday discusses principles the Stoics followed that allowed them to find balance in their lives, including temperance, presence, and negative capability.

Holiday’s work, the Stoics, and this video are worth checking out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Content with whatever gains come of its own accord, and free from envy, they are beyond the dualities of life. Being equipoised in success and failure, they are not bound by their actions, even while performing all kinds of activities.”

– Bhagavad Gita 4:22

This Bhagavad Gita verse is an excellent reminder to find balance amidst life’s positive and negative experiences.

We cannot remove all negative experiences from our lives, but we can find a way to accept them and move forward.

If we overly attach ourselves to positivity, we can begin to avoid anything that could result in failure and fall victim to a hubris nature.

Instead, this verse reminds us to take things in stride and not get overly caught up in narratives around our actions.

Find balance and calm in your presence, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1Q84, Benny & Joon, Sadhguru, and a Japanese Proverb

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1Q84, Benny & Joon, Sadhguru, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 28, 2024

Sunday Supplement #168 (July 28th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Always do what you’re afraid to do.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Book of the Week:

1Q84 – Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 is one of his most critically divisive novels. It is over 1000 pages, depending on the edition you pick up, so I recommend it with a grain of salt.

The novel has a dual narrative between childhood friends Aomame and Tengo. Aomame begins to notice strange changes in her world (a fictional 1984 Japan) and embarks on a journey to discover what is real.

Tengo is a math tutor tasked with re-writing a novel by a girl he finds to be an account of her life in a cult. When he follows this thread, his world collides with Aomame again.

For me, reading Murakami’s prose is an experience akin to experiencing a dream. IQ84 isn’t one of my favorite Murakami novels, but it delivers on its epic scale and is worth the look for those interested.

I’ve featured Haruki Murakami’s books in three previous Sunday Supplements, and I highly recommend checking out his work.

Movie of the Week:

Benny & Joon

I watched Benny & Joon a little while ago and was delighted at the film’s scale and its delivery of a heartfelt story. There don’t seem to be as many smaller movies like these lately.

The story follows a mechanic, Benny, who takes care of his sister, Joon. He struggles with her doctor’s opinion that Joon should live in an assisted living facility.

When Benny loses a bet to his friend, he takes on another roommate in the form of Sam, an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton.

Benny finds the living situation surprisingly effective when Sam and Joon form a bond, but he still struggles with living his own life in fear of Joon’s safety.

The Jeremiah S. Chechik directed, Barry Berman and Lesley McNeil written film has a standout cast that includes Aidan Quinn, Mary Stuart Masterson, Johnny Depp, and Julianne Moore.

Brainfood of the Week:

Troubled By Fear? Just Change Your Channel! – Sadhguru

I’ve featured Sadhguru in a handful of previous Sunday Supplements. He is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. His YouTube page has over 11 million followers.

In this video, Sadhguru responds to a question about how to overcome fear. He then discusses how fear can be excessive imagination about things that are not happening.

We can project imaginary scenarios that cause fear instead of overcoming what exists in the present.

Sadhguru advises working on gardening your thought patterns to produce different scenarios in your mind.

I think the video is an interesting reminder to control our thoughts instead of letting narratives run wild in our minds without our choosing.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember, trees lose their leaves every year, yet they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.”

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb reminds me not to let fears spiral out of control. I think when things don’t go as you hoped or planned, it’s easy to feel lost or worthless.

Whenever you get stuck in a bad situation, good times can feel so far away, and it might feel like you’ll never find your way back.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts, but it’s worth remembering that time will pass and things will change.

I think this proverb is a perfect example of the passage of time and how even when things seem bleak, there will be better times ahead. We shouldn’t dwell on what we cannot control.

Don’t let fear run amok, take action, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Dalai Lama, Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Tony Robbins, and a Bible Passage

Dalai Lama, Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Tony Robbins, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 7, 2024

Sunday Supplement #165 (July 7th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.”

– Dalai Lama

Book of the Week:

Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking – Michael J. Ritt Jr.

I featured Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich in Sunday Supplement #85. The title might throw some people off, but I found some of its advice invaluable.

Napoleon Hill’s journey involved discovering the commonalities between the most successful people in various fields and compiling them to present to the public.

Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking is a compilation of some of the best principles from Hill’s best works.

Michael J. Ritt Jr. worked for Napoleon Hill, and his compilation was released as an official publication of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

It is a short read, and at least one worthwhile tip is waiting for you to pick up in this book. I found the book an enjoyable read and one I’ll revisit in the future.

Movie of the Week:

Searching for Bobby Fischer

The 1993 film Searching for Bobby Fischer, written and directed by Steve Zaillian, was based on the story of child chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin.

The book on which the film was based was written by Josh’s dad, Fred Waitzkin. It follows Josh’s journey in the competitive chess world as he’s encouraged to harden himself to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

The film features brilliant performances from Max Pomeranc as Josh, Joe Mantegna as Fred, Joan Allen as Josh’s Mom, Joan, Ben Kingsley as Josh’s coach Bruce, and Lawrence Fishburne as Josh’s coach Vinnie.

Searching for Bobby Fischer was nominated for one Oscar (Best Cinematography), but I think it deserved many more.

The film is an excellent exploration of childhood, parenting, teaching, and the pursuit of success. Even if you don’t like or know much about chess, add this movie to your watchlist.

Brainfood of the Week:

These 3 Questions Will Change How You Do EVERYTHING! | Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and leading life and business strategist.

This video is a clip from one of Robbins’s seminars. In the video, Robbins discusses three questions and how they affect our lives.

The three questions are: What are you going to focus on? What does this mean? What am I going to do?

Robbins breaks down how we shape our experience of life based on our answers to these questions (consciously or subconsciously).

I’ve featured three Tony Robbins books in previous Sunday Supplements. Check out this short video and see if you’re interested in checking out more of Tony Robbins’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

– Matthew 5:8

The Ten Commandments from the Bible are often highlighted, but I find the Beatitudes a more interesting guide to living a good life. Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount is a powerful message, and I highly encourage you to read it at some point.

Matthew 5:8 is a verse from this passage, and I find you can take a lot from just this verse. I’ll start with the latter, “for they will see God.” I’m reminded of the verse John 4:8, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

As for the beginning of the above verse, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” I think of the Bible’s description of purity relating to guiltless, blameless, or innocent behavior.

For me, Matthew 5:8 reminds us to be honest, uplifting, and loving; in turn, we will see the love in this world.

Stay positive, move forward with positivity, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Margaret Fuller, Dopamine Nation, Dallas Buyers Club, Philosophy Tube, and a Tao Te Ching Verse

Margaret Fuller, Dopamine Nation, Dallas Buyers Club, Philosophy Tube, and a Tao Te Ching Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 9, 2024

Sunday Supplement #161 (June 9th, 2024)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”

– Margaret Fuller

Book of the Week:

Dopamine Nation – Anna Lembke, MD

In Dopamine Nation, Stamford University professor of psychiatry Dr. Anna Lembke discusses our modern-day culture steeped in unprecedented access to high-dopamine stimuli.

Lembke shares stories from patients from her practice (provided with consent) that reflect the various pitfalls of addiction and paths to redemption and balance.

So much of society is geared toward seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. Lembke’s book shows the scientific studies of how the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain.

I found the book incredibly insightful on addiction and how prevalent it is in our lives. Left unchecked, we can move through our days on autopilot, trying to avoid pain and seek comfort without questioning our actions or understanding their consequences.

Movie of the Week:

Dallas Buyers Club

The 2013 biographical film Dallas Buyers Club tells the story of Ron Woodroof, a cowboy who contracted AIDS in the mid-1980s.

Woodroof is told he has thirty days to live. He tries AZT, a drug approved for testing in the United States to combat the AIDS virus, but finds it doesn’t help.

The stigmatization of AIDS and those who contracted it during this time period resulted in Woodroof being ostracized by those he knew and developing friendships with people he ostracized himself.

Woodroof travels to Mexico in search of drugs to combat the AIDS virus. He finds success and makes trips to bring back the drugs to help others but faces pushback from the FDA.

Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, and Jared Leto star in the Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack written script directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. I highly recommend this Academy Award-winning film.

Brainfood of the Week:

Knowledge Explained | Philosophy Tube ft. Animalogic

Philosophy Tube is a YouTube Channel that dissects philosophical concepts with entertaining videos. Their channel has over 1.5 million subscribers and over 100 million views.

In this video, Philosophy Tube goes over two types of knowledge: knowledge – that and knowledge – how.

Knowledge – That is based on justified true beliefs. Knowledge – How is based on understanding the connection between results and your actions.

A part of the video I really enjoyed was learning about the Gettier Problem, which involves holding a justified true belief and later learning that it was wrong. Pluto is used as an example.

I thought this was a fun video that came across my YouTube feed. Check it out and check out Philosophy Tube’s channel if you are interested.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Those who seek knowledge, Collect something every day. Those who seek the Way, Let go of something every day.”

– Tao Te Ching (Verse 48)

The Tao Te Ching is a central Taoist text associated with the philosopher Lao Tzu. Taoism holds that humans and animals should live in balance with the universe (the Tao – The Way).

In this verse from the Tao Te Ching, I’m reminded to let go of beliefs (knowledge) that hold me back from being my best self or blind me from being open to seeing other perspectives.

I think knowledge can be good when used to better yourself or in service of others, but it can also be often used as a tool of belittling or control.

I featured Ursula K. Le Guin’s translation of the Tao Te Ching in Sunday Supplement #143. I highly recommend perusing this text if you are interested.

Think about how you use the knowledge you’ve obtained, and have a blessed week ahead!

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