[UP 033] - The two questions to understand any wild behaviour

How’s it going?

Hope you’re doing well.

We’re here again, edition #033 of UP.

Here’s the menu:

🔍 Confidence Conundrum: We’ll unpack the delicate balance of underestimating and overestimating our confidence, and how it shapes our decisions and actions.

🔥 Sauna Secrets: We’ll explore the surprising benefits of different sauna experiences, from traditional Finnish saunas to modern infrared warmth.

🌐 Life’s Many Lenses: We’ll delve into the diverse perspectives shaped by our unique life experiences, inspired by wisdom from one of my fave recent reads.

Let's get started shall we?

Confidence Conundrum

So here's an interesting thought... Are you 'under placing' or 'over placing' in your beliefs relative to others?

I got this from reading a blog this week about overconfidence and thought it was worth posing to you here.

When it comes to our confidence, we humans are so funny.

We have a tendency to get our judgments so off base sometimes, both under and over-optimistically.

For someone’s daily work like a driver let’s say, we’ll flat out confidently state with a dry matter-of-fact tone that that’s a cakewalk.

“Easy work.”

Meanwhile something as trivial as juggling, we’ll kindly pass not to display our inadequate attempts to keep our delicate ego’s safe.

“Not right now.”

I’m joking around with these scenarios of course, but more or less this is our pattern as a species; over and underestimating ‘task difficulty.’

The cost of this inaccuracy?

Time, money, stress.

But which is worse?

Under placement (of your beliefs of how confident you are relative to others) or over placement?

Turns out it's over-placement.

Well, this is according to Daniel Kahneman ('Thinking Fast and Slow' author and Nobel Laureate) at least.

It leads to us take risks we can't afford to take, enter competitions we have no chance of winning and take public stances in ways that aren't appreciated as much as we think!

But in my view, as long as we don't cross the line and get ourselves into these extremes where it's 'all on the line' whereby a loss wipes us out of the game altogether, I actually think 'under placement' is the 'underrated' greater danger of the two!

Why do I say that?

Well...

Less confidence = less action = less learning = less competence = less confidence.

And so the cycle continues.

Failure (as long as we don't cross that line into the 'all or nothin' zone, remember!) IS GOOD.

Failure plants the seeds of success.

It allows us to move forward and progress.

Our wins are great, but our losses help us too.

We ‘win or learn’ as the saying goes in many elite sporting lockerrooms.

We’re acting as antifragile beings where our mindset towards failure echoes what Nietzsche would say ‘What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.’

Anyway, just my take.

‘Move forward into the unknown, (to the point it won’t wipe you out!) get the lessons, and come back stronger than before.’

The issue of course is managing all that downside.

Way easier said than done, even if you’re not taking it up to the edge.

We’ll have to cover risk mitigation another time.

But I’d love to know, what’s true for you when it comes to progress?

While you’re considering that question, let’s heat things up.

Sauna Secrets

Last week I was all ‘get gifts for people’ and now here I am, about to share how I bought a gift for myself.

But really it’s for you so I can share you with you what I learn.

Okay I’m kidding it’s 100% for me, but I will definitely still share my learnings.

So what am I talking about?

Well, with Black Friday sales everywhere, I decided to invest in something a bit different this year.

I've always been intrigued by the benefits of saunas, especially for detoxification and improved sleep. So, I finally made the leap and got the Infrared Sauna Blanket by Bon Charge.

For us Huberman bros who know the importance of saunas with respect to recovery, this could be a game-changer in giving us all access to the benefits of a sauna without having to argue with the other half as to where it should go!

So as promised, lesson time.

Let's dive into something fascinating about saunas: Not all sauna experiences are created equal, and it mainly boils down to the type of infrared technology used - near, mid, or far infrared.

Basically, each penetrates your skin at different levels and offers unique health benefits. Let’s take a look:

Near Infrared (NIR): This type is known for its skin-rejuvenating properties. NIR penetrates the outermost layer of your skin, promoting cell health and skin revitalization. It's like giving your skin a natural, healthy glow from the inside out.

Mid Infrared (MIR): A deeper reach into the body’s soft tissue increases circulation, releasing oxygen to reach injured areas. MIR is especially beneficial for improving muscle recovery and reducing joint pain – great for those who love to stay active.

Far Infrared (FIR): This is where deep heat meets deep health benefits. FIR penetrates the deepest, reaching muscles and even your internal organs. It's excellent for detoxification, as it helps your body sweat out toxins at a deeper level. Plus, it’s this deep, soothing warmth that's known to aid in better sleep.

Interesting right?

So then what about the local health club sauna vs one of these weird blankets vs outdoor saunas?

Well, let’s take a look at the heating mechanisms:

The far infrared heat is what you get with the blanket and modern saunas for the home.

These heaters do a better job not only with the depth of penetration they reach as just explained, but they also are more targeted and therefore more efficient in their power usage and time.

Meanwhile the typical health club spa?

That is effectively the opposite.

They are more of the Finnish type of sauna. Named for their common use in, yes you guessed it, Finland.

Instead of using infrared light, they heat the air inside the sauna with hot stones.

This method warms the body but doesn’t penetrate as deeply as far infrared heat. It also takes more time and energy to heat the entire room.

It's not that one is better than the other; they just offer different experiences.

The Finnish sauna heats the air around you, providing a more traditional sauna experience, complete with a little slice of social connection to go with it.

In contrast, infrared saunas like the blanket offer a more targeted, deeper heat. So more precise and efficient.

So, whether you’re looking for skin health, muscle recovery, or deep detoxification, there's a sauna experience out there waiting for you.

And if you’re like me, looking to bring this experience home, consider a sauna blanket as a convenient alternative.

As we head into the colder months, it's the perfect time to explore the warm, health-boosting benefits of infrared saunas.

Let’s wrap up with a little bit on how

Life’s Many Lenses

In the relationship section this week, let's talk about a profound idea from Morgan Housel's "Same as Ever" – a book that's quickly become one of my favorites this year.

The final chapter titled "Wounds Heal, Scars Last" gives us an invaluable lesson about the impact of life experiences and how it shapes our mindsets and thus effects our relationships.

Housel draws parallels between historical events and their long-lasting psychological impacts.

For instance, the physical devastation of 9/11 isn't as evident in New York City today as it is in the heightened security at airports across the U.S.

Similarly, a study of 20,000 World War II survivors showed a 3% higher likelihood of diabetes and a 6% increase in depression rates.

These individuals, shaped by the trauma of war, were less likely to marry and found less satisfaction in adult life.

Even those who lived through the Great Depression in the U.S. were marked by a craving for security, often choosing safe and unadventurous work during the more prosperous 1950s.

The essence of Housel's message is that mindsets, shaped by personal experiences, are far harder to repair than physical or financial damages.

When two people debate, they aren’t just disagreeing on opinions; they’re often clashing due to their distinct life experiences and perspectives.

He proposes a question that can bridge this gap of understanding which I absolutely love:

This question encourages empathy and understanding, leading to less conflict and division in both our personal lives and society at large.

However, thinking about this further, just as Housel’s book talks about how things don’t change, it’s important to acknowledge our human nature and how it doesn’t change here too.

For instance, despite our efforts to understand, some will always believe that only their experience is valid.

It's a reminder that while we can strive for empathy and understanding, we must also recognize and respect the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.

The next time you find yourself getting a little too defensive with your views or wanting to correct someone, slow down and come back to the question:

"What have you experienced that I haven't that makes you believe what you do? And would I think about the world like you do if I experienced what you have?"

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That’s us done.

Thanks for reading and being here as a subscriber. Truly appreciated.

If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.

I’m gonna go and reflect on whether I’m under or over placing on my confidence on my newsletter growth goals for 2024.

See you next week.

Always Forward,
Utkarsh