Reinvent Yourself: How To Completely Change Your Life Before 2024 | Cal Newport

Summary

The video script outlines a structured approach to rebuilding one's life into a deeper, more meaningful existence, known as the Deep Life Stack. The process involves four sequential layers: Discipline, Values, Calm, and Plan. Discipline is the foundational layer, where individuals cultivate self-identification as someone who can persist with difficult tasks for long-term benefits. This is followed by Values, where one establishes a personal code of conduct, rituals, and routines that reinforce their core beliefs. The Calm layer focuses on gaining control over life through organizational and productivity systems, creating breathing room for more significant changes. Finally, the Plan layer involves making more significant life changes across various areas such as career, relationships, and personal growth. The script emphasizes the importance of a strong foundation in discipline and values before pursuing more ambitious life changes. It concludes with the recommendation to iterate and refine the process annually, using it as a tool for continuous self-improvement.

Takeaways

• 📝 **Discipline Foundation**: The first step to a deeper life is developing discipline, which involves self-identification as someone who can persist through difficulties for long-term goals.
• 🔄 **Identity Shift**: Transitioning from a self-perception of lack of discipline to embracing an identity of discipline is critical for personal transformation.
• 📚 **Start Small, Grow Steadily**: Begin with small, non-trivial commitments that require discipline and gradually increase the difficulty to build the habit of discipline.
• 🗃️ **Centralized Tracking**: Establish a dedicated system or place to keep track of all commitments and goals to maintain a sense of order and direction.
• 🌟 **Values Clarity**: The second layer involves defining one's values and creating a personal code that guides decisions and actions, ensuring they align with these values.
• 🧘 **Rituals and Routines**: Develop rituals and routines that reinforce the identified values and code, providing a structured approach to living by one's principles.
• 🍃 **Calm and Control**: Gain control over life through organizational and productivity systems to create a sense of calm, which provides the breathing room for deeper reflection and change.
• ⚖️ **Minimalism and Simplification**: Use the control gained to simplify life by removing unnecessary obligations, focusing on what truly aligns with one's values and goals.
• 📈 **Professional and Personal Capital**: Build up career and personal capital by effectively managing time and tasks, which provides more options and freedom for transformation.
• 🎯 **Plan and Execute**: The final layer involves planning and making bigger picture changes in life areas such as career, relationships, and personal growth, using the foundation of discipline and values.
• 🔁 **Iterative Refinement**: Regularly revisit and refine each layer of the 'Deep Life Stack', ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with one's evolving values and goals.

Q & A

What is the Deep Life Stack?

The Deep Life Stack is a conceptual framework for rebuilding one's life into something deeper. It consists of four sequential levels: discipline, values, calm, and plan. Each level builds upon the previous one, creating a foundation for personal transformation and growth.

Why is discipline considered the first layer of the Deep Life Stack?

Discipline is the first layer because it is foundational for personal transformation. It involves changing one's self-identification to become someone who can persist with difficult tasks in pursuit of long-term goals. This requires cultivating the habit of discipline through specific projects that challenge but are not overwhelming.

What is the purpose of establishing a centralized route for tracking commitments in the discipline step?

The centralized route, such as a folder, a drawer, or a desk, serves as a directory to keep track of all commitments, rules, systems, and goals. It is the starting point for the ultimate life planning processes and helps in practicing long-term value-oriented commitments.

How does the values layer of the Deep Life Stack contribute to personal development?

The values layer involves establishing what is important to the individual and creating a code of conduct based on these values. It includes rituals and routines that reinforce these values in daily life, providing a clear direction and purpose that guides decision-making and actions.

What is the significance of the calm layer in the Deep Life Stack?

The calm layer is about gaining control over one's life and using that control to create breathing room. It involves setting up organizational and productivity systems to manage professional and personal obligations effectively. This control allows for simplification of life and prepares the individual for bigger picture changes.

How does the plan layer of the Deep Life Stack relate to making significant life changes?

The plan layer is where individuals divide their life into major areas of importance and start thinking about the desired changes in each area. It is the stage where more significant life design changes take place, such as career planning or lifestyle adjustments, but only after establishing a strong foundation in the previous layers.

Why is iteration an important part of the Deep Life Stack process?

Iteration is crucial as it allows for continuous improvement and adaptation. After completing the stack, one should revisit each layer periodically, making necessary adjustments and refinements. This ensures that the individual's systems and disciplines remain aligned with their current values and goals.

What is the relationship between discipline and freedom as discussed in the script?

The relationship between discipline and freedom is that discipline provides the foundation for freedom. By being disciplined in certain areas, such as time management and personal goals, individuals create the flexibility and time affluence needed to pursue other interests and make significant life changes.

How does the Deep Life Stack help in managing time and obligations?

The Deep Life Stack, particularly the calm layer, helps in managing time and obligations by establishing organizational systems and productivity practices. This allows individuals to have control over their schedule, make informed decisions about their commitments, and create space for reflection and significant changes.

What are some examples of initial discipline projects that one might undertake?

Examples of initial discipline projects include training for a 5K, reading a set number of books per month, overhauling one's nutrition, starting a new workout routine, or committing to a regular volunteering activity. The key is to choose projects that require consistent effort and push the individual beyond trivial pursuits.

How does the Deep Life Stack approach differ from traditional lifestyle design advice?

The Deep Life Stack approach differs by emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong foundation of discipline and values before making significant life changes. It suggests that without this foundation, any major changes made to one's life are likely to be haphazard and unsustainable.

What role does self-identification play in the process of rebuilding life as per the Deep Life Stack?

Self-identification plays a crucial role as it is the first step in changing one's behavior and habits. By identifying oneself as a disciplined person who can pursue long-term goals, individuals set the stage for the subsequent layers of the Deep Life Stack, making it easier to commit to values, maintain calm, and plan effectively.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Building a Deep Life through Discipline

The first paragraph introduces the concept of the 'Deep Life Stack', a four-level structure designed to help individuals rebuild their lives into something deeper. The speaker emphasizes the importance of discipline as the foundational layer of this stack. Discipline is defined not merely as an action but as a self-identity that involves persisting with difficult tasks for a greater good in the future. The speaker suggests starting with small, non-trivial commitments that require discipline and gradually increasing the level of difficulty. Establishing a centralized system or 'route' to track these commitments is also crucial, as it forms the basis for the subsequent layers of the stack.

05:01

🛠️ Defining Values and Creating a Personal Code

The second paragraph delves into the second layer of the Deep Life Stack, which is about establishing one's values. Values are described as truths that are important to the individual and form the basis of life structure. The paragraph outlines three components to identifying values: code, rituals, and routines. Code refers to a set of principles or ethics that guide decision-making. Rituals are practices that reinforce these values, and routines are regular activities that support them. The speaker also notes that while religion can provide a pre-packaged answer to these components, one can also develop a personal code and rituals without religious affiliation. The values identified are then recorded in the system established during the discipline phase.

10:02

🧘 Achieving Calm through Organization and Productivity

The third paragraph discusses the 'calm' layer of the stack, which is about gaining control over one's life and using that control to create breathing room. This involves setting up organizational and productivity systems to manage professional and personal obligations effectively. The speaker stresses the importance of having control over one's time and commitments to simplify life and reduce stress. This layer also involves minimalism and pruning unnecessary activities to create space for more significant changes. The calm layer is essential for building career capital and ensuring that the foundation is strong before attempting more ambitious changes.

15:04

📈 Planning and Executing Life Changes with a Solid Foundation

The fourth paragraph moves on to the 'plan' layer, which is about making significant life changes once the foundational layers of discipline, values, and calm are in place. This layer involves dividing life into major areas of importance and considering what changes are needed to better fulfill one's values. The speaker discusses the importance of not overhauling everything at once but focusing on one area at a time. This layer also includes career planning and lifestyle design. The paragraph emphasizes that without a strong foundation, any significant changes made will be unstable and likely to fail. The decisions made at this layer are recorded in the central repository set up during the discipline phase.

20:05

🔄 Iterating and Refactoring for Continuous Improvement

The final paragraph discusses the iterative process of reviewing and refining the Deep Life Stack. After implementing all layers, one should revisit each layer periodically, focusing on areas that need the most work. This process, suggested to be done annually, involves checking and adjusting disciplines, values, organizational systems, and life plans. The speaker recommends using a birthday as an anchor for this annual review. The iterative process ensures that the individual's life structure remains flexible and responsive to changes, allowing for continuous improvement and adaptation to new circumstances.

Keywords

💡Deep life stack

The 'Deep life stack' is a conceptual model introduced in the video to represent a structured approach to personal development and life transformation. It consists of four sequential layers: discipline, values, calm, and plan. The stack serves as a framework to help individuals cultivate a deeper, more meaningful life by first establishing self-discipline, then identifying core values, gaining control over their life (calm), and finally making strategic plans for life changes. It is central to the video's theme of personal growth and transformation.

💡Discipline

In the context of the video, 'discipline' is the foundational layer of the Deep life stack. It refers to the ability to persist with difficult tasks in the moment to achieve long-term goals. It's about self-identification as a person who can maintain self-control and commit to tasks even when they are not immediately exciting. The video emphasizes that discipline is not just an action but an identity that requires cultivation. An example from the script is committing to a workout routine or reading a certain number of books per month.

💡Values

'Values' represent the second layer of the Deep life stack and are the principles or truths that guide an individual's life. They are what the person considers important and around which they structure their life. The video discusses the importance of identifying one's values as a critical step in personal development. An example given is creating a 'code' that outlines what one stands for and will live by, which could include integrity, honesty, or the protection of others.

💡Calm

'Calm' is the third layer of the Deep life stack and pertains to gaining control over one's life. It involves organizational and productivity systems that help manage professional and personal obligations. The goal is to create a sense of control and breathing room, which allows for minimalism and simplification of life. The video suggests that without a sense of calm and control, it's challenging to make significant life changes or pursue personal growth effectively.

💡Plan

'Plan' is the top layer of the Deep life stack and involves strategic life design and planning. It's where individuals divide their life into major areas of importance and consider what changes they want to make to better fulfill their values. The video emphasizes that without the foundational layers of discipline, values, and calm, any plans made at this level are likely to be haphazard and unsuccessful. An example includes overhauling one's career or relationships to align with their values and life vision.

💡Code

In the video, a 'code' is a set of principles or rules that an individual lives by, which reflects their values and identity. It includes what they strive to do and what they will never do. The code is a guiding force that shapes decisions and actions, often requiring individuals to do things that are hard or scary in the moment but align with their long-term values. It is part of the values layer in the Deep life stack.

💡Rituals

'Rituals' are practices or actions that individuals commit to as part of reinforcing their values and code. They are regular activities that help to solidify an individual's commitment to their values. The video suggests that rituals can be personal or religious in nature, such as daily meditation, reading philosophy books, or observing religious practices like Shabbat. Rituals are a part of the values layer and contribute to the individual's identity.

💡Routines

In the context of the video, 'routines' are regular, repeated actions that individuals incorporate into their daily or weekly schedules to support their values. Routines ensure that an individual is actively pursuing and reflecting their values in their everyday life. Examples from the script include volunteering monthly or engaging in a specific workout routine. Routines are part of the values layer and are designed to maintain discipline and commitment.

💡Iterate

'Iterate' in the video refers to the process of revisiting and refining each layer of the Deep life stack after an initial setup. It involves going back through the stack, checking progress, and making necessary adjustments to disciplines, values, and systems. The video suggests that this process should be done periodically, such as once a year, to ensure continuous growth and alignment with one's values and goals. Iteration is a cyclical process that helps maintain and improve the structure and effectiveness of the Deep life stack.

💡Organizational systems

Within the 'Calm' layer of the Deep life stack, 'organizational systems' are the tools or methods used to manage and control various aspects of one's life, including time management and task tracking. The video emphasizes the importance of having a structured approach to handling daily obligations to create space for more significant life changes and personal growth. An example given is using a time block planner or a task management system to maintain control over one's schedule and commitments.

💡Keystone habits

'Keystone habits' are not explicitly defined in the video but can be inferred as significant habits that have a profound impact on an individual's life and can influence other areas of behavior. They are likely part of the 'Plan' layer, where individuals consider specific habits or practices that can lead to broader changes in their life. An example might be a daily exercise routine that not only improves physical health but also enhances discipline, time management, and mental well-being.

Highlights

The concept of the 'Deep Life Stack' is introduced, which is a sequential process to rebuild life into something deeper.

The first layer of the stack focuses on developing discipline, which is crucial for self-identification as a person who can persist with difficult tasks.

Discipline is not just an action, but an identity that requires cultivation.

The second layer involves establishing values, which are the truths that structure one's life and are important to the individual.

Values are defined by a code of conduct, rituals, and routines that reinforce what the individual values and takes seriously.

Religion can provide a pre-packaged answer to code, rituals, and routines, but they can also be developed independently of religious beliefs.

The third layer, 'Calm', is about gaining control over life and using that control to create breathing room.

Control enables the organization of professional and personal life, and the ability to manage time effectively.

The fourth and final layer, 'Plan', involves dividing life into major areas and making thoughtful changes to better fulfill one's values.

The Deep Life Stack emphasizes the importance of a strong foundation before making significant life changes.

The stack includes an iterative process, where one revisits and refines each layer periodically, ideally once a year.

Having a centralized place to keep track of commitments and progress is essential and is established in the discipline layer.

The stack is designed to be a blend of psychology, practical habit formation, and visionary planning.

Discipline equals freedom, as it provides the structure necessary to achieve goals and maintain flexibility.

The process is not about complicating life but rather about creating a structured approach to achieve a meaningful and deep life.

The Deep Life Stack is a reflection of the speaker's personal approach to life organization and transformation.

The stack is designed to be adaptable, allowing for individual differences and growth over time.

The importance of starting with small, manageable disciplines to build the psychological switch for long-term commitment and success.

Transcripts

how do I rebuild my life into something

deeper

all right so I'm going to load up on the

screen here my notes I'm going to draw

so caveat emptier Cal newport's gonna

try drawing this never ends up being

that beautiful so be ready for it uh if

you're listening and you want to watch

what I'm drawing on the screen this is

episode 252. so go to youtube.com

calnewport media and look for episode

252 or go to the deeplife.com and look

for episode 252. I'll also do my best to

narrate what I'm drawing for those who

are just listening all right so what

you'll see on the screen here is what I

call the Deep life stack right now I

have it empty we're going to fill in the

details as we go along

the stack has four different levels to

it I'll highlight those at level one two

three four uh the way I'm conceptualized

in deep life stack is sequential

you start with developing the bottom

layer of the stack

then you move up to the second layer

then the third then the fourth and then

we're going to iterate and we'll get

into that soon all right so what happens

on the first layer of the deep life

stack

this is the first big

change or breakthrough I would say I've

had when thinking about the Deep life

more recently but I'm going to put at

this bottom layer

it's going to be discipline

that's going to mean two things but let

me let me say

what my goal is here I'm realizing when

it comes to cultivating a different type

of Life any type of transformation you

have to first change your

self-identification to be the type of

person who is able

to persist with things that are

difficult in the moment in pursuit of a

greater good

down the line and I think it's very easy

for people like me who give advice for a

living who've been doing this for a long

time to take for granted that that's

what we do already but this is actually

for most people maybe the most critical

step is transitioning from someone who

says look this is not me

I don't have discipline I'm not really

able to pursue goals unless I feel

really excited about it in the moment

how do we shift that self-identity

and it's long time listeners of the show

know I really do see discipline as an

identity

it is not something you do it is an

identity you see yourself as someone who

is disciplined or you don't that

requires some cultivation

so at the very bottom of the deep life

stack and this is why I've highlighted

this you would get started by putting

some elements into your life

that required discipline to accomplish

and it it doesn't really matter when

we're First beginning here

what these are

you just want to push them to be past

what's trivial

but still south of intractable

so where you're starting from might

depend where how uh ambitious these

initial bits of discipline are so this

is where you might say look I'm going to

train for a 5k I am going to read five

books a month you're trying to find

something that's going to require some

discipline I'm going to overhaul my

nutrition I'm going to do something new

I'm going to do this workout routine try

to hit a streak on pelathon whatever it

is

you're calibrating it to where you are

and I don't really care at first the

content of these things you're pursuing

with discipline this is identity

formation

and that's where we get started you take

a couple things in your life

you say how can I make progress on this

every day and if it's too hard you find

something easier until you can move up

to something harder but you're

establishing discipline the second piece

here

is you're going to establish your route

for everything we're about to do a

directory a folder a drawer and a desk

where it's going to be the one place

where you keep track of everything that

you've committed to do in your life your

rules your systems your goals so you're

going to initialize this route to your

ultimate life planning processes with

these initial discipline projects so at

the beginning you could just have a

folder on your desktop you could have a

drawer where you're just writing down

here's my disciplines I'm working on

these two things here's what I do every

day towards them

this is going to grow as we move to the

Deep life stack but you're establishing

here in the discipline step here's where

I keep track of what I commit to and

you're starting to practice having

commitments that are about long-term

value not what you want to do in the

short term

so already we're a little bit different

than standard thinking about lifestyle

designs because we're not starting with

the decisions

we're not starting with the let's quit

my job I want to move to the country

we're recognizing that there is some

effacement that has to happen first

there's some preparation that has to

happen first we don't want to jump into

the decisions

until we've developed the self first

so that's the first layer of the stack

all right so once that's going I have a

couple things and I've impressed myself

I'm doing these I didn't think I could I

am capable of discipline and I I have a

centralized place now to keep track of

what I'm doing we move on to the next

layer I'll write this in here

we'll call this values

all right so yeah we're not yet choosing

to quit your job we're not yet the

moving values is where you are going to

establish

what it is that is important to you what

are the truths that exist rooted outside

of just your own preferences around

which you were going to structure your

life this is committing to what is

important to you there's three pieces to

figuring out what your values are going

to be

I'll write them all three down then

we'll talk about it

code rituals

routines

so code is actually figuring out this is

my code that I live by I strive to do

this I will never do this I have

integrity I am honest I you will

prioritize the protection of others

whatever it is this is where you make

that clear I have a code by which I live

and all of my decisions are going to

come back and make sure that they

satisfy this code all my big decisions

all my short-term actions will live by

this code the code should be something

that forces you on occasion to do things

that are hard or scary in the moment to

move away what what might be in your

best interest but you have a code

written down then you have rituals

recorders some some sort of rituals that

you commit to that help just reinforce

in your life what it is that you value

and take seriously finally you're going

to have routines things you do on a

regular basis that ensure that you are

supporting these values that are encoded

in your code that make sure that you are

pursuing them uh reflecting the things

you value in your Every Day Life

now of course the most obvious

pre-packaged answer to these three

things would be a traditional religion

so if you are already religious that's

going to make it very easy for you to

figure out code rituals and routines for

if you're religious the ritual is going

to involve for example let's say you're

um Muslim it might involve daily prayer

ritual as a way of reinforcing and

reminding yourself of your relationship

to God routines might involve things

that your religion asks you to do such

as some sort of charitable giving on a

regular basis to go out and serve others

in the community but you don't have to

have a religion to fill in code rituals

and routines you can do so on your own

the thing I want to emphasize here is

don't worry so much about getting this

exactly right because when we're done

with this stack

we're going to add one final piece which

is iterate

so you come to the stack where you are

in your life right now and you can

expect that might change and evolve as

time goes on

now everything you're going to figure

out here for values

gets recorded in that system you set up

during the first the first level of the

stack during discipline that's why I'm

drawing an arrow back down there that's

where you record here's my code the

things I value things I don't how I plan

to live my life that's where you record

your rituals you know I meditate every

morning I read a book a philosophy one

book per month I observe Shabbat as a

time to reflect whatever it is it's

where your uh the the routines go in I

volunteer

every month I whatever whatever it is

actually going to be

um and I go to Services whatever it is

this is all written down and you have a

central place for it because you set

that up in discipline

these two things these first two layers

of the stack discipline and values this

now becomes our safety net Foundation

before we go up the things that are

going to follow are going to be a little

bit more complicated and ambitious but

if everything else falls apart in your

life your professional system goes apart

there's health or sickness issues your

life takes a a turn there's some sort of

disaster

the two levels that will always be there

for you to fall down on will be

discipline plus value so this is very

important the idea that I can do things

that are hard

when it's in my long-term interest or

the interest of my values even if I

don't want to I'm capable of doing this

and I know what I'm all about what is my

code and I'm able to build my life

around it that is your insurance for

disaster that is your insurance against

everything else going wrong if

everything else we're about to talk

about unravels you will be able to fall

back on that

and that's going to give you a soft

landing and it's going to give you a

foundation in which you will eventually

be able to rebuild

all right so now we're going to head

towards a layer where we're getting a

little bit more into the traditional

design life design type

Waters and that's going to be what I

call calm

so the goal with column is to gain

control over your life

and to leverage that control to give

yourself breathing room

so it's the calm level of the stack

where you are actually going to start

thinking about organizational

productivity systems how do I keep track

of the different obligations of my

professional life and my personal life

how do I plan how do I manage my time

this is all about I have control I'm not

just stumbling reactively through life

I have some control of what's going on

now once you have control I'm organizing

things I can I can build up smart plans

I can now see much more clearly the

relationship between my implicit

workload my tacit obligations and my

schedule now you have a really good

sense of is this reasonable or not or

how much can I actually have on my plate

before I begin to get stressed out and

you can leverage this control to start

doing some minimalism start taking some

things off of your plate to simplify

aspects of your commitments and your

personal life and your family life in

your professional life the goal here is

I have control of my time

I've pruned my schedule to degree that I

have some flexibility in breathing room

and I am now ready

to start thinking about some bigger

picture changes

because if we get to the final stack

which is where you do the fun stuff

we move to the farm if you get to that

final stack and your life is chaotic and

you're overwhelmed and you're busy and

exhausted and fatigued there's not going

to be room for you to do what you need

to do there's not going to be room for

you to reflect there's not going to be

room for you to pursue the disciplines

and values that lay under it and there's

not going to be room to actually make

the big changes if you don't control

your life you also are not going to be

able to build up the career Capital

you'll probably need to execute some of

these ideas

the more you're killing it at work

because you control your time and your

obligations and you can give things the

time they need the more options you're

going to have to transform that work

this is true in a lot of different

elements as well and so this is again

something you don't you don't always see

when the discussion on lifestyle design

but I think it's it's foundational I'm

throwing it in there

calm I'm under control

these three things if you're starting

from scratch might take a while by the

way

this might be the work of six months to

a year to build the first three layers

but once you have you get to the final

stack here the final layer of the stack

which I call plan

and this finally

is where we get back to more familiar

territory this is where we get back

towards

the Deep life buckets territory this is

where you divide your life into the

major areas that are important to you

and start to think through what does my

life look like in each of these areas

what changes do I want to make and you

don't have to overhaul everything at the

same time but maybe you look at

community so your relationship with your

family and friends those who are

important to you and say okay

let's start overhauling this what do I

want this aspect of my life to look like

where does it fall short what type of

change is what I need to make to better

fulfill my values here and and this is

where you might make the bigger change

you move to be closer to family you

commit the community organizations maybe

craft of course would be a big one here

your job okay let me really think about

my job what's going on here is it

overwhelming me is it compatible with

the other things I care about maybe I

want to hatch a plan to transform this

job it is into something that's going to

better support my vision for my life all

of this happens here the buckets

Lifestyle Center Career planning all of

this is squeezed into the top layer out

of four in the Deep life stack

and this really is the big innovation

between the way we used to talk about it

and the way we had talked about it uh

the way we're talking about it now

is discipline values in calm is

foundational and if we ignore that

whatever we do up in plan is going to be

haphazard and be very likely to fizzle

we try to make some big change but if we

don't have anything else nailed down

we're building this big change this new

conceptual structure for our life on top

of sand that Foundation is not strong

enough I'm going to add a couple more

arrows here because again

throughout each of these Stacks where do

your decisions go

back into that Central repository you

set up during the discipline level

these are my organizational systems for

calm this is what I'm working on right

now I'm working on my craft bucket and

here's my vision

so in that discipline step that all got

set up now the number of disciplines the

things that you are pursuing regularly

that you're committed to that also

increases as you move up the stack

values adds rituals and routines to your

list of disciplines calm ads

organizational systems to your list of

disciplines plan might add bucket

specific Keystone habits to your list of

disciplines so this everything down

there grows the description of your

systems the descriptions of your

discipline commitments that all grows as

you as you move up the stack

so I have these arrows pointing back

down

and then finally once you're

once you've made it through the whole

stack

and draw one last Arrow here

you are going to iterate

which means you return back

towards the bottom

and refactor

focusing on what needs the most work so

you you've made it through the whole

stack

enjoy that for a while then you're going

to iterate back down again okay let's go

back down the discipline how is this

going is my if I cleaned up my

description on my systems and my

disciplines or the stuff hanging around

here I don't do anymore let me clean

that up make sure the way I'm tracking

this goes well am I committing

discipline to the things I said I am if

I'm not do I have too many things in

here do I need to clean that up okay

we're good let's move up the values am I

liking my current code the rituals I

have in place to help reinforce the code

the routines I have to put that code

into action in the world am I ready to

tweak that do I want to make a major

change am I maybe at first earlier in my

life these were self-imposed and in

middle age with a family they're going

to be more tied to a formal theology so

you're going back and checking that out

you're going up the calm how are my

systems going for organization oh maybe

they're going well what about my load

you know I feel overloaded great so as I

revisit that stack I'm going to make

some more cuts

on the things that I'm committed to or

pursuing and you can back up the plan

you might say I'm going to look at

another bucket more carefully I looked

at craft last time but I really want to

now think about uh celebration sort of

quality in my life that's iteration you

go back through the whole stack check in

at each layer spending time on the

layers that need time before moving on

to the next

you probably want to do this once a year

I recommend using your birthday as the

anchor for this

different years you're going to stop and

spend more time on different layers than

others sometimes everything might be

Rock and rolling so you're just tweaking

on your way up and it takes you a couple

weeks no problem

sometimes you're going to lose the next

six months of your years of really

reflectively rethinking your life but

this structures the way you think about

that it structures the way you go

through trying to refactor or tighten up

what's actually going on in your

day-to-day existence

so that's what I'm thinking about now

this is my generalization of what used

to just be the Deep life buckets the

Deep life stack

it's equal parts psychology

as it is practical habit as it is

visionary planning all of those things

are now mixed together in a more

structured way this also reflects more

carefully or closely I should say what I

actually do in my own life the way I

think these things through the way order

these things

so I'm interested in your thoughts

are we improving or have we over

complicated I still have time to think

about this so feel free to send it

through I don't know Jesse am I adding

too much complication or are we getting

to some some levels we actually needed

for thinking about this topic

I think it goes in hand what you've

talked about before in terms of stacks

and yeah discipline and Metric tracking

so like the metric tracking on the

timeout planner would be in that yeah it

becomes level becomes a discipline right

the time block planner

is something you might introduce as calm

the metric planning is uh installed in

the discipline stack yeah yeah

I think one of the things I was

underestimating so in addition to just

the psychological preparation

was I take for granted structure and

organization in my life and it's

something we hear from listeners a lot

is if you're not

organized and structured in how you

manage just even the minutia of your

life it's actually really difficult to

do anything big yeah it feels impossible

or if you try it it's not going to go

well because you're just throwing a big

change at an already chaotic situation

yeah you've had that in place for a

really long time yeah and that's why I

take it for granted yeah but I think for

a lot of people I was thinking if I'm

going to write a book about the Deep

life

I can't jump into let's overhaul your

job

when there's someone who has never

actually had any sort of coherent

organizational system to any part of

their life it's impossible until you

feel that you control your life in that

breathing room it's very difficult to

imagine

making a big change and you know we're

going to see that

the questions I chose for today's

episode are all deep life related issues

and questions about people prepare you

know pursuing the Deep life and we're

going to see some of that in the

questions

there's at least one I have in mind

where someone is

they're coming to what you would think

about as the plan level of the stack

with the other levels not in place and

it just feels impossible to them yeah I

mean a lot of it has come down to your

time management system yeah yeah how do

you keep track of your time then how do

you manage your obligations

and how do you then prune those

obligations right it's it's very

difficult to keep breathing room in your

life if you can't control the stuff

that's taken away the air if you don't

control it you're just grabbing it's

very hard to get at things or organize

things or move things out of the way

it's very paradoxical because people say

I don't want to be so I don't have time

to do all these systems and be so rigid

and then my whole life will be planning

but it's exactly the people that

make a structure for the stuff in their

life that have the flexibility yeah that

have the breathing room that are you

know have their feet up by the lake and

are Readiness this misnomer that somehow

having an organization will mean your

time is more filled it's actually the

key to actually gain back time the find

time affluence the take some flexibility

it's your boy Jocko discipline equals

Freedom yeah well that's that term is

yeah definitely motivating or an

inspiration here discipline at the base

provides the freedom to do other things

it does read five books yeah and that

was the other breakthrough I'm thinking

except I found this working with people

just finding that one or two things

that's the place to start I'm doing this

thing I'm working on every day it's hard

it's optional I don't want to do it in

the moment long term I did it I

succeeded

that psychological switch

that's so important to everything else

so so we'll see so I'm working on it but

it's one idea for how I might structure

my my deep Life Book