Question to identify the real ones:

Who are your Darkest Hour Friends?

Here's a harsh truth I've learned: Most of your friends aren’t really your friends.

They’re just along for the ride when it’s fun, convenient, or valuable.

Your real friends are the ones who are there for you when it’s none of those things. The ones who are there for you when you have nothing to offer in return.

These are your Darkest Hour Friends.

Find them. Cherish them. Be one to someone else.

Who are your Darkest Hour Friends? Send this to them to let them know.

Quote on self-acceptance:

"The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect." - Brene Brown

Self-acceptance is at the core of human happiness.

To embrace oneself fully, to understand our imperfections and still maintain our desire for growth and change, is to live a fulfilling life.

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Framework on the perils of good luck:

The Nova Effect

The Nova Effect is a term coined by psychologists Richard Wiseman and Daniel Gilbert to describe the psychological phenomenon of a decline in happiness following good fortune.

It is sometimes referred to as the Tragedy of Good Luck.

The concept is rooted in the idea that people become accustomed to the good fortune and thereby experience a notable decline in happiness after the lucky event, as they struggle to return to their normal baseline life.

Imagine you win a beach vacation. You get a burst of happiness from the experience, but as the trip winds down, you start to feel the post-vacation blues setting in, as you contemplate the return to your normal life.

This is the Nova Effect in action.

It's a similar experience to the lifestyle creep that often accompanies promotions and financial success, as the person continues to inflate their baseline needs to meet their ever-rising expectations.

The Nova Effect is a trap, but while it is grounded in human psychology, it is not inevitable.

You can escape the Nova Effect by focusing on the experience, not the outcome.

Real, durable satisfaction, happiness and contentment are found in the anticipation of the achievement, not the achievement itself. It’s the quest. It’s the hunt. It’s the process. It's the journey.

The happiness is not in the having, but in the becoming.

An interesting chart on financial expectations:

I recently came across an interesting chart that broke down the salaries that different generations indicate as the minimum to be "financially successful" in the modern era.

Also interesting is the fact that 70%+ of Gen Z respondents said they expected to achieve this level of financial success (even though median household income is ~$80,000).

Anecdotally, I have experienced the results of this chart in conversations with hundreds of people across these generations over the last few years. My general impression is that social media has accelerated the spread of unrealistic financial expectations. Everyone is exposed to it, but only one generation truly grew up surrounded by it.

I offered my honest advice for someone who wants to make a lot of money ​here.​

Short passage with deep meaning:

I'm on something of a C.S. Lewis kick right now, and this short passage from The Screwtape Letters is perfect:

Courage is found in the willingness to live by a virtue under extreme conditions.

The courage to show up for a partner or friend when the other person is lost. The courage to be do something hard when everything pulls at you to choose the easier path. The courage to sit in the present when your mind pulls you into the past.

Where do you exhibit courage in your life? Worth thinking about this weekend...