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LETTERS FROM A MENTALIST

Stop Being a Perfectionist
Philosophy, Art Matt Cooper Philosophy, Art Matt Cooper

Stop Being a Perfectionist

Take it from me, being a perfectionist is just a lame excuse for not finishing things. It’s a self-serving label that gives us a simple reason to say “it’s not done yet”, and to put things off for another day. Is it possible that we’re just afraid of being seen?

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Cooper, Philosophy Matt Cooper Cooper, Philosophy Matt Cooper

SNAPSHOTS OF A FLANEUR: MORNING RITUAL

"Snapshots of Flaneur" is a new ongoing series about the lifestyle of a stroller, one who seeks pleasure in the anfractuosities of a city.

Naturally, we all develop a morning ritual. For some that's hitting the snooze button, negotiating five more minutes three more times. For others it’s waking at the crack of dawn, checking off a long to-do list before their day can even begin. Below is a time-chart of my own morning ritual. A record of my personal approach to work and well-being. It has taken a few years to develop, but I think I’m on to something beautiful.

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Philosophy Matt Cooper Philosophy Matt Cooper

A KINDER, GENTLER PHILOSOPHY OF SUCCESS

​As an enormous fan of Alain de Botton, I'm excited to share this TED talk with my superficially gorgeous readers. Yes you, the one with a perfectly symmetrical face that indicates a lack of disease and potential mate for healthy offspring. Alain has a witty and erudite writing style best read over coffee, commute, and leisure; as all reading should. In addition, he's the founder of The School of Life, and keeps one hell of a twitter feed. He consistently finds the perfect combination of 140 characters.

"Lazy creatures that we are, we find it critically easier to fixate on envying people rather than reforming our selves." @alaindebotton

Enjoy.

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Philosophy Matt Cooper Philosophy Matt Cooper

ON FLOW

"Flow" caught my eye between the mental disorders and sexual insights of the psychology book shelf.  I'm 7 chapters in, so I'm not here to give a review of this book. But I would love to introduce you to the author, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced / MEE-hy CHEEK-sent-mə-HY-ee). A wonderful writer who strongly illustrates the notion of living in a flow state. That is to say, a state of true happiness. 

I'm very much against the state of the "self-help" industry, and wouldn't classify this as a "self-help" book by any stretch. Rather, it's a compelling look at what FLOW is, and it's causations. The video below was filmed at TED, and I think it's a nice introduction to his work. Maybe, just maybe, you'll pick it up. If you do, bring a highlighter.

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