#094: White Mirror, Optimal Supplement Stack & Meditation, Breaking Down Rizz

Hi All!

We are pleased to welcome you to this week's edition of Undiscovered, a newsletter with exclusive resources and insights expanding from the material found on our main site - becketu.com.

It's a late edition again here at the Becket U headquarters, but we are glad to deliver this in a timely fashion before the strike of midnight!

This week, we will take a look at a more optimistic view of how technology can improve our lives in the future, breaking down where charisma comes from, and essential supplements from a world-renowned trainer.

Let's dive in:

White Mirror

I'll be the first one to admit: sometimes I buy way more books than I could ever hope to read in one sitting. The latest book that has entered my queue may end up being one that I start diving into right away. It's called White Mirror.

The premise was immediately interesting to me:

"In a world inundated with dystopian narratives, White Mirror dares to imagine a future worth reaching for.

This mind-expanding anthology of thirty-one original stories follows Lucilius—an inventor, explorer, and Renaissance man of the next frontier—as he travels across space and time. With each story, readers are invited into breathtaking new worlds that illuminate not just what’s possible, but what’s necessary for the future of humanity."

We are surrounded by so many dystopian narratives about how technology is going to destroy us, but what if we had stories that inspired us to push the boundaries of what we think is possible?

I remember randomly coming across the publisher, Infinite Books. They have two other books out that are equally intriguing. One is Two Thoughts by Jim O'Shaughnessy, a book of 500 insights from over 250 of the world's most brilliant thinkers. The other is Counting Time, by Melanie Conklin. It's a middle-grade novel that explores how an 11-year-old girl must leave her home and best friend behind so her little brother can receive new cancer drug trial.

I love how Infinite thinks outside the box, and can't wait to see what White Mirror is all about!

A Secret World of Intuition and Curiosity

I'll probably be in big trouble for this (you know who you are reading this), but in a similar spirit to the above, I may have just ordered another book...

This one is called Mathematica by David Bessis. I knew I had to cop it when I saw the following tweet from @Golovanov_ammoc:

"When two Fields Medalists, Terence Tao & Hugo Copin, declare a book a “must-read,” it is undoubtedly a masterpiece. @davidbessis, a leading mathematician, invested two decades of his life to distill profound wisdom into this work, which I describe as a 'scheme of mathematization'"

But what could make a book about math interesting? From the description:

"Focusing on the deeply human roots of mathematics, Bessis dispels the myths of mathematical genius. He offers an engaging initiation into the experience of math not as a series of discouragingly incomprehensible logic problems but as a physical activity akin to yoga, meditation, or a martial art. This perspective will change the way you think not only about math but also about intelligence, intuition, and everything that goes on inside your head."

Breaking Down Rizz

​@robkhenderson recently shared an article from The Atlantic titled "How to Be More Charismatic, but Not Too Much More". He attached a quote to the original tweet that essentially summarized the two components charisma is linked to: influence (the ability to guide others with confidence and competence) and affability (the ability to make other people feel comfortable and at ease).

I thought this was a nice CliffNotes version of the article, but the actual piece was way more intriguing than simply knowing the components that increase our 'rizz'.

It went on to explain how many leaders typically possess charisma, but only up to a certain point. Past that, the visionary piece of charisma tends to get bogged down by the reality of logistics and execution. Higher levels of charisma can even be linked to narcissism and detrimental levels of personal happiness.

So what's the takeaway after reading the whole article? There is an optimal level of charisma that sits just under the line of being self-aware about it. The most charismatic people tend to be the ones who influence others seemingly without trying. They certainly might not be able to recount exactly how they managed to persuade someone or put them at ease.

The last thing, is don't forget execution. Being a visionary is great, but knowing how to implement a plan will make you unstoppable. Joe Holder has a great tweet on this point:

"in the era of the “creative” or whatever don’t overlook the “doer” although it doesn’t get as much hype be the person people call to get shit DONE. Doesn’t have to make a deck or whatever but can pick up the phone and just get things done. Cut through the red tape. Get across the line what others can’t. Exceedingly invaluable."

The Supplement Stack

I've been pounding taurine and creatine as of late (for the crazy dreams at night + mentals respectively) and I want to continue my supplement journey. Joe Holder not only has great views on agency and being a "doer" from the above, but he also has a plethora of knowledge from his work in being a fitness and health consultant.

Before getting into the supplements, here's what he generally recommends for people in their 20's and 30's regarding health:

One Twitter user followed up by asking what basic supplements he recommends. He responded with the following:

Full Body Meditation to Release Tension

I have mixed feelings about BowTiedBull, but this article posted on their account within the last year has stuck with me. The title of the article is called, "Accessing the Spirit Realm without Ayahuasca - Music and Museums". It's a meditation/exercise meant to release tension and trauma from your body.

I know, it sounds a little cuckoo, but the stamp of approval from a Navy SEAL was all I needed to at least explore it further. The exercise is a treatment called TRE or Trauma Release Exercises, and they involve laying on the floor in certain positions that are meant to induce neurogenic tremors.

"What's a neurogenic tremor?" you might ask. According to a quick search, a neurogenic tremor is 'a type of shaking or trembling that arises from the nervous system, often as a natural response to stress or trauma'.

It sounds crazy, but give the article a read, do the exercise when you are called to, schedule a museum visit the next day, and let us know how it went.

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Always wishing you the best,

J.B.