<![CDATA[Derek Sivers]]>https://www.dereksivers.orghttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pytf!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5c3a88d0-2101-4bd8-b81c-958d4f38e2e6_616x616.jpegDerek Sivershttps://www.dereksivers.orgSubstackSun, 19 Apr 2026 15:17:26 GMT<![CDATA[How to decide and make the best choice]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/how-to-decide-and-make-the-best-choicehttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/how-to-decide-and-make-the-best-choiceSun, 19 Apr 2026 09:11:49 GMTYou can do anything. But you can’t do everything. You have to decide. If you don’t decide, you get nothing.

You can think of a hundred paths to follow. But you can’t follow them all. Use time. One path now. Other paths maybe later. Otherwise you’ll never get anywhere.

How do you know what’s the best choice? Trick question! No choice is the best in itself. A choice becomes the best when you choose it. That’s when you make your decision congruent. You find plenty of proof to support it. Evidence against it is useless. You align yourself with your choice.

Best of all, you take action. By letting go of other options, you concentrate your energy and time. You make it part of your identity, and act accordingly. You become effective. You do the work that makes it a great choice.

https://sive.rs/u50

]]><![CDATA[An awesome collection of great questions]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/an-awesome-collection-of-great-questionshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/an-awesome-collection-of-great-questionsSat, 18 Apr 2026 09:10:43 GMTThis is where I would share powerful questions that you can answer for big insights and change. But here’s why I’m not:

I’ve read books that have long lists of questions. But when I’m reading, I want to keep reading, not stop for hours or days at that spot, pondering every question.

I’ve read books that act like a workbook, giving many blank pages with lines, expecting you to write your answers in that space. Does anyone actually do this? It doesn’t work on the ebook or audiobook. I’d rather use my own journal.

If I put questions here, I’d think of better ones after the book is published.

So here’s what we’ll do: Go to sive.rs/u

That’s the permanent website for this book, where I’ll keep an ever-improving collection of helpful questions, free for you to take and use whenever you want. I hope you agree that it’s better than this page of this book could ever be.

https://sive.rs/u49

]]><![CDATA[Five tiny tales of reframing]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/five-tiny-tales-of-reframinghttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/five-tiny-tales-of-reframingFri, 17 Apr 2026 09:08:36 GMTOn the Olympic podium stood the winners of the gold, silver, and bronze medal. The silver medalist was so angry at herself for not being just a little bit faster — just milliseconds away from winning the gold. The bronze medalist was so happy with herself, just milliseconds away from winning nothing.

The former student was disheartened that she was failing at everything, so she went back to visit her old teacher. When she told him her troubles, the old man said, “Guess my secret number from 1 to 100.”
“50?”
“Higher.”
“75?”
“Lower.”
With each try she smiled more, until she correctly guessed the number. Then she thanked him for the reminder that every wrong guess is not a failure, but just one step closer to success.

Two Japanese businessmen visiting Brazil had scheduled lunch to be delivered at 1pm. When the food finally arrived at 3pm, one of the men was furious. The other man was amused to witness this example of how differently their cultures treat time, and laughed at his own expectations.

A couple had been married for many years, but just divorced. The man’s friends approached him with sad sensitivity, “Oooh. You must be devastated.” But one friend greeted him with joy saying, “Congratulations! Nobody leaves a great relationship. I’m proud you both put an end to the struggle.” This made him feel better for the first time.

How long should we mourn a loved one’s death? For some people it’s years or the rest of their life. But in a traditional New Orleans funeral, musicians accompany the coffin down the street, and after a few minutes of a solemn slow dirge, the music turns festive in a happy celebration. The funeral is a parade to honor that person’s life, and the focus turns from grief to appreciation. Switching from sad to happy is always an option, even at the worst times in life.

https://sive.rs/u48

]]><![CDATA[Traits of useful perspectives]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/traits-of-useful-perspectiveshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/traits-of-useful-perspectivesThu, 16 Apr 2026 09:07:14 GMTTo list all the beliefs I’ve found useful would fill a whole book. (Actually, four books so far, since that’s what my previous books were about.) So instead, for your own ideation, it might help if I list the traits that my most useful perspectives have shared:

Direct: Go directly for what I really want, instead of using other means to get there. This requires soul-searching of my real motivations. What do I really want? And what’s the point of that? Am I keeping a job just to feel secure? Getting a university degree for the status? Starting a business for the freedom? Instead, find a more efficient path to the real end result.

Energizing: I’ll think of many smart but uninspiring perspectives, then one makes me bolt straight up in my seat, full of excitement. It inspires me to take immediate action. Note that fear is a form of excitement.

Self-reliant: It doesn’t depend on anything out of my control. It doesn’t need anyone’s approval or involvement. It doesn’t need anything to change. It works no matter what happens. It’s about the process, not the outcome.

Balancing: Lately I’ve had too much of something, and not enough of something else. Comfort versus challenge. Social-time versus me-time. Exploring versus focusing. Prioritize what’s been neglected.

Selfless: I see myself from the outside, and know that I basically don’t matter. My needs are nothing compared to other people’s, so how can I help? “Useful” means for them and the greater good.

Selfish: Generosity can go too far. Protect the goose that lays the golden eggs. Practice healthy self-respect and self-care that comes from self-worth.

Lucid and lasting: Coming from a good state of mind, not angry, hurt, envious, or upset — not even ecstatically happy. It’s smart, and still seems like a good perspective a day or week later when I’m in a different state.

Test first: No matter how certain I feel, test an idea in reality. Before deciding, try it. Before buying something big, rent it, more than once. Before quitting, take a break.

Healthy: Do the right thing — do what’s wise and good — even if I don’t feel like it. Ask my idealized highest self how to think of this.

Long-term: In the big picture of my whole life, this is just a phase. Keep my eyes on the horizon. Short-term discomfort or pain can bring a deeply fulfilling reward. Serve the future.

Compensating for bias and prejudice: Correcting a bias, like my example of bowling and frisbee, earlier in this book. Do the opposite of my instincts. If I tend to walk away, I choose to stay. When I notice I’m prejudiced against something, I choose to get to know it and appreciate it. These have been the best beliefs for personal growth.

https://sive.rs/u47

]]><![CDATA[Expand your repertoire]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/expand-your-repertoirehttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/expand-your-repertoireWed, 15 Apr 2026 09:04:40 GMTTo change, reach past what comes naturally. Avoid your defaults. Get guidance outside of yourself. Use a different tool.

“Oblique Strategies” is the name of a deck of cards where each card has one creative suggestion. When making music or anything, if you get stuck, you shuffle the cards, randomly pick one, and apply what it says. Some examples:

  • Not building a wall; making a brick.

  • Use an unacceptable color.

  • Honour thy error as a hidden intention.

I had a poster on my wall of twenty different circles painted by twenty different artists. Each circle had a very different style, color, filling, and texture. When I didn’t know what to do, I’d think how each artistic approach could be metaphorically applied to my life.

Now I learn about foreign cultures, and try to really understand the different worldviews. Instead of judging, I try to see the benefits of their perspective. I travel to inhabit philosophies.

In the spirit of all this, I wrote a book called “How to Live” that presents twenty-seven vastly different approaches to life, each taken to an extreme. It’s meant to be used like the oblique strategies or the paintings of circles. I consider this book (“Useful Not True”) to be like a prequel for that, so consider reading it next, in the mindset of reframing and finding other perspectives.

https://sive.rs/u46

]]><![CDATA[Diamond in the trash]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/diamond-in-the-trashhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/diamond-in-the-trashTue, 14 Apr 2026 08:59:37 GMTWhen things aren’t going well, you’re in a bad state of mind. If you ask yourself a healthy question, like “What’s great about this?”, your answer will probably be “Nothing! This is just bad!”

Don’t be so sure. Push past that first thought. Keep asking. You can always find something useful.

Use what you learned about brainstorming. Don’t stop at the second or third answer. Come up with crazy ideas.

Use what you learned from jigsaw puzzles. Start with the edges. Come up with extreme and ridiculous ideas that you’d never actually do, but are good for inspiration and finding the middle.

We resist good ideas that require us to change. You think you’re not that kind of person? Not yet, but you can be. Keep all ideas around.

You seem to be locked in a jail cell. But if you know there’s actually a secret exit, you’ll look harder, pushing and pulling everything until you find it.

You seem to be holding a bag of trash. But if you know there’s actually a diamond inside, you’ll sift through the junk until you find it.

Your mind has a lot of trash, and often tells you there’s no way out of your situation — there’s nothing great about this. But if you decide that there is, you’ll keep looking until you find it.

https://sive.rs/u45

]]><![CDATA[Answer great questions]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/answer-great-questionshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/answer-great-questionsMon, 13 Apr 2026 08:58:34 GMTPick something that’s holding you back from what you want to do, be, or feel.

It might feel like physical fact. “I’m too old.” “I can’t afford it.” Even if you are old and have no money, that has not stopped others, so that’s not the real problem.

Beliefs are often self-fulfilling. Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right. Think nobody will love you? Think there are no opportunities? You can make bad dreams come true.

Doubt limitations. What’s another way to see it? What perspective would help? Ask better questions.

“I’m too old” becomes “How can I use my age to my advantage?”

“I can’t afford it” becomes “How can I afford it?”

Every problem becomes “What’s great about this?”

Go back to your favorite books, movies, thinkers, or heroes. They’re your favorites for good reason. They have lessons or wisdom you can use. What did they teach you? What would they say?

Ask any AI to list empowering questions. There’s no shortage of great questions. But don’t just ingest them. You have to really answer them.

https://sive.rs/u44

]]><![CDATA[Who chooses your (next) thoughts?]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/who-chooses-your-next-thoughtshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/who-chooses-your-next-thoughtsSun, 12 Apr 2026 08:57:36 GMTYou might say, “I can’t help the way I feel”, as if it’s completely out of your control — as if you have no choice and are unable to feel any other way. But you do have a choice. Think a different way and you’ll feel a different way. You choose your reaction. Not the first one, but the next.

There’s a crucial moment in between when something happens and when you actually respond. It’s an important life skill. It’s as simple as this:

  1. Something happens.

  2. Get past your first emotional reaction.

  3. Consider other ways of looking at it.

  4. Pick one that feels empowering or useful.

  5. It shapes how you feel and what you’ll do.

Simple, but not easy. The hardest part was getting past your first reaction.

You choose how you think and feel. You choose your meanings. Other people’s judgements, values, and meanings are also inside of you, but you can replace these with your own.

If you don’t choose your perspectives then you leave them up to mood, manipulation, or your worst impulses. Control your thoughts or be controlled.

https://sive.rs/u43

]]><![CDATA[The most useful part of this book]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/the-most-useful-part-of-this-bookhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/the-most-useful-part-of-this-bookSat, 11 Apr 2026 08:54:39 GMTImagine you’re reframing a painting. First, you remove the old frame. Then you try different frames.

The first three parts of this book were helping you remove the old frame. That was just preparing for this. Now it’s time to try different frames.

Explore many different ways of looking at your situation — finding perspectives you’d never considered before.

Where you felt stuck, you’ll see a great way out. You’ll find an angle that excites you.

What was cloudy will be clear plan of action. You’ll see a smarter strategy.

Where you felt haunted, you’ll feel at peace.

These are the powers of reframing.

https://sive.rs/u42

]]><![CDATA[Philosophies are instruments]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/philosophies-are-instrumentshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/philosophies-are-instrumentsFri, 10 Apr 2026 04:46:48 GMTLos Angeles, 1952. Igor Stravinsky, the composer, was 70 years old, and rehearsing the orchestra.

A young girl who lived next to the orchestra hall snuck in through the back door to listen to the rehearsals. She watched the violins, cellos, flute, trumpet, clarinet, harp, percussion, and piano. She wondered which one should be her favorite. There were too many options. She needed to pick one. During a break, she got up the courage to ask the maestro.

Stravinsky’s friend and writer Robert Craft was there, so that’s why this moment is captured.

The young girl went up to Stravinsky and said, “Excuse me. Which of these instruments is the best one?” He was surprised and amused, and took the challenge.

He said, “You hear sounds, but I hear life. Every instrument is a philosophy. Every philosophy is an instrument.” She just looked at him, confused, so he continued.

“You could pick just one instrument, one philosophy. But wouldn’t it be more interesting to play them all?”

The girl said, “What?!? Nobody can play them all! How could I?”

Stravinsky said, “Let’s say, as a young woman, you go out into the world to meet new people, full of multiculturalism and humanism. You do something daring, filled with optimism. Then you start a family and have time for nothing but pragmatism. You lose a loved one and comfort yourself with stoicism. But it makes no sense, so you’re drawn to existentialism. See? So many instruments!”

The girl said, “What if I want to pick just one?”

He said, “Most people do pick just one. They think their instrument is the best! Go ask anyone in this orchestra, and they’ll give you indisputable proof why their instrument is better than all others. You’ll never convince that cellist that the clarinet is better, so why try? Just like religions, cultures, and philosophies, right?”

There was a long pause. The girl said, “So, which do you think is the best?”

Stravinsky smiled and said, “Time.”

“Time?”

“Time! I can separate the instruments with time. Or I can combine them at the same time. Different instruments for different times in the music. Different philosophies for different times in your life. You can play every instrument, and every philosophy, if you use time, and combine. Time itself is my favorite instrument.”

The girl seemed satisfied, and walked back to the balcony to listen again.

https://sive.rs/u41

]]><![CDATA[What is “the truth” really for?]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/what-is-the-truth-really-forhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/what-is-the-truth-really-forThu, 09 Apr 2026 04:44:35 GMTYou don’t want a drill. You want a hole in the wall. So what do you really want when you seek “the truth”?

You can gather raw facts, but there are infinite facts, so you select and filter and interpret them. Like cotton plants or sheep’s wool, facts are processed before they’re used. Is that seeking the truth? Or just material for a story?

Maybe you’re preparing for arguments. You want facts as weapons to defend your viewpoint and attack theirs. Facts can win a battle but not a war.

Maybe you’re making a big decision. You want to feel well-informed and certain. But that’s an emotional state unrelated to the facts. You’ll ignore a mountain of evidence if you hear one good story against it or just feel yourself leaning the other way. Most emotions can’t be persuaded.

You need to feel good about your choices. Emotion decides. Facts rationalize. You’ll find whatever truth is useful.

Ask yourself why you want the truth. What do you plan to do with it? What’s the real outcome?

https://sive.rs/u40

]]><![CDATA[Life is _______]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/life-is-_______https://www.dereksivers.org/p/life-is-_______Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:42:37 GMTI was at a workshop, and right before dinner, the teacher wrote this on the whiteboard:

LIFE IS _______

He told us to think about what goes in the blank. He said that after dinner, he’d reveal the meaning of life.

At dinner, I was at a table with seven other people, each arguing about what should go in that blank. One said life is learning. One said life is memory, since if you can’t remember your life, it’s like it never happened. One said life is love — the most powerful emotion. One said life is giving. One nouveau Buddhist said life is suffering, repeating his recent lessons. One said life is choice, since our choices shape our life. One said life is time, since life is what we call the time between when we’re born and when we die.

Each was arguing that their answer was definitely the right one. I’m usually talkative, but I stayed quiet and just listened. Because there were different valid perspectives, it seemed clear that none of these could be the answer.

Then I thought maybe there is no answer — there is no built-in meaning. Maybe life is like a blank canvas for everyone to project their own meaning into.

Oh! Maybe that’s why the teacher wrote: “LIFE IS ________”. Maybe that’s not a question! Maybe “________” is the answer. Ooooh that’s good. I like that a lot.

After dinner, yeah, my hunch was right — that’s what the teacher intended. He pointed up and asked, “What’s the meaning of this ceiling?” Someone said, “It provides shelter.” Someone else said, “Safety. Structure.” The teacher said, “Those are your meanings. The ceiling itself has no meaning. It’s just a ceiling.”

He asked everyone, “What does it mean that you’re here today?” Someone said, “It means I’m trying to improve myself.” Someone else said, “It means I’m committed.” The teacher said, “Those are your meanings. Your presence here today has no inherent meaning.”

Then he asked, “So what’s the meaning of life?” This time people’s answers were emphatic, each arguing for their favorite meaning. The teacher said, “Those are your meanings. Life itself has no meaning.” Now people were upset, saying this whole workshop was a scam and they want their money back since they expected an answer.

But I like that “_______” answer a lot. Not just for the meaning of life, but for everything.

You love travelling. What does it mean? You must be running away from something? You’re privileged? You’re a curious soul, searching for answers? Nah. Nothing has inherent meaning. Whatever meaning you project into it is your own.

You were just thinking of your long-lost friend this morning, and then they contacted you for the first time in years. What does it mean? Our psychic connections bind us? Our souls are in sync? The universe is sending out energy waves that we can feel? I mean, if you like that idea, why not? If that makes life feel more special, more magical… If that makes you curious about the unseen forces all around us… If that makes you marvel and wonder, then maybe that meaning works for you. Great. Give that event that meaning. That’s coming from you. Though maybe you need to believe it’s true to feel its magic power.

Meanings can help you feel your life is important, with a narrative and purpose. Meanings can help you make peace with events out of your control. Meanings can give you a reason to persist in difficult times. But they’re internal, not external. They’re yours, not others’.

Me? I like the “________”. I like the blank canvas. I love that nothing, in itself, has built-in meaning. I love the creative power of choosing my own. Meanings are useful, not true.

https://sive.rs/u39

]]><![CDATA[Placebo meanings]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/placebo-meaningshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/placebo-meaningsTue, 07 Apr 2026 04:37:40 GMTJerusalem is one of my favorite places. I hope to live there some day. Whenever I visit, I meet people who say they moved there from across the world because of the power of that place. They all say “it has an energy” and “you can feel it”, as if it’s an objective fact.

I’ve been to Bethlehem, the Temple Mount, and walked the Via Dolorosa. I’ve touched the Wailing Wall and the stones that held up Jesus’ cross. I find them fascinating, but still just rocks — rocks with lots of meaning to other people. I feel no special energy.

But yet, when I’m in London, Manhattan, or Los Angeles, I feel that power they describe. (Feel free to tease me for this.) These places charge me, inspire me, and have real effects on my actions, maybe because my heroes created their greatest works there. So the power comes not from the place itself, but the meaning we give it.

This applies to anything. Meanings are entirely in your mind. But their effect on you is real. Like a placebo. It actually works.

So the reverse applies as well. If a meaning is holding you back, you can actively doubt it, question it, and find evidence against it, to stop believing it. Then it loses its power.

https://sive.rs/u38

]]><![CDATA[Magic mirror shows what you need to believe]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/magic-mirror-shows-what-you-needhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/magic-mirror-shows-what-you-needMon, 06 Apr 2026 04:36:07 GMTIn Harry Potter, there’s a magic mirror that reflects the viewer’s desire. What Harry sees in that mirror is very different than what Dumbledore or Ron sees, because their desires are all different.

Imagine if there was something similar that shows you what you most need to believe right now. It shows proof to support whatever perspective would most benefit you. Upon seeing it, you instantly believe it, internalize it, and act upon it.

Someone feeling sadly disconnected might see proof that they are loved.

Someone working hard to create something might see proof that people will like it.

Someone with a terminal illness might see proof of an afterlife with loved ones waiting — to feel joy in their final days, and no fear of death.

We don’t have to imagine this magic device. We already do this in real life. We find proof to support whatever perspective we need to believe.

We don’t have to argue what’s in the magic mirror, which viewpoints are true or not, because everyone needs different beliefs for their different situations.

https://sive.rs/u37

]]><![CDATA[Which perspective empowers you?]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/which-perspective-empowers-youhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/which-perspective-empowers-youSun, 05 Apr 2026 04:34:48 GMTThere was a famous man who did many great things. After he died, they told stories glorifying him, painting him as flawless. But one story said he was not as great as he seemed — saying he was actually very flawed.

A young boy really looked up to this hero. The glorifying stories inspired him by showing him a role model of greatness. The boy worked as hard as he could and held himself to that high standard every day. But when he heard the disparaging story, his pursuit was no longer whole-hearted, and he became aimless.

A different boy never liked that famous man. The glorifying stories discouraged him because they set an impossible standard. So when he heard the disparaging story, he got inspired. “If that jerk can do it, anyone can.” This mindset made him work harder than ever to surpass the great bastard.

The two boys are a metaphor for your own internal incentives. It applies to stories of all types. Are you more inspired to think you’ve arrived, or have a long way to go? Does it help you to believe people can or can’t be trusted? Do you like to see your life as shaped by destiny or chance? Which story helps you do what you need to do, be who you want to be, or feel at peace?

You don’t need to decide which one is right. You can use one meaning to get you out of bed, and another to sleep well at night. Which meaning leads to the actions you need now?

https://sive.rs/u36

]]><![CDATA[Judge the contents, not the box]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/judge-the-contents-not-the-boxhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/judge-the-contents-not-the-boxSat, 04 Apr 2026 03:28:42 GMTMy cousin took a course on a complete system for physical fitness and health, and followed every bit of its advice. She had great results at first. But then she saw the coach’s social media posts, and hated his political beliefs, so now she doesn’t follow that course at all.

A best-selling book on psychology is filled with wisdom that would improve your life, if applied. But a few sentences were found to be plagiarized, or some of its studies don’t replicate. So people trash the whole book and refuse to read it.

That’s the problem with judging a box instead of its contents. It’s seeking “true” instead of useful. When any aspect of a package is flawed, it no longer feels “true”, so all of it is discarded. You lose all of the benefits.

Think of a famous person you despise, perhaps a politician or celebrity that represents everything wrong with the world. Now imagine hearing that person say something you really like. Hard to imagine, right? You’ve probably pre-decided that anything that comes out of that person’s mouth is going to be bad. No matter what they say, you’re against it, in advance. Judging someone as good or bad, instead of each individual idea as useful or not.

Listen to ideas, not their messenger. Focus on the contents, not the box. Avoid ideology.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” Likewise: True is the enemy of useful.

https://sive.rs/u35

]]><![CDATA[Carpenters’ tools]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/carpenters-toolshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/carpenters-toolsFri, 03 Apr 2026 03:26:41 GMTTwo carpenters were fixing some stairs. The older one liked to work. The younger one liked to question.

The older one grabbed a measuring tape from the toolbox and started measuring. The younger one said, “What would be the perfect tool?”

The older one grabbed a saw and started cutting. The younger one said, “It would probably be a thick heavy level with a blade, ruler, chisel and saw, all built-in.”

The older one grabbed a chisel and started fixing the edge. The younger one said, “Like a giant Swiss Army knife for professionals, to help us be really productive.”

The older one grabbed a sanding block and finished the sanding. The younger one said, “That’d be so efficient, it’d be the only tool I’d ever need.”

The job was finished, so the older one put away his tools and closed the toolbox to go. The younger one said, “Unless it would be smarter to just master the chisel, like a sculptor, right?” He kept talking as they left.

…

Some people want one perfect solution that solves every problem. They need everything to fit — consistent and congruent. The rest of us use whatever tool helps us do what we need to do. When someone refuses to use a tool because it’s not perfect, they’re probably not actually doing the work.

https://sive.rs/u34

]]><![CDATA[Religion is action, not belief]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/religion-is-action-not-beliefhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/religion-is-action-not-beliefThu, 02 Apr 2026 03:24:23 GMTOne man believed God was on his side. He often lost his temper, hurt people, and did more harm than good. But he believed that what matters is what’s in his heart, since God will forgive his actions and see his good intentions.

Another man was full of doubt but followed the rules of his religion. He stopped to pray five times a day, and donated to charity. He was calm and kind to everyone, no matter how he felt. He was never sure about his beliefs, but kept that to himself, since what mattered were his actions.

What is the point of beliefs if they don’t shape your actions? It’s easy to see the point of good actions without beliefs. It’s easy to see which is better for the world.

Someone can practice a religion while questioning its beliefs, or believe its beliefs while not adhering to its practices. Notice the difference between religion and belief. Ideologies like capitalism, stoicism, and feminism are beliefs. Religions have behaviors, practices, and organization. Zen Buddhism is a religion with basically no beliefs.

There was no word for “religion” in most Asian, American, African, and Australian languages. The idea was introduced by Europeans. Before that, their word for spiritual practices was “law”, “duty”, “righteousness”, or “the way”. Even the Latin root of “religion” (religio) means “obligation”. Following a religion means doing, not just believing.

Each religion is defined by its opposition. Protestants are not Catholics. Shias are not Sunnis. Christians, Muslims, and Jews are not pagans. Every religious believer knows other people believe something else. Therefore, no religion’s beliefs are true, since conflicting beliefs exist. (Remember, “not true” does not mean false, but just not the only answer.)

But we can’t say religions are not true, because that would be like saying dinner is not true. It’s something you do. It’s action and organization. Religion is not just in your mind.

People argue that their beliefs are true and other people’s beliefs are false. But if they focus instead on the practices — the actions — they might find they actually have no problem with other people’s religion.

Beliefs exist to guide your actions. If you’re not acting in alignment with your beliefs, you’ve missed the point of beliefs.

https://sive.rs/u33

]]><![CDATA[Useful?]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/usefulhttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/usefulWed, 01 Apr 2026 03:21:33 GMTLet’s define “useful” as whatever ultimately helps you do what you need to do, be who you want to be, or feel at peace.

The word “ultimately” is there as a reminder of long-term consequences.

Is it more useful to make others see your point of view, or make yourself see theirs?

Is it more useful to think you’re right, or to consider other perspectives?

Is it more useful to make your life easier, or make yourself stronger?

Is it ultimately more useful to benefit only yourself, or benefit others?

It depends on who you want to be and what helps you feel at peace.

https://sive.rs/u32

]]><![CDATA[Beliefs → emotions → actions]]>https://www.dereksivers.org/p/beliefs-emotions-actionshttps://www.dereksivers.org/p/beliefs-emotions-actionsTue, 31 Mar 2026 03:19:39 GMTLet’s look again at that example of the daily run.

If you believe there’s danger right behind you, you’ll feel scared and focus entirely on avoiding it.

If you believe there’s a big reward at the end, you’ll feel determined and push through your current pain — a small sacrifice for the eventual gain.

If you believe this is meant to be fun, you’ll feel playful and find creative new ways to entertain yourself with no pressure.

Beliefs create emotions. Emotions create actions. Choose a belief for the action it creates.

Picturing one future makes you quit. Picturing another future makes you jump up, full of inspiration and action. A single thought can exhaust you or motivate you.

One thought makes you act selfish. Another makes you act generous. One thought makes you do something stupid. Another makes you do something smart.

Which belief is right? Wrong question. Which belief leads to the action you need now?

https://sive.rs/u31

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