The Architecture of Ascension
Why an arsenal of habits is all you need
Ascension. Self improvement. Whatever you wanna call it, you don’t get where you want by mindlessly replicating someone else’s routines. It will just feel like one big roleplay and it’s only a matter of time before you go back to the old you.
The underlying truth is that everyone just wants to live a life that’s true to them. One that showcases the best version of you. And that doesn’t begin with self improvement that never ends. It begins with an arsenal of habits that are you. Right now. In this very moment. What you choose is different for everyone. These are things that make life brighter when you do them. They’re not arbitrary rituals you adopt because they’re flavor of the month in the self improvement world. These habits reflect a core part of your identity. It’s woven into your lifestyle.
When you first start practicing a “good” habit, life gets better rapidly. You feel the benefits - placebo or not - especially when you actually commit and see them compound. But the moment you stack too many habits, the results diminish. You get less marginal benefit for every new habit you add. Very quickly, the mental load compounds and if you’re not careful, you find yourself stuck with a 27 step morning routine that suffocates you. That’s how the house of cards crumbles and you’re back at square one.
What you want to do instead is to surgically choose a few habits that actually make your life better. And stick to them. It shouldn’t feel forced. The benefits should be so obvious that you want to do it. Life just feels dull when you don’t. It’s a part of your very identity.
This article will give you a few possible options you can choose from. Remember, nothing is prescription. Choose what works for you, discard the rest. It’s time to build your arsenal.
Reading fiction before bed
I used to NEVER read fiction. I believed fiction was for children and that every book I read should benefit me in some way. When I wanted to improve my flexibility I read Becoming a Supple Leopard. When I wanted to sharpen my business sense, I read Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs. The idea of reading purely for fun felt weird to me. Why wouldn’t I just watch a movie? Well, I was wrong. Reading fiction does something incredible to your brain.
It stretches your mind in ways nonfiction can’t. When you read The Odyssey, you start to visualize a young Telemachus conducting himself in a beautiful marble Greek building. That never happens with a self help book. Fiction grants you the opportunity to step into a whole new world.
Reading fiction before bed calms your nervous system. It lowers your cortisol (bar certain genres), and if you’re a writer, I believe reading fiction improves the way you write.
Create more than you consume
There is nothing wrong with consumption. We live in the greatest time to be a consumer. There are entire lifetimes of material to devour. Too many movies to watch. Too many books to read. There’s so much at our fingertips that it sometimes paralyzes us into inaction.
That said, you don’t want to become a slave to the algorithm. Consume tastefully. Curate your algorithm with intention. Hit “not interested” on the stuff you don’t want to see. Block accounts that post vile clickbait. Your timeline is your sanctuary and you don’t owe anything to anyone. Viciously curate your digital diet.
At the same time, you must create. Creation feels amazing. The act of bringing an idea in your head into the real world is one of the most incredible feelings in the world. Make it a habit to consume good media and then create something yourself. Write. Design. Paint. Even if nobody sees it. Creating refines your taste and sharpens your ability to discern what you actually like. That clarity will reflect in every area of your life.
Relentless work or deep leisure
One of the best habits I’ve incorporated in recent years is being fully intentional with my energy. I’m either working hard or I’m completely at rest. Nothing in between. It sounds simple but I often have to check myself. Am I really giving this task at hand ALL that I have? Or would it be more productive to recharge and come back to it? Sometimes, you’ll surprise yourself with how a little leisure is all you need to unlock some incredible ideas.
It takes maturity to answer that question honestly. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your productivity is to take an hour and immerse yourself in deep leisure. Soak in a warm bath. Stretch. Listen to some jazz. Take a nap. Resting deeply is what allows you to work intensely. You want your light to burn BRIGHT.
That being said - I firmly believe that you MUST act the moment a great idea comes into your head. You need to do whatever it takes to bring it into the world. Pour your soul into it. Strike while the iron’s hot or you’ll lose that magic spark.
Nailing a perfect steak
Okay this is technically not a habit but it’s something I just had to include in this piece. Whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s an amazing feeling to be able to cook a perfect steak anywhere you are in the world - whether it’s for yourself or someone that you love. Even if you say that you can’t, I’m 110% sure you can learn the art of making a steak within a month if you simply exercise free will.
Here are three rules that will help you get confident in making a great steak:
The Pan
There is a night and day difference when it comes to cooking steak in a flimsy pan as opposed to good quality multiple-ply stainless steel (or a good cast iron). It literally does half the work for you. The problem with thin pans is that they don’t retain nor dissipate heat effectively. What this means is that the heat of your pan fluctuates throughout the cook. Whenever you add something in, the heat drops drastically. This ends up messing up the time on your cook, and also leads to unevenness.
The Cut
The type of steak you use, as well as how it’s CUT, determines a lot of your decisions at the stove itself. Understand that all a steak is is a rectangular sized, thick, flat cut of meat. You could literally have a steak from any part of the animal. The only reason we don’t, is most of it is tough and chewy. The reason why we stick to the cuts like the sirloin, tenderloin, ribeye etc, is that they’re the most tender. They’ve got enough fat to the point where you’re able to chew them comfortably in your mouth. Leave the tougher cuts to the days you slow-cook your meats. 1.5” is the sweet spot for an easy, one-pan cook. Tenderloins are best enjoyed rare. Sirloins medium rare. Ribeyes medium rare (or medium).Time
Mastering time is the last piece of the puzzle you’ll need to cook a great steak. It’s all about knowing how long to wait. This is the one area most people fail. Yes, you’ve got a good pan. Yes, you’ve got a banging piece of meat. But all that goes out the window if you don’t give TIME for things to happen.Letting Fat Come to Temperature
The first thing you’ll want to do is to get the pan dry, on medium-high heat. Toss some tallow or ghee in there and give TIME for it to come to temperature. Just when it’s about to smoke is when you toss the steak in. Press down firmly and that’s step 1 to getting a great crust.Waiting for the Sear
You need to simply wait. Let the pan work its magic and create a beautiful crust on the steak. This is the majority of the cooking time. When you flip, it should peel off easy. Once flipped is where you baste it with the good stuff. Cloves of garlic, fresh herbs. What I’ve just described is a simple pan-fry with ONE flip, where you baste at the end. I’ve found this to be the best for the average 1.5” steak. You really don’t need to reverse sear or do anything fancy. For thicker cuts, finish in the oven after you flip.
If you want to take this your steak game a step further, make steak au poivre:
Becoming a regular at the bakery & at cafés
I genuinely can’t think of a single habit that makes life feel richer than this. It’s not about discounts or a free croissant. It’s about going through life where people KNOW YOU. Where the waitress works on your order before you’ve even paid. Where you’re able to bring anyone to the spot and be treated like a celebrity. It’s a nice feeling and one of the best habits you can build - especially when it comes second nature to you.
When you’re new to a particular area, it’s important to visit a few spots and see what you like. You want to be a regular at spots where the staff are warm and they genuinely care. Where the food’s great and there’s a great selection. Bonus if they serve affogato for dessert.
Here’s a guide on how you can start being a regular effortlessly:
Harnessing the power of tasteful caffeination
Coffee was never meant to be a crutch. If you’re relying on it just to feel alive, you’re doing it wrong. Coffee should elevate the human experience - not bring you to baseline.
If you find yourself NEEDING a cup of coffee just to feel like yourself, that’s a bad habit. Stop. It’s going to be difficult but you need a reset. Your psyche and your gut will thank you. Slowly wean off and observe a few rules to make sure you never become its slave again:
Never drink coffee on an empty stomach.
Especially black coffee. Over time this damages your gut lining. It’s fine once in a while, but never as a daily habit.
Never go beyond two occasions per day
The law of diminishing returns prevails. An early morning cappuccino. An espresso / cortado with friends in the afternoon. That’s all you need. If you really need a subtle buzz, get tea or mate. Plus, the novelty and ‘punch’ of coffee really evaporates after the second cup. You’ll easily find yourself on the slippery slope of dependency and at that point, coffee is using you.
Stay hydrated
Coffee without adequate hydration leads to dehydration fast. This doesn’t mean downing endless gallons of water. Simply drink - or even eat your hydration. Tasteful drinks imbued with naturally occurring electrolytes. Think coconut water, orange juice, spring water, milk, etc.
Drink quality coffee
It genuinely makes a difference. Sipping coffee made from well sourced freshly roasted beans will drastically alter your coffee experience. The premium for coffee at higher end cafés is almost always justified. They take care of their grinders and machines every single day. Their beans are freshly roasted. It’s a divine experience.
