I wanted to pop in to say I adore how devoted you are to living fully and deeply. I've been following you since 2022; I have amor fati tattooed after I came across the term in one of your newsletters. It's been lovely to see your life in all its phases, ups and downs. I love how it's reinforcing that we're all a work-in-progress not aiming to hit some end game. Keep going! I look forward to reading more of what you write <3
I really appreciate your kind words, and that you've stuck around through so many changes. Amor fati is such a wonderful phrase, you could not have picked a better one to tattoo!
What you write about and share with the world on YouTube is very relevant. You do such a good job connecting with the human condition. You take your personal experiences and make them so relatable to what others are going through. I greatly enjoy your style and approach. Just the right mix of connection, psychology, and practical advice. Keep up the great work you are doing.
When I was younger, I tried very hard to make decisions based on logic instead of emotion. My Dad was a star trek fan and I idolized Mr.Spock (yes...I may have been to a convention)
Decisions seemed to me like they would be easier and more straightforward without being colored by emotion.
Then after lots of therapy 🙃 I realized tuning into my emotions let me access new places.
But they change so much! Like what the hell, what's the "truth" here if I feel differently about the same thing in a week?!?!
Now I see it as weather...important in how you relate with the particular day, and trends definitely tell you something, but sometimes it's just a storm to let pass.
Glad the glad the "house weather" is improving. Maybe it'll completely change seasons soon! 😁
Ahhh yes. Well "logical" decisions are hard to make as emotional creatures, aren't they?? But like you said, emotions are a part of us, best to become ok with them.
Still lost of mixed weather over here but it seems to be moving in a certain direction...... :)
Michael Bernard Beckwith is one of my fav spiritual teachers, and he says that your highs now are your future baseline. It's only a matter of time before renovating your whole house feels less daunting and more natural. Crazy how our homes are also such a metaphor for ourselves!
Thank you for sharing your journey with such authenticity! By the end of reading it when you said you weren’t going to let your mind lie to you and ruin it… that brought a sense of comfort. My family and I have been going through a moving transition that is taking much longer than anticipated and sometimes it is causing this doubt of, “are we doing the right thing by moving here?” It’s interesting how you wrote if this house was bad or evil and you answered it with no, it’s just how one can feel when being scared. This is an interesting acknowledgement to hold onto - and helps make me realize that fear/doubt can really make things appear scarier than they are. Like a “monster ‘being’ in the closet” as a little child. You turn on the light, and the monster is gone. Thanks for sharing your stories!
I haven't really kept up with your channel in a while, or much of your emails. But when I did, and the last few times I've read your "substack", it seems to be exactly the advice I needed at that moment in time. I thought it was fate, perhaps just crazy coincidental that you were learning the same things as I was despite very different lives...but I believe now that 20's is just a monumental growth period and many experience the same trials and tribulations, coming to the same conclusions in the end. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one, as well as have people like you on the internet to gain a succinct perspective on the emotional aspects of life. Love the new format btw, will con't to read :)
It's kinda cool to here how what I make has faded in and out of your life. This substack is something I'm really excited about so I hope you stick around for this next chapter... but if you don't, I wish you luck as you navigate your life. Like you, it's comforting to me to know there are others out there like me.
Well done for making the move and sticking with it despite the uncertainty. I'm always thinking about making a big change like this, but it's so difficult to move on from a comfortable spot in life. Wishing the best for you and your project.
The eternal impermanence of life, such a big theme... I recently was discussing about how even knowledge is impermanent… even some things I liked I don’t enjoy anymore, how heartbreaking to stop enjoying things that were once big parts of my life and have left a big gap I don’t know how to fill yet. But similarly to one of your last paragraphs, I’ve stopped looking out on how, and I’m instead embracing surrender to life’s intelligence, trusting that if I tune myself enough to my heart it’ll show me the way. And that the more I learn to embody and ground in my body, the more stable I feel navigating the unexpected, and the uncertain.
Hey Nathan, i have been watching and listening to your YouTube videos and now to your substack over the last few years on and off, and I must say that it's so refreshing and calming to hear you contemplate the same complex human condition in each of your posts. I feel that your words are easy to understand but hold so much meaning. I strive to hold the same curiosity for life and desire to know yourself. I find it odd though, that my feelings of things don't seem to fluctuate as much.
I find myself holding onto relationships or friendships way past their expiration dates. Even if someone has wronged me, somehow I believe they can change and deserve to get second chances.
It has hurt me before, but I cannot seem to shake that feeling.
But I am excited to follow whichever direction you take this substack!
I think this post offers quite an insightful look into the emotional rollercoaster that is turning a vision to reality. Because a vision is (usually and hopefully) optimistic in nature and often the practical realities we face on the path to creating a vision can be quite the opposite. But learning to navigate through the challenges whilst staying positive will ultimately lead to a good place if you're able to fight back the doubt. Good luck with the renovations!
Hi Nate,
I wanted to pop in to say I adore how devoted you are to living fully and deeply. I've been following you since 2022; I have amor fati tattooed after I came across the term in one of your newsletters. It's been lovely to see your life in all its phases, ups and downs. I love how it's reinforcing that we're all a work-in-progress not aiming to hit some end game. Keep going! I look forward to reading more of what you write <3
Hello Shamikasmruthi,
I really appreciate your kind words, and that you've stuck around through so many changes. Amor fati is such a wonderful phrase, you could not have picked a better one to tattoo!
What you write about and share with the world on YouTube is very relevant. You do such a good job connecting with the human condition. You take your personal experiences and make them so relatable to what others are going through. I greatly enjoy your style and approach. Just the right mix of connection, psychology, and practical advice. Keep up the great work you are doing.
Gosh, that means a lot, Ryan. I feel lucky that something I so deeply enjoy making and sharing receives this kind of reaction. Thank you.
Dude, do you live in my brain…wtf?! 💗💗 Isn’t it so lovely for us as humans to be questioning similar things at the same time? So much love to you.x
I guess we're both having a human experience!
Well, naturally! But I find it neat to read it’s so aligned (at least at this point in time).
When I was younger, I tried very hard to make decisions based on logic instead of emotion. My Dad was a star trek fan and I idolized Mr.Spock (yes...I may have been to a convention)
Decisions seemed to me like they would be easier and more straightforward without being colored by emotion.
Then after lots of therapy 🙃 I realized tuning into my emotions let me access new places.
But they change so much! Like what the hell, what's the "truth" here if I feel differently about the same thing in a week?!?!
Now I see it as weather...important in how you relate with the particular day, and trends definitely tell you something, but sometimes it's just a storm to let pass.
Glad the glad the "house weather" is improving. Maybe it'll completely change seasons soon! 😁
Ahhh yes. Well "logical" decisions are hard to make as emotional creatures, aren't they?? But like you said, emotions are a part of us, best to become ok with them.
Still lost of mixed weather over here but it seems to be moving in a certain direction...... :)
Michael Bernard Beckwith is one of my fav spiritual teachers, and he says that your highs now are your future baseline. It's only a matter of time before renovating your whole house feels less daunting and more natural. Crazy how our homes are also such a metaphor for ourselves!
Yeah let's see how this evolves, hopefully that's how it goes!!
Thank you for sharing your journey with such authenticity! By the end of reading it when you said you weren’t going to let your mind lie to you and ruin it… that brought a sense of comfort. My family and I have been going through a moving transition that is taking much longer than anticipated and sometimes it is causing this doubt of, “are we doing the right thing by moving here?” It’s interesting how you wrote if this house was bad or evil and you answered it with no, it’s just how one can feel when being scared. This is an interesting acknowledgement to hold onto - and helps make me realize that fear/doubt can really make things appear scarier than they are. Like a “monster ‘being’ in the closet” as a little child. You turn on the light, and the monster is gone. Thanks for sharing your stories!
Yes!! Good luck with your move!
I haven't really kept up with your channel in a while, or much of your emails. But when I did, and the last few times I've read your "substack", it seems to be exactly the advice I needed at that moment in time. I thought it was fate, perhaps just crazy coincidental that you were learning the same things as I was despite very different lives...but I believe now that 20's is just a monumental growth period and many experience the same trials and tribulations, coming to the same conclusions in the end. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one, as well as have people like you on the internet to gain a succinct perspective on the emotional aspects of life. Love the new format btw, will con't to read :)
It's kinda cool to here how what I make has faded in and out of your life. This substack is something I'm really excited about so I hope you stick around for this next chapter... but if you don't, I wish you luck as you navigate your life. Like you, it's comforting to me to know there are others out there like me.
Beautifully said, Nathaniel!
Can we see some photos of your space 🥹
Well done for making the move and sticking with it despite the uncertainty. I'm always thinking about making a big change like this, but it's so difficult to move on from a comfortable spot in life. Wishing the best for you and your project.
The eternal impermanence of life, such a big theme... I recently was discussing about how even knowledge is impermanent… even some things I liked I don’t enjoy anymore, how heartbreaking to stop enjoying things that were once big parts of my life and have left a big gap I don’t know how to fill yet. But similarly to one of your last paragraphs, I’ve stopped looking out on how, and I’m instead embracing surrender to life’s intelligence, trusting that if I tune myself enough to my heart it’ll show me the way. And that the more I learn to embody and ground in my body, the more stable I feel navigating the unexpected, and the uncertain.
Thanks for inspiring others to share 💚
Hey Nathan, i have been watching and listening to your YouTube videos and now to your substack over the last few years on and off, and I must say that it's so refreshing and calming to hear you contemplate the same complex human condition in each of your posts. I feel that your words are easy to understand but hold so much meaning. I strive to hold the same curiosity for life and desire to know yourself. I find it odd though, that my feelings of things don't seem to fluctuate as much.
I find myself holding onto relationships or friendships way past their expiration dates. Even if someone has wronged me, somehow I believe they can change and deserve to get second chances.
It has hurt me before, but I cannot seem to shake that feeling.
But I am excited to follow whichever direction you take this substack!
Thanks Nathan
Did you sell your Paris apartment?
I think this post offers quite an insightful look into the emotional rollercoaster that is turning a vision to reality. Because a vision is (usually and hopefully) optimistic in nature and often the practical realities we face on the path to creating a vision can be quite the opposite. But learning to navigate through the challenges whilst staying positive will ultimately lead to a good place if you're able to fight back the doubt. Good luck with the renovations!
Sometimes the things you love become the things you hate
Yeah, this can also happen too.