How to Detect Unmet Needs, The Hum Of Everyday Life, And A Personal Letter

Gathered here are ten hand-picked and carefully curated recommendations that might spark your curiosity this month:

I.

American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg on how to detect unmet needs:

“Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.”

Source: Marshall Rosenberg in the YouTube workshop in San Francisco

II.

Q&A:

III.

A Must-Read: ​Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think​. This remains one of the most empowering articles I’ve read in recent years. It’s hilarious and amazing. For double trouble, pair it with ​this interview with the author​, Tim Urban.

IV.

A Must-See: When D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus dive into the high-stakes competition for the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF), France’s most prestigious pastry prize, the result is a thrilling experience. The chefs, under immense pressure, craft and present their stunning, fantastical desserts with precision, turning the entire contest into a gripping drama. ​This must-see​ shows the passion that some people have for their profession. It’s truly admirable.

V.

We live in a society that encourages us to think about how to have a great career but leaves many of us inarticulate about how to cultivate the inner life… The noise of fast and shallow communications makes it harder to hear the quieter sounds that emanate from the depths. We live in a culture that teaches us to promote and advertise ourselves and to master the skills required for success, but that gives little encouragement to humility, sympathy, and honest self-confrontation, which are necessary for building character. – David Brooks

VI.

For those who don’t know David Lebovitz—though I suspect many of you do—he writes a wonderful newsletter that I’ve referenced before. (I’ve already bookmarked all his latest Paris recommendations for my next visit).

VII.

A Personal Letter: I could easily fill a newsletter with stuff I think people would like, stuff that would get clicks or higher open rates. But that’s not what I do, and how my newsletter works. I don’t send out a list of 10 things I think my readers would find interesting. I send over a list of things I am currently obsessed with first. The secret to my newsletter is that I write something that I actually want to read myself. I’ll admit, sometimes that leads to some pretty quirky and weird recommendations. But the truth is that I genuinely love ​fun facts,​ and my ​shower thoughts​ often come to me when I’m in the bathroom. Read on for my full ​personal letter​.

VIII.

A shower thought that was on my mind this month: the system is often invisible to those who are woven into it. The hidden cues have been ingrained in them so deeply, that the hum of everyday life feels completely natural. Those who are slightly out of sync with the system serve as constant reminders, over and over again, of its presence.

X.

The fun fact of this month: You can’t hum while holding your nose. You need air to pass through your nose to hum. Try it!