History tends to repeat itself.

Victorian England, 1700. The phenomenon of urbanization - The Industrial Revolution - caused by human evolution brought chaos:

• overcrowding

• poor sanitation

• high mortality

• social problems (crime, substance abuse, prostitution)

• diseases.

The world wasn’t ready for this.

In response, society developed things to counter these problems to ensure their survival:

• Better urban planning

• Better sanitation

• Better public health measures

The same way urbanization led to chaos, born from something good, the digital age you are in right now has brought its own disease: constant distraction.

Every day, we numb our stress by taking a hit of socials: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. Each time we do this we switch off something known as the DMN (Default Mode Network.) The part of your brain that helps your mind deal with your daily problems.

The DMN only activates when you're not being directly stimulated, like when you are bored. It’s a slow “not fun” process but it helps you process your emotions long term.

Social media is designed to be fun, addictive, and instantly whooshes your problems away. But this is temporary. And it’s harming you long-term.

You are now outsourcing your problems (emotions) and letting tech handle them for you, in exchange for comfort.

Comfort has become our new baseline.

But how many people do you know personally that are comfortable, AND aimless?

This is not a coincidence.

Aimlessness is masked in comfort.

Society is spoonfed, and more spoiled than ever. They have everything so they don’t try to stand out because they don’t need to, they’re comfortable.

But there is a single solution to combat your mediocrity in the new era of the “Lost Generation”. Something that will help transform your life and neurochemically brainwash you into becoming a god among men.

It’s easier than ever for you to stand out - because the bar is already so low.

In the old days, people got their advice and feedback from their local town square. Today, the town square is the internet - except there’s one problem.

How many meme, model or BS accounts do you actively follow or see on your feed? You might not think it’s a big deal, but how often do you consciously go out of your way to find or consume content from people you respect, to discuss matters that matter?

You’re living in a bubble of sh*t, and you are not self-aware of your actions (that’s a whole other newsletter.)

People are now lost, more connected, and connected to the wrong people that don’t serve them. Your “role models “ and your “thought leaders” are actively harming you (whether they realize it or not.)

Evolution of Influence: Your Mother vs. You

In the old days, people still had awful role models, but the bar to entry was higher (logistically) and without the internet, the bad sh*t didn’t spread as far. In the 21st century, the world is now noisier, but you have less direction since everyone can now become a role model. This means by default you are likely following more wrong ones than right ones.

And this problem is only getting worse. More people who think like trash are spreading their sh*t takes to people who don’t know any better, and you are covered in it.

Wipe yourself.

You must learn to recognize and counter this problem like the Brits in 1700 did by learning to become your own source of inspiration.

Outsourcing wisdom from people smarter than you isn’t a bad thing, but for the average joe who doesn’t know any better, this isn’t a good first step.

This is why we’ll go over an ancient art that has been used across time and cultures that served chosen men and common men - warriors, kings and societies at large.

This art will be your ultimate weapon against uncertainty and overwhelm. To help you face and solve your problems when no one else will.

By countering your downfall with Neuro-Artistry.

By learning the Art of the Gentlemen (TAO Code.)

Transform Baseline Perception (Power) to Eliminate Fear

Imagine standing at a magical fork in the road. Path A promises pleasure and success but at the cost of harming those you love. Path B leads to a normal boring life without causing anyone harm. Which would you choose and why?

If you had an infinite amount of time to make this decision, how much energy and anguish would you spend trying to make a choice? How much regret would you feel for making the “right” or “wrong” choice?

Dhṛ (धृ) is the root Sanskrit word for “dharma”, which encompasses the meanings of words like:

• Steadfast

• Support

• Hold

• Bear

• Firm

Dharma is a set of ancient guiding principles that have been used as a solution to combat life (ever-changing) for millennia. Because life is not stable, it’s the opposite. The baseline is always changing.

These principles found in dharma helped society regulate this problem of change by not participating in that change, but instead by adhering to consistent and stable guidelines.

Your mind will always have things to say in whatever choices you make (right or wrong) in any situation, regardless of what YOU think.

For most people, their mind going against them is a crippling problem they deal with daily their entire lives. Dharma - and bulleted lists - are what will help you counter this problem for the rest of your life.

It is one of the few mindset (cognitive) reframing exercises that will directly solve the many “split road problems” you have yet to come across in your life.

Solving and silencing any anguish, frustration, fear and self-doubt your mind gives you - by streamlining everything.

You're more savvy with tech but your ancestors and their neighbours were more savvy with life.

And you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to get in on the action.

Become Elite at Life by Copying the Ancients

Most people in history didn’t have the privilege to not face true hardship.

Medieval Knights. 1100-1400 AD.

• Feudal warfare

• Crusades

• Territorial disputes among European Kingdoms

This period was one of several key periods in European history where these chaps had a deadly combination of things happening that they had to deal with.

To combat what awaited them physically, they got smart. And issued a preventative safeguard to protect themselves psychologically.

They created the Code of Chivalry.

A serious set of ideals that help instilled a sense of nobility, duty, and responsibility, that guided decision-making and reduced internal conflicts. This mindset reframe was used to guide their conduct in the face of uncertainty and to inspire in the face of overwhelming fear.

Out of all of life’s variables, this set of ideals acted as their baseline that remained steadfast.

• humility

• compassion

• justice

• honour

They created the “why” behind what they did. They got self-aware enough to figure out what they wanted to achieve, and the actions it would take to get there.

All this streamlined their decision-making processes.

If we go back further in time, another group across the oceans practised living similar ideals. They were:

The Kshatriyas. 1500 BC.

“Soldiers” that belonged to 1 of 4 social classes in ancient Indian society. They protected and defended the realm and upheld justice and societal order. These were the cream of the crop.

They were:

• Kings

• Prince’s

• Warriors

They were responsible for upholding Dharma.

I touched on it briefly earlier. In Hindu philosophy, dharma is roughly considered a “way of being” to follow. There are many interpretations (within Hinduism, Buddhism etc.) but the underlying meaning is the same.

Dharma overall is a fundamental concept that has shaped the ethical and spiritual framework of people and society for millennia.

And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the code of chivalry (moral duty, righteousness, virtuous conduct) is eerily similar to the concept of dharma.

Except this was a set way of ideals that acted as a baseline for everyone.

From peasant to “pimp” (the ruling class), this support system was good enough for the people who never faced any hardship as it was for the ones who risked their lives on the frontline of battle.

There must have been a reason for this.

Both societies across time, culture and space roughly figured out the same things.

This is moral intuition at play.

Societies over time realized certain things and created other things to prevent, fix or deal with their life problems. Civilizations (even “primitive) used the scientific method to make observational hypotheses on their issues and devised ways to fix their issues through trial and error (testing different solutions).

They did this for thousands of years.

And you bet your ass they figured out some sh*t.

The (psychological & neuroscientific) phenomenon of moral intuition is universal in nature.

East Asia also figured this out.

In 1500 BC they came up with their own “gentlemen's way of being” based on Confucianism's principles, an ancient Chinese belief system still relevant today that emphasizes personal ethics and morality.

This was gentlemen's way of being was known as Jūnzǐ (君子).

Translated to mean "gentleman," "superior man," or "noble man." A term originally associated with China’s high social class, eventually, the concept evolved to emphasize moral excellence and virtue over just social status alone.

They removed the entry barriers to attaining such power, making it accessible to anyone who wanted to pursue ethical and moral self-cultivation.

Anyone could cultivate humanity.

Anyone could aspire to become Jūnzǐ (君子).

Moral intuition aside, these concepts (Dharma, Chivarly, Jūnzǐ) make sense if you think about it logically.

You don’t want life to f*ck you (as hard), so why not come up with a guiding framework (leadership, ethical development & personal growth) to prevent that from happening. This helps everyone -

Warriors, the weak, women, and men.

If every single culture and civilization in existence created their own form of way of living - maybe your average ass would benefit too.

How to Rewire the Mind with Cutting-Edge Science & Philosophy (MADE EASY)

Greek philosopher Aristotle whipped up some ideas on how to live the good life in the 4th century BCE. Christian Europe liked his stuff, stuffed it with Christian theology and then ran with it during the Middle Ages.

Their thinking revolved around what you can actually see and directly experience as the inherent truth (except the god part.) Part of Aristotle's views echoed this sentiment - he argued that we learn about the world through our direct interactions with it (sight, smell, hear, touch, taste.)

That is… until a fancy, dandy, fine Frenchman by the name of Rene Descartes showed up in the early 17th century.

He disagreed with Christian Europe’s POV and realized true knowledge comes from thinking carefully, and logically.

He also disagreed with something else that would change the world and the mindset of the human condition forever.

Aristotle (and by default, Christian Europe) thought mind (immaterial) and body (material) were closely connected - working in harmony as god intended (shocker.) But Descartes knew better.

He thought your mind was a goddamn animal kept in the cage.

Violent.

Ruthless.

The animal could talk and influence the physical you.

But you could also influence the animal.

Your actions could be separated from your thoughts (vice versa), but your actions could also influence your thoughts (vice versa) - he called this Mind-body dualism.

He thought you could exert control over your thoughts and actions through conscious reflection and willpower - to merge and meld imagination with your envisioned destiny.

Private Enemy No. 1 - The Mind

Speaking of identities - I’m drinking a bottle of booze while writing this. Deep down I wish I didn’t drink though.

Be honest, did you just judge me based on that statement?

Your perceived negative image of me (along with my own) makes me want to drink more. But instead, I will re-evaluate my self-image and engage in some big-picture thinking about who I am.

This will motivate me to stop drinking so my self-image, both in my eyes and yours, will align with my true values: someone who is positive and doesn’t drink.

This is basically what social psychologist Claude M. Steele looked into during his career studying 3 domains of research:

• Stereotype threat

• Addictive behaviours

• Self-affirmation 

When confronted by a “threat” (eg. a bottle of booze), focusing on things like a person’s value or achievements in other (unrelated) areas of life can help someone feel good enough about themselves to resist the urge to drink, or not do things they don’t want to do in the first place.

Focusing on the bigger picture of who you are (your value and what you’ve accomplished so far) is generally how people resist momentary temptations.

I.e. You might say no to going out drinking on a weekday because you think it’ll affect your “progress” in something else (big picture thinking.)

In pursuit of finding out what role alcohol played in self-regulation (the ability to manage emotions, thoughts and behaviours in the face of temptations and impulses) - Steele formed a theory about self-affirmation.

Between the 80’s and 90’s he got called to tackle a problem at the University of Michigan. Despite crushing exams, the dropout rate for black students was much higher than for whites - and no one knew why.

Until he figured it out.

Black students on average felt threatened by what people thought of their stereotype (i.e. not being good in school) which led them to feel consistently pressured to outperform everyone all the time - just to prove the stereotype wrong.

He later coined the groundbreaking term as “Stereotype Threat” (1995).

Steele’s research on self-affirmation was part of the solution he used to fix this problem at the university.

He came up with something called Self-Affirmation Theory.

I didn’t say Self-Affirmation, I said Self-Affirmation Theory - there’s a very important difference.

Self-Affirmation talks about actions or beliefs that “beef up” your sense of self-worth or identity (eg. writing down “you are worthy of love”).

Steel’s affirmation theory focuses on specific ways someone can combat threats against their personal ideas and beliefs they have about themselves (AKA. self-concept.)

And these concepts, unlike general self-affirmation, can be effectively applied in your daily life.

There will always be countless obstacles in your daily life that will against who you think you are and who really wanna be (self-concept), including your mind.

Your animal will make you repeat old habits that don’t serve future you.

Like checking on your phone instead of working on that business you wanna create.

You want to create that business (I know you do), but your mind (Private Enemy No.1) and the world will distract you instead.

Unless you learn how to coerce your animal into doing what you want - it will never stop.

Unlocking a mechanism highlighted by Rene Descartes, and later decoded by Claude Steele—previously utilized unknowingly by warriors and knights—you now will possess a powerful tool to shield yourself against anything that contradicts your true self and the persona you aspire to create.

You now have a way to protect (or re-affirm) the aspects of your life that are truly important to you. Because the principles here can be applied to anyone on a broader scale - with a twist.

Neuro-Artistry: Designing Your Life's Canvas

I have a theory.

Most don’t take muscle training seriously because you can see the progress. Most don’t take any “mind training” too seriously (even if research-backed) because you can’t actually see the progress. You can only feel it.

It’s hard to sell something if you can’t show the benefits upfront (visually.)

I wish you could feel what I feel through. A feeling of steadiness and calm in most situations, even if I objectively know I’m screwed. It’s not perfect and it doesn’t fix all my problems (scared, distracted etc.)

But the feeling I have is that I’m part of something bigger, whether that is some form of “main character syndrome” or not - this inspires and motivates me to press on in instances of overwhelming fear (relative to me.)

How to create your own code (that f*ckin works)

You writing one inspiring quote on your wall and reading it daily won’t do shit.

This is how most people practise self-affirmation.

General self-affirmation involves affirming your values, strengths, and positive qualities in the broad sense. It doesn’t specify concrete actions or behaviours.

Like most things in life, it helps to get specific (gotta put in the work.)

Muscle doesn’t grow because you “feel” like it should, or by lifting a tiny bit and hoping for the best. It grows because you put it through acute stress. It reacts and tears and grows back bigger - this is a survival mechanism. Your body doesn’t know, it just reacts to stimulus.

You writing one thing on the wall won’t trigger shit. The stimulation ain’t serious, and your survival is not at stake. So why would your mind waste time changing anything in this case?

You need to make your code feel real by getting specific, thinking clearly, and taking the time to figure out what you want, what it takes to get there, and the type of person you will need to become.

Then work backwards.

Here is what a general self-affirmation list might include:

• Reminding yourself of your strengths and accomplishments.

  • eg. "I successfully completed my degree while working part-time, demonstrating my ability to manage time effectively and persevere through challenges."

• Engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfilment.

  • eg. "I love painting, so I will set aside time each week to create art and express my creativity."

• Practicing self-compassion and forgiveness.

  • eg. "I acknowledge that I made a mistake at work, but I am learning from it and will forgive myself instead of dwelling on the negative."

• Setting and pursuing meaningful goals that align with your values.

  • eg. "I value health and wellness, so I will commit to exercising three times a week and eating a balanced diet to improve my overall well-being."

• Surrounding yourself with supportive and positive influences.

  • eg. "I will spend more time with friends who uplift and encourage me, and distance myself from those who bring negativity into my life."

Here is my TAO Code:

TAO Code List Contents:

• As a digital renaissance man, I do not procrastinate

• As a digital renaissance man, I work to keep extremely fit (top 5% of the population)

• As a digital renaissance man, I dress for success

• As a digital renaissance man, I work to keep a clear mind at all times

• As a digital renaissance man, I work to value my daily attention limit and exhaust it on only the most important things first

• As a digital renaissance man, I go after what I want. No matter the objective, no matter the odds. Be it work, women, and overall wins.

• As a digital renaissance man, I have a disgusting pain and fear tolerance

• As a digital renaissance man, I show interest and pursue only that which I truly desire in its utmost. But I am never needy

• As a digital renaissance man, I chase character-building and not cheap dopamine

• As a digital renaissance man, I am secure in my identity and never betray or go against the morals and codes of conduct that I set for myself

• As a digital renaissance man, I never go against my true friends, family and/or self-worth in all daily matters, no matter how small or large

Compared to the general self-affirmation list, my list (utilizing self-affirmation theory) does not talk about my best qualities, it’s not vague. It is action-oriented, translating abstract values into tangible behaviours.

My list is not perfect, it might be cringe, and silly, and it might change in the future. But this is what I got right now.

Here are some general principles found within Self-Affirmation Theory:

1. Value Affirmation: Affirming important personal values or aspects of one's self-concept.

2. Reducing Threat: Countering or mitigating threats to one's self-concept.

3. Behavioural Change: Facilitating positive behavioural changes aligned with affirmed values.

4. Self-Integrity: Maintaining a sense of integrity and coherence within one's self-concept.

If you notice, my list above gets more specific. My list contains the beliefs that I want to start living by, which directly influences my self-concept (beliefs, values and identity). This makes me more resilient against my Private Enemy No.1 - the mind.

Having this thought-out code helps me maintain a positive self-identity even when things like criticism, failure, rejection or any other negative feedback threaten my self-esteem - I am less likely to falter and crumble.

One example in my code, I didn’t say “I value my attention.”

I said “I work to value my daily attention limit and exhaust it on only the most important things first - this provides a clear guideline for how I want to approach tasks and and the important things in my life.

I’m getting specific.

Not crazy specific, but specific enough - “optimally abstract”

A fit person and a fat person differ in their habits, thinking, values, and goals. To solve a problem that the past you created, you need to evolve beyond your former self. For example, if past me failed math class, I would need to become a version of myself that's better at math to pass the class.

My code of conduct defines how I want to live my life, outlining the values and actions needed to rise above current problems and evolve into a better version of myself.

This is how I solve my current problems. I practice self-affirmation using principles from self-affirmation theory, which counters threats to my self-concept and actively changes my behaviour over time - slowly, but surely.

To create your own code of conduct, think of your life as a video game where you design your future character. Initially, don't overthink it (I didn’t.) Just write out as many points as possible in the first person, focusing on being specific.

Don’t write:

• “I want to get fit”

Write:

• I want to have a body that men want and women love”

Don’t get butthurt, it’s just an example.

By doing it this way you will tap into deeper values and desires related to attractiveness and desirability, powerful motivators for many. This makes your codes more compelling and meaningful.

Please please don’t overthink this. It’s not set in stone, and this is a slow process, so feel free to come back later and tweak your code. Mine evolved over 3 weeks here and there (and I study all this full-time.)

Think of the future you want, and what it takes to get there, get slightly more specific, and write out everything, no limits. You can tweak it whenever, try combining some so your list is more succinct and narrow it down to maybe 10 or 15 codes. Have fun with this; that’s what I did.

It’s all a game, it’s play. Since I refined my list I love it. I taped it on my wall in clear view and read it thoroughly once per day without distractions (in a casual way.)

After 4-5 months I started to remember the lines. I would wake up thinking of it, and when tired or worried, I could now centre myself on these codes. Echoing the list under my breath like a mantra - like a religion.

You are more likely to tell your sick friend to go to the doctor, than go when you’re sick. Man tends to be more resilient and fight harder when he fights for a cause outside of himself (family, kids, religion.) This code of mine inspires and motivates, gives me solace, stability, and peace - like a higher power has my back.

And no religion was involved in this at all.

I feel like I know a secret others don’t.

I feel like a warrior.

Am I capable of killing? Maybe.

Am I capable of killing - you with my good looks? Definitely.

And you bet your ass my code of conduct floods my sh*t with more conviction in my words and confidence than I know what to do with.

Try it out, play around, add, subtract, reflect and tweak. Life is play, so treat it as such, just be intentional with how you go about it.

Stay Rogue.