Zero to 1: March's Topic Reveal
As we've explored the mechanics of motivation, one theme has consistently emerged: lasting drive comes not from external rewards or temporary willpower but from alignment with something deeper. When your actions connect to your identity and purpose, motivation ceases to be a struggle.
But this raises a profound question: What purpose is truly worth serving? How do we discover what deserves our energy and commitment?
This is where motivation meets meaning.
This Month’s Topic: Meaning
This month, we'll expand our exploration beyond how to get motivated and dive into what makes something worth pursuing in the first place.
Meaning is essential in that it makes the journey we are motivated to pursue worthwhile. When the journey is no longer worthwhile, we can fall into the state of meaninglessness, and our goals and life itself appear so empty.
Falling into meaninglessness, into depression, is a part of growing; it tells us that our old ways and our old value systems are falling apart and we need to find a new way to understand and move forward in the world.
Here is what is coming this month:
Zero to 1: What is Meaning? Man’s Search for Meaning.
Zero to 1: Exploring Meaning & Meaninglessness & Mean-Making
Zero to 1: Meaning & Morality, Meaning & Purpose, What is the Meaning of Life?
Deep Dive: A World of Meaning
We will end the month with a deep dive into meaning, and if you ever feel that life is meaningless, this is a great place to start.
The World
The series on Understanding the Economic Machine and how to navigate what’s ahead is half way done!
This week I’ll publish Lesson 4, which is a deep dive on our current situation, the challenges we face, and the road ahead.
Here is the latest from the series:
Lesson 1: Understanding How the Economic Machine Works
Topics: Markets, Money Supply, Debt Cycle, Demographics
Lesson 2: The Cycles of Changing World Orders & Economic Systems over the Past 500 Years
Topics: How Economic Strength Turns to Weakness in Empires.
Topics: A Deep Dive into the Forces that Shaped the US from 1944 to Present-Day America
Lesson 4: The Way Forward: Growth in an Era of Economic Transformation
Topics: Current economic landscape and our biggest challenges
Lesson 5: The Exponential Age: The Age of AI Agents & Crypto
Topics: Technology’s convergence and its impact on the world
Lesson 6: The 6-Year Plan
Topics: Managing risk and asymmetric rewards
New Section Idea: Psychology Corner
Lastly, I am considering adding a psychology section to Stefan Speaks.
These deep dives take a lot of time and research, and I want to ensure that you’re getting value.
If you are, please take 1 second to let me know if you are interested in the psychology section. Details are below.
The Psychology Section
This section would focus on subjects such as personality traits, the dark triad, developmental psychology, psychoanalytic diagnostics, and understanding personality structures (e.g., neurotic, psychotic, bipolar, narcissistic, histrionic, etc.), understanding bias, EMDR, etc.
Next, if you are interested or very interested, what topic is most exciting?
Here are the topics and what they include:
Personality Theory & Development"
Big 5 Traits
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Developmental Psychology stages
Deep Psychology & Existential Work
Jung's work
Denial of Death
Existential psychology
Psychoanalysis foundations & Psychoanalytic Diagnostics
Practical Psychology & Change
CBT frameworks
EMDR
Pattern recognition
Behavioral change models
Understanding Dark Psychology
Dark Triad
Manipulation patterns
Shadow work
Defense mechanisms
Modern Mental Tools & Healing
Current therapy approaches
Trauma-informed practices
Integration techniques
Practical applications
Thank you for being a part of our community!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to the year ahead.
Cheers
Stefan