5 Insights I Wish I Understood Earlier

"The most contrarian thing of all is not to oppose the crowd but to think for yourself." - Peter Thiel

I was very observant as a kid, I wasn’t the loud one or the center of attention.

I preferred the corners, watching and listening. Observing how people moved, what they prioritized, and how they reacted to life.

It didn’t take long to notice a pattern: there were two kinds of people in this world—those who lived by default and those who lived by design.

The difference wasn’t minor, it was obvious.

On one side, people were:

Frustrated with their lives, filled with anger, living like a robot, doing what they were told and settled for a life they hated instead of trying to create a better one

On the other side, there were those who were:

Happy with their lives, challenging themselves, taking risks, expanding their knowledge, and most importantly, they were conscious of themselves.

People often label the latter group as “lucky” or “privileged,” and maybe there’s some truth to that, but dismissing their success as luck is a nice way to avoid responsibility

What if every limitation is a lack of effort and knowledge?

This truth can feel uncomfortable, especially when you’re surrounded by negativity, hopelessness, and misery

But that does not mean it's not true

With some time and reflection, i've come up with some lessons i wish i understood earlier

1) The Clock Is Ticking

You have roughly 4,000 weeks to live.

Time feels infinite in childhood, but as you age, it accelerates.

Novelty slows down time, routine speeds it up.

That’s why entire years can feel like weeks when you’re caught in monotony.

"You have time" No, you don't

It is easy for a 50 year old, financially stable, and established person to tell you, you have time, but the world is evolving faster than ever, and waiting till you ‘get everything right’ is a recipe for irrelevance.

While you’re over planning , others are:

Testing ideas. Failing fast. Collecting insights. Building momentum.

Act fast, and learn as you move, there is no pause button in life, only choices and consequences

2) First Order vs Second Order Understanding

Knowledge exists in layers.

• First order understanding is surface level. It’s what you hear from others, what everyone knows

• Second order understanding comes from experience. It’s visceral, personal, and transformative.

Most people live in the first order:

- They know exercise is important because they're told

- They know reading is valuable because everyone says so

- They know learning is crucial because it's obvious

Second order understanding separates what’s important for you from what’s noise.

- Feel the mental clarity that comes after a workout.

- Experience the shift in perspective that comes from a powerful book

- Witness how curiosity opens doors you never saw before.

Just because your favorite influencer follows a routine does not mean you need it

There are no rules to the game, do what works best for you

This means deliberately putting yourself in tough situations where you have to learn through doing.

3) Everything is a Self Fulfilling Prophecy

If you think people can’t be trusted, you’ll find reasons to prove yourself right. If you assume opportunities are scarce, your mind will ignore the ones right in front of you. If you assume something's too hard, it will become impossible.

But, this works both ways

When you start to believe:

- Every failure has a lesson

- Every person can teach you something

- Every situation offers opportunity

- Every risk can change your life

Your brain starts finding evidence for these beliefs instead.

At first, this shift feels unnatural, your mind will resist it because it goes against your programming. But with time, you'll get better at this

The point is consistent exposure to new ways of thinking.

4) Action Creates Clarity

People want clarity before acting.

It's a natural desire – wanting to see the entire path before taking the first step, seeking certainty before committing ourselves.

But it does not work like that.

Imagine walking through fog. Standing still reveals nothing, but moving forward gradually shows the road ahead.

Every action:

- Reveals information

- Creates new paths

- Builds momentum

Clarity comes from taking action, even (especially) when you're uncertain.

The clearest path forward is the one you create by taking that first uncertain step.

5) Mental Models Determine Your Reality

Your mental models—the frameworks through which you interpret the world—shape everything:

- What opportunities you see

- What solutions feel possible

- What actions feel realistic

- What futures feel achievable

Most people spend their lives without realizing they're wearing a lens

If you feel stuck, start dissecting your current mental models. Ask yourself:

- What assumptions am I making about this situation?

- What perspectives am I ignoring?

- How can I reframe this challenge?

- How can i remove this barrier?

For example, seeing a task as an experiment instead of a test completely changes how you approach it

When you evolve, your challenges evolve, and so should your models. It is important to experiment with new ways of thinking whenever you’re stuck. Combine perspectives. Challenge old beliefs.

Life isn't about having it all figured out. It’s about realizing you are in the drivers seat.

Most people live their entire lives trapped in loops they never question, following paths they didn’t choose, and believing they have no control, but you’re not most people.

You have the ability to question everything. To see through problems. To consciously design your life.

Remember, the best advice can't be given, it must be realized, and realization comes from looking, not believing.

Look deeply. Think differently. Live consciously.

The game is deeper than it looks.

The rules are more flexible than you think.

The possibilities are far greater than you can imagine.

Until next time

Azan