Do you have too many interests or are you running away? In my case, I was using my interest in many subjects for running away when a subject started getting uncomfortable because things got difficult to learn. Since recognizing this flaw in myself, I’ve been able to stick with subjects longer. It’s OK if you don’t enjoy the struggle and you quit because of that. But eventually you need to find a subject where the struggle is bearable enough for you to stick with it.
That's a really good point. All my life I thought that my destiny was to be a humanist, a great humanist, a philosopher, but now I understand that those ideas were a excuse to don't do the things that I need to do, important things.
Upvote for running away, but I'll talk about a different kind of running away: running away from figuring out what we want to do with our lives. I was doing this myself: I was starting many things because they all seemed interesting and useful, but I would eventually start questioning what their purpose was and stop doing them. It's OK to try many things so we can make an educated decision about what do with our lives, but I was too old to still not have a clear overall goal for myself, so I took several months to go through the painful process of figuring out what my values and standards are, what I want to put into the world, and what would make me at peace with my place in the world. Now I'm still working on several things at once, but this is all part of a clear plan of becoming a practical polymath working on biomedical applications in longevity, brain enhancement, and health related to space travel. When we set clear goals for our lives, it's easier to focus on single areas or to choose a manageable number of areas to work on simultaneously. ❤
I have one idea to improve focus and concentration- keep yourself be silent... It will make you calm and composed and it will really helpful to make our focus and concentration better😊
One of my biggest mistakes when I was younger was trying to be great at too many things at the same time. Focus is a superpower, pick one major goal and give it your all. Dedicating your life to one thing for even 6 months will give you greater results than spreading yourself too thin for years.
Me too I am doing that same mistake now but unfortunately i dont have time to finish one goal and then to move to the other but work simultaeously on them due to time constraints
True, till sometime ago, I was trying to focus on math Olympiad and physics Olympiad simultaneously. When I dropped of Math and focused solely on physics, it helped a ton!
Ironically enough, I just found out a way for me to solve this problem. I had spent the last few days figuring out just exactly I REALLY wanted to do--an interest can be just that, an interest, but I have aspirations to grow myself in other skills like writing, art, animation, knitting, playing guitar, learning languages, becoming a better student, becoming a better coder, getting better at video games, working out, etc. So, the question was, how am I supposed to do all of those things at once? I tried to do each one for 15 minutes, one after the other, as an experiment. It didn't work out, because I simultaneously didn't give my brain enough room to deal with that new information, and I wasn't devoting enough time to get "deep" into the interest. So, instead, I'm making a deal with myself. I'm going to focus down my interests to 3 things for the next 6 months. I know I cannot do 7 things at once, but on top of university, as well as having a gym close by, I'll be able to tackle some of those interests automatically. I also made another rule for myself; I'm going to try to keep from going down a funnel looking up tutorials for the things I'm looking to practice on youtube. That has always been a big problem of mine, as youtube videos will eat up hours and hours of the day. It should take me no more than a few hours every day to get what I want done during my time of devotion, and I'm hoping that I'll make progress I would have never expected by tackling each one a little at a time instead of all of them at once.
sorry I haven't gotten to see your reply. As of yet, I'm not currently knitting, but I might pick it back up if I need something active to do with my hands that doesn't inherently include a screen. We'll see!@@mikeedson
Yes, I agree with what was said in this video. I have an education background in computer science, but I love so many topics like math, other sciences, philosophy, economics to name a few. I struggled with this in my early 20's because finishing a degree in any of these topics required a dedication that I could not muster as each topic would be moved to the backburner as another topic became the focus of my attention. Over time I have been able to learn a lot about many topics but it took me nearly a decade to finish my CS degree because my inability to focus made taking classes fulltime a waste of money. I slowly finished at my own pace and as I got better at focusing on what was required of me I was able to finish my formal education. Going into the workforce led to the same issues as the jobs one gets hired to do often become repetitive fairly quickly. Unless you are truly the top of the field you often end up doing things that aren't in the zone of "What interests me greatly." This is just a reality of life which must be learned and accepted. One piece of advice to those reading my story, similar to what the MS said, you need to do something to pay the bills and make your way in life so focus on that as best you can and when you find yourself doing the thing which affords you your comfortable life then you also have earned the time to do the things you love. Regardless of what those things may be, it is truly a luxury to be able to study, travel, eat fine food, etc. Understand that the hardship of doing something you don't absolutely love but something that practically affords you a nice life where you can do some of the things you love some of the time isn't really a hardship. It may seem that way but a quick dive into history will show that we modern humans are lucky to eat, sleep relatively safely, and live past 40. These ideas put things in perspective for me because many things in my life got worse and the thought patterns which led me to be unfocused changed upon the acute realization that life can be much worse than it is now, so enjoy what you can and be grateful for what you have. Not just the material things or the people you love but the very fact you get to live and do anything. The fact you can choose a job that is just ok vs being forced into something that will ultimately kill you young. Life is all a matter of perspective. Whenever you find yourself in a situation fraught with confusion, your best bet is to vary your perspectives deeply and keep an open mind to what you find. Great video Math Sorc!
Same here, too many interesting things but then I get overloaded and shut down and end up not learning anything in depth. What I find that helps is structuring things in a way where you are not going to buy that shiny new udemy course or text book until you've already completed your current one. The old book might get boring but the prospect of moving on tends to be enough motivation to keep going.
I am in the same exact boat as Luis. I have gone through career changes several times throughout my academic career. I am intrigued by Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, medicine, philosophy and everything in between. I’ve thought of pursuing phds in all those respective fields just because i always find that I have talent in every single one. I’ve decided to follow the path of Nuclear Engineering because that seems like a good compromise between those fields of study (medical, mechanical, and physical/mathematical applications) but even then I find myself experiencing “the grass is always greener” syndrome. For right now though I am content with the path i am pursuing. I am attempting to stay focused, but can’t help that polymathic itch i get to draw connections and research every topic new topic that comes my way! I am blessed by God with a never ending abundance of ideas, research topics, book topics, and applications, but my greatest challenge is focusing in on realizing those ideas!! Thank you, Math Sorcerer You are truly appreciated and loved sir
I think the biggest thing that helped me overcome this was fixing my first priority. I was allowed to do essentially whatever I liked, but all of that could only come after I had addressed whatever priority #1 was. I was able to push myself through some uninspired work, and I'm glad for what I got at the other side of that. And I had left myself more than enough time to indulge in whatever interested me.
I think this is why picking a more foundational subject to spend most of one's time with is important. If one studies mathematics or physics, it gives them a great platform to study any other scientific discipline because it's many times the basis. My first degree was a BA in philosophy and the older I get the more valuable I have found that background. It gave me a sturdy foundation in logic and the ability to think clearly about things. So even though you might venture into other intellectual areas, let the one that you focus on more be applicable to all.
That is exactly the reason why i'm thinking about studying philosophy and specializing later. Glad to hear that there are people who actually did this before.
Yes I started in Astrophysics. I added physics as a second major and minored in math later. I wish I did it the other way around because my Astro courses were making a lot more sense after taking some extra physics classes that weren’t required for my major.
I disagree. This may be the case if you don’t really know where you want to end up. But often times experience and wisdom are the factors that set people apart. You can only gain the two by spending time in your area of interest. Not so much parlaying slightly relevant experience to a new field entirely.
Hello sir, love your videos man, a big hug from Spain, I've never liked math and i was so bad at it, but you made me see it in a different way and showed me that it is a beautiful science field. Also love your motivational videos. Hope you continue doing your math videos and that your channel becomes bigger and bigger.
Interesting... I'm from Ukraine, I have a major in psychology and I also work as software developer. And I also can't concentrate at one thing. There's so many unfinished projects, so much science to learn. I think I have ADHD and I really strugling as well. The world is so interesting when you can find a person with exatly the same fate) p.s. Thank you, The Math Sorcerer.
The way I prefer to frame this problem is simply you need to dedicate yourself to developing powerful skills. If you become more powerful, more capable, more connected, you will be able to take each interest further and have more of a cushion with influence and financial constraints to pursuing thing. Sales. Leadership. Rhetoric. Become more powerful and skillful and let yourself soar ever further.
It's really a good advice to distinguish between your job and your passions. If they align, consider yourself fortunate. However, for many, it's essential to dedicate time to hobbies outside of work hours while maintaining a stable, albeit less exciting, job. This approach allows for skill development in your hobby while building financial security. Eventually, when you've honed your skills and achieved financial stability, you can transition your hobby into your primary career.
Boy this one hit home with me. I am constantly finding myself go down the rabbit hole when studying subjects in math, physics, history, ...you name it. Having a curious mind is nothing to be frustrated with. The difficulty is choosing something to really focus on and this is very difficult. Even more difficult is finding a line of work that matches you passions. Maybe you cannot; however, maybe you can do things outside of work that excite you and this is still great. Teaching is a wonderful line of work because you are able to share your passion for learning with your students and make learning palpable for them. What could be better than this!
There are certain advantages to a broad liberal arts education and even its extreme manifestations which might result in information overflow, and an indecisive “scattered brain” tendency, where you super analyze everything to death. But, as you pointed out, it’s not always easy to strike a balance between the acquisition of practical knowledge and the constant pull of a curious and creative mind. The strategy that I’ve found helpful is that I treat my wandering curiosity as my hobby (my Aristotelian leisure time, if you will), and my focus as part of an indispensable prerequisite for my profession/vocation. Of course, you would be incredibly blessed if you could somehow combine the two, but be prepared to face the fact that life doesn’t always give you a delicious cake and let you eat it, too. It’s also good to remind yourself that vacillating at 33 might soon exclude you from the job market. The fear of getting professionally stuck is a great motivator, too.
We all have some problem with learning; noise, distractions, environmental.....I'm 56, engineer in the North of England...my problem is "brain chatter", stories, events going through my mind ...since I can remember. Its a bit like wacky races in my mind , meaning trying to do a calc and fighting a million thoughts. Books on the subject have not helped. Any advice?
You are putting it down on the workouts… good for you 👍🏽 I work out as well…I really need to discipline myself on this Math journey. Funny how we know we have to accomplish a task that needs to be done vs enjoying something we truly enjoy…exercise or Gaming etc-bottom line just really really-Hunker down discipline yourself to achieve that goal. 👍🏽 thx for your videos
I think a lot of this sort of thing; not being able to concentrate on one thing at a time comes down to ADHD. I have ADHD and am pursuing a degree in Engineering, I was diagnosed with the ADHD when I was about 10 years old and have struggled keeping my attention on one thing. I have talked to the doctors and taken their stupid drugs, and at this point I just don't like them and refuse to take them. Last year I was having trouble with school, so I went and talked to a counselor at the college I attend. This has been enormously helpful, I've learned so much about the brains of people with ADHD, and went from being a very mediocre student to getting high B and even A letter grades. I couldn't recommend meeting with a counselor more.
I agree. I, too, have so many interests... But this is my personal realization; jobs are inherently less exciting than the personal pursuit of these interests b/c of the very nature and purpose of jobs. This means you will have to deal with things like office dynamics, market influences, competition, etc. And it's quite possible that someone else will already holds the position doing all of the fun stuff while you're stuck supporting them with grunt work (especially if you can't focus on one things for many years on end...) Jobs are more about doing what you're good at more than doing what you like or enjoy b/c you will be up against people who've invested hours upon hours into their craft and who are objectively amazing at it (or simply willing to do the job for less money). Look into what goes into the day-to-day of real jobs; talk to people who hold those positions, and decide from those real-world perspectives.
We should not wait until feel inspired to do something we know it'll be good for our life. So instead from my personal point of view discipline is the way to go even if we don't want to do it we know it'll be good for us. it is not true that we should follow our passion that's a lie, we are capable to enjoy whatever we want to do it doesn't matter if is a hobby or something fun we need to get use to do things even if those aren't pleasant, that's part of growing and being a mature person. BREAK the wall of being undecided! if you find yourself doing something that you know isn't worth it leave it and put yourself on the way that you know it'll be benefit in the long term. There are many things that steal our attention from our aims. The mission, keep your thoughts and attention on that you consider valuable. It is difficult? of course hard as hell but not impossible!
You can learn it all, just not all at once. Pace yourself with just one or a few things at a time that you're focusing on, while making your other interests secondary until it's time to switch priorities again. As you study broadly, harness whatever you can to study deeply. And when you've studied something deeply, use it as a tool to explore more broadly.
I appreciate and enjoy very much your various discussions ; and , as a Board Certified Psychiatrist I will add my two cents (in a book that I’m working on) which I hope will be helpful in addressing the many questions that have arisen from these discussions. Sincerely, Mick
I also noticed that when I start to take something serious that I excited, it becomes less exciting, dull feeling. I don't think here I am the problem that not having guts to take my interests serious. It seems to be like that only from this angle. Now, leave this problem and think about: Can you master something that you don't play around and just follow a sequence, trying to not waste time? A lot of us applied the "taking serious" thing like that. After taking it serious that way, we loose our 'approach style' that makes it exciting. There must be a balance point where we can play in order. This is not the complete solution for the problem that mr. Louis described, I had that problem writing this :).
Tenho o mesmo "problema" do Luis, mas hoje em dia decidi dedicar boa parte do meu tempo em uma skill que irá pagar minhas contas, enquanto no tempo livre faço as coisas que realmente amo.
I have this problem. The way I found to improve it, was simply having an "everything list", where I write out everything that I feel I should pursue at some point (even silly things like buying stuff, etc). I noticed that as soon as I write it down, it leaves my mind, and I can go back to work without this gut feeling of leaving stuff behind. Most of the stuff I write down, I end up tossing out anyway.
I'm the same way, maybe you have adhd. It's great that you find lots of subjects interesting. You can focus on one until you develop enough skills to get a job, and still continue with your other interests. Never stop learning. Good luck!
Similar, almost same, problem over here. Too many things too little time. Hard part is to choose, even harder probably to stick to it. I would also say that it is for sure very positive you are curios and motivated. Now you (and me) needs a way how to do the things we want to do. Everything at the same time will not work, for sure. So we really need to choose first. Give it a very good and deep thought and choose. Stick to it long enough you can say that you are good enough at it. Make the plan and make the structure. Follow the plan according to the structure. There are different strategies, like already discussed on this channel, every day 1 hour (or 1 lesson). We need to resist the temptation of switching to another subject, book, course, technology, device or similar... Yeah, I know, it is so flashy, exciting and tempting. 🤩 But we are coming nowhere by switching the whole time! We start everything but not finishing or achieving anything. Do not desperate but rather choose 1 thing and go for it! I tell you but I have the same problem over here🙈
This is probably the most relatable question I’ve seen answered on this channel. What I’m getting from this is you should know the difference between job training and studying at your leisure and schedule both accordingly.
Yes!! The time to quit being curious and exploring new and exciting things is NEVER!! It is a lifelong pleasure to always be looking into something new. But. That does not give one permission to not also put time and effort into the more mundane aspects of obtaining basic skills and pursuing a means of supporting oneself. It's Maslow's hierarchy ... you need to take care of the basics so as to have the luxury to give time to other passions as well.
@@ggcruise Yeah like for example I hate searching for jobs, as a recent graduate with no job experience. Job applications and writing resumes gives me a ton of anxiety. I would much rather procrastinate by reviewing physics I already kind of know or can easily relearn on the job and justify it as prep work needed for applying to physics tutoring jobs. But that is far from the most important thing I should be doing right now.
I kind of have that issue with books. Too many books to choose from, and I shut down. I can't read anything for a days or weeks. Then eventually I just pick a book at random and get back to reading. Fiction and non fiction books. Right now, I have math books I want to get to but I've already started 3 or 4 math books. Writers that get blocked are given this advice: take time off from it. So, maybe take time off from trying to learn anything. Come back in a few weeks and maybe have a fresh outlook. Then pick something at random to study to get started back again.
Dear Luis, In my mind, you should rethink your life style. Take into consideration the following points : - Are you leading a decent life? Are you financially independent? Is financial independence important for you? - Your major is psychology. You know better than me. There are different personality types. Which type are you? - Can a compas model of life help you? I mean set one of your strongest interests as the stable and central basis of your life and set your remaining interests as the variable and moving. Sleep over this suggestion!
also another question. I saw your channel in spanish, you speak spanish very good man. Are you from south america or something like that because I saw the video talking about this russian book from Cuba, are you from Cuba or something like that?, I'm just curious about it
Since Luis has so many interests, he should focus on the one interest that he believes will do the most good for the most people. This would override his temporary excitement and replace it with “purpose”
At the beginning of something we should focus on that particular thing only and how much you want to work with it , it depends whether you want to go further with it or try something new as learning never ends in any field. Goal or checkpoint are important to create for every thing according to that do planning and implementation
I have the same problem, I’m also from Brazil, I’m 34 but I currently live in the US. I already have a decent job that pays me good, but I’m getting my second degree in Biomedical physics, but it’s gonna take so much time to get a good job with that degree, I’ve been thinking about double majoring in chemical engineering and biophysics. My ultimate goal is medical physics but I’ll need a PHD and residency for that. So I’ve been questioning if majoring in engineering will help me get a better job faster and still have a chance of becoming a medical physicist. Would like some advice. Thanks.
This is a common issue with people who have ADD or ADHD, and it isn't resolved just by willpower. There are compensation techniques, however. By the way, it is not an insignificant proportion of the population since it is probably underdiagnosed.....
Head on down the tightrope surrounded by rabbit holes. Know when to stay on the tightrope. Know when to drop down the rabbit hole. You don't know. Trial and error is authorized. To some extent.
I'm in the same boat, recently came accross formal methods in concurrency and distributed systems. now i want to learn that. please make a course on that. or at least make a self study roadmap pleeease. 😢
First of all thank you so much Sir for the helpful videos you are making. I am a data science enthusiasts, learning math fundamentals from you. Simplify simplify simply , don't complicate things if it is overwhelming. Pick 1 to 2 subjects. Limit yourself to 1,2 video courses. 1,2 books. This is the strategy I made for myself because I was ending my day without doing much, because of the complication I made for myself.
in a couple of years you can get through some real analisys, complex analisys and a few different versions of geometry, after that the world is really your oyster.
I mean its impossible to given equal attention to everything because theres too many things in the universe so stop striving for it? (even if it feels the most natural thing to do)
I would read one textbook and think that the other textbook had so much better and when i read that i realise that its missing some points and whatnot. Any help?
It's OK to read several textbooks and other sources when you try to understand something. Use one textbook as your main material, then, when you don't understand something in it, go look at online material, RUclips videos, and other textbooks. It will take you longer to learn a subject, but, if you do it this way, you'll learn that subject well. Also, when other people ask for recommendations on textbooks, you'll be a good person to talk to since you'll be able to talk from own experience about the strengths and weaknesses of each textbook. 😊
Sounds like ADHD and hyper fixation. You get super interested in a subject, spend extra energy in that subject until it starts to taper off after some time, then you find another subject that interests you.
I am wrote a big autobiographic comment, but you know, stupid. Shorter; I always thought i am a science/engineer guy but after contemplating what the hell is world, what am i, and how and what, i've come to conclusion there's no way for me to satisfy my current self, no matter what i choose i will want everything else but what i chose. So my advice is go do art, or rather more governmental professions, because objectively it is absolutely ideal if there'd be (even) more people keen in science at the head of things.
Crazy bro... I'm also brazilian and have a friend called Luiz, he's 25/26 though... anyway Another coincidence is this: So I'm stuck in life for years now, I'm a completely bum and NEET but... I tried making money online with digital marketing, affiliate and that type of thing (I only lost more time and money lol) I also tried doing "things I love" to make money, I like playing games right? So I tried to become a youtuber/streamer, it was going nowhere So... I finally realized that, it is what it is, starting a business online is not easy at all, doing what you love not necessarily will make you money/enough money to make a living out of it, and the hard and sad true reality is, in life you gonna need to make a bunch of stuff you hate/you don't really love/don't wanna do... it is what it is. So right now, this: 4:23 is exactly what I'm looking for I want a remote job at least, (doing whatever I don't care anymore), I'm just tired of being a bum I don't know anything that I really love doing to make real money, so I accept that I might work on something I hate or don't like so much, it is what it is man I'll focus on that now I guess, untill who knows one day I find something I love, or maybe I'll never find it but anyway And if I need to learn some stuff or develop specific skills to get a decent job I'm going for it bro... I just want to make money, and I realized that is way easier to make it working for somebody than starting a business out of nothing Anyway, thanks for the video man God bless you ❤❤❤❤
I am Abdullah bin Usman. I want some research Guidence I want to write you an email. I need your contact info. Thne it's a request to answer it in your video
Do you have too many interests or are you running away? In my case, I was using my interest in many subjects for running away when a subject started getting uncomfortable because things got difficult to learn. Since recognizing this flaw in myself, I’ve been able to stick with subjects longer. It’s OK if you don’t enjoy the struggle and you quit because of that. But eventually you need to find a subject where the struggle is bearable enough for you to stick with it.
I am in the very same boat
That's a really good point. All my life I thought that my destiny was to be a humanist, a great humanist, a philosopher, but now I understand that those ideas were a excuse to don't do the things that I need to do, important things.
This!!!
Upvote for running away, but I'll talk about a different kind of running away: running away from figuring out what we want to do with our lives.
I was doing this myself: I was starting many things because they all seemed interesting and useful, but I would eventually start questioning what their purpose was and stop doing them. It's OK to try many things so we can make an educated decision about what do with our lives, but I was too old to still not have a clear overall goal for myself, so I took several months to go through the painful process of figuring out what my values and standards are, what I want to put into the world, and what would make me at peace with my place in the world.
Now I'm still working on several things at once, but this is all part of a clear plan of becoming a practical polymath working on biomedical applications in longevity, brain enhancement, and health related to space travel.
When we set clear goals for our lives, it's easier to focus on single areas or to choose a manageable number of areas to work on simultaneously. ❤
I have one idea to improve focus and concentration- keep yourself be silent... It will make you calm and composed and it will really helpful to make our focus and concentration better😊
It works ! Tested when I really need to upgrade one of my skills to the next level
@@danielpopa2121 good daniel.... God bless u😎👍
One of my biggest mistakes when I was younger was trying to be great at too many things at the same time.
Focus is a superpower, pick one major goal and give it your all. Dedicating your life to one thing for even 6 months will give you greater results than spreading yourself too thin for years.
Me too I am doing that same mistake now but unfortunately i dont have time to finish one goal and then to move to the other but work simultaeously on them due to time constraints
True, till sometime ago, I was trying to focus on math Olympiad and physics Olympiad simultaneously. When I dropped of Math and focused solely on physics, it helped a ton!
It's better to be an expert at one or two things than mediocre at many things. People don't pay for mediocre.
Ironically enough, I just found out a way for me to solve this problem. I had spent the last few days figuring out just exactly I REALLY wanted to do--an interest can be just that, an interest, but I have aspirations to grow myself in other skills like writing, art, animation, knitting, playing guitar, learning languages, becoming a better student, becoming a better coder, getting better at video games, working out, etc. So, the question was, how am I supposed to do all of those things at once? I tried to do each one for 15 minutes, one after the other, as an experiment. It didn't work out, because I simultaneously didn't give my brain enough room to deal with that new information, and I wasn't devoting enough time to get "deep" into the interest.
So, instead, I'm making a deal with myself. I'm going to focus down my interests to 3 things for the next 6 months. I know I cannot do 7 things at once, but on top of university, as well as having a gym close by, I'll be able to tackle some of those interests automatically. I also made another rule for myself; I'm going to try to keep from going down a funnel looking up tutorials for the things I'm looking to practice on youtube. That has always been a big problem of mine, as youtube videos will eat up hours and hours of the day. It should take me no more than a few hours every day to get what I want done during my time of devotion, and I'm hoping that I'll make progress I would have never expected by tackling each one a little at a time instead of all of them at once.
Coincidently enough, we have a lot of similar interestes, for example knitting.
Are you still knitting, tho?
sorry I haven't gotten to see your reply. As of yet, I'm not currently knitting, but I might pick it back up if I need something active to do with my hands that doesn't inherently include a screen. We'll see!@@mikeedson
Yes, I agree with what was said in this video. I have an education background in computer science, but I love so many topics like math, other sciences, philosophy, economics to name a few. I struggled with this in my early 20's because finishing a degree in any of these topics required a dedication that I could not muster as each topic would be moved to the backburner as another topic became the focus of my attention. Over time I have been able to learn a lot about many topics but it took me nearly a decade to finish my CS degree because my inability to focus made taking classes fulltime a waste of money. I slowly finished at my own pace and as I got better at focusing on what was required of me I was able to finish my formal education.
Going into the workforce led to the same issues as the jobs one gets hired to do often become repetitive fairly quickly. Unless you are truly the top of the field you often end up doing things that aren't in the zone of "What interests me greatly." This is just a reality of life which must be learned and accepted.
One piece of advice to those reading my story, similar to what the MS said, you need to do something to pay the bills and make your way in life so focus on that as best you can and when you find yourself doing the thing which affords you your comfortable life then you also have earned the time to do the things you love. Regardless of what those things may be, it is truly a luxury to be able to study, travel, eat fine food, etc. Understand that the hardship of doing something you don't absolutely love but something that practically affords you a nice life where you can do some of the things you love some of the time isn't really a hardship. It may seem that way but a quick dive into history will show that we modern humans are lucky to eat, sleep relatively safely, and live past 40. These ideas put things in perspective for me because many things in my life got worse and the thought patterns which led me to be unfocused changed upon the acute realization that life can be much worse than it is now, so enjoy what you can and be grateful for what you have. Not just the material things or the people you love but the very fact you get to live and do anything. The fact you can choose a job that is just ok vs being forced into something that will ultimately kill you young. Life is all a matter of perspective. Whenever you find yourself in a situation fraught with confusion, your best bet is to vary your perspectives deeply and keep an open mind to what you find.
Great video Math Sorc!
Same here, too many interesting things but then I get overloaded and shut down and end up not learning anything in depth. What I find that helps is structuring things in a way where you are not going to buy that shiny new udemy course or text book until you've already completed your current one. The old book might get boring but the prospect of moving on tends to be enough motivation to keep going.
I am in the same exact boat as Luis. I have gone through career changes several times throughout my academic career. I am intrigued by Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, medicine, philosophy and everything in between. I’ve thought of pursuing phds in all those respective fields just because i always find that I have talent in every single one. I’ve decided to follow the path of Nuclear Engineering because that seems like a good compromise between those fields of study (medical, mechanical, and physical/mathematical applications) but even then I find myself experiencing “the grass is always greener” syndrome. For right now though I am content with the path i am pursuing. I am attempting to stay focused, but can’t help that polymathic itch i get to draw connections and research every topic new topic that comes my way! I am blessed by God with a never ending abundance of ideas, research topics, book topics, and applications, but my greatest challenge is focusing in on realizing those ideas!!
Thank you, Math Sorcerer
You are truly appreciated and loved sir
Thanks I'm 20 and your advice helps me a lot
I get paralyzed by all the options and its hard finding or igniting that passion in my heart but i do have varied interests that change with time
I think the biggest thing that helped me overcome this was fixing my first priority. I was allowed to do essentially whatever I liked, but all of that could only come after I had addressed whatever priority #1 was. I was able to push myself through some uninspired work, and I'm glad for what I got at the other side of that. And I had left myself more than enough time to indulge in whatever interested me.
I think this is why picking a more foundational subject to spend most of one's time with is important. If one studies mathematics or physics, it gives them a great platform to study any other scientific discipline because it's many times the basis. My first degree was a BA in philosophy and the older I get the more valuable I have found that background. It gave me a sturdy foundation in logic and the ability to think clearly about things. So even though you might venture into other intellectual areas, let the one that you focus on more be applicable to all.
Brilliantly put ! Thanks !
That is exactly the reason why i'm thinking about studying philosophy and specializing later. Glad to hear that there are people who actually did this before.
Yes I started in Astrophysics. I added physics as a second major and minored in math later. I wish I did it the other way around because my Astro courses were making a lot more sense after taking some extra physics classes that weren’t required for my major.
I disagree. This may be the case if you don’t really know where you want to end up. But often times experience and wisdom are the factors that set people apart. You can only gain the two by spending time in your area of interest. Not so much parlaying slightly relevant experience to a new field entirely.
Hello sir, love your videos man, a big hug from Spain, I've never liked math and i was so bad at it, but you made me see it in a different way and showed me that it is a beautiful science field. Also love your motivational videos. Hope you continue doing your math videos and that your channel becomes bigger and bigger.
Sir, this's much needed video. MUCH NEEDED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'm a student & felt the same.
Interesting... I'm from Ukraine, I have a major in psychology and I also work as software developer. And I also can't concentrate at one thing. There's so many unfinished projects, so much science to learn. I think I have ADHD and I really strugling as well. The world is so interesting when you can find a person with exatly the same fate) p.s. Thank you, The Math Sorcerer.
The way I prefer to frame this problem is simply you need to dedicate yourself to developing powerful skills. If you become more powerful, more capable, more connected, you will be able to take each interest further and have more of a cushion with influence and financial constraints to pursuing thing. Sales. Leadership. Rhetoric. Become more powerful and skillful and let yourself soar ever further.
It's really a good advice to distinguish between your job and your passions. If they align, consider yourself fortunate. However, for many, it's essential to dedicate time to hobbies outside of work hours while maintaining a stable, albeit less exciting, job. This approach allows for skill development in your hobby while building financial security. Eventually, when you've honed your skills and achieved financial stability, you can transition your hobby into your primary career.
Boy this one hit home with me. I am constantly finding myself go down the rabbit hole when studying subjects in math, physics, history, ...you name it. Having a curious mind is nothing to be frustrated with. The difficulty is choosing something to really focus on and this is very difficult. Even more difficult is finding a line of work that matches you passions. Maybe you cannot; however, maybe you can do things outside of work that excite you and this is still great. Teaching is a wonderful line of work because you are able to share your passion for learning with your students and make learning palpable for them. What could be better than this!
There are certain advantages to a broad liberal arts education and even its extreme manifestations which might result in information overflow, and an indecisive “scattered brain” tendency, where you super analyze everything to death. But, as you pointed out, it’s not always easy to strike a balance between the acquisition of practical knowledge and the constant pull of a curious and creative mind. The strategy that I’ve found helpful is that I treat my wandering curiosity as my hobby (my Aristotelian leisure time, if you will), and my focus as part of an indispensable prerequisite for my profession/vocation. Of course, you would be incredibly blessed if you could somehow combine the two, but be prepared to face the fact that life doesn’t always give you a delicious cake and let you eat it, too. It’s also good to remind yourself that vacillating at 33 might soon exclude you from the job market. The fear of getting professionally stuck is a great motivator, too.
ABSOLUTE amazing advice 🙂👍
é você?
We all have some problem with learning; noise, distractions, environmental.....I'm 56, engineer in the North of England...my problem is "brain chatter", stories, events going through my mind ...since I can remember. Its a bit like wacky races in my mind , meaning trying to do a calc and fighting a million thoughts. Books on the subject have not helped. Any advice?
You are putting it down on the workouts… good for you 👍🏽 I work out as well…I really need to discipline myself on this Math journey. Funny how we know we have to accomplish a task that needs to be done vs enjoying something we truly enjoy…exercise or Gaming etc-bottom line just really really-Hunker down discipline yourself to achieve that goal. 👍🏽 thx for your videos
I just found out that I'm not the only one struggling with this.. It really encourages me. Thank you comment section.
I think a lot of this sort of thing; not being able to concentrate on one thing at a time comes down to ADHD.
I have ADHD and am pursuing a degree in Engineering, I was diagnosed with the ADHD when I was about 10 years old and have struggled keeping my attention on one thing. I have talked to the doctors and taken their stupid drugs, and at this point I just don't like them and refuse to take them.
Last year I was having trouble with school, so I went and talked to a counselor at the college I attend. This has been enormously helpful, I've learned so much about the brains of people with ADHD, and went from being a very mediocre student to getting high B and even A letter grades.
I couldn't recommend meeting with a counselor more.
I agree. I, too, have so many interests...
But this is my personal realization; jobs are inherently less exciting than the personal pursuit of these interests b/c of the very nature and purpose of jobs. This means you will have to deal with things like office dynamics, market influences, competition, etc. And it's quite possible that someone else will already holds the position doing all of the fun stuff while you're stuck supporting them with grunt work (especially if you can't focus on one things for many years on end...)
Jobs are more about doing what you're good at more than doing what you like or enjoy b/c you will be up against people who've invested hours upon hours into their craft and who are objectively amazing at it (or simply willing to do the job for less money). Look into what goes into the day-to-day of real jobs; talk to people who hold those positions, and decide from those real-world perspectives.
I know going fishing helps me. Just you, the river, and nature. You’ll come back more focused.
We should not wait until feel inspired to do something we know it'll be good for our life. So instead from my personal point of view discipline is the way to go even if we don't want to do it we know it'll be good for us. it is not true that we should follow our passion that's a lie, we are capable to enjoy whatever we want to do it doesn't matter if is a hobby or something fun we need to get use to do things even if those aren't pleasant, that's part of growing and being a mature person.
BREAK the wall of being undecided! if you find yourself doing something that you know isn't worth it leave it and put yourself on the way that you know it'll be benefit in the long term. There are many things that steal our attention from our aims.
The mission, keep your thoughts and attention on that you consider valuable. It is difficult? of course hard as hell but not impossible!
You can learn it all, just not all at once. Pace yourself with just one or a few things at a time that you're focusing on, while making your other interests secondary until it's time to switch priorities again.
As you study broadly, harness whatever you can to study deeply. And when you've studied something deeply, use it as a tool to explore more broadly.
Thanks!
I appreciate and enjoy very much your various discussions ; and , as a Board Certified Psychiatrist I will add my two cents (in a book that I’m working on) which I hope will be helpful in addressing the many questions that have arisen from these discussions. Sincerely, Mick
Take the most pragmatic route which leads to financial freedom, and support this with a rigorous background in something you like.
I also noticed that when I start to take something serious that I excited, it becomes less exciting, dull feeling. I don't think here I am the problem that not having guts to take my interests serious. It seems to be like that only from this angle.
Now, leave this problem and think about:
Can you master something that you don't play around and just follow a sequence, trying to not waste time?
A lot of us applied the "taking serious" thing like that. After taking it serious that way, we loose our 'approach style' that makes it exciting. There must be a balance point where we can play in order.
This is not the complete solution for the problem that mr. Louis described, I had that problem writing this :).
Abraço a todos os brasileiros e que não desistam dos seus sonhos.
Tenho o mesmo "problema" do Luis, mas hoje em dia decidi dedicar boa parte do meu tempo em uma skill que irá pagar minhas contas, enquanto no tempo livre faço as coisas que realmente amo.
Qual skill seria considerada como boa?@@victornecromancer
Sound practical advice, good advice. :)
I have this problem. The way I found to improve it, was simply having an "everything list", where I write out everything that I feel I should pursue at some point (even silly things like buying stuff, etc). I noticed that as soon as I write it down, it leaves my mind, and I can go back to work without this gut feeling of leaving stuff behind. Most of the stuff I write down, I end up tossing out anyway.
I'm the same way, maybe you have adhd. It's great that you find lots of subjects interesting. You can focus on one until you develop enough skills to get a job, and still continue with your other interests. Never stop learning. Good luck!
Similar, almost same, problem over here. Too many things too little time. Hard part is to choose, even harder probably to stick to it. I would also say that it is for sure very positive you are curios and motivated. Now you (and me) needs a way how to do the things we want to do. Everything at the same time will not work, for sure. So we really need to choose first. Give it a very good and deep thought and choose. Stick to it long enough you can say that you are good enough at it. Make the plan and make the structure. Follow the plan according to the structure. There are different strategies, like already discussed on this channel, every day 1 hour (or 1 lesson). We need to resist the temptation of switching to another subject, book, course, technology, device or similar... Yeah, I know, it is so flashy, exciting and tempting. 🤩 But we are coming nowhere by switching the whole time! We start everything but not finishing or achieving anything. Do not desperate but rather choose 1 thing and go for it! I tell you but I have the same problem over here🙈
This is probably the most relatable question I’ve seen answered on this channel. What I’m getting from this is you should know the difference between job training and studying at your leisure and schedule both accordingly.
Yes!! The time to quit being curious and exploring new and exciting things is NEVER!! It is a lifelong pleasure to always be looking into something new. But. That does not give one permission to not also put time and effort into the more mundane aspects of obtaining basic skills and pursuing a means of supporting oneself. It's Maslow's hierarchy ... you need to take care of the basics so as to have the luxury to give time to other passions as well.
@@ggcruise Yeah like for example I hate searching for jobs, as a recent graduate with no job experience. Job applications and writing resumes gives me a ton of anxiety. I would much rather procrastinate by reviewing physics I already kind of know or can easily relearn on the job and justify it as prep work needed for applying to physics tutoring jobs. But that is far from the most important thing I should be doing right now.
I kind of have that issue with books. Too many books to choose from, and I shut down. I can't read anything for a days or weeks. Then eventually I just pick a book at random and get back to reading. Fiction and non fiction books. Right now, I have math books I want to get to but I've already started 3 or 4 math books. Writers that get blocked are given this advice: take time off from it. So, maybe take time off from trying to learn anything. Come back in a few weeks and maybe have a fresh outlook. Then pick something at random to study to get started back again.
It's funny because my name is Luis, I'm Brazilian, 33 yo and I could easily have written this email myself 😂
LOL!!
Your words just come at me at the right and perfect time, thank you
It's better to be an expert at one or two things than mediocre at many things. People don't pay for mediocre.
Dear Luis,
In my mind, you should rethink your life style. Take into consideration the following points :
- Are you leading a decent life? Are you financially independent? Is financial independence important for you?
- Your major is psychology. You know better than me. There are different personality types. Which type are you?
- Can a compas model of life help you? I mean set one of your strongest interests as the stable and central basis of your life and set your remaining interests as the variable and moving. Sleep over this suggestion!
also another question. I saw your channel in spanish, you speak spanish very good man. Are you from south america or something like that because I saw the video talking about this russian book from Cuba, are you from Cuba or something like that?, I'm just curious about it
He's Cuban
Since Luis has so many interests, he should focus on the one interest that he believes will do the most good for the most people. This would override his temporary excitement and replace it with “purpose”
My problem is that I want to know everything and I keep going from one thing to another. I get distracted very easily.
Thank you for nice video 👍🏻
Welcome 👍
At the beginning of something we should focus on that particular thing only and how much you want to work with it , it depends whether you want to go further with it or try something new as learning never ends in any field.
Goal or checkpoint are important to create for every thing according to that do planning and implementation
My God, Luis, I'm also from Brazil and have the same problem, so much that was considering e-mailing our dear Math Sorcerer
I have the same problem, I’m also from Brazil, I’m 34 but I currently live in the US. I already have a decent job that pays me good, but I’m getting my second degree in Biomedical physics, but it’s gonna take so much time to get a good job with that degree, I’ve been thinking about double majoring in chemical engineering and biophysics. My ultimate goal is medical physics but I’ll need a PHD and residency for that. So I’ve been questioning if majoring in engineering will help me get a better job faster and still have a chance of becoming a medical physicist. Would like some advice. Thanks.
go engineer dude
What path would you suggest for someone who has non-technical job in tech considering learning Maths in their free time "as a hobby"?
This is a common issue with people who have ADD or ADHD, and it isn't resolved just by willpower. There are compensation techniques, however. By the way, it is not an insignificant proportion of the population since it is probably underdiagnosed.....
Head on down the tightrope surrounded by rabbit holes. Know when to stay on the tightrope. Know when to drop down the rabbit hole. You don't know. Trial and error is authorized. To some extent.
I'm in the same boat, recently came accross formal methods in concurrency and distributed systems. now i want to learn that. please make a course on that. or at least make a self study roadmap pleeease. 😢
Contentment with living in the real world
Definitely interested in too many things
Mate how do you help some who is struggling with systems equations ?? What are the doing wrong especially one with 3 variables
First of all thank you so much Sir for the helpful videos you are making. I am a data science enthusiasts, learning math fundamentals from you.
Simplify simplify simply , don't complicate things if it is overwhelming. Pick 1 to 2 subjects. Limit yourself to 1,2 video courses. 1,2 books. This is the strategy I made for myself because I was ending my day without doing much, because of the complication I made for myself.
in a couple of years you can get through some real analisys, complex analisys and a few different versions of geometry, after that the world is really your oyster.
How you feel about ai? Kinda lost hope since the whole thing got rolling, like its the last nail in the coffin for the future of potential careers
I mean its impossible to given equal attention to everything because theres too many things in the universe so stop striving for it? (even if it feels the most natural thing to do)
Learn to meditate, Louis. With time the mind becomes more peaceful.
I would read one textbook and think that the other textbook had so much better and when i read that i realise that its missing some points and whatnot. Any help?
It's OK to read several textbooks and other sources when you try to understand something.
Use one textbook as your main material, then, when you don't understand something in it, go look at online material, RUclips videos, and other textbooks. It will take you longer to learn a subject, but, if you do it this way, you'll learn that subject well.
Also, when other people ask for recommendations on textbooks, you'll be a good person to talk to since you'll be able to talk from own experience about the strengths and weaknesses of each textbook. 😊
I always enjoy your videos, but something about the thumbnail image for this video makes you look like Smeagol.
You need experience to get experience.
Yes!!!
Sounds like ADHD and hyper fixation. You get super interested in a subject, spend extra energy in that subject until it starts to taper off after some time, then you find another subject that interests you.
I'm about the same age and can't focus either. I also don't like my undergrad degree subject.
I'm rooting for you Luis🎉
damn im also having the same problem
The smell of lemons can improve concentration
I am wrote a big autobiographic comment, but you know, stupid.
Shorter; I always thought i am a science/engineer guy but after contemplating what the hell is world, what am i, and how and what, i've come to conclusion there's no way for me to satisfy my current self, no matter what i choose i will want everything else but what i chose. So my advice is go do art, or rather more governmental professions, because objectively it is absolutely ideal if there'd be (even) more people keen in science at the head of things.
Anyone ever tell you that you look like Jeff Bezos with hair?
Yes people talk about it all the time.
Are we off topic? This has not much to do with studying mathematics.
He answers a comment from a viewer
I am first
Alright, put the papers on my desk and sit quietly until the bell rings.
@@alexch6048 what do you mean?
@@UsmanHuaweiHome You reminded me of someone that used to brag about finishing the test first :)
Crazy bro... I'm also brazilian and have a friend called Luiz, he's 25/26 though... anyway
Another coincidence is this:
So I'm stuck in life for years now, I'm a completely bum and NEET
but... I tried making money online with digital marketing, affiliate and that type of thing (I only lost more time and money lol)
I also tried doing "things I love" to make money, I like playing games right? So I tried to become a youtuber/streamer, it was going nowhere
So... I finally realized that, it is what it is, starting a business online is not easy at all, doing what you love not necessarily will make you money/enough money to make a living out of it, and the hard and sad true reality is, in life you gonna need to make a bunch of stuff you hate/you don't really love/don't wanna do... it is what it is.
So right now, this: 4:23 is exactly what I'm looking for
I want a remote job at least, (doing whatever I don't care anymore), I'm just tired of being a bum
I don't know anything that I really love doing to make real money, so I accept that I might work on something I hate or don't like so much, it is what it is man
I'll focus on that now I guess, untill who knows one day I find something I love, or maybe I'll never find it but anyway
And if I need to learn some stuff or develop specific skills to get a decent job I'm going for it bro...
I just want to make money, and I realized that is way easier to make it working for somebody than starting a business out of nothing
Anyway, thanks for the video man God bless you ❤❤❤❤
I am Abdullah bin Usman. I want some research Guidence
I want to write you an email. I need your contact info.
Thne it's a request to answer it in your video
Mate how do you help some who is struggling with systems equations ?? What are the doing wrong especially one with 3 variables