By Colby Kultgen
A Breathing Technique Everyone Should Know, Stoic Rules for a Better Life, and Excitement Engineering
Read online / Read time: 4 minutes
Today at a Glance:
• A breathing technique that blew my mind
• A list of Stoic rules for a better life
• How to grow your social media presence in 2025
• A list of underrated qualities for success
• The power of Excitement Engineering
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A breathing technique every human should know
OH. MY. GOD.
This seriously helped me take the deepest breaths I've had in years.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been trying (and failing) to become a “belly breather”—AKA diaphragmatic breathing.
The cue above helped more than anything I’ve tried before.
It's a bit tricky, but when you get it you'll know immediately. Your entire ribcage will expand in a way that feels really good.
If you're struggling, this video does a nice job explaining it.
Still stuck? Try this:
- Open your mouth slightly.
- Slowly inhale, focusing on the sensation of air passing over the roof of your mouth.
- Gently close your mouth while continuing to inhale (try to keep that same “pull”).
- Your nose should naturally take over without shifting into “upward” breathing.
Reply and let me know if this worked as well for you as it did for me!
A list of Stoic rules to live a better life
There are only a handful of books I revisit every year:
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
And Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
Now, I don’t see Stoicism as the be-all and end-all of philosophy like some people do. But I do think its core principles act as an incredibly useful operating system for modern life.
If you've never gotten into it, the rules above are a very solid entry point.
If any of them hit home, do yourself a favor and read Meditations.
Want to build your personal brand in 2025?
The best decision I've ever made:
Building my personal brand (and it's not close).
My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.
That’s exactly why Ben Meer, Jade Bonacolta, and I created Archimedes.
An exclusive community where we teach creators how to build, grow, and monetize their online presence.
Curious to learn more?
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A list of impactful qualities that require zero talent
I loved this idea from James Clear.
It's easy to overlook these intangible qualities, even though they're just as (if not more) important than hard skills.
Let's add a few more to the list:
- Punctual. You show up on time, which signals respect for others and reliability.
- Curious. You ask thoughtful questions and stay open to learning new things.
- Humble. You don’t need to be the smartest in the room, just willing to grow.
- Consistent. You show up and do the work even when motivation is low.
- Generous. You offer help, praise, or credit without expecting anything in return.
- Present. You give people your full attention, making them feel heard and valued.
- Kind. You treat people well, regardless of what they can do for you.
An underrated technique for improving happiness
I can vouch for this.
It’s wild how much of a difference it makes to have even one thing on the horizon you're excited about.
What most people don’t realize is that we have way more control over this than we think.
I call it Excitement Engineering.
Consciously adding things into your calendar that you look forward to on a yearly, monthly, and daily basis.
When you plan excitement in advance, the return on that moment compounds. You don’t just enjoy it when it happens, you get the anticipation dividends too.
A spontaneous trip might be fun, but when you plan it a month out, you get 30 days of “I can’t wait” energy baked in.
My challenge to you:
Take five minutes today and engineer a bit more excitement into your life.
Need ideas?
- Yearly: Book tickets to see your favorite band in another city. Plan a hiking trip with old friends. Reserve a long weekend in a cozy cabin this fall.
- Monthly: Block out a Friday afternoon for a solo museum date. Schedule a “treat dinner” at that restaurant you've been eyeing. Plan a creative reset day with no obligations.
- Daily: Create a ritual around your morning tea/coffee. End the day with a walk and a podcast you love. Try a new recipe once a week just for fun.
😂
Reply telling me what resonated most!
(I read and respond to them all)
