The Bitcoin Newsletter #9 - Bitcoin means focus
Nipsey Hussle's Bitcoin legacy & a summary of BTC Prague 2023.
Welcome to the 9th edition of The Bitcoin Newsletter
Bitcoin serves as an economic battery, allowing to store energy. By harnessing and directing our own energy, we generate more energy that can be stored in Bitcoin. Thus, personal focus and flourishing in the realm of Bitcoin are closely intertwined. Recently, Michael Saylor has extensively discussed this subject, prompting my own contemplation. In this edition of the newsletter, I will be presenting my insights on this matter and offering techniques that aid in maintaining focus.
Best regards,
Leon
DEEP DIVE
Bitcoins means focus
You don't have to be a scholar to understand that most people want short term satisfaction over long term benefits. This is why very few take the time to study Bitcoin. Instead, most dismiss Bitcoin as an excellent idea, but one that is not mature. Or as something to "invest a small part of your wealth in" so as not to miss out on what seems to be the future. This will likely turn out to be a big mistake.
Bitcoin is a paradigm shift. Either you choose to store the fruits of your labour in bitcoin and ride the deflationary wave of a disinflationary currency, or you choose not to and watch your wealth melt away at exponential speed in the fiat system.
That may sound radical. But it is the truth. It took me eight years to come to this realisation. No one can be expected to make such a "radical decision" immediately. But the sooner we do that, the sooner we can change focus to concentrate on really important things.
I would like to suggest an exercise. When you think of your future self in 10 years time, thinking of your present self, would your future self be upset that your present self didn't buy enough bitcoin?
If so, then your future self would most likely tell your present self to change this. Why is that? Your future self would have the experience to understand that no matter what you do, any form of economic energy that you generate that is not stored in Bitcoin has either been lost or was not sustained as well as with Bitcoin.
The conservation of energy is the purpose of Bitcoin. Everyday I try to remember this anew.
We tend to get lost in our daily tasks, and suddenly, a short time later, the bitcoin price shoots up exponentially and we regret that we "didn't buy enough". This is clearly a sign of lack of focus. I catch myself doing this. That's the reason why I start each day with meditation and breathing exercises that help me to find focus.
I try to cater all of my energy towards the same long term goal. That’s why I am Bitcoin only. I focus all my energy into Bitcoin. This is the most efficient use of my energy, as my efforts multiply thanks to the deflationary design of the Bitcoin network. With Bitcoin, we have the opportunity to become sovereign individuals and focus on our purpose. If we are willing to do the necessary work.
In the following, I want to share with you four exercises techniques that are particularly helping me find my focus each morning:
Meditation: Before I deal with the outside world, I need to go "inside”. Every morning right after waking up, I usually sit in my bed for about 10 minutes. Either I set an alarm or count to about 100 when I don't feel like looking at my phone. When I'm not counting, I focus on my body and try to connect with all parts of the body. This is how I find a connection to myself.
Knowledge is already within us, we just lost our inner connection. Once we let go of the fictional reality we were taught in school and the distractions we have to deal with on a daily basis, we regain access to our inner source of information. Meditation is extremely helpful for this.Breathwork: Breathing is one of the most important functions of our body. After four minutes without oxygen, permanent brain damage begins and death can occur as soon as four to six minutes later. Therefore, I do a breathwork exercise right after my meditation. The app, which supports me in that exercise is called Sonic Tonic for receptive sound therapy, self-care, mental health, and emotional regulation.
Sonic Tonic has its own breathing exercise section called "BreathWorxx" developed by my great friend and Bitcoiner Motiz Klatten. There are different tracks for breathing exercises to rhythmic music. Focusing on my breath gives me peace of mind and focus, which I need at the start of any day. APPReading: Usually I read books on Austrian Economics (about ten pages) in the morning as it helps me to concentrate and become an observer of my surroundings. Recently, I’ve read books by Menger, Mises, and Robert Murphy. This daily exercise helps me train my mind and writing skills.
Strength training: Sports have always been a big part of my life. Especially martial arts. However, I had to take a break due to injury. The change in my training has given strength training a whole new meaning for me. Nowadays, I focus on oldschool exercises: squats, bench press, deadlift and weighted callisthenics. Strength training has a meditative effect on me. It helps me connect with my body and breathing. The success in strength training is all about consistency similar as in Bitcoin. The positive training effects compound over time. Regular strength training gives me the stamina I need to think long-term.
I keep my training simple. Like Bitcoin. There is beauty in simplicity. This is why bitcoin is beautiful and why “simple” old school training works. Recently, my great friend and strength athlete Aidan Francois took me to the next level of strength training. Check him out: HERE
In addition to these four exercises, it is mainly sleep, good food, stretching and rest that supports me on my Bitcoin journey. For me, a low time preference means that I make time for the things that I consider utmost important. For that I need to continuously train my ability to focus.
WORTH TO KNOW
Nipsey Hussle's legacy & Bitcoin.
Rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle was one of the first artists to talk about Bitcoin. Little has been said about the connection between Nipsey and Bitcoin. I would like to change that, because he had a very unique perspective on life and Bitcoin that allowed me to understand the importance of the technology early on. My new article "Nipsey Hussle's legacy & Bitcoin" is now available via EuropeanBitcoiners.com. An initiative for free and open source Bitcoin education. READ
Bitcoin Prague 2023 | European Bitcoiners
This year was the first instalment of “BTC Prague”. The biggest Bitcoin event in Europe. The conference focused solely on Bitcoin and brought together a variety of great speakers from Europe and the US. It was great to see the global community mix and how united it can be.
As you probably already know, I publish content and translate text from English to German for the Bitcoin education platform EuropeanBitcoiners.com, an educational and community initiative that provides free educational content for those who want to learn about Bitcoin. General Kenobi, a Bitcoin mining analyst, who leads the initiative's business development, had three opportunities to speak at BTC Prague. This included a spot on the main stage on the final day of the conference.
Kenobi did a great job and attracted a lot of attention for the initiative. I was particularly pleased that during his presentation he praised some of my writing about Bitcoin and real estate that I have published on the Bitcoin education platform. I am proud to be part of such a great project. Free education is important.
The Bitcoin education platform EuropeanBitcoiners.com publishes original Bitcoin content and offers translations of Bitcoin-related articles and books in all major European languages for free. EUROPEAN BITCOINERS
IDEAS OF INTEREST
Highlights from Bitcoin Prague 2023
Michael Saylor - The Future of Bitcoin (BTC Prague 2023 Keynote) WATCH
If you want to support me. Feel free. You can send me some satoshi/bitcoin.
My lightning address is: law@getalby.com
My bitcoin address is: bc1qyc9q89wjzmvaw729tj3wsrsfhft53mjycrjxdk
Nostr PubKey
npub1v5k43t905yz6lpr4crlgq2d99e7ahsehk27eex9mz7s3rhzvmesqum8rd9
Resources
Michael Saylor: Thermodynamic Savings WATCH
Michael Saylor: Timeless Wisdom WATCH
Training High Performance Athletes with Timeless Techniques | Moritz Klatten WATCH
Photo Credit: MemeingBitcoin
Disclaimer: the content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Make sure you do your own research before making any investment and be aware of your own risk tolerance. If you like to build on my thoughts, feel free, but please cite me as the source. 2023 - Leon A. Wankum.