Our wellness routines can quickly fall apart like a flimsy house of cards in the fast-paced hustle and bustle of modern life where maintaining a consistent gym schedule competes with learning the art of skincare and staying hydrated feels like amission.

Enter 75 Hard, the wellness challenge sweeping the streets of social media, which wellness experts describe as the solution to transforming your life from the inside out while flexing your mental toughness and commitment muscles.

The 75 Hard challenge, which has taken social media by storm (1.3 million hashtags for #75hard and counting, not to mention the more than a billion TikTok views), is not your garden-variety, slim-down scheme or a get-fit-quick plan.

It's not about counting almonds or achieving Schwarzenegger-esque biceps but rather about embarking on a journey of self-improvement through five rather unique "rules".

But in a world drowning in fitness fads and nutty nutrition advice, the burning question remains: is 75 Hard the real deal or just another flash in the wellness pan?

Is it safe, effective, and most importantly worth sacrificing your Netflix binges and late-night snack sessions for?

As per the 75 Hard website, the appeal lies precisely in its rule-driven regime. However, whether it's the path to enlightenment or just another wellness wagon to fall off is up for debate.

The 75 Hard Challenge was created in 2019 by Andy Frisella, a public speaker, entrepreneur, and podcast host.

But what can you eat on 75 hard, exactly, and what does it all involve?

The 75 Hard challenge consists of a few components: following a specific diet, completing two 45-minute workouts, taking progress photos, staying hydrated, and reading daily.

Specifically, there are five core rules to follow:

75 Hard routine boasts that this intense challenge will "permanently change your life," focusing on mental toughness and discipline.

What is the best 75 Hard diet?

75 Hard does not feature a "diet" plan. The ideal eating diet is one that you decide on and try to follow through on for the entire challenge. Selecting a diet plan that complements your lifestyle and fitness goals is the aim, as there is no one "best" diet.

Sample 75 Hard Diet Meal Plan

Following an analysis and validation of the challenge's feasibility in a recent Yahoo post, Miami-based dietitian and nutritionist, Roxana Ehsani, RD, created seven complete days' worth of meal ideas that you can try:

Monday

Breakfast: Overnight oats made with low-fat milk, berries, almond butter and a coffee or cup of orange juice.

Lunch: Whole wheat wrap filled with lettuce, tomato, turkey and low-fat Swiss cheese.

Snacks: Apple and string cheese.

Dinner: Salmon with roasted broccoli, cauliflower and sweet potatoes.

Dessert: Strawberries dipped or drizzled with melted dark chocolate.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Whole wheat English muffin with scrambled eggs, avocado, spinach and tomatoes.

Lunch: Mixed green salad topped with grilled chicken and veggies of choice (like bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers) with quinoa and olive oil vinegar-based dressing.

Snacks: Whole wheat naan with hummus.

Dinner: Lean turkey chilli with beans, veggies and a slice of whole-grain cornbread.

Dessert: Popcorn.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Chia seed pudding made with Greek yoghurt and topped with bananas, berries and walnuts.

Lunch: Tuna salad made with avocado oil-based mayo or mashed avocado, chopped carrots and celery.

Snacks: Guacamole, baby bell peppers and low-sodium tortilla chips.

Dinner: Tacos filled with cabbage slaw and mixed salad on the side.

Dessert: Trail mix.

Thursday

Breakfast: Smoothie bowl made with a protein powder of choice or Greek yoghurt, baby spinach or kale, banana, strawberries, and topped with granola, dried fruit and nuts.

Lunch: Chicken tortilla soup topped with avocado and with mixed green salad on the side.

Snacks: Pears and cashews.

Dinner: Stir-fry with mixed veggies like snap peas, broccoli, tofu and brown rice.

Dessert: 2-ingredient cream made with frozen bananas and cocoa powder.

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach with whole wheat toast and low-fat cream cheese or avocado

Lunch: Snack plate consisting of veggies like bell peppers, carrots, Persian cucumbers, hummus or guacamole, almonds or pistachios, whole wheat pita bread, hard-boiled eggs and apple slices.

Snacks: Dates and walnuts.

Dinner: Grilled sirloin steak (or another protein of choice) with portobello mushrooms, zucchini and corn on the cob.

Dessert: Fruit popsicle with no added sugar.

Saturday

Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with smoked salmon, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, capers and veggie low-fat cream cheese.

Lunch: Caesar kale salad with grilled chicken on top.

Snacks: Mixed fruit salad.

Dinner: Lentil soup with whole wheat dinner roll.

Dessert: Celery sticks dipped in peanut butter.

Sunday

Breakfast: Whole wheat pancakes or waffles topped with nut or sunflower butter and bananas.

Lunch: Grain bowl made with brown rice or quinoa, chicken or tofu, avocado and veggies of choice.

Snacks: Greek yoghurt topped with berries.

Dinner: Veggie soup (like minestrone) and grilled cheese made with whole wheat bread and low-fat cheese.

Dessert: Yoghurt topped with dark chocolate chips.

So, if you're someone who thrives on strict schedules and clear-cut commands, 75 Hard might just be the challenge that turns your world upside down or adds a dash of excitement to your daily grind.

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75 Hard Challenge: The ultimate test of self-improvement beyond wellness fads - IOL

Home / The Coaching Project: The Race to Help Humanity About The Coaching Project: The Race to Help Humanity

About

I write about how my interior life as a human being is affected by circumstances beyond my control. My hope is that other human beings find my insights helpful and relatable so they actively create room for the freedom to trust their own instincts. This medium account is a guide for learning to think and write critically in a subject matter, area, or a field of study. As a certified creativity coach, I encourage you to use this account as a model or example in analyzing the logic of a subject matter clearly. By clearly, I mean using the SEE-I technique to show your understanding of the subject matter you are writing about. I coach clients in critical thinking development using the eight elements of reasoning and the eight standards of thinking from the Paul-Elder framework. Feel free to drop me an email at [emailprotected] or visit my website at http://www.thebutronmethod.com for more information or questions or coaching spots.

Visit me on TikTok: @stephanie.butron

Visit me on X (formally twitter): @sbutronix

February 20, 2024 by The Coaching Project: The Race to Help Humanity Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Advice & Confessions, Featured Content Tagged With: art, creativity, Entrepreneurship, self-improvement, writing

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The Coaching Project: The Race to Help Humanity, Author at The Good Men Project - The Good Men Project

Pursuing dreams and personal growth often entails an arduous journey of effort and discipline. Motivation may surge initially through bright-eyed optimism, yet most encounter points of floundering. Paths to meaningful goals rarely follow a smooth linear progression. Typical cul-de-sacs include burnout, unclear directions, self-doubt, or perceived inability to make tangible progress from punishing efforts.

When forward momentum stalls, the reflective assessment provides an opportunity to reclaim internal resilience and belief. Adjust timelines, temper expectations, shore inner reserves, and chart a new beginning.

Burnout from overexertion with too little rest is a prevalent motivation killer. Constant stress taxes our mental and physical resources until we struggle to get through daily tasks, much less pursue primary goals requiring disciplined efforts over time. If exhaustion describes your stuck state, dont demand more from yourself without first prioritizing replenishing your mindset and lifestyle habits.

Alternatively, a lack of structure and clear goals understandably leaves one spinning their wheels. If the following steps seem perpetually fuzzy, jot down some time to reevaluate what you genuinely want, then break those big goals into micro-step goals with deadlines based on what you can reasonably do each day or week. Creating momentum itself often sparks motivation.

Rather than viewing goals as singular distant objectives, envision your aims as stair steps composed of gradually accumulative micro goals pursued through consistent actions in the here and now. Breaking progress down into digestible steps makes advancement feel readily achievable.

Someone hoping to run a marathon could first focus on running one mile without stopping, then three miles, then five miles, etc, over designated timeframes. A person who wants to switch careers could set a weekly goal of revising their resume, then networking with two professionals in their industry of interest, then applying to open positions, and so on.

Repeated failures are frustrating indeed. Normal reactions often include self-criticizing, wallowing emotionally, or giving up on goals entirely in despair, believing success remains beyond reach given a pattern of not achieving desired results.

Shift setbacks from despair points into wisdom gained for future efforts. Ask yourself what specifically went wrong, then brainstorm one slight improvement for the subsequent attempts. Maybe incorrect planning, inadequate preparation/skill development, or unrealistic expectations created impossibly high hurdles. Break down what precisely didnt work.

Related to celebrating small goal achievements, maintain focus on progress itself rather than demanding perfection with each step. Growth depends on patiently improving bit by bit, not magically transforming in ability overnight. Challenge thoughts insisting you must master goals quickly or not at all. View any effort made, no matter how small, as a reason to praise yourself. Daily credit your forward movement, emphasizing an appreciation for the actions rather than criticism for not reaching endpoints rapidly enough.

See each backslide as an opportunity to reclaim your inner power. When falling short, intentionally pivot thinking from discouragement to asking, Whats one thing I could do better next time? then immediately schedule attempts to implement that improvement. Own precisely where you stand each moment, surrender unhealthy comparisons with others, embrace reality over resisting or resenting current limitations, and then channel everything into your very next step forward.

Motivation depends profoundly on self-talk quiet or loud chatter directed inwardly echoing opinions absorbed over a lifetime. Unfortunately, many self-dialogue trends are critical rather than compassionate, attacking rather than uplifting, and demanding rather than patient. Chronic self-judgment naturally spawns negative emotions, hindering motivation and any humans progress.

Intentionally shift self-talk to first and foremost express kindness towards yourself regardless of outcomes achieved that day. Talk to yourself as a beloved friend you wholeheartedly root for rather than an enemy you constantly disappoint. Grant yourself the same gentleness, empathy, and optimism offered to loved ones. Affirm, Im enough. Challenges encountered recently reflect opportunities to improve, not personal failings. Growth depends profoundly on self-compassion. Reconnect with your fundamental goodness. Honor each step forward in patience. In this mental space, motivation arises more naturally.

Neil is a 32-year-old software engineer who has long dreamed of starting his own tech consultancy business. For years, he held back from leaping, but last year, he finally worked up the courage to begin laying the foundations on nights and weekends.

Initially, momentum carried Neil eagerly through months of paperwork registrations, branding brainstorms, website design, cold calling potential partners, and gradually acquiring his first few clients. Exhilarated by visible progress, his motivation remained high, and his vision felt vivid.

Then, nine months in, Neil hit an abrupt wall. His consultancy pitch got turned down by a significant prospect he was banking on. Two fledgling clients had cash flow issues and couldnt pay on time, leaving Neil unable to afford a crucial software update. Twelve-hour work days, he left no energy for continuing sales and marketing. He started questioning if this venture could ever be viable at all.

Neil felt baffled and defeated. How could so much enthusiastic effort yield such discouraging results? After a few weeks of barely making progress, his drive to grind through expanding the business wilted. The prospect of pouring blood, sweat, and tears into this consultancy now seemed foolishclearly, the reality failed to match the rosy vision that kickstarted this journey.

Rather than criticize himself as incapable and his business idea as flawed, Neil wisely paused to reset with self-compassion. He revisited initial motivations and extracted lessons from recent setbacks. Broad ambitions were broken into attainable monthly objectives. Defining specific problems was empowering rather than overwhelming. This clarity set the stage for Neil to rise once more with a strategic, resilient focus.

Of course, the future remains uncertain, but Neil discovered failure often spotlights ones most profound wisdom. What matters most is maintaining faith when that inner light wavers. Neil found through stillness and patience; embers regain their glow.

When discouraged in pursuing personal growth and dreams, breathe deep and know you have all you need to recommit with courage. Avoid knee-jerk self-judgment. Instead, inspect roadblocks encountered with humility and curiosity about lessons contained in failures. Arm yourself for the next milestone by setting modest objectives and timelines. Brew stamina through self-care and compassion. Keep your eyes locked on the immediate next inch forward. One small win will stack upon another until suddenly youve traversed miles in reward for resilient daily effort. You own the power to regain motivation even after stumbling. Now boldly rise once more!

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Rise Back Up And Push Harder (Personal Growth, Motivation) - New Trader U

In the realm of personal development and interpersonal relationships, the concepts of authenticity and empathy often emerge as central pillars.

Authenticity, the art of being true to oneself, and empathy, the capacity to understand and share the feelings of another, are both hailed as virtues in building meaningful connections.

However, when authenticity is devoid of empathy, it can lead to a complex paradox that challenges the fabric of social harmony.

At its core, authenticity is about living in alignment with your true self. It involves expressing your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions genuinely, without succumbing to societal pressures or the expectations of others. Authentic individuals are seen as trustworthy and reliable, as their external behaviors reflect their internal states.

Empathy, on the other hand, is the emotional bridge that connects individuals. It allows us to step into the shoes of others, to understand their perspectives and feelings, even if they differ from our own. Empathy fosters tolerance, compassion, and understanding, serving as a crucial element in the maintenance of healthy relationships.

The pursuit of authenticity without empathy presents a conundrum. While being true to oneself is important, an overly rigid adherence to ones own perspectives, without considering the feelings and viewpoints of others, can lead to discord.

Authenticity without empathy can manifest as bluntness, insensitivity, or even unintentional cruelty, eroding the foundation of mutual respect and understanding that underpins healthy social interactions.

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Authenticity Without Empathy: Navigating the Fine Line | by Tullio Siragusa | Feb, 2024 - DataDrivenInvestor

Theres a clear distinction between being a good person and being an awesome person.

The difference lies in actions. A good person does whats right, but an awesome person goes the extra mile, leaving a lasting positive impact on everyone around them.

Lets dive in and find out what it takes to be truly awesome!

Its not about being nosy or trying to dig up gossip. Its about caring, about wanting to understand where another person is coming from, their experiences, and their perspectives.

These people often ask thoughtful questions and listen intently to the answers. They remember details from previous conversations and follow up on them later. They make you feel seen and heard.

Ill never forget a friend of mine who embodied this behavior. Lets call him Jack.

Jack was someone who always had a smile on his face. He radiated positivity, even when things were tough.

One day, we were stuck in a rainstorm during a camping trip. Instead of complaining about the wet and cold, Jack laughed and said it was an adventure. He started singing songs and making shadow puppets on the tent wall.

His positive attitude was infectious. Even in that miserable situation, we all ended up laughing and having fun.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Its a cornerstone of being human and vital in forming meaningful connections.

In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers found that people who display empathy are viewed more positively by others. Theyre seen as more caring, more trustworthy, and overall, more awesome.

Theyre lifelong learners who are always seeking to expand their knowledge and improve themselves.

Theyre the ones who are always reading new books, taking up new hobbies, or exploring new ideas. Theyre not afraid to ask questions and admit when they dont know something.

Their thirst for knowledge isnt just about self-improvement; its about understanding the world around them better. They know that the more they learn, the more they can contribute to conversations, help others, and make informed decisions.

Its about sticking to your moral and ethical principles, even when no one is watching.

Awesome people are the ones you can trust. Theyre honest, reliable and they keep their promises. If they say they will do something, you can bet they will follow through.

Integrity isnt about being perfect. Its about owning up to mistakes, making amends and learning from them.

Theyre the ones who will stop and help you pick up a pile of dropped papers, or offer their seat to someone in need on a crowded bus. Theyre the ones who see someone struggling and step in to lend a helping hand.

Their acts of kindness might not always be grand gestures. Often, theyre small, everyday actions that show their compassion and consideration for others. It shows they value kindness over convenience, and people over tasks.

Life is full of ups and downs.

A few years ago, I was hit with a series of setbacks that left me feeling defeated. It was a difficult time, but it was also a time when I learned the true value of resilience.

They dont let setbacks define them. Instead, they use these experiences as stepping stones to grow stronger and wiser.

They face challenges head-on, and even when they fall, they get back up and keep moving forward. Their ability to bounce back and maintain their optimism in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.

Theyre quick to acknowledge the efforts and achievements of others, and theyre never shy about expressing their gratitude.

Whether its a simple thank you to a waiter, a heartfelt compliment to a colleague, or a note of thanks to a friend, they make sure people know their efforts are noticed and valued.

They understand that appreciation can make someones day better, boost their self-esteem, and even inspire them to continue doing great work.

Authenticity requires courage and self-awareness. Its about knowing who you are, what you stand for, and being unapologetically yourself.

Living authentically means that theyre genuine in their actions and words. Theyre not pretending to be someone theyre not just to fit in or please others.

One thing is clear: being awesome is not an accident. Its a choice, a constant decision to be kind, considerate, and genuine.

Keep in mind, awesomeness isnt always about big, grand gestures. Its found in the small acts of kindness, the times we choose understanding over judgement, and in the moments we courageously stay true to ourselves.

So go ahead, choose awesomeness. Not just for others, but for yourself too. Because in the end, being awesome is simply about being the best version of you.

In this age of information overload and pressure to meet others expectations, many struggle to connect with their core purpose and values. Its easy to lose your inner compass.

Jeanette Brown created this free values discovery PDF to help clarify your deepest motivations and beliefs. As an experienced life coach and self-improvement teacher, Jeanette guides people through major transitions by realigning them with their principles.

Her uniquely insightful values exercises will illuminate what inspires you, what you stand for, and how you aim to operate. This serves as a refreshing filter to tune out societal noise so you can make choices rooted in what matters most to you.

With your values clearly anchored, youll gain direction, motivation and the compass to navigate decisions from your best self rather than fleeting emotion or outside influences.

Stop drifting without purpose. Rediscover what makes you come alive with Jeanette Browns values clarity guide.

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If someone displays these 9 behaviors, they're a really awesome person - Hack Spirit

Double ONE world champion Jonathan Haggerty wants to maintain his lofty standing in ONE Championship and vows to continue improving and elevating his game.

The General remained a two-sport king after successfully defending the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video on February 16 in Thailand. He defeated Brazilian challenger Felipe Lobo by TKO in the third round.

In an interview with Sportskeeda MMA following his impressive victory, the 27-year-old Orpington, England native gave his frame of mind in how to maintain his world champion status, saying:

Watch the interview below:

The victory over Lobo was Haggertys first successful defense of the Muay Thai gold he seized from former longtime divisional king Nong-O Hama in April last year.

Apart from the bantamweight Muay Thai world title, he also holds the divisions kickboxing championship belt.

British striker Jonathan Haggerty has had a successful run as a professional fighter, including being a two-sport world champion. He said it is a direct result of putting in the needed work as well as having the go-getting mindset to buck any adversity.

The reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion shared this in an interview with the South China Morning Post ahead of his title defense last weekend, saying:

Watch the interview below:

Jonathan Haggerty successfully defended the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title on February 16 at ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video in Thailand. He stopped Brazilian challenger Felipe Lobo in the third-round of their title clash by TKO (right cross).

The win improved his record to 23 wins and four losses. Eight of his wins have come in ONE Championship, which he has been a part of since January 2019.

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I need to stop focusing on everyone else Jonathan Haggerty says focal point is on self-improvement after ONE Fight ... - Sportskeeda

In 1987, Ferreira told the Globe that through Christianity, I could love for the first time.

In a way, I am as free as I will ever be, he added.

More than 35 years later, however, hes preparing to petition the state to set him free from prison.

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Governor Maura Healey said in October that her office will use new guidelines to grant pardons and commutations that favorably consider petitioners ages if they are over 50, health issues, and exceptional strides in self-development. Advocates have responded by championing lifers with similar backgrounds to Ferreira as ideal candidates for a reduced sentence.

Supporters say this small group of older lifers should be at the top of Healeys list, citing their model behavior as mentors and students and a track record of contributing positively to the community during the old furlough program.

Theres no way some of these men, who are 60, 70, 80 years old, should be in prison, said Wayne Sorel, who spends hours in conversation with inmates each week as part of his work with the prison ministry at the Christian Fellowship Center in New Bedford. Some of these crimes are very heinous, but that doesnt mean character is not built up along the way if they have the proper facilities to [rehabilitate themselves].

While there were only 24 pending applications for commutation as of last month, Massachusetts could see those numbers rise as Healey joins a national tide of governors who are beginning to embrace pardons and commutations for the first time in decades. Nearly 60 percent of the pending applications were submitted by people serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. And close to half of petitions were from people 60 and older, according to the states parole board.

About a third of all 805 people serving life without parole in Massachusetts are Black, according to Department of Correction data from late 2022. Nearly 20 percent are Hispanic, while close to 3 percent are Asian and about 1 percent are Indigenous.

Healey told the Globe her goal in revamping the eligibility requirements for commutations and pardons was to directly address issues of disparities and of systemic race bias in the system.

Weve got a lot of people who are in the system who are incarcerated, who are there because of serious issues with substance use disorder, with mental health, with trauma, she said, pointing specifically to people incarcerated for offenses they committed as young adults. We know through science now, their brain wasnt fully developed.

Youve got people whove been serving their time, who in some instances have gotten themselves further education, who are ready to contribute and want to contribute, whose families want them to contribute, she added. Lets give them that opportunity.

Ferreiras attorney, Tim Foley, said hes hopeful that Ferreiras time spent preaching and mentoring youth while on furlough will give him a better position with the board of pardons, particularly given the new guidelines focus on self-development.

Its just such a long history of being outside in the community, actually helping the community . . . and doing very well, Foley said. Hes done nothing but try to improve himself from where he was when he was first incarcerated.

Foley said he believes that commutation petitions will really pick up steam with Healeys new guidelines and become the norm rather than extraordinary. Foley said he anticipates that the Governors Council, which must approve all requests for commutation, will serve as a check and balance to the new guidelines.

The new guidelines cast a wide net in order to address long-existing inequalities, he said. However, accountability, self-development, and post-offense behavior are still balanced against the facts and circumstances of the crime.

Among the nearly two dozen people whose commutation petitions are currently pending, several acknowledged the role substance use played in their criminal behavior, while others described growing up in homes where violence and incarceration were the norm a pattern that traces the lives of many men and women who themselves are in prison for violent crimes.

Lewis Dickerson, 75, also intends to make another petition to have his life sentence for first-degree murder commuted. When Dickerson went before the Governors Advisory Board of Pardons in 2005, he told Boston Magazine that his father beat him with belts, cords, and fists before dying in a fight, and that he grew up into a young man who was periodically arrested for property crime and experimented with heroin.

His 2005 request for pardon was denied. Nearly two decades later, Dickerson, who killed a young woman during a liquor store robbery in 1975, said in an email that his years spent working outside the prison at several hospitals around the state taught him patience and discipline and matured him.

This exposure and experience, it kept me from becoming involved in the negativity of prison life and has resulted in the healthier, kinder, more generous person that I am today, he told the Globe.

At the State House, Representative Russell Holmes of Boston is the lead lawmaker pushing for the return of furloughs. In addition to filing a bill to restore the program, Holmes said he also continues to lobby Healey directly to bring the initiative back.

Ive met with the governor multiple times, and my number one ask is to begin furloughs again, Holmes previously told the Globe. Im trying my best to get folks [who are incarcerated] connected to their families again, and if I can remove any barrier to that, Im going to do it.

As someone who struggled with substance abuse for years before becoming a Christian, Sorel, the New Bedford prison ministry worker, said he knows what its like to have a bad record, and can relate to the ones . . . who care to be changed. He said any inmate who has worked consistently to grow and mature while in prison has the potential to contribute meaningfully to society upon release, as long as he has a safe place where he can go to continue rehabilitation and where people can watch out for him.

Sorel, who recently started working with Dickerson as part of his prison ministry, described Dickerson as an honorable man whose whole demeanor [is] to do everything good that he could for his community. He said Dickerson reflects often on his time spent outside the prison walls, and sees the new commutation guidelines as a potential pathway home.

The end of the furlough program shot him down and put him in a sad place, Sorel said, but now he has renewed hope.

Matt Stout of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Ivy Scott can be reached at ivy.scott@globe.com. Follow her @itsivyscott.

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Aging lifers in Mass. look to self-improvement as a pathway to release from prison - The Boston Globe

Updated at 11:52 a.m. ET on February 16, 2024

ChatGPT exploded into the world in the fall of 2022, sparking a race toward ever more advanced artificial intelligence: GPT-4, Anthropics Claude, Google Gemini, and so many others. Just yesterday, OpenAI unveiled a model called Sora, the latest to instantly generate short videos from written prompts. But for all the dazzling tech demos and promises, development of the fundamental technology has slowed.

The most advanced and attention-grabbing AI programs, especially language models, have consumed most of the text and images available on the internet and are running out of training data, their most precious resource. This, along with the costly and slow process of using human evaluators to develop these systems, has stymied the technologys growth, leading to iterative updates rather than massive paradigm shifts. Companies are stuck competing over millimeters of progress.

As researchers are left trying to wring water from stone, they are exploring a new avenue to advance their products: Theyre using machines to train machines. Over the past few months, Google Deepmind, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Apple, OpenAI, and various academic labs have all published research that uses an AI model to improve another AI model, or even itself, in many cases leading to notable improvements. Numerous tech executives have heralded this approach as the technologys future.

This is a scenario that countless works of science fiction have prepared us for. And, taken to the extreme, the result of such self-learning might be nothing less than eschatological. Imagine GPT-5 teaching GPT-6, GPT-6 teaching GPT-7, and so on until the model has surpassed human intelligence. Some believe that this development would have catastrophic results. Nine years ago, OpenAIs CEO, Sam Altman, blogged about a theoretical AI capable of recursive self-improvementand the prospect that it would perceive humans in the same way that we perceive the bacteria and viruses we wash from our hands.

Read: AI doomerism is a decoy

We are not anywhere close to the emergence of superintelligence, as pundits call it. (Altman speaks often of AIs supposed existential risk; its good PR.) Even so, more modest programs that teach and learn from one another could warp our experience of the world and unsettle our basic understandings of intelligence. Generative AI already detects patterns and proposes theories that humans could not discover on their own, from quantities of data far too massive for any person to comb through, via internal algorithms that are largely opaque even to their creators. Self-learning, if successful, might only magnify this issue. The result could be a sort of unintelligible intelligence: models that are smart, or at least capable, in ways humans cannot readily comprehend.

To understand this shift, you have to understand the basic economics behind AI. Building the technology requires tremendous amounts of money, time, and information. The process begins with feeding an algorithm enormous amounts of databooks, math problems, captioned photos, voice recordings, and so onto establish the models baseline capabilities. Researchers can then enhance and refine those pre-trained abilities in a couple of different ways. One is by providing the model with specific examples of a task done well: A program might be shown 100 math questions with correct solutions. Another is a trial-and-error process known as reinforcement learning that typically involves human operators: A human might evaluate a chatbots responses for sexism so the program can learn to avoid those deemed offensive. Reinforcement learning is the key component to this new generation of AI systems, Rafael Rafailov, a computer scientist at Stanford, told me.

This is not a perfect system. Two different people, or the same person on different days, can have inconsistent judgments. All of those evaluators work at a slow, human pace, and require payment. As models become more powerful, they will require more sophisticated feedback from skilled, and thus better-paid, professionals. Doctors might be tapped to evaluate a medical AI that diagnoses patients, for instance.

You can see why self-learning holds a special appeal. Its cheaper, less labor-intensive, and perhaps more consistent than human feedback. But automating the reinforcement process comes with risks. AI models are already riddled with imperfectionshallucinations, prejudice, basic misunderstandings of the worldwhich they pass along to users through their outputs. (In one infamous example last year, a lawyer used ChatGPT to write a legal brief and ended up citing cases that didnt exist.) Training or fine-tuning a model with AI-generated data may amplify those flaws and make the program worse, like simmering a toxic stock into a thick demi-glace. Last year, Ilia Shumailov, then a junior research fellow at Oxford University, quantified one version of this self-destructive cycle and dubbed it model collapse: the complete degeneration of an AI.

To avoid this problem, the latest wave of research on self-improving AI uses only small amounts of synthetic data, guided by a human software developer. This approach relies on some sort of external check, separate from the AI itself, to ensure the quality of the feedbackperhaps the laws of physics, a list of moral principles, or some other, independent criteria already deemed true. Researchers have seen particular success with automating quality control for narrow, well-defined tasks, such as mathematical reasoning and games, in which correctness or victory provide a straightforward way to evaluate synthetic data. Deepmind recently used AI-generated examples to boost a language models ability to solve math and coding problems. But in these cases, the AI isnt learning from another AI so much as from scientific results or other established criteria, Rohan Taori, a computer scientist at Stanford, told me. Today, self-learning is more about setting the rules of the game, he said.

Read: A machine crushed us at Pokmon

Meanwhile, in cases of training AI models with more abstract abilities, such as writing in a pleasant tone or crafting responses that a person would find helpful, human feedback has remained crucial. The furthest-reaching vision of AI models training themselves, then, would be for them to learn to provide more subjective feedback to themselvesto rate how helpful, polite, prosodic, or prejudiced a chatbot dialogue is, for instance. But to date, in most research, language-model feedbacks training of other language models stops working after a few cycles: Perhaps the second iteration of the model improves, but the third or fourth plateaus or worsens. At some point, the AI model is just reinforcing existing abilitiesbecoming overconfident about what it knows and less capable at everything else. Learning, after all, requires being exposed to something new. Generative-AI models in use today are data-torturing machines, Stefano Soatto, the vice president of applied science for Amazon Web Services AI division, told me. They cannot create one bit of information more than the data theyre trained on.

Soatto compared self-learning to buttering a dry piece of toast. Imagine an AI model as a piece of bread, and its initial training process as placing a pat of butter in the center. At its best today, the self-learning technique simply spreads the same butter around more evenly, rather than bestowing any fundamentally new skills. Still, doing so makes the bread taste better. This kind of self-trained, or buttered, AI has recently been shown, in limited research settings, to provide more helpful summaries, write better code, and exhibit enhanced commonsense reasoning. Superintelligence might be beside the point if self-improving AI can reliably cut costs for OpenAI, Google, and all the rest by simulating an infinite army of human evaluators.

But for true evangelists, the dream is for self-learning to do more than thatto add more butter to the slice of toast. To do that, computer scientists will need to continue to devise ways of verifying synthetic datato see whether more powerful AI models can ever serve as reliable sources of feedback, and perhaps even generate new information. If researchers succeed, AI could crash through the ceiling of human-made content on the web. In that case, a sign of true artificial intelligence may well be artificial teaching.

AI may not need to attain the capacity for more holistic self-improvement before it becomes unrecognizable to us. These programs are already labyrinthineit is frequently impossible to explain why or how AI generated a given answerand developing a process whereby they take their own lead would only further compound that opacity.

You could call it artificial artificial intelligence: AI that might not perceive or approach problems in ways humans readily relate to. It would be similar, perhaps, to how people cannot fully grasp how dogs use their noses, or bats their ears, to orient themselveseven as smell and echolocation are excellent ways of navigating the world. Machine intelligence might be similarly difficult to fathom, simultaneously of this world and unfamiliar.

Such strange behaviors have already cropped up in far from superintelligent ways. Asked to achieve a specific goalproviding helpful chatbot responses, flipping pancakes, moving blocksvery often those [reinforcement-learning] agents learn how to cheat, Shumailov said. In one example, a neural network plugged into a Roomba that was learning not to bump into anything just learned to drive backwardbecause the bumper sensors were all on the front of the vacuum.

Read: Science is becoming less human

This will be less funny when an AI model is used to align another model with a set of ethical principlesa constitutional AI of sorts, as the start-up Anthropic has dubbed the concept. Already, different people see different interpretations of abortion, gun ownership, and race-conscious admissions in the U.S. Constitution. And while human disagreements over the law are at least legible and debatable, it might be difficult to understand how a machine interprets and applies a rule, especially over many cycles of training, producing subtly harmful results. An AI instructed to be helpful and engaging could turn aggressive and manipulative; rules to prevent one form of bias might breed another. Computer-generated feedback, for all the ways a human can tweak it, might offer a false sense of control, Dylan Hadfield-Menell, a computer scientist at MIT, told me.

Although those opaque inner workings have the potential to be dangerous, rejecting them on principle could also mean rejecting revelation. Having ingested an internets worth of information, self-training AI models might bring out genuinely important patterns and ideas that are already embedded in their training data but that humans cannot elicit or fully comprehend. The most advanced chess-playing programs, for instance, learned by playing millions of games against themselves. These chess AIs play moves that elite human players struggle to comprehend, and utterly dominate those playerswhich has caused a reevaluation of chess at the highest human level.

Shumailov put it this way: In the 17th century, Galileo correctly asserted that the Earth revolves around the sun, but this was rejected as heresy because it didnt align with existing belief systems. The fact that weve managed to realize some knowledge does not necessarily mean that well be able to interpret this knowledge, Shumailov said. Perhaps we will ignore the outputs of some AI models, even if they are later found to be true, simply because they are incommensurate with what we currently understandmath proofs we cant yet follow, brain models we cant explain, knowledge we dont recognize as knowledge. The ceiling provided by the internet may simply be higher than we can see.

Whether self-training AI leads to catastrophic disaster, subtle imperfections and biases, or unintelligible breakthroughs, the response cannot be to entirely trust or scorn the technologyit must be to take these models seriously as agents that today can learn, and tomorrow might be able to teach us, or even one another.

This article has been updated to include a reference to Sora.

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Things Get Strange When AI Starts Training Itself - The Atlantic

Growing older doesnt necessarily mean growing wiser. Sometimes, our habits hold us back from becoming the best version of ourselves.

We all have certain habits that we cling to, some more harmful than others. And as we age, its easy to think, Thats just how I am.

But heres the thing: if you want to grow into a better person as you get older, there are some habits you need to kick to the curb.

In this article, Im going to share with you nine habits that could be stunting your personal growth. Its time to bid them goodbye, my friend.

Sit back, reflect and ready yourself for some serious self-improvement.

We all do it. We put off tasks, delay decisions, and generally avoid doing what needs to be done. Its a habit that many of us carry from our younger years.

But heres the thing about procrastination its a thief. It steals time, productivity and ultimately, your potential to grow.

As we age, time becomes more precious. And each moment spent procrastinating is a moment lost forever.

If you want to become a better person as you age, its time to say goodbye to the Ill do it later mentality.

Start setting goals, creating plans and taking actions right away. Be determined to live a more productive, fulfilling life.

Its not about being busy, but being productive that matters. And trust me, your future self will thank you for it.

Now, this is a habit I can personally relate to. A few years back, I would constantly find myself focusing on the negatives. Whether it was a minor setback at work or even the weather, Id let it affect my mood and outlook.

But, over time, I realized that this constant negativity was not doing me any favors. In fact, it was draining my energy and preventing me from appreciating the good things in life.

I made a conscious decision to change. Instead of focusing on the negatives, I started looking for silver linings. When something didnt go as planned, Id ask myself: What can I learn from this?

The shift in perspective was transformative. Not only did it make me feel happier and more positive, but it also helped me grow as a person.

If youre often stuck in a negative mindset, its time to let that habit go. Embrace positivity and watch how it changes your life for the better.

Did you know our brains are wired to remember negative experiences more than positive ones? Its a survival mechanism, designed to help us avoid repeating past mistakes. But it also means we sometimes get stuck dwelling on past events, reliving the pain or disappointment.

This habit can not only rob you of enjoying the present moment, but it can also inhibit personal growth.

Letting go of the past doesnt mean forgetting or ignoring what happened. It means accepting, learning from those experiences and moving forward.

If you find yourself constantly revisiting past events, its time to break this habit. Live in the present, plan for the future and let the past be a stepping stone, not a stumbling block, to becoming a better person as you age.

In the hustle and bustle of life, we often forget to take care of ourselves. We push through exhaustion, skip meals, and ignore signals our bodies are sending us.

But neglecting self-care is a habit that can seriously impact your personal growth. It can lead to burnout, stress, and even health issues.

So if you want to become a better person as you age, start prioritizing self-care. This doesnt just mean taking care of your physical health. It also includes mental and emotional wellbeing.

Start by taking small steps. It could be setting aside time for relaxation each day, eating balanced meals, or getting regular exercise. Youll be surprised at how these small changes can make a big difference in your overall growth as an individual.

Lets face it, stepping out of our comfort zone can be scary. Whether its changing careers, moving to a new city, or even starting a new hobby, taking risks can induce fear.

But the thing about risk is that its often accompanied by opportunity. It opens doors to new possibilities and experiences that can lead to personal growth.

So if youre someone who tends to play it safe, its time to shake things up a bit. It doesnt mean you have to jump into reckless decisions. But consider calculated risks, weigh your options and make bold moves when it feels right.

Growth often happens outside of our comfort zone. Dont let fear hold you back from becoming the best version of yourself as you age.

Holding onto grudges can be a heavy burden to bear. It keeps you anchored to past hurts, preventing you from moving forward.

Forgiving others isnt about letting them off the hook or forgetting what they did. Its about freeing yourself from the weight of resentment and bitterness.

Forgiveness allows you to make peace with the past and opens up space for personal growth. Its not always easy, but its a vital step towards becoming a better person as you age.

If theres someone youve been holding a grudge against, consider letting it go. Its not for them, its for you. Its about choosing peace over pain, growth over grudge. And trust me, your heart will feel lighter for it.

I used to shy away from any conversation that seemed challenging or potentially confrontational. Whether it was expressing how I felt, asking for what I needed, or addressing an issue, Id find a way to avoid it.

But over time, I learned that avoiding difficult conversations only led to unresolved issues and strained relationships. It was a habit I had to break for personal growth.

So, if this resonates with you, its time to muster up some courage. Approach these conversations with respect and openness. Be willing to listen as much as you speak.

These conversations might be uncomfortable, but they often lead to better understanding, deeper connections, and personal growth.

In todays world of social media, its easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. We see their highlight reels and suddenly, our own lives seem less impressive.

But comparison is a dangerous game. It leads to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. It prevents us from appreciating our own journey and growth.

So if youre constantly measuring your worth against others, its time to break this habit. Instead, focus on your own progress. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

Every persons journey is unique. The only person you should be comparing yourself to is the person you were yesterday. Strive to be better than that person, and youll be on the path to becoming a better version of yourself as you age.

Change is an inevitable part of life. Its the driving force behind personal growth and development. Yet, many of us resist change due to fear or uncertainty.

But clinging to the familiar only leads to stagnation. If you want to become a better person as you age, learn to embrace change. Welcome new experiences, adapt to different situations, and see every change as an opportunity for growth.

The beauty of life lies in its unpredictability. So dont fear change instead, let it shape you, mold you, and guide you towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Embarking on the path to personal growth is a journey, not a destination.

Each of these habits weve discussed plays a crucial role in shaping who we are as individuals. They can either propel us towards becoming better versions of ourselves, or hold us back.

But remember, Rome wasnt built in a day. Letting go of ingrained habits takes time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion.

Its about making conscious choices each day to foster positive change. Its about embracing our flaws, celebrating our victories, and learning from our failures.

As the renowned psychologist Carl Rogers once said, The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

So as you age, strive to become better, not perfect. Every step you take towards breaking these habits is a step towards becoming the person you aspire to be.

In this journey of self-improvement and growth, remember to be kind to yourself. After all, its not just about becoming a better person for others, but for yourself too.

In this age of information overload and pressure to meet others expectations, many struggle to connect with their core purpose and values. Its easy to lose your inner compass.

Jeanette Brown created this free values discovery PDF to help clarify your deepest motivations and beliefs. As an experienced life coach and self-improvement teacher, Jeanette guides people through major transitions by realigning them with their principles.

Her uniquely insightful values exercises will illuminate what inspires you, what you stand for, and how you aim to operate. This serves as a refreshing filter to tune out societal noise so you can make choices rooted in what matters most to you.

With your values clearly anchored, youll gain direction, motivation and the compass to navigate decisions from your best self rather than fleeting emotion or outside influences.

Stop drifting without purpose. Rediscover what makes you come alive with Jeanette Browns values clarity guide.

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If you want to become a better person as you get older, say goodbye to these 9 habits - Hack Spirit

Welcome to a journey of self-improvement and motivation inspired by the legendary investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett. Often regarded as one of the most successful investors in history, Buffetts insights extend far beyond finance. His life and teachings provide a blueprint for living a life filled with achievements and no regrets.

In this article, we delve into eight fundamental challenges that encapsulate Buffetts philosophy. These challenges are not just about financial success but are geared toward personal growth, effective communication, and building a life rich in wisdom and relationships. Lets explore how embracing these principles can transform your approach to life and lead you toward a path of fulfillment and purpose.

Here are eight challenges that you can take that will lead to no regrets in life, inspired by Warren Buffetts teachings:

These challenges, guided by Buffetts wisdom, can lead to a fulfilling and regret-free life, especially when aligned with personal growth and what motivates you.

Keep reading for a deeper dive into what he means by each of these lessons.

The first and foremost challenge is investing in yourself. Buffett famously said, The most important investment you can make is in yourself. This means dedicating time and resources to your education, health, and personal development.

Buffetts success results from his self-education, mentors, investment strategies, and commitment to continuous learning. Whether taking courses, reading extensively, or staying physically and mentally fit, investing in yourself sets the foundation for personal and professional success.

Effective communication is a key to success in both personal and professional life. Buffett once remarked, If you cant communicate, its like winking at a girl in the dark nothing happens. This challenge involves honing your ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively.

If you ask Warren Buffett about the secret of his success, he may well credit the $100 Dale Carnegie speaking course he took many years ago. Developing good public speaking skills can increase your future earnings by 50%, Buffett once told a Columbia Business School audience. [1]

Buffett practices this by writing annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, breaking down complex investment concepts into understandable language. Improving your communication skills can lead to better relationships, more precise decision-making, and increased influence.

Warren Buffett emphasizes the importance of saving and financial discipline. He advises, Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving. This challenge concerns understanding the value of saving and managing your finances wisely.

Its not just about earning a lot of money but also about developing the financial discipline to convert that earned income into savings and investments so you build a net worth. You can build a secure financial future by prioritizing saving and investing wisely, just as Buffett has.

Buffett teaches the importance of understanding and managing risks. He believes, Risk comes from not knowing what youre doing. This challenge involves learning to take calculated risks.

Its about making informed decisions, not just in investments but in various aspects of life. Buffetts success is partly due to his ability to assess and mitigate risks. Navigating risks wisely can lead to significant rewards and prevent unnecessary setbacks. Consider the risk-to-reward ratio in any investment, business, or life choice. Fully educate yourself on the risks before making big decisions.

Integrity is a cornerstone of Buffetts philosophy. He asserts, It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. This challenge is about practicing integrity in all aspects of life.

Buffetts impeccable reputation is a testament to his steadfast adherence to integrity. Maintaining integrity is crucial for long-lasting success and respect, whether in business dealings or personal relationships.

Buffett is a proponent of long-term thinking. He advises, Someones sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. This challenge concerns focusing on long-term goals and not being swayed by short-term setbacks or distractions.

Buffetts investment strategies are based on long-term potential rather than short-term gains. Cultivating a long-term mindset can lead to sustained success and fulfillment. A growth mindset allows you to see what is possible long-term, while a fixed mindset keeps you trapped in your current situation.

Buffett attributes much of his success to his reading habit. He once said, Read 500 pages like this every day. Thats how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. This challenge encourages you to embrace the habit of reading.

Whether its books, newspapers, or reports, reading expands your knowledge, perspective, and understanding of the world. Incorporating reading into your daily routine can be a game-changer for personal growth. Reading allows you to learn quickly what the author took a lifetime of study to understand. Reading a great nonfiction book is one of the best investments of time and money you can make.

Finally, Buffett highlights the importance of building and maintaining solid relationships. He believes, Its better to hang out with people better than you Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and youll drift in that direction.

This challenge is about valuing and nurturing relationships, both personal and professional. The support, guidance, and opportunities from strong relationships are invaluable. Buffetts success is partly due to his strong network of mentors, business partners, and colleagues.

Embarking on a path inspired by Warren Buffetts challenges is not just about adopting a set of practices; its about fueling a journey toward lasting motivation and personal fulfillment. Each challenge, rooted in Buffetts wisdom, catalyzes transformative growth and enduring success.

Integrating these challenges into your life creates a synergy that propels you forward. Each aspect feeds into another, creating a growth, achievement, and motivation cycle. By embracing Buffetts wisdom, youre not just setting yourself up for success; youre fueling a journey rich in learning, fulfillment, and an unwavering drive to achieve your best life.

Embarking on these eight paths, inspired by Warren Buffetts wisdom, paves the way for a life rich in accomplishment and devoid of regret. These principles are not just strategies for financial success but are guidelines for a well-lived life.

They encourage us to grow continuously, communicate effectively, manage our resources wisely, make informed choices, live with integrity, plan for the future, seek knowledge relentlessly, and cherish our relationships. By integrating these values into our daily lives, we can navigate our journey with confidence, purpose, and a sense of fulfillment that transcends material success. You can live a life thats not only successful but also meaningful and regret-free.

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8 Challenges You Should Take To Have No Regrets In Life: Warren Buffett (Motivation) - New Trader U