[aristofun]

Our brain only gets smarter by pursuing a goal. And "get smarter" is the worst goal to have.

In you 30s you're not a child, your biology tells you - now pick the target, we can't afford to be smart everywhere anymore.

So either you get very smart at something specific by focusing on it (or few specific areas if you have enough capacity) or not smart at all.

Another alternative is to keep soothing yourself with those silly "improve your diet, read books and stop drinking" kind of advice you find all over the internet.

[ambivalents]

I'm intrigued by this viewpoint and want you to elaborate more! Why is getting smarter the worst goal to have? Do you think it's useful to get very smart at something specific, or does it amount to the same as not being smart at all?

Asking as someone perpetually soothing myself with advice about diet, alcohol, spirituality, etc.

[aristofun]

> Why is getting smarter the worst goal to have?

Because it's an empty, abstract and leading to nothing goal. Our mind needs to know "why exactly" to find its "hows". It's just how it works.