Choose a Perspective That’s Useful For You

Inspired by Derek Sivers’ Useful, Not True.

Here’s the most important idea I’ve learned this year: You can choose a perspective that’s useful to you right now—whether or not it’s universally true.

For example, back when I studied Computer Engineering at Waterloo, I bought into the common narrative that school is useless, that dropping out is the better move, that academia kills creativity. This mindset made studying for my seven engineering classes a miserable experience. Eventually, I decided to adopt a different perspective. Instead of seeing school as a burden, I framed it as a privilege—an opportunity that many would love to have. My job was to learn, and I was studying inherently fascinating subjects about how computers work. That’s so cool! I started viewing studying as an exercise of focus, discipline, and mental toughness.

Rather than treating academics as an adversary, I embraced it. And that simple shift made the rest of my undergraduate experience genuinely enjoyable.

There were two ways to see the situation—I chose the one that made my life easier.

Once I recognized this pattern, I started seeing it everywhere. Friends, strangers, and coworkers often adopt beliefs that hold them back rather than help them move forward.

Understand that that there aren’t many things in this world that are objectively true. Most are just beliefs. And when you realize you can control those beliefs, that’s when you start to unlock your potential.