Being the 10/10 You 💯

July 22, 2025

Hey there,

We all have this mental image of what our "10/10 self" looks like — whether we realise it or not.

It's often a mix of aesthetics, competence, lifestyle, and character — maybe a sharper jawline, more muscle, better outfits, smoother conversations, a daily routine that just clicks. Maybe he's 5kg leaner, maybe she's on top of all her deadlines. Maybe they speak more confidently in public or finally launch that side project.

But here's the trap, or what I think it is, at least — the more vividly we imagine that version of ourselves, the more we risk turning it into a separate person. Somebody ideal that we run after, always out of reach. And so "10/10" slowly becomes a mirage — never fully achievable, never us in the moment.

And while that is in the definition of "ideal" — something just out of reach to strive towards — I believe there are better ways of framing it.

Let's challenge that.

What if being the 10/10 You isn't some distant transformation, but a version of you that exists right now — just one that is not fully tuned in yet? Like a radio station that's already broadcasting, but the signal's slightly fuzzy.

Some truths I feel like I've landed on lately:

• The gap between 7/10 and 10/10 is not talent. It's repetition.
• 10/10 isn't just high output — it's pure alignment. Showing up where it matters most, and optimising ruthlessly for the right things at the time.
• Looking good matters — but feeling good in your own skin matters more, no matter how we look.
• Your standards are already your superpower. But they become a burden when not paired with self-respect and self-love.

It's easy to look around and think, "They've got it all figured out." But most people ain't even aiming to be their 10/10 selves. They're optimising for comfort, not clarity. Avoiding friction, instead of intentionally looking for it.

So maybe your "10/10" isn't loud or perfect. Maybe it's quiet discipline. Walking with weight in your step. Wearing what feels right. Saying no to that 5th TikTok scroll session a day and yes to that cold shower. Not chasing aesthetic perfection, but personal precision and coherence.

For me, right now, it means sticking to routines even when I travel. Trusting that fewer words, said better, are enough — both in written and spoken form. Letting the gym be a space for progress, not punishment for past laziness. And not breaking the chain — even if the day-to-day is a bit rusty.

You're already holding the raw materials. You've met your 10/10 self before. Maybe just in flashes. Maybe for a solid period of time. But the point is — they're not mythical and unattainable. They're there, ready to be unlocked when you tune in.

So, let's not just dream about that person. Let's keep tuning the dial. 👍

Weekly Insights

• Soo, this is the last issue before I go on holiday for a week — I'll be spending a few days on the beach, and in that time, I'll try and relax, something that I notoriously have struggled with for a while now. 😎
• In the past few days tho, I've tried to make sure my systems will be up and running even while I'm away — writing a few issues of this newsletter in advance, finishing up on dev work, and planning for things to do once I'm back from holiday.
• Maybe I'll come back with a newfound sense of chillax — more likely I'll just have recuperated enough to launch back on new side-hustle ideas, as it often happens. 😆

Book Highlight: The Righteous Mind

"The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion", by Jonathan Haidt, is a book I read years ago that I still hotly recommend to anyone who is even remotely interested in philosophy and psychology, especially on the societal and group level.

What makes the memory of this book still so vivid in my memory isn't just its depth, but how it helped me genuinely understand people I disagreed with — not in a "debate club" kind of way (cause I've been in one), but in a deep, anthropological sense. Haidt's central premise, which is that we don't arrive at our moral judgments purely through reasoning, but through intuitions shaped by evolution and culture, was what reframed how I thought about debates, ideologies, and even personal quirks.

One of the book's most powerful metaphors is the "elephant and rider": the idea that our intuitive mind (the elephant) leads the way, while our rational mind (the rider) mostly justifies where the elephant is already headed. It's quite humbling when you realise how true it is.

Haidt also introduces the concept of moral foundations like care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. This is all to show how different groups prioritise different values. Then, cultural and political divides become less about who's "right" and more about which foundations people are leaning on.

If you're someone who often finds themselves frustrated by online arguments, family dinner debates, or even your own internal inconsistencies, this book gives you the vocabulary and frameworks to zoom out.

Solid 8/10 book, in the non-fiction genre. 👍

Worth Watching This Week

how fear secretly rules your life. by Arteri — a calm dive into the invisible motivator behind most of our daily decisions.

How You've Accidentally Trained Yourself To Be Helpless by HealthyGamerGG — a sharp, slightly uncomfortable look at how learned helplessness sneaks into everyday life.

Closing Thoughts

Till next week, stay safe, stay curious, and keep kicking. ✌️