Hi Reader,

Have you ever wondered where the word Monday came from?

It stems from the Anglo-Saxon word Mōnandæg.

This loosely means “the moon's day.”

So happy moon's day.

Let's make the most of it!

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What I'm learning about 🧠

The coolest AI app I've ever seen.

It's called Gamma.app and it will blow your mind.

Gone are the days of painstakingly making PowerPoints or PDFs.

With the click of a button, Gamma will use AI to make one for you.

It pains me to think of how many hours this would have saved me.

Back when finance Greg was given the riveting task of creating pitch decks and presentations.

To prove a point, I asked Gamma to make a presentation about this newsletter.

Check it out here.​

P.S. This took 15 seconds to generate instead of 15 hours.

P.S.S. Shoutout to the extraordinary Tim Harrison for showing me this!

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What I'm thinking about 💭

Happiness, dating apps, and comparison.

Since the 1970s, American's happiness has been dwindling.

And around the turn of the century, it took a nosedive.

I read an article last week proposing that married people are happier.

Yes, I gave myself a self-five for that subtle pun.

​

The big question is, why?

​This article hypothesizes that the decline in happiness is due to the decline in adults who are getting married.

I'll buy that explanation for some of the decline, but not all of it.

I think the rest has to do with two things:

1. Endless options
2. Comparison

It's been shown that we get less happy the more options we are presented with.

This is called The Paradox of Choice.​

It applies to:

• Buying groceries
• Making important decisions
• Choosing romantic partners

Mo' choices = mo' anxiety.

Now let's layer in comparison.

My guy Teddy R. said, "Comparison is the thief of joy."

If you don't believe him, just ask yourself why no one ever says:

"Wow, I feel much better about myself after scrolling Instagram."

Now the question is:

What would happen if we combined endless options with intense comparison?

We'd get dating apps.

And what if we made those apps feel like you were online shopping (for people) while simultaneously playing a slot machine?

The ancient reptilian part of our brains wouldn't stand a chance.

This is why I have beef with dating apps.

Humans weren't designed for this much optionality.

It's hard to commit to anyone when Mr./Mrs "right" could be just one more swipe away.

I abstain from dating apps (and most of social media) not because I think I am "holier than thou."

But because I know the algorithm would eat me for breakfast.

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What I'm re-listening to 🎧

This podcast is one of the best I've ever heard.

I remember the first time I finished it, I immediately started it over.

Don't mind the incredibly clickbaity title.

I promise it's worth a listen.

​The SECRET To Completely HEAL Your BODY & MIND Today! | Marisa Peer & Shawn Stevenson​

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Quote of the week 📜

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”​

― Robert Frost

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Sent with love,

Gregory Russell Benedikt

Talk to me: hello@gregoryrussellbenedikt.com

Website: gregoryrussellbenedikt.com

Writing: Medium

Connect: Instagram & LinkedIn