Eric-Jorgenson The-Almanack-of-Naval-Ravikant indd

Buffett has a great example when he asks if you want to be 
the world’s best lover and known as the worst, or the world’s 
worst lover and known as the best? [paraphrased] in refer-
ence to an inner or external scorecard.
Exactly right. All the real scorecards are internal.
Jealousy was a very hard emotion for me to overcome. When I 
was young, I had a lot of jealousy. By and by, I learned to get rid 
of it. It still crops up every now and then. It’s such a poisonous 
emotion because, at the end of the day, you’re no better off with 
jealousy. You’re unhappier, and the person you’re jealous of is 
still successful or good-looking or whatever they are.
One day, I realized with all these people I was jealous of, I 
couldn’t just choose little aspects of their life. I couldn’t say I 
want his body, I want her money, I want his personality. You 
have to be that person. Do you want to actually be that person 
with all of their reactions, their desires, their family, their hap-
piness level, their outlook on life, their self-image? If you’re not 
willing to do a wholesale, 24/7, 100 percent swap with who that 
person is, then there is no point in being jealous.

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L E A R N I N G H A P P I N E S S · 145
Once I came to that realization, jealousy faded away because 
I don’t want to be anybody else. I’m perfectly happy being me. 
By the way, even that is under my control. To be happy being 
me. It’s just there are no social rewards for it. [4]
HAPPINESS IS BUILT BY HABITS
My most surprising discovery in the last five years is that peace 
and happiness are skills. These are not things you are born 
with. Yes, there is a genetic range. And a lot of it is conditioning 
from your environment, but you can un-condition and recon-
dition yourself.
You can increase your happiness over time, and it starts with 
believing you can do it.
It’s a skill. Just like nutrition is a skill, dieting is a skill, working 
out is a skill, making money is a skill, meeting girls and guys is 
a skill, having good relationships is a skill, even love is a skill. 
It starts with realizing they’re skills you can learn. When you 
put your intention and focus on it, the world can become a 
better place.
When working, surround yourself with people more 
successful than you.
When playing, surround yourself with people happier than 
you.