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Happiness = Health + Wealth + Good Relationships
This simple equation captures the essence of a well-rounded life. Each component is a pillar, and neglecting one risks toppling the structure. True happiness emerges when these areas coexist harmoniously.
Health = Exercise + Diet + Sleep
Your health is your foundation. It’s a holistic equation, where improvement in one variable enhances the others.
1. Exercise = High Intensity Resistance Training + Sports + Rest
High-Intensity Resistance Training (HIRT): Builds strength and resilience, crucial for longevity. It’s efficient and scalable to your fitness level.
Sports: Introduces fun, social interaction, and competition while keeping the body active.
Rest: Recovery is where growth happens. Overtraining leads to diminishing returns, while strategic rest optimizes gains.
2. Diet = Natural Foods + Intermittent Fasting + Plants
Natural Foods: Minimize processed foods. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense options.
Intermittent Fasting (IF): Simplifies eating habits, improves metabolic health, and aligns with evolutionary patterns.
Plants: Rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, plants are essential for cellular repair and vitality.
3. Sleep = No Alarms + 8-9 Hours + Circadian Rhythms
No Alarms: Waking naturally indicates your body has rested adequately.
8-9 Hours: Tailored to most adults for optimal cognitive and physical function.
Circadian Rhythms: Sync with natural light cycles for better sleep quality.
Wealth = Income + Wealth × (Return on Investment)
Building wealth is about generating income while growing your assets through disciplined investment.
1. Income = Accountability + Leverage + Specific Knowledge
Accountability: Owning outcomes, building trust, and taking calculated risks. Personal branding and platforms amplify this.
Leverage: Utilizing capital (money), people (delegation), or intellectual property (scalable products) to maximize impact.
Specific Knowledge: Mastery of unique, high-value skills that are hard to replicate or teach.
2. Return on Investment (ROI) = Buy-and-Hold + Valuation + Margin of Safety
Buy-and-Hold: Long-term investment in quality assets creates exponential growth.
Valuation: Understanding an asset’s intrinsic value prevents overpaying.
Margin of Safety: A buffer to protect against volatility or errors in judgment.
Naval’s emphasis on relationships, while not explicitly formulated here, deserves expansion. Positive relationships enhance happiness, improve health, and even catalyze professional growth. Cultivating trust, empathy, and clear communication are essential in personal and professional circles.
Naval’s formulas are blueprints, not prescriptions. Tailor them to your unique circumstances, preferences, and goals. They remind us that success isn’t about rigid adherence to rules but understanding core principles and applying them wisely.
What’s your take on these formulas? Have you found alternative approaches that complement or refine them? Let’s build on this framework together.