Insights from ‘Antifragile’ by Nassim Taleb Flashcards
What is the difference between resilience and antifragility?
Resilience resists shocks and stays the same, while antifragility improves with shocks and challenges.
Fill in the blank: ‘Everything antifragile has to have more _____ than downside.’
upside
True or False: Antifragility means benefiting from volatility, error, and stressors.
True
Describe a daily mental exercise to develop a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality.
Imagine losing all possessions, job, and savings to emotionally prepare for the worst, reducing the impact of actual setbacks.
How does Taleb recommend positioning oneself emotionally to reduce the impact of volatility?
By assuming the worst has already happened, making the rest of the day feel like a bonus.
What is ‘eustress’?
Eustress is positive stress that creates energy and promotes growth, motivating and focusing us.
Give an example of a practice to introduce eustress.
Examples include 30-second cold showers, Tummo breathing, 12-minute interval training, or 16-hour intermittent fasting.
What does overcompensation mean in the context of antifragility?
It means responding to stress or challenges by becoming stronger or better, like gaining muscle after heavy lifting.
How can one apply overcompensation outside of physical training?
By overlearning from mistakes or setbacks, such as improving processes to avoid repeated errors.
True or False: Taleb defines a ‘loser’ as someone who avoids introspection and blames others for their mistakes.
True
How can seeking eustress help when facing unexpected challenges?
It helps by training you to lean into stress rather than avoiding it, building adaptability.
List two benefits of overcompensation in personal development.
It reduces fear of uncertainty and ensures you either succeed or improve from setbacks.
According to Taleb, what attitude should one avoid after making a mistake?
Avoid feeling embarrassed and defensive; instead, view it as a learning opportunity.
Fill in the blank: ‘The more you overcompensate by overlearning, the less you fear _____.’
uncertainty
Why is it beneficial to imagine worst-case scenarios daily?
It helps build resilience by emotionally preparing for setbacks, making actual challenges seem less impactful.
