Part 3, Session 1 · Hunger and Curiosity

People have two incredibly powerful abilities: hunger and curiosity

Key insights

People have two incredibly powerful abilities:HungerandCuriosity. Maintainfasting capacity(seven-tenths full), and the body produces 6 hormones (dopamine, endorphins, adrenaline, etc.), helping maintain mental agility and competitiveness.When the Moon Is Full, It Begins to Wane, when everything is taken to the extreme, the connection is bound to end sooner. Only by maintaining an unsaturated state can you continue to grow.

6.1 The science of fasting capacity

Fed vs. hungry

• When fully fed:
  • Produces one hormone (insulin)
  • Slowed Metabolism
  • Easily drowsy
  • Sluggish Thinking
  • Lack of Motivation
• Hungry state (70% full):
  • Produces 6 Hormones
    • Dopamine
    • Endorphins
    • Adrenaline
    • ...(3 others)
  • Active Metabolism
  • Sharp Thinking
  • Stay Competitive
  • Delays aging

The effects of hormones

6.2 Benefits of fasting capacity

Physical health

1. Accelerated metabolism

• Stable blood sugar
• Fat burning
• Less likely to gain weight

1. Delays aging

• Reduced oxidation
• Cell renewal
• Staying young

1. Disease prevention

• Reduced risk of diabetes
• Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduced burden on the digestive system

Mental state

1. Sharp Thinking

• Adequate oxygen supply to the brain
• Fast reaction speed
• Strong creativity

1. Maintaining motivation

• Dissatisfaction with the status quo
• Keep learning
• Striving for progress

1. Full of energy

• Less likely to feel drowsy
• High work efficiency
• Enduring stamina

Maintaining competitiveness

• Feeling hungry → Dissatisfaction → Continuous learning → Maintaining competitiveness
• Comparison:
  • People who are full: satisfied, drowsy, stagnant
  • People who are hungry: eager, alert, progressing

6.3 The wisdom that when the moon is full, it begins to wane

The dangers of complacency

• Full → Peak → Decline
• Process:
  • Becoming complacent
  • Becoming self-satisfied
  • Letting down one's guard
  • Society slaps you down
  • Hitting rock bottom
• Examples:
  • Success in a startup leads to complacency → failure
  • Success in an exam leads to relaxation → decline
  • Weight loss success leads to binge eating → rebound

"When the moon is full, it begins to wane. If a person becomes complacent, aren't they getting carried away? And won't society slap you down?"

Taking Anything Too Far Means Its Fate Will Surely End Sooner

• Going too far in what you do:
  • Leaving no room for others
  • Leaving no way out for yourself
  • Resources exhausted
  • Fate runs its course
• Keep room to spare:
  • Leave yourself 30% of margin in everything you do
  • Leave room to maneuver
  • Sustainable development
  • A long-term strategy

"When everything is taken to the extreme, relationships are bound to end sooner."

6.4 Applying the Sense of Hunger

Diet

• The 70% fullness principle:
  • Breakfast: optional, eat or not
  • Lunch: 70% full
  • Dinner: eat if you want, but no carbs
  • Or: eat less, more often
• Fasting / bigu (advanced):
  • Only water, no food
  • Can survive 30 days
  • Requires proper methods
  • Don't try it lightly
• Note:
  • Progress step by step
  • Supplement energy (chocolate)
  • Act Within Your Means
  • Don't blindly imitate

Learning

• Curiosity:
  • Stay curious about new things
  • Keep learning
  • Keep exploring
  • Stay forever young
• Hunger:
  • Stay hungry for knowledge
  • Never be satisfied with the status quo
  • Keep improving
  • Stay Competitive

Career

• Never settle:
  • Never be satisfied with what you’ve achieved
  • Keep looking for new opportunities
  • Stay alert to potential risks
  • Keep improving
• Avoid:
  • The comfort-zone trap
  • A defeatist attitude
  • Resting on your laurels
  • Standing still

6.5 Two of the most powerful abilities

Hunger

• Definition: Never settle for the status quo; keep striving
• Manifestations:
  • Stay hungry for success
  • Keep striving for wealth
  • Stay hungry for knowledge
  • Keep seeking growth
• Purpose:
  • Drive action
  • Overcome difficulties
  • Keep making progress
  • Achieving a goal

Curiosity

• Definition: A desire to explore new things
• Manifestations:
  • A thirst for new knowledge
  • Openness to new experiences
  • Sensitivity to new opportunities
  • Exploring the unknown
• Purpose:
  • Keep learning
  • Discovering opportunities
  • Innovative thinking
  • Stay forever young

The relationship between the two

• Hunger + Curiosity = Continuous growth
• Hunger → Motivation
• Curiosity → Direction
• Results:
  • Never grow old
  • Always learning
  • Always improving
  • Always competitive

"People have two most powerful abilities: hunger and curiosity. If you have these two things, you will never grow old."

6.6 Practical advice

How to cultivate hunger

1. Set higher goals

• Set a new goal immediately after achieving one
• Don't be complacent with the status quo
• Keep challenging yourself

1. Stay alert to potential risks

• Realize that standing still means falling behind
• Observe competitors
• Stay alert to market changes

1. Review regularly

• Identify shortcomings
• Make improvement plans
• Continuously optimize

How to cultivate curiosity

1. Read more books

• Read across disciplines
• Don't limit yourself to your field
• Broaden your horizons

1. Try more things

• Experience new things
• Learn new skills
• Step out of your comfort zone

1. Communicate more

• Communicate with people from different fields
• Listen to different viewpoints
• Spark new ideas through collision of thoughts

1. Ask more questions

• Question everything
• Keep asking why
• Explore the essence

Stay hungry

1. 饮食：七分饱
2. 工作：不满足于现有成绩
3. 学习：持续学习新知识
4. 社交：不断认识新朋友
5. 生活：不断尝试新体验

Key quotes

• "People have two incredibly powerful abilities: hunger and curiosity."
• "If you have these two things, you won't age."
• "After eating your fill, the body oxidizes and metabolism slows down."
• "When the moon is full, it begins to wane; complacency makes you drift."
• "When everything is taken to the extreme, relationships are bound to end sooner."
• "Stay in an unsaturated state and keep growing."
• "Only a sense of hunger keeps you competitive."

Practical application

Act immediately

1. Adjust your diet: Starting today, eat until 70% full
2. Experience an empty stomach: Feel your mental state when hungry
3. Set goals: Set a higher goal
4. Learn new knowledge: Learn a new concept today

Daily habits

1. Breakfast: Optional, or eat less
2. Lunch: Eat until 70% full
3. Dinner: Control carbs
4. Every day: Stay curious, learn new things

Long-term planning

1. Keep learning: Keep refining yourself
2. Stay hungry: Don't be satisfied with the status quo
3. Cultivate curiosity: Be open to new things
4. Less than a month: Leave some room for flexibility

Practice checklist

• ☐ Starting today, try eating until you're seven-tenths full
• ☐ Record your state of mind when you’re hungry
• ☐ Set a goal that makes you feel "hungry"
• ☐ Learn one new thing every day
• ☐ Stay curious about things