LIFE 3H by Alok Gotam

↳ Stories on Life, Intelligence, and Everything In Between!

Author: Alok Gotam

  • Accuracy of outcome does not validate correctness of cause

    Yesterday I found myself in a conversation about astrology. The gentleman I was speaking with said he believes in it — because, once, someone made a prediction about his life that came true. Not vaguely — exactly, to the date. That moment, for him, was proof. I understand why. When something improbable happens just as…

  • Revisiting the Easterlin Paradox Through the Lens of the Life 3H Framework

    In 1974, economist Richard Easterlin observed something puzzling: while richer individuals within a country tended to report higher happiness than poorer ones, over time, increases in average income did not correspond to increases in average happiness. This phenomenon, known as the Easterlin Paradox, challenged classical economics’ assumption that more wealth naturally leads to more well-being.…

  • The DMT Shortcut: Is Spiritual Enlightenment a Hack That Bypasses the Path to Fulfillment?

    In the Life 3H Framework, fulfillment is derived from a balanced cultivation of: This neurochemical mapping offers a biological substrate for what we otherwise experience as emotional, social, and spiritual highs. But here’s the provocative question: What if spiritual enlightenment—especially of the mystical, ego-dissolving variety—is just a hack for triggering DMT, the molecule of holiness,…

  • No One Wants to Be Unhappy. No One Wants to Be Unsuccessful. No One Wants to Be a Fool.

    Let that sink in. It’s a simple truth. An obvious one. So obvious, we rarely pause to think about it. But it hides a quiet tragedy—because despite this shared, universal desire, so many of us end up feeling exactly those things: unhappy, unsuccessful, and foolish. Why? The Tragedy of Misdirection Most people don’t actively choose…

  • Build What People Love!

    Over my eight-year startup journey, I’ve frequently heard the advice—especially from the likes of Y Combinator—to “build what people love.” On the surface, it sounds entirely reasonable: if people love something, they’ll use it, buy it, and eagerly spread the word. But with time and experience, I’ve come to see that this advice isn’t as…

  • Why Do We Believe What We Believe? – A 3H Perspective

    Humans arrive in this world as blank slates—ignorant, uninformed, fundamentally “stupid.” From our earliest moments, interactions with parents, family, peers, and society profoundly shape our understanding of reality. Initially, most individuals—what we might call the ‘auto-believers‘—passively absorb beliefs directly from their surroundings, adopting societal views effortlessly because they offer comfort, familiarity, and social acceptance. Consider,…

  • Can an Extremely Happy and Successful Person Not Live a Good Life?

    What if everything you ever wanted—wealth, fame, great relationships—still left you feeling empty inside? At first glance, the question seems paradoxical. How can someone who has achieved immense happiness and success possibly not be living a “good” life? To unravel this mystery, we need to dive deeper into the very definition of what constitutes a…

  • What Makes You ‘You’? Continuity of the story of Identity

    Introduction What makes you who you are? Is it your physical body, your mind, or something else altogether? The age-old question of identity has been explored through various thought experiments, from the Ship of Theseus to more modern takes involving teleportation and digital clones. These scenarios force us to question the very nature of existence and what…

  • The Paradox of Vision: Why Most Startup Founders Lack It, but None Have It Wrong

    Most of the startup founders I met have no vision, but I have not met even a single founder with incorrect vision. In the bustling world of startups, I’ve had the privilege of meeting countless founders—bright, driven individuals striving to bring their ideas to life. But one striking observation has stuck with me: most founders have…

  • A Gift from My Mindclone: What It Means to Be Understood

    A Gift from My Mindclone: What It Means to Be Understood

    On my 45th birthday, something remarkable happened. I received a book as a gift: The Innovators by Walter Isaacson. Within minutes of opening it, I was captivated. It resonated with me in the same profound way The Road to Reality by Roger Penrose did two decades ago. Later that evening, I found out this wasn’t just a lucky guess.…