https://rickybrowne.com/ Latest posts https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Work%20as%20a%20Substitute%20for%20Connection-12-3-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Work%20as%20a%20Substitute%20for%20Connection-12-3-2026.txt Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:54:55 GMT journal projectlife psychology For a long time I thought I worked so much because I was driven, ambitious, or creative. Recently I realised something simpler and more uncomfortable. A lot of my work is a substitute for connection. I spend most of my days on the computer making things. Apps, writing, videos, little experiments. My goal is to get t... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=The%20Four%20Principles%20Behind%20My%20Writing-12-3-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=The%20Four%20Principles%20Behind%20My%20Writing-12-3-2026.txt Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:54:55 GMT projectlife writing Write often, capture ideas, say things simply, and make the work worth the reader’s time. 1. Write Before You Are Ready Most people wait. They wait for confidence, the right idea, the right mood, or the perfect setup. Writers improve by doing the opposite. The act of writing is what creates skill. That is why ide... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=How%20I%20Write_%2020%20Lessons%20That%20Actually%20Helped%20Me%20Become%20a%20Better%20Writer-12-3-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=How%20I%20Write_%2020%20Lessons%20That%20Actually%20Helped%20Me%20Become%20a%20Better%20Writer-12-3-2026.txt Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:54:55 GMT projectlife writing Practical habits and mindset shifts that helped me stop talking about writing and start doing it. Writing advice often sounds impressive but rarely helps people finish work. What actually helped me improve was simple habits, repetition, and a few craft rules that make writing clearer and easier to read. These lessons... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=What%20is%20your%20one%20thing_-13-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=What%20is%20your%20one%20thing_-13-2-2026.txt Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT projectlife psychology 6 January 2026 If you really want to kick big goals, you can't move in more than one direction. Chase two rabbits, catch none. The Impact: 🎯 Focus compounds effort 🫆 Clear Identity stabilises behaviour 🦉 Dilution kills mastery You must sacrifice all other potential dreams, for one clear direction. I spen... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Upcoming%20Book%20Projects-13-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Upcoming%20Book%20Projects-13-2-2026.txt Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT pin projectlife Three books I'll be publishing in the coming year/s The Embodiment of Love------------------------- The first might not make it out this year—the draft is written, the words are down—but the process feels too precious. The book means a lot to me. It’s written in prose poetry, so it might not do well commerciall... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=People%20do%20change%20but%20you%20can't%20make%20them.-13-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=People%20do%20change%20but%20you%20can't%20make%20them.-13-2-2026.txt Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT projectlife psychology 10 January 2026 It is absolutely pointless trying to steer, direct, or better people. So what can you do? -- Accept Them For Who They Are -- Create Boundries -- Be A Good Example People do grow but they grow in their own time, in their own way. Here's what works: Don't be the kind of person that needs those aroun... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Christian%20Planetary%20Pledge-11-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Christian%20Planetary%20Pledge-11-2-2026.txt Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT faith openletter I hold the belief that God loves me and that he provides me with grace, and that is reflected in my actions by doing the right thing. I hold that God does not need me to seek the destruction of our planet, in order to accelerate the coming of the end times. I pledge to join the chorus of Christians who wish to ensure... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=As%20time%20goes%20by-11-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=As%20time%20goes%20by-11-2-2026.txt Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT journal How quickly the years go by. The last three years have gone past and that is but a tenth until I am 70. I hope I am as agile as my father at that age. It’s two days until Christmas and the year is Twenty-twenty. When I am my father’s age it will be twenty-fifty. I hope I’m around to see it. #journal Published... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(57).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(57).txt Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:15:58 GMT politics projectlife technology The benefits of switching TikTok off in America. Ricky Browne 7 April 2025 I wrote this a few days before the TikTok blackout in America. I like the idea of the Americans being barred from TikTok, not that they don't make engaging content. Still, they are always the default in any Western network, affording them a... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(42).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(42).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:00:20 GMT media politics technology From digital commons to corporate fiefdom — it’s time to end the enshittification. The internet was once a place of promise. It was open, curious, and a little chaotic. People built communities, shared ideas, and created things for the joy of it. Then came the platforms. The same systems that democratised creation... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(38).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(38).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:59:24 GMT politics psychology Collectivism often leaves little room for becoming. When individuals are beholden to the group, conformity replaces growth. The collective tends to protect its own systems and beliefs, which blinds it to necessary change. Groups naturally reinforce the status quo because the tribe’s instinct for stability outweighs i... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(18).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(18).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:56:36 GMT journal projectlife I wrote one prose poem for the book and now I feel wired. Probably too much caffeine. It sharpens the nerves and makes resistance louder. It’s 4:36 am and there’s more project work I could do, but instead I’m writing this. I know the pattern. I get things done by avoiding something else more important. Still, o... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(22).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(22).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:54:42 GMT faith journal I’ve shut down this week. Something in me has gone quiet. There are a few possible causes. I stopped drinking again on Sunday, and I might be dealing with withdrawal. My energy is low and my thinking feels foggy. I’m also about to be interviewed by Sharon from the local paper. That’s stirred up self doubt. Bein... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(20).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(20).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:53:46 GMT journal projectlife psychology No one in my wife's family or my family or most people for that matter ask me how my writing or projects are going or what I've been up to. Why? Maybe because that will lead to me talking about my writing or projects, lol. It's a peculiar thing that has baffled and annoyed me for a long time. And while it still baffl... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(19).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(19).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:53:26 GMT journal projectlife psychology When I was in the grips of mental illness between 2002 and 2012, I was sustained and driven by trains of thought where I was thinking about the world and societal issues and how to overcome them. A lot of it was aberrant thinking that I overcame after that period through increased awareness and knowledge of the self a... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(17).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(17).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:52:52 GMT journal psychology I’m starting something new because I don’t want to touch the three unfinished pieces I already have. That’s probably saying something, even if I don’t want to unpack it right now. Life feels hard more often than not, broken up by short bursts of fun and distraction. I wonder if I should look more closely at my... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(9).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(9).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:51:12 GMT journal A Shift in Weather, A Shift in Mind I had a little bit of a patch last week where the world got dark. This may have been a simple case of bad weather affecting my mood. But the world felt darker, colder, and more sinister—like my rose-colored, happiness-infused glasses had fallen off, and the rot and mold were now vi... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(7).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(7).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:50:42 GMT politics psychology I wrote the piece, and then I let ChatGPT fix it because I was being too dogmatic. On the left, the vision often resembles something out of Star Trek: a future in which humanity can move beyond scarcity and division, building a more united planet where everyone has a place. The orientation is toward possibility — tow... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(6).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(6).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:50:24 GMT politics psychology Ever wonder why people on the right can push the biggest lies, promote ideas that are clearly untrue (or even corrosive) and still find a cheering squad waiting? How does someone like Donald Trump manage to rally millions who treat his words and actions as if they’re fit for the highest office in the land? It feels... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(5).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(5).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:50:06 GMT politics psychology Upgrading the tribal mind. Truforming: An Antidote to Tribalism Truforming on a personal level means living as the fullest, healthiest, and most authentic version of yourself; not only in alignment with your own potential, but also in harmony with what helps society flourish. It is about becoming the optimal expression... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(4).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(4).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:49:46 GMT politics psychology As a young man, I had an unhealthy fear of adults. They seemed like a different species; creatures with superior awareness. And yes, to some extent adults do grow wiser with age. But I eventually learned another truth: they’re just big kids with their own flaws, blind spots, and biases. As a child, I was puzzled wh... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(82).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(82).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:47:50 GMT journal I haven't been writing much lately. One reason is that I have a lineup of books I've been working on for the last two to three years, all of which are in various stages of completion, so I'm trying to finish them. The reason they are all coming out close to each other is that you get to a certain point in writing, edi... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(81).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(81).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:47:28 GMT openletter politics Dear Friendly and Co, When I think of a true Australian hero of our time—besides Albo—only one comes to mind: Jordan Shanks and his team. A Clearer Picture in a Cloud of Spin You have done so much for so many by cutting through the smoke and mirrors and presenting the public with a more accurate picture of Austral... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(80).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(80).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:47:06 GMT projectlife I need to get back into writing for the simple joy of putting words on the page. Lately I’ve been absorbed in podcasting, mostly comedic. I am improving, slowly, but the act of doing it keeps showing me my limitations. That’s uncomfortable, but useful. I’m also keen on TikTok and plan to double down there. Rig... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(79).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(79).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:46:30 GMT politics Aussies win on quality of life because we have a strong Labor Party. The Impact: 🌹 Most positive change for the average punter has come from Labor policy (Not Liberal). ⚖️ In Australia, the elites don't always get their way. It is natural to see systems as oppressive and unfair, no matter where you live in the... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(78).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(78).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:46:10 GMT journal psychology Firstly—and thusly, whatever that’s supposed to mean—the work I put into Grace this past term has really paid dividends. She was starting to look a bit chubby in the cheeks, which was a good sign we were giving her a bit too sedentary a lifestyle. But instead of spiraling into guilt about not giving my little pri... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(77).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(77).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:45:38 GMT projectlife New Book: 🎯 CHIP AWAY: 488 Thoughts on Mastering the Creative Life I've been a maker and creator from an early age, but for the first thirty-five years everything I did was half baked and hair brained, I loved bells and whistles, everything I made came with a raft of useless crap attached, keeping things simple was... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(76).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(76).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:45:20 GMT projectlife technology I was watching TikTok and a guy recommended I type the prompt below into ChatGPT. I was surprised by the response. Give it a go yourself? Me: What do you know about me that I might not know about myself based on previous interactions? ChatGPT: From our previous conversations, I can gather that you have a strong focus... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(75).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(75).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:44:50 GMT journal projectlife psychology I never really had a mentor. People have always given me advice, as people do, always willing to fix the wayward child. However, I've never listened if the information was directed at me. I've had people who considered themselves my mentor, but I'd always resist being taken under a wing. I have always learned the har... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(74).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(74).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:44:12 GMT psychology I ask myself and my family this question all the time, "What's in your heart?" as a response to making personal decisions about our lives. "Should I quit my job?" "What's in your heart?" It triggers your super-ego, your ideal self, you personified, to choose good things and not be swayed by the opinions of others.... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(73).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(73).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:43:40 GMT psychology The long road to individuation. I’ve heard it said that life is not a journey but a dance. I think it may be both. At various stages—and for a good chunk of my adult life—I’ve felt like I wasn’t where I should be. Like I was behind, playing catch-up. Like I was wasting my life, pissing and farting about whil... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(70).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(70).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:42:40 GMT psychology Why not being the winner is often the greatest win Competition and Comparison of Those in Our Circle People don't really like people they know to be winning, perfect, special, or great. They need some separation from a person before they can fully appreciate their greatness. This is covered in the book Wanting by Luke... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(69).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(69).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:42:20 GMT faith You are a Christian now, you're part of the tribe, and you should keep working on your faith so you can develop your own voice and be well healed. But this is your life, you don't need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Be you. Forget about appeasing everyone and do it your way, Work through it, you don't nee... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(68).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(68).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:41:58 GMT journal stories Trigger Warning: This post contains words like arsehole and backside. One of the issues I discovered when moving into our new digs is related to my excess weight. I switched over to wiping my arse from the front when going to the loo sometime in the last ten years, this is because I found it increasingly difficult to... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(67).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(67).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:41:12 GMT projectlife psychology We all engage in some form of magical thinking, in which we act as if something is true despite the lack of evidence to support it. This is not inherently bad as long as the magical thinking serves you, does not cause problems for you and others, and is not part of a limiting belief that does not serve you or the worl... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(66).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(66).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:40:34 GMT journal psychology I think my main problem with people, especially those which I enjoy being around and hold in regard is that I feel most try to protect and project their image, instead of being vulnerable and real with me. While this may not be true across the board, generally, they are either not honest enough with themselves, to be... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(65).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(65).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:40:08 GMT journal media pop-culture Will Ferrell as Ron Burgandy Will Ferrell is the master of playing the buffoon. No one tickles me more than watching this man play the fool. Someone like Jim Carey is great because he contorts his body in ways that are laughable. But for me, it's too overly dramatic and slapstick. Will is subtle and nuanced in how he... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(64).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(64).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:39:34 GMT faith journal Off the happy pills It's been about two weeks since my last dose of anti-depressants. I'm a bit more cranky at times and sometimes lacking in feel-good chemicals, but I still think I'll push ahead and see what becomes of it. It's been a long time since I haven't been on anti-depressants; it will be interesting, unlike... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(62).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(62).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:37:52 GMT faith journal projectlife psychology Grace is a bit behind on learning English, and there’s not much I can do except sit on the sidelines and encourage my girls, as Liz does her bit to help her improve every day. Why Can’t You Do It, Fat Head? Good question, learnid reader. It comes down to how I convey information and how others receive it. Generall... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(61).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(61).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:37:16 GMT journal projectlife The goal was to make at least $50, not profit, just revenue. It cost me $45 for the site and another $45 for insurance. Then, on top of that, I had to purchase stock and various accoutrements needed to sell at the markets, including signage and a table. For me, the markets were going to be the new norm, spending weeke... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(60).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(60).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:36:50 GMT journal Sep 05, 2025 The King of Ick Ack Ock I'm good at Ick Ack Ock, or Scissors, Paper, Rock as some call it. To the point where, when my wife and I are deciding who will get up and grab the Cornettos out of the freezer, she refuses to play it. She gets cranky at the thought. The other day, my daughter and I played, and she... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(59).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(59).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:36:12 GMT politics psychology These days, selling out isn’t seen as betrayal—it’s seen as success. Winning. Making it. But make no mistake: selling out is a form of treason. It’s the moment someone trades truth, integrity, or the collective good for personal gain. It’s selling your soul. Let’s rewind a little. How would you define selli... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(58).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(58).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:35:44 GMT journal projectlife Sep 10, 2025 I can feel my brokenness in my gut this morning. I'm weak in spirit. Most of the time, I feel strong in myself, but now and again, that feeling unravels, and I feel particularly vulnerable. There was a time when I spent more time in ruts than out of them, but I've done a lot of work on myself, and this st... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(56).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(56).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:34:30 GMT media technology I want to have my finger on the pulse, but sometimes you need a break. 7 April 2025 I've been watching a lot of US politics on TikTok over the last week and the state of things and where we are inevitably headed has gotten under my skin. Back in the day, it used to really trouble me, to the point where I was becomin... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(55).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(55).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:34:00 GMT politics 7 April 2025 Our sovereign wealth is being pilfered. Why is Australia giving away its rich gas supply instead of maximising its value through an Australian sovereign wealth fund like other countries? I do not know why we are sending billions of dollars overseas for pennies on the dollar while we in this country pay a... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(54).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(54).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:33:46 GMT media politics psychology 7 April 2025 They either sell out or are told to get out. The media in Australia and most of the world are subservient trash who base their opinions, ethics, and morals around the prevailing winds of narratives provided to them by the rich and powerful. Many were privately schooled with well-off parents, so they iden... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(53).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(53).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:33:02 GMT journal projectlife 07/03/2025 I have set the directive to start journalling about fitness. I want to turn my life around, get fit and healthy, and live an extra hundred years, give or take. I start on Monday at the gym, which I would have started earlier, but I have been sick this week. On the one hand, I am driven to do this; on the o... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(52).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(52).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:32:30 GMT journal psychology Back when TV was still relevant, people under 50 watched it, and Rove Live was a thing. Rove McManus used to say, "If you can't spot the weirdo on the bus, you are the weirdo." When I'd hear him say that, I'd get nervous because, on some level, for a long time, after first developing the symptoms of schizophrenia, I w... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(51).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(51).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:32:06 GMT journal stories Last week, I hopped out of the shower, singing at the top of my lungs the silly songs I sing when I'm in the silly song mood. I dried myself as you do and put on some duds, still singing my silly songs; as I headed out of the bedroom and down the hall, just then, I heard my wife screaming my name from the other end of... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(50).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(50).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:31:42 GMT faith journal It's 7 AM, a late start for Browne, but not as late as that time I got rolling drunk on tequila and woke up in a ditch 35km to the west of Tijuana, at 2PM in the heat of the afternoon, lying on a cactus I must have mistaken for a pillow. But I digress. Today's sermon is about the sin of Browne, and how he spent the ni... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(49).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(49).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:31:04 GMT journal projectlife I got up at 2am but then went back to sleep, then I got up at 4, lied on the lounge and went back to sleep, then I got up at 6, had a coffee, did some meditation, and here I am, cold feet but a warm heart. Running Ads, but No luck yet! I advertised some of my books on Facebook this week; I'm doing little tests to see... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(48).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(48).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:30:34 GMT faith While listening to a sermon by Allan Blanch, one of my local Presbyterian ministers, I was struck by a deep feeling that it's okay for me to be a Christian, and that it's the right thing to do. In that moment, something shifted, and I decided not only to put my faith in God but also in Jesus. I've guarded closely my o... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(46).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(46).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:30:02 GMT journal Planning a Little Break I'm considering sending Grace to Grandma's today. Grace returns to school on Wednesday, and after spending two solid weeks with her during the holidays, I still need to navigate two extra days. It's not that the holidays haven’t been a blast — I've really enjoyed spending time with the littl... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(45).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(45).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:29:40 GMT journal I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been—hovering around 150kg, which in pounds is roughly three thousand. Despite that, I actually feel good. I’m back leading a more active lifestyle, and it feels like it’s finally sticking. It took ages to get back on track because I kept setting the goalposts too high. The resista... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(43).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(43).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:28:22 GMT politics For most of history, human civilisation has operated like a predatory ecosystem. Power determined who thrived and who served. From empires and monarchies to corporations and political tribes, the pattern has been the same: a few rise by extracting from the many. The system rewards dominance rather than cooperation, and... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(41).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(41).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:27:28 GMT journal What a Wonderful Day to Be Alive I hopped out of bed, took my laptop to my desk, sat down, opened it, and the screen wasn’t working. My first thought was, “Oh, this is because I wrote an article yesterday titled Why We Should Socialise the Tech Giants.” Turns out it wasn’t Zuckerberg. It was the screen lock on... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(40).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(40).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:27:06 GMT projectlife April 20, 2025 I’m back at journaling. I’ve been journaling this year, but mostly in article form—writing for an audience that barely exists. But recently, I compiled my journals from 2022 through the end of 2023, and man, it’s been a goldmine. Looking back, I can see what worked, what didn’t, and the patter... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(39).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(39).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:26:08 GMT politics psychology Tribalism is one of humanity’s oldest instincts, and one of its most dangerous when left unchecked. It was once useful for survival, helping small groups protect each other in a harsh world. But in the modern age, it has become a psychological trap that limits growth, divides societies, and distorts truth. At its co... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(37).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(37).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:25:34 GMT politics The smartest in America have been taking advantage, and the dumbest want them to pay. America has done itself a huge disservice with its “Greed is Good” mantra. Those who can make it think little of those who can’t. The nation applauds its winners and neglects its losers. Now that neglect has come back to bite,... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(36).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(36).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:25:22 GMT politics The major problem with the world is that when it comes to war, many believe it takes two to tango. It doesn’t. It only takes one bad actor to ruin any form of peace. One insecure leader, one self-righteous nation, one ideology too convinced of its own virtue. Humanity still behaves as if power is the ultimate proof... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(33).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(33).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:24:24 GMT politics Do we actually need rich people? The popular narrative claims they “create wealth,” “drive innovation,” and “power the economy.” But that’s not entirely true. What rich people actually provide is capital, and capital itself isn’t created by them—it’s captured, redirected, and concentrated. Wealth do... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(32).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(32).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:24:10 GMT politics The question of whether “rich people” are necessary for a functioning economy is complex. While the ultra-wealthy can play a role in capital allocation and innovation, their concentrated wealth often distorts systems in ways that undermine broader economic health. Below, I refine your argument without reducing its... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(31).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(31).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:23:56 GMT journal The Book: A Reluctant Journey Through Sobriety My latest book, coming out shortly, is called Fat Loser w/ a Laptop. It takes you through how I went from struggling with alcohol to giving it up. The sad part of that story—and a recurring theme in the book—is that I didn’t stick to it. After eighteen months off the... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(30).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(30).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:23:38 GMT projectlife 21 May 2025 The Book I Never Meant to Publish In the coming weeks, I’ll be releasing my latest book — Fat Loser w/ A Laptop — a collection of 100 raw journal entries spanning from 2022 to 2024. I originally put off finishing the book because I had journaled for myself, as a way to process challenges and push thro... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(28).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(28).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:22:56 GMT politics We need effective *mechanisms* for capital creation Do we truly need the existence of “rich people”? What specific contributions do individuals with immense wealth make to the economy? While they may possess valuable business acumen and innovative thinking, these crucial qualities do not intrinsically require sign... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(27).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(27).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:22:36 GMT politics It feels like the United States has lost its footing. The question I keep circling is whether the public will meaningfully resist, or whether most of what we’re seeing is posturing. They’ve grown up inside a system that rewards compliance and punishes disruption. Real resistance requires cost, and the people most... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(26).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(26).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:21:58 GMT projectlife I’m excited about the next stage of my creative life. For a long time I thought writing was the ticket. You can take your time, say things precisely, hide behind edits. But I’m not really interested in sparkling prose. I’m interested in ideas. Writing gave me control, but it also slowed me down in the wrong way.... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(25).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(25).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:21:20 GMT projectlife It’s Week 3 of 2026. I’m up early, earlier than usual, and I might go back to bed after this. I’m in Week 2 of my new routine and I’m genuinely liking it. The structure is simple. Week 1 is Think Week. That’s desk time. Computer time. Planning, writing scripts, thinking things through without pressure to pe... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(24).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(24).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:20:58 GMT journal Straight out of my head. I’m not going to stop writing, but I need to find a seam I can stay in. Today Liz goes back to work after three weeks off. The holidays were meant to be about Grace, and mostly they were, but I’ve drifted back into work mode again. I can’t help it. I need to work. That’s just true. I... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(23).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(23).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:20:28 GMT journal 11 February 2025 Sometime in December This work is a way of escaping the real work of laying out my philosophy on life. I have a few days to go until the new year, I would have liked to be deep into my work come January, but I have the happy distraction of moving house which has me preoccupied. I am enjoying doing p... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(21).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(21).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:19:16 GMT journal stories 12 February 2025 Liz was stressed to her eyeballs because we went for an overnight vaycay in Narromine to appease our daughter, only to wait an hour to see anyone at the motel's reception, then we find out the room hadn't been cleaned. I've learned my lesson and will look at reviews from now on because I've never seen... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(16).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(16).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:15:32 GMT journal Early January 2025 Uncle Charlie's funeral was a worthy send-off, I didn't see the burial, but the church service was special. It was standing room only and many had to watch the service on a tele in another room. I didn't think the service was going to move me to tears, while I respected Charlie and thought he was... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(15).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(15).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:14:48 GMT journal Some time in January I'm a little excited to write now I'm at the keyboard, which is surprising because I've had a lot of resistance and psychic entropy about what I should be doing with my time and what to focus on. I'm hoping some time spent writing will re-align my chakras and get me back into life. Yesterday I d... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(11).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(11).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:13:48 GMT journal psychology Let me start by saying how blessed I feel to be living in a household with two wonderful girls—Grace and Liz—who love and support me, and who I totally enjoy loving and supporting in return. Yesterday, Grace and I had a big fight. But truthfully, I wasn’t really angry at her. I was angry at Liz, and she’d gone... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(14).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(14).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:13:32 GMT journal My wife is a good egg. I got shitty at her and my issue was left unresolved for a day and a half. Normally, if we have a falling out, it is resolved quickly, but I had plenty of time to let my frustrations stew, meaning that when we actually got into the act of communication, I was harsh and hurtful. She took it gra... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(13).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(13).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:13:08 GMT psychology Understanding the DART Why some smart people are full of dumb, dangerous, and antiquated ideas Over the last 400 years, since the beginning of the enlightenment, we have learnt so much about our reality, things we now take for granted as truth were only discovered in the last smidgeon of our timeline as a species. Bu... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(12).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(12).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:12:44 GMT faith I think I'm a Christian, it's early days but I think finally, it's the right thing to do. Maybe I had to earn being a Christian because of this or that, but I've just been convinced, and so all I have to do is accept it. #faith Published 6-8-2025 Written on https://freewriter.app https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(10).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(10).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:11:56 GMT journal A short account of sleep, meds, and mental gymnastics The Midnight Typist I'm up at 12am typing this. It would be okay if it was 2–5am, because then I would have had a good night's sleep — I go to bed early. The issue I'm having in the last seven days is that I am going to bed wired. This happens every now and aga... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(8).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(8).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:11:08 GMT stories An $80 + $40 mistake I’ll never forget A Gift From Liz (Thanks?) A few years back—three, maybe four—Liz got me a 45 minute massage voucher for my birthday. Or Christmas. Or just because I looked like I’d been hit by a bus. It was for that corner massage place in Orana Mall, across from Big W. You know the one.... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(3).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(3).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:09:26 GMT politics Humanity stands on a knife-edge. Climate collapse, nuclear annihilation, runaway technology, and growing inequality all threaten our survival. No tribe, no nation, and no single ideology can face these alone. If there is to be a future, it will not be secured by greed and division but by cooperation, fairness, and adap... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(2).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(2).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:09:04 GMT politics The greatest danger to humanity is not war, disease, or disaster. It is greed and the protection of interests. The people who hold power shape reality itself to preserve their wealth and control. They do this through media, think tanks, and corporate influence that distort what the public believes is true. ExxonMobil... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(1).txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=journalentry%20(1).txt Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:08:38 GMT projectlife I haven’t written much lately. I don’t feel much will to do it, and I don’t feel clear about why I should. Some of that is probably burnout. Some of it is the slow realisation that very few people care about what I write. The lack of feedback makes that worse. It turns into doubt, not just about the work, but ab... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Walking%20Away-4-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=Walking%20Away-4-2-2026.txt Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT projectlife psychology When to Step Away, When to Stay, and Why “Cut Them Off” Is Dangerous Advice I am rewriting Level Up at Life because I made a mistake that many self-development writers make. I universalised my own escape route and presented it as a general rule. Throughout the book I repeatedly encourage readers to cut people out... https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=AI%20in%202026-4-2-2026.txt https://rickybrowne.com/post.html?file=AI%20in%202026-4-2-2026.txt Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:54:55 GMT politics projectlife technology AI, in its current state, is far greater than many want to believe. For some, AI is a nightmare waiting to happen. For me, it is a godsend. If I need direct, personalised, instant advice, it is there. No hunting for the right article on Google, just an amalgam of the best thinking available. I use ChatGPT with an ini...