Is the universe inherently friendly to humans? The answer's got to be either "yes, definitely" or "no, not really." It can't be in between.

Whatever you may be inclined to believe, you've got to agree that there's no way to know which is true with absolute certainty.

So then isn't it stupid and self-destructive to live your life as if the universe is unfriendly? Doing so tends to cast a pall over everything.

But if on the other hand you proceed on the hypothesis that the universe is friendly, you're inclined to interpret everything that occurs as a gift, however challenging it may be to figure out its purpose at first.

For three weeks, try living your life as if the latter theory were true.

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(excerpted from the revised and expanded edition of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia)