The BuyModa Newsletter
The Bottom Line
This newsletter is for anyone who needs a reminder: uncertainty doesn't get the final say. Small, consistent steps do compound. And sometimes, the thing you resist the most becomes the thing that changes everything.
Let Me Explain
How I Learned to Relax and Trust the Story
At 50, I arrived where I always hoped to be. Far earlier than expected, if I'm being honest.
It's a story about small choices, stubborn optimism, and learning to enjoy the movie of life even when the plot twists hurt.
The Life I Never Saw Coming
I live an average life in a beautiful place with my family. On paper, this was predictable.
But for years, I didn't believe I'd actually want this, let alone appreciate it.
No lucky breaks. No inheritance. Just work, patience, and flat-out refusing to let failure write the ending.
Lesson 1: When "Saving" Felt Stupid (And What I Did Instead)
When I finally earned enough to save, I read something that wrecked my plan: "Savings aren't the answer. Investing is."
So I followed two rules.
Never invest in what I don't understand
If I can't explain it to a mate at the pub, I don't put money into it. Simple as that.
Automate the process
Take willpower out of the equation. Set it up once and let it run.
Gold and silver? Sure, I "understood" those. Spoiler: I did not understand silver. At all.
But automating those purchases taught me something bigger than any investment return ever could.
"Progress beats perfection. Even flawed action builds momentum."— Shane Hellmrich, Founder of BuyModa.net
Lesson 2: The Thing I Hated That Saved Me
For years, I swore meditation wasn't for me. "I can't quiet my mind," I'd say. "It's a waste of time."
Then I tried it.
Now it's my daily non-negotiable. Second only to exercise for my mental health.
The Lesson: We're terrible predictors of what will heal us. The thing you're resisting right now might be the thing that changes everything. Stop overthinking it and just try.
Why I Watch Life Like a Movie (Twice)
Let me tell you about when I stopped treating life like a horror film.
The Scene: You arrive at the cinema early. The lobby smells like popcorn and restlessness. An usher hands you a ticket, not for the start, but for the final 10 minutes.
You watch the hero win. The disaster fizzles. The couple reconciles.
Then the credits roll and the film restarts.
This Time, You Watch Differently
That's how I live now.
Stress used to be my default setting. It made me miserable, unhealthy, and no better at solving problems. I treated life like a thriller I hadn't seen, braced for jump scares, distrusting every shadow.
But here's the secret: you already know how your story ends.
Not the specifics (Will I retire early? Will my kids move to Spain?). The essence.
This isn't blind optimism. It's evidence-based trust.
I survived layoffs, bad investments, and a decade of hating meditation. Every "disaster" taught me something I needed. The universe keeps handing me popcorn and saying, "Just watch."
Your Takeaway
Automate good habits (even imperfect ones)
Whether it's investing, your modafinil routine, or morning meditation. Take willpower out of the equation and let systems do the heavy lifting.
Try the thing you've resisted (especially if it scares you)
I hated meditation for a decade. Now it's my anchor. Your version might be journaling, therapy, or simply asking for help.
Spoil the ending for yourself: you'll survive this
Look at your track record. You've made it through every bad day so far. That's a 100% success rate.
The Big Idea
Life's not a race to some distant finish line. It's a story you get to live twice: once in the struggle, once in the relief. Stay curious. Stay stubborn.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether it's modafinil, meditation, or just showing up tomorrow, the best time to start is now.
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Sources
- Goyal M, et al. "Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being." JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(3):357-368. PubMed: 24395196
- Fidelity Investments. "The power of automatic investing." fidelity.com