glossary of thoughts
This is a living archive of essays organized by theme. You can also explore the full BAD GIRL MEDIA archive in chronological order here.
journaling & self reflection prompts
Studio B (artist spotlights)
top six all-time
taste is the new intelligence — A manifesto on discernment in an age of digital noise. Argues that taste—not data, status, or credentials—is the new measure of intelligence. Through examples like Rick Rubin and Slim Aarons, it reframes taste as coherence, curation, and restraint: the art of filtering chaos into clarity.
flirting with the world — ★ FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ★ — A lyrical meditation on sensuality as awareness—flirting not with people, but with existence itself. Blends metaphysical play with presence, art, and embodied curiosity.
the quiet thrill of not being for everyone — soulful meditation on self-possession, nervous system safety, and the creative power of specificity over mass appeal.
it’s my party and i’ll use AI if i want to — A witty defense of AI-assisted creativity. Challenges purity culture and redefines authenticity through intentional collaboration with tools.
the audience of none: no one is watching you — A liberating piece on self-consciousness—how realizing that most people are too absorbed in themselves frees us from performative living. Philosophically rooted in Stoicism and existentialism.
you are what you choose — Identity isn’t something you uncover, it’s something you quietly build. It’s shaped less by your preferences, aesthetics, or intentions and more by what you tolerate, what you practice, and the small, unglamorous choices you make on autopilot. Over time, those decisions harden into habits, and those habits become a life that feels inevitable only because you constructed it one choice at a time.
guides
how to audit your year (without lying to yourself) — A practical, slightly ruthless framework for reviewing your year using evidence instead of vibes: calendar patterns, spending data, screen time, what you actually shipped, and the “soul data” hidden in what you kept returning to when nobody was watching.
building a mind that can’t be fucked with — A guide to spotting second-hand thinking, resisting outrage and narrative contagion, and building first-principles judgment you can actually defend. Less reacting, less absorbing. More filters, clarity, and agency over what gets to live in your head.
a no-bullshit guide to living a high ROI life — An argument for treating your time, energy, and attention like real assets. If something doesn’t give you clarity, stability, or momentum back over time, it’s probably costing you more than you think.
how to maintain authorship over your inputs, ideas, rhythms, and taste [a guide to self-sovereignty] — A structured framework for reclaiming mental autonomy. Blends stoic principles, systems design, and emotional regulation into practical sovereignty exercises.
how to build a personal filtration system of discernment and reject cognitive manipulation [a guide to mental self defense] — Explores how to build cognitive resilience in an age of manipulation and information warfare. Encourages critical thinking, emotional regulation, and disciplined attention as acts of sovereignty.
why you’re mentally broke and how to become mentally rich instead [a guide to mental budgeting] — Attention is a finite budget. This guide shows how people end up “mentally broke” through constant context-switching, open loops, emotional ambiguity, and small daily drains that don’t feel expensive until you’re wiped out. The fix: audit what your mind is funding, cut the leaks, and deliberately allocate bandwidth to what compounds.
journaling & self-reflection prompts
2025—
2026—
THE DAILY 5 journaling framework
how to think about 2026 if you’re not where you wanted to be — If you made progress this year but still feel off, this is for you. It’s about getting honest about what didn’t work, dropping vague goals, and replacing “good momentum” with clear targets, real numbers, and systems that hold up when motivation disappears. Less reflection-as-therapy, more clarity-as-leverage.
the 5-minute daily ritual that changed the way i think — Core introduction to The Daily 5 journaling framework—structured reflection as a pattern-recognition tool for self-awareness and behavior design.
25 ways to get UNSTUCK — Practical and introspective guide for regaining momentum through micro-shifts in perspective, energy, and environment. Combines cognitive reframing with actionable tools.
high-leverage prompts for AI power users — A guide on using AI as a tool for deep reflection, strategy, and thought expansion rather than surface-level productivity. Connects prompt design to mental models and epistemic clarity.
mental models
the thinking person’s toolkit: 50 concepts that rewire how you see the world — A master list of mental models and frameworks across decision-making, behavior, risk, and strategy. Focuses on epistemic clarity and pattern literacy.
how to think like the masters: the mental models behind every breakthrough — Explores foundational frameworks from historical thinkers as operating systems for thought. Advocates learning how to think, not what to think.
the alchemy of a worldview — An exploration of intellectual self-creation—how beliefs are inherited, examined, and transmuted into a personal philosophy through conscious refinement.
the patterns that steal a life — A deeply introspective essay on regret and agency. It dissects the subtle forces that calcify into identity: saying yes when you mean no, confusing sacrifice with virtue, mistaking fear for personality. Offers mental models for interrupting these loops and reclaiming authorship before time does it for you.
personal growth & development
18 books that altered my reality
in 10 years, you’ll wish you started today — A builder’s manifesto about leverage, momentum, and the quiet advantage of starting before you feel ready. Argues that modern tools have collapsed the barriers to creation, and that the real divide now isn’t talent or access, but who chooses to build while others stay distracted.
most of your limitations aren’t real and you can *actually* just do things — This piece is about internalized constraints—the invisible “ropes” you stopped testing years ago. It explores how habit, fear, and outdated assumptions keep people stuck long after the external barriers are gone, and why progress often starts the moment you actually try.
the rise and fall of your personality aesthetic™ — Looks at personality aesthetics as coping mechanisms—sometimes playful, sometimes avoidant—and how to tell when reinvention is growth versus performance. The goal isn’t to stop changing, but to stop mistaking the costume for the self underneath it.
the self-pursuit experiment: what happened when i stopped giving a f*ck about everyone else’s path — An essay on self-reclamation and identity fluidity. Argues that true growth isn’t about perfecting the self but loosening attachment to fixed identity—finding freedom in curiosity, imperfection, and constant becoming.
8 hard truths about personal agency that will ruin your comfort zone — A brutally honest listicle about autonomy and responsibility. Explores self-sabotage, learned helplessness, and the quiet cost of freedom in a culture addicted to excuses.
nobody actually knows what they’re doing — A reflection on uncertainty as a universal condition. Argues that embracing “not knowing” is a sign of wisdom and creative freedom.
how to become antifragile — Distills Nassim Taleb’s antifragility into practical mental frameworks for thriving through chaos and stress.
give yourself permission not to care (what people think about you) — a defiant reminder that ridicule can be fuel—and caring less is often the most liberating creative choice
the weight we didn’t know we could carry — A lyrical reflection on resilience and invisible strength. Examines the paradox of burden as a form of grace—how carrying more than you thought possible expands the self.
conscious design
“no” is my love language — Explores how “bad yeses” erode self-trust, how resentment is often disguised as generosity, and how clear refusal becomes the foundation for real intimacy, sovereignty, and sustainable relationships.
self-respect is free but 90% of people still won’t do it — A reflective essay on integrity through everyday discipline—rituals, habits, and attention management. Argues that real self-respect is quiet, cumulative, and foundational to autonomy.
15 unglamorous rituals that keep me sane — A practical look at discipline and ritual. Focuses on the beauty of maintenance, simplicity, and slow consistency.
the art of feeding your mind: a framework for conscious consumption — a systems-thinking essay on mental nutrition, aesthetic fatigue, and the importance of curating your inputs with discernment and intention
the profound art of knowing what you want—& asking for it — A deep exploration of desire clarity—how knowing what you want is the foundation of freedom, purpose, and emotional intelligence.
what i mean when i say i want a beautiful life — Reflects on inner beauty as a function of curiosity, restraint, and perception. Connects intellect with sensuality and emotional balance.
using AI with purpose
high-leverage prompts for AI power users — A guide on using AI as a tool for deep reflection, strategy, and thought expansion rather than surface-level productivity. Connects prompt design to mental models and epistemic clarity.
how i use AI to sharpen my taste and pursue the real me — Aesthetic-philosophical essay on taste as pattern recognition. Frames AI as a mirror that amplifies discernment when used consciously.
10 ways to use ChatGPT that won’t give you brainrot — Practical guide to using AI for critical thinking, idea generation, and reflection rather than mindless automation. Encourages conscious interaction with tools.
machine yearning — A practical and philosophical essay about using AI as a tool for self-pursuit. Explores how daily AI-assisted journaling becomes a mirror for consciousness, pattern recognition, and emotional awareness. Blends self-experimentation, neuroscience, and introspection into a framework for digital self-knowledge. Argues that AI’s lack of human bias makes it a uniquely powerful partner for self-discovery.
the self-pursuit experiment: what happened when i stopped giving a f*ck about everyone else's path — some thoughts on tuning out external pressure and becoming the kind of person only you can be
clarity & creativity
the art of being your own muse — Instead of waiting for validation, trends, or permission, this piece reframes creativity as something generated from your own curiosity, attention, and inner life. Being your own muse means treating your mind as the source and building the conditions where your ideas can actually surface and grow.
the audience of none: no one is watching you — A meditation on self-consciousness, imagined judgment, and the freedom that comes from realizing most people are too absorbed in their own lives to be scrutinizing yours. Explores how dropping the phantom audience makes authenticity, risk, and genuine flourishing possible.
the audience of none (part 2): what happens when you actually stop performing — A continuation of the “audience of none” idea that explores the disorientation that follows real freedom, when external validation disappears and you’re forced to decide what matters without scripts, applause, or permission. Examines identity as something consciously built, not discovered, and reframes the true audience as your future self rather than the crowd.
the curse of wanting to articulate everything — A reflection on the tension between lived experience and language, why some moments resist explanation, and how the impulse to capture meaning can sometimes interfere with simply being present.
high-agency people are annoying; that’s the point — An argument for friction as a feature of progress. Explains why people who act decisively, break scripts, and move without permission often provoke discomfort, and why that annoyance is usually a signal of value creation, not a character flaw.
intuition vs logic: navigating the gap between what makes sense and what feels right — a grounded exploration of the internal tug-of-war between intellect and instinct—and how to build a personal operating system that honors both
thoughts on politics
You Don’t Even Know What Fascism Is, Bitch — Dissects the misuse of the word “fascism” in modern discourse. Argues that the Left’s linguistic manipulation erodes meaning and dulls moral discernment.
maybe patriotism isn’t cringe after all — A centrist defense of patriotism as civic gratitude and historical consciousness. Challenges the modern Left’s ironic detachment from national pride.
thinking for yourself is so punk rock — A cultural critique of modern conformity disguised as rebellion. Explores how “punk” has been corporatized and how genuine dissent now comes from thinking independently and rejecting state or algorithmic orthodoxy.
it’s not transphobic to refuse to play dumb — A defense of biological truth and moral courage against performative empathy. Critiques cultural cowardice and postmodern relativism while affirming clarity as actual compassion.
if you’re not a free thinker, you’re ngmi — Argues that true rebellion today lies in intellectual independence rather than ideological conformity. Critiques herd behavior, institutional groupthink, and the illusion of open-mindedness.
is the hate speech in the room with us now??? — A (somewhat satirical) critique of censorship culture and emotional authoritarianism. Examines how “hate speech” is weaponized to suppress dissent and enforce ideological conformity.
the politics of vulnerability — Examines how emotional honesty has become politicized in the age of online identity. Dissects performative authenticity, ideological legibility, and the tension between sincerity and self-censorship.
this is what narrative control looks like — An analysis of selective outrage and institutional framing. Uses the media’s handling of violent crime to expose moral inversion and narrative engineering in journalism.
memes are the new folktales — A cultural analysis of viral outrage cycles and moral panics. Dissects how social media amplifies hysteria and distorts context for ideological storytelling.
free speech officially redefined to “stuff i agree with” — Satirical political commentary exposing hypocrisy around “free speech” and ideological double standards. Uses dark humor and absurdity to highlight cultural contradictions.
the narcissism of identity politics — Breaks down how identity politics rewards victimhood and distorts collective empathy. Draws on psychological insight to show how performative grievance replaces genuine progress.
when speech becomes a death sentence — Reflective response to the murder of Charlie Kirk regarding censorship and social punishment for wrongthink. Examines how fear and mob dynamics erode public discourse and personal integrity.
I thought this platform was for free thinkers — A biting critique of censorship culture and double standards on digital platforms. Uses irony to expose the gap between proclaimed and practiced values.
is New York City ok??? are they gonna make it??? — A darkly humorous elegy to urban decay that critiques progressive governance, rising dysfunction, and ideological capture in major cities.
cultural commentary
the cost of turning your life into content—and how I finally crashed out — This essay explores what happens when your life becomes a product and experiences are filtered through performance, optimization, and audience approval. It’s about losing presence, crashing out, and reclaiming a private inner life from the pressure to always be “on.”
is anyone else just... sick of everything? — A raw reflection on cultural exhaustion, attention fatigue, and the pressure to turn every thought into insight. This piece sits with disgust, burnout, and ambiguity without trying to resolve them into a takeaway.
everyone just wants to be oppressed now — A systems-level look at how modern culture has turned suffering into social currency, and how incentives now reward the performance of marginalization over competence or resilience—and why building a life, identity, or future becomes nearly impossible when victimhood is treated as the highest form of status.
i don’t trust people who don’t return their shopping carts—and neither should you
how Kill Tony became the last honest show in America — Examines Kill Tony as a paradox of free expression and inclusivity through mockery. Defends offensive humor as an equalizer that reveals shared humanity.
bureaucracy is getting bodied by AI — A techno-optimist essay on AI dismantling bureaucratic inefficiency. Frames automation as liberation from parasitic systems and gatekeeping.
technology & futurism
From Tamagotchis and Dial-Up to the Age of AI — A generational essay tracing emotional evolution through technology—from analog childhoods to the AI era. Sentimental memory + techno-philosophical reflection.
AI is the new printing press — Frames AI as a civilizational inflection point akin to Gutenberg’s press. Blends historical insight with techno-humanist optimism about creativity and access to knowledge.
Studio B
Studio B is an archive of paintings I can’t stop looking at, and artists I wish I could talk to. Visual essays on art history, beauty, influence, and whatever else comes through the frame. My hope is that it feels as if we’re wandering through a gallery of the artist’s life together.