The Saturday Cha
Posts
A life hack to get unstuck in life

A life hack to get unstuck in life

The 8 / 80 life razor

Chandan Karkera
June 8th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

After reading this post, we’ll see:

What is the 8 / 80 life razor.
How you can use it to get unstuck in life.

TL; DR;

Make only 2 people in this world proud - your 8 - year old self & your 80 - year old self.

I see a lot of people living only for the sake of showing off to others. Signaling their " status", being defined by their job titles and flashy gadgets.

Somewhere along the way, your individuality gets dissolved. You forget who you are and what you want to be.

The golden handcuffs are on. But you can break free.

What if I told you - a fulfilling life does not mean external validation?

What if I told you, there are only 2 people in this world you should make proud?

The core idea

A life razor to never forget:

Aim to make only 2 people proud:

Your 8 - year old self and your 80 - year old self.

In philosophy, a “ razor “ = rule of thumb. It helps remove distractions.

A life razor = your guiding principle. When confused in life, use it.

Make the 8 - year old you proud

Remember when you were 8. Everything was possible. There were no limits.

You wanted to become superman, an astronaut or a fire fighter.

Making this person proud =

Living life with no fear.
Having 0 limiting beliefs.
Choosing curiosity, not what other people thought of you.

It’s about showing the finger to society. And doing what genuinely excites you.

Make the 80 - year old you proud

Now think you’re 80. Looking back at life.

What do you regret NOT doing?

Making this person proud =

Being 100% true to yourself.
Doing things that scare the hell out of you.
Confessing your feelings, being vulnerable.

It’s about making decisions today that 80 - year old you will thank you for. Remember - the #1 regret of the dying is:

“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

Why this matters

The world tells you many lies for it’s benefits. When the lies are repeated many times, they seem like the truth.

If you’re not careful, you’ll spend life chasing these lies.

The 8/80 life razor will save you years of frustration.

Because a fulfilling life = one lived on your terms. Not what society expects.

So, anytime you’re unsure or feel stuck in life, ask two questions:

Will 8 - year old me approve?
Will 80 - year old me approve?

The answer will be clear as day.

Do you agree?

That’s it!!

I hope this concept helps you become unstuck in life . If you found this helpful, share with someone who will benefit.