People are obsessed with how they can control other people and yet don’t realize that every day they inadvertently influence many of the people around them. Instead of wondering about control, ask yourself how you might be inadvertently influencing someone in a negative way. If your attitude sucks, the people around you will be grumpy too. If you smile, other…
It works!
Today I was talking with Jonathan and I mentioned my enthusiasm about a project I’m working on, I said “Tomorrow is the day I find out if it works.” The culmination of quite a bit of work. He seemed bewildered, and asked, “Don’t you already know that it’ll work?” This gave me pause. How perspicacious. Indeed I did already know…
What pulls you in?
I tend to lose track of time when I come across a challenge. I have a rapacious desire when it comes to surmounting challenges. This occasionally leads to late nights. So, if I’m working late and I’m at a point with no challenges, it’s a good idea to stop. If I keep going, inevitably I’ll stumble upon a new challenge…
Proving yourself wrong
When’s the last time you proved yourself wrong? Perhaps adopt a new methodology, one that you’ve vehemently opposed? Perhaps, admit your perspective was inaccurate when engaged in an argument or debate? Perhaps, try something you’ve always hated and find out you enjoy it? Perhaps, a deeply held religious or political position? Proving yourself wrong is exhilarating. It demonstrates the power…
unpredictably
People only behave unpredictably when we don’t understand their perspective.
You are delusional
You Act as if people are watching you, when nobody is paying attention. Have anxiety about an airplane crashing, and don’t think twice about hopping on a motorcycle. Talk to people that are dead, loved ones, and it comforts you. Are an expert, yet feel insecure and speak with reservations. Are a novice, yet speak with certainty and confidence. Think…
You become what you believe
A sage piece of advice from the Church across the street. This is common sense, and yet when was the last time you took advantage of it?
Are you caught up in back and forth?
I was watching Bill Maher’s Real Time this weekend and I realized that the entire episode is largely a back and forth of hurdling facts and statistics at each other. Pundits go back and forth clamoring for a moment to espouse their cherished perspective that should clear things up, if only everyone else cared about their perspective and weren’t trying…
Fact checking is nonsense
Is there really anything that matters, or that is interesting, that can actually be fact checked? Certainly we can check if a quoted statistic is accurate, but can we check that the statistic is relevant?
What should you believe?
By definition, you can believe whatever you want. And yet I don’t think most of us remind ourselves of that. In fact, we may look at this aspect of believe with disdain. But, what if we embrace it? We all hold beliefs, 1000s of them. For example, that you should look both ways before crossing the road. Certainly something very…