Adam Grant called “languishing” the emotion of the pandemic year. I’m not surprised. If I had a gauge or a device that measured my motivation, it would probably fluctuate between zero and none. We all get a case of the blahs every so often. This article is about what we can do to recover from … Read more
Like many, I used to think of myself as a fairly rational person who made most decisions based on objective facts. I now realize that assumption is just one more example of the kinds of stories we tell ourselves. I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them … Read more
With our everyone-is-special, participation-trophy culture and the fact that, in 2013, “selfie” was named word of the year, the time is ripe for a good dose of narcissism-removing reality check. Understanding the earth revolves around the sun and not around us is a lesson best learned sooner rather than later. Pencil-sharpener Captain One day, years … Read more
In a Scottish poem, ‘To a Mouse,’ Robert Burns wrote, “The best-laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley.” Which translates to “The best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.” When things don’t go to plan, we can either hope the plan somehow will magically work itself out or figure out ways … Read more
In 1982, HG Brown published a book titled Having It All: Love, Success, Sex, Money…even if you’re starting with nothing. The phrase “having it all” has since evolved to represent whether women can have both—glowing family life and an equally stellar career, a topic of intense debate worldwide. Twelve Superwomen An editorial published in the … Read more
Almost every knowledge discipline relies on us having a fundamental grasp of logical reasoning; however, it’s not a subject we’re taught in school. In 1995, NY Times published a story with the headline “An Argument, A Shooting, A Fatal Crash of a Plane.” The headline succinctly described what had taken place. An ex-pilot who worked … Read more
If you can’t decide whether the new pair of shoes you’re trying on in the store look good on you and have to turn to Instagram to confirm with your followers, then you’re clearly a victim to the curse of social validation. Social proof has always existed, but when our self-esteem ebbs and flows based … Read more
It’s no secret I’m a self-help junkie. So, when I heard phrases such as “find your calling” or “do what you love,” I couldn’t help but take them seriously. After years of trial and error, I have reached one simple conclusion. A lot of advice comes from a place of privilege and carries the stench … Read more
Having two or more of everything, “just in case”, does not signify great planning. It points to poor decision-making. Simplify your life. It’s easy to complicate things but genius is in keeping it simple and stupid. Diamonds and other baubles On Nov 1, 1972, the New York Times published an article that began with this … Read more
This article is Part 2 of the Early Mornings series. Part 1 was the discussion about How to Wake Up Early. If you haven’t read that already, I highly recommend you do. You can’t work on morning routines unless you have mornings to work with–cart before the horse and all that. We do more before … Read more
Does the phrase wake up early make you want to curl up and sleep some more? If you feel the word morning has too much a.m. associated with it, you’re not alone. After spending more than half my life a night owl, I slowly transitioned to being an early bird—a lark. Not to sound too … Read more
Instead of minding our own businesses, why do we “waste” time discussing others’ comings and goings? Shouldn’t we be solving the hard problem of consciousness instead of commenting on Lady Gaga’s red carpet appearance (she literally seemed to have worn the red carpet instead of just walking on one) at the last Presidential inauguration? Read … Read more
While not an official health condition, Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) can inflict significant pain and remorse. But like with most other health conditions, an ounce of prevention here is worth a pound of cure. Alisha stops by five times on her way to the park to pick up fallen twigs and flowers and once to … Read more
What do foxes and hedgehogs have to do with skills and happiness? And while we’re in the mood to ask questions, what (or who) on earth are specialized generalists? Trust me, it is worth knowing the answers to these questions. You’ll see why… Let’s start with a Greek parable. In the translated words of the … Read more
I’d like to start this article on how to adopt a proven corporate productivity tool, “working in sprints,” to fuel personal growth, with this disclaimer. If you have one (or both) of the items listed below, then this article may not be very useful to you: Unlimited resources Unlimited time For the rest of us, … Read more
After an hour of doomscrolling on my phone, I switched gears to doomscroll on Netflix, instead. That’s when I stopped to watch a documentary (mockumentary?) on the power of affirmations. I saw folks claiming to have transitioned from genuinely desperate situations—serious emotional, financial, or relationship troubles—into becoming happy, thriving individuals. They attributed the change in … Read more
The fastest, guaranteed way to go from being happy and contented to becoming miserable and gloomy is by comparing yourself to others. So why do we indulge in such comparisons, and how do we rid ourselves of this tendency? Let’s start with an incident from 1995—a bank robbery that led to a critical behavioral psychology … Read more
I’ve experimented with various techniques over the years to build good habits. Given I’m nowhere near perfection, let’s say not all methods worked well—the reviews are mixed. I’ve since then discovered the power of habit-streaks. It’s no wonder I’m a fan. I reckon you should be too. Hear me out… Allow me to brag I … Read more
Sometimes I wish I could lay down on the couch and read. For a few years. It’s no secret I like to read. I used to be able to read anything and everything. And I’d usually persist to the end regardless of whether I liked the book or not—sunk cost fallacy in action. Sunk costs … Read more
You may have many reasons for not pursuing your dreams and ambitions. Holding back for fear of criticism, though, is probably the dumbest of them all. Understanding how to take criticism well is a critical (pun intended) life skill. Read more to find out why. And while at it, why not learn how to be … Read more