Helping humans one conversation at a time
Helping humans one conversation at a time
You don’t need to be a “writer” to make sentences that will change your life. If you want to skip this next part and get started making sentences, go here. A friend sent me this short essay by philosopher/programmer/artist Paul Graham in which he says, “If writing down your ideas always makes them more precise […]
Why We Need to Make Sentences Read More »
WRITE A LETTER YOU DON’T SEND Write a letter freely, without editing, to someone with whom you have unfinished business, or to someone you imagine would be a friendly audience for your thoughts. Some people work stuff out with their parents (or children) this way, without ever sending the letter, or with people who have
A Baker’s Dozen of Writing Practices to Fuel Insight Read More »
Here’s some advice about how to choose which path to take when the way forward is not clear. The top line is that it’s helpful to have an intentional process of some kind when facing a tough decision. Otherwise, our default mode may use fear or reactivity as a guide, which gets in the way
Which way do I go? When you have a tough decision to make Read More »
When we reach big change points or face new challenges, it can help to take fresh stock of our ingredients. By that I mean the natural strengths and vulnerabilities of our personality. Life stress has a way of sticking its thumbs into our tender parts and raising self-doubt. Personality tests can give a more objective
Know how your pieces fit together: three self-tests Read More »
The boulder in our path is usually the one we put there. Not always, but very often. This article walks through a short exercise to identify the core fear getting in your way, as well as your habitual (and potentially not-so-effective) way of responding to it. You can start with most any problem at all
Identify the boulder in your path Read More »
This is the best article I’ve seen describing the main cognitive distortions we humans habitually get caught in. Cognitive distortions are mental habits like catastrophizing, black-and-white thinking, and emotional reasoning, and they tend to amplify stress, conflict, and low mood. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with them so you can catch yourself as
Are you in a distortion field? Read More »