I wrote a blog post a few years ago about standing out vs. fitting in that was pretty popular. It seems like people are always trying to optimize the degree to which they stand out in a good way but fit in where sticking out would be negative. For example, no one would walk around wearing underwear on their head if they wanted to be accepted by...
Read MoreA popular position to take in life is that of the “realist”—meaning you try to set real expectations and not get your hopes up because they might get crushed. It is a middle ground between optimism and pessimism, where in the former you try to see life events in as positive as a light as possible and the latter in a negative light. The pessimist...
Read MoreDo you respect others’ beliefs? This is an interesting question because it’s one of those difficult situations where everyone wants others to respect their beliefs but don’t necessarily want to respect others’ beliefs. It’s a tough situation because even the most open-minded people have to draw a line somewhere: you can’t respect all beliefs...
Read MoreI was just recording a podcast the other day and was asked which of the eight elements of humans’ sense of meaning in their lives was the most difficult for people to implement in their lives. Naturally, I said, “Judging by the scientific measure of the number of self-help books focusing on the topic: belief. More self-help books focus on...
Read MoreYou know the cliché 80s montages, right? The one where the protagonist has an urgent goal, a burning desire, and the belief that, with enough work, they can succeed. So they buckle down and put in the work until they are ready, at which point the day of the text or competition arrives and they succeed. Audiences love those kinds of movies because...
Read MoreLife is full of cycles, opposites, complements, and balance. The Earth revolves around the Sun, the Moon revolves around the Earth, and the Earth rotates to create a day-and-night cycle that many animals have evolved to set their periods of activity and rest to. There are also complements in nature such as men and women, sunshine and rain, effort...
Read MoreOne of my favorite sayings is, “The fastest way to a right answer is a wrong answer.” It is a simple saying that conveys several meanings about how you can approach life to be successful. It is an important to keep in mind as you approach difficult situations and hesitate because you’re trying to be perfect, save face, or avoid
Read MoreDo people have faith? I’m not referring to religious faith (though we’re going to include some data on that because religion is an indicator of faith) but rather a more secular definition: the belief in the potential for positive outcomes without or despite evidence. Looking at the news, it seems like we’re losing faith—of all forms. For example,...
Read MoreYou might not be taking a midnight train going anywhere, and you might not be a small-town girl or a city boy, but Journey’s message should still resonate with you: don’t stop believing. Everyone talks about the meaning of life as if it’s some great mystery about what they should be doing with their lives, but in doing so they miss the...
Read MoreBeliefs are an interesting double-edged sword: they can be beneficial or harmful, depending on the relationship between your beliefs, reality, and your desired outcome. The interesting part about beliefs is that they are complex parts of our psyche and have monumental impacts on our lives. While there is a lot to be said about the topic of...
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