Imagination Quiesces Anxiety

Quite often the paltry concern that comes to mind is the exact opposite of what you should be worried about. For example, when you’re selling something and nobody is buying, ostensibly it seems that the price is too high. Otherwise, why aren’t people buying? But, what else might be the reason why your product isn’t selling? How about: – Maybe…

Word of mouth is not evidence

Read the following: On a TV show this morning they invited a person onto the show that accused a high ranking government official of saying egregious things to the widow of a recently fallen soldier. How do you feel about this? Do you think this is true? Now, read this: On “The View” this morning they invited a Democratic congresswoman…

Which side of the circle?

Sometimes changing a single word, in your repertoire, can change your entire perspective.  For example, instead of an emotionally laden word, pick a synonym that’s not.  Like unproductive instead of immoral.  In crafting a substitute, in this case, you have to think about what matters and not just shock appeal. For a while now I’ve taught myself to shudder when…

Environment not willpower

Willpower is one way to change your behavior, to adopt new habits. Changing your environment is far easier. For example, want to eat better? Stock your fridge with reasonable sized portions of the food you like. Don’t count calories and chastize yourself.  Want to get over your fear of heights? Move into a high rise. Want to waste less time…

Feelings summarize what matters

Sometimes if you aren’t sure what’s important, ask yourself what makes you  Fearful Frustrated  Confused  Worried  Sad Tense Anxious  Happy Relieved  Fulfilled Excited  Etc  There’s wisdom in what you’re feeling.  Feelings are materialized intuition.  For example, if you’re excited about upgrading to a faster internet plan. The excitement is likely a summarization of what it will be like to not…

What is acceptable disappointment?

There’s a Chipotle nearby and often I find myself there around closing at 10pm. Quite often they’re out of one or more ingredients. Tonight it was guacamole. I’m used to this by now, which is actually quite sad. I don’t understand why a company can’t lean on the side of caution and waste a tote or two of ingredients. Because…

Your confession isn’t necessary

Any successful crook doesn’t fess up until they’re confronted with evidence and even then maybe not. The rest of us tend to confess prematurely. For example, when walking down the stairs tonight I ran across a newer neighbor in the stairwell. She had two dogs. Before I could register who she was, she apologized for apparently having a second dog.…

Did you want to do what you did?

When is the last time you realized that you didn’t decide to do what you just spent two hours doing? For example, when you want to find some numbers in an old email and instead find yourself half an hour later responding to yet another unrelated email. Or, you open Facebook while riding the subway only to miss your stop…