This might sound odd, but I find convenience increasingly at odds with our collective well-being. Taking the interaction out of things hasn’t helped society nearly as much as it can be said to have help individuals. There are many cases where convenience is of value at both levels, of course. We’ve improved accessibility and delivery of services to those in need. Ready access to information … Continue reading Convenience and connection
It’s one of the most well known prayers – the serenity prayer. As with many Christian works, the idea had secular forebears and the earliest I’ve seen is attributed to a Stoic philosopher. Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens. Some things are up to us some things are not up to us. Epictetus I’ve … Continue reading Acceptance and change
It’s a notion that explains a lot of self-sabotage. In essence, doing good (or even feeling you will be good or might have been good) subconsciously gives us latitude to make less good choices without even noticing. On a large scale, perhaps this is why people are rightly upset about job security while using Uber to get around with nary a thought. There are lots … Continue reading Moral licensing
By which we generally mean that a lot of wealth creates a lot of influence. This is true in aggregate as well. Lots of individuals create influence using even small amounts of discretionary spending power, when those small amounts go into one pot. When we concentrate wealth in certain brands, we empower that brand to pursue its own agenda. That agenda might look like concern … Continue reading Money talks
If the outlook is bleak and you can’t face another step, perhaps you can change how things appear. Work at a different desk, from home, from a cafe, in a library; somewhere different. If you don’t have that luxury, then try taking your mind elsewhere. Read some fiction (that isn’t close to home) or watch something that pulls your thoughts in a different direction. Change … Continue reading Try changing the scenery
Sometimes the only way forward isn’t very pleasant, or at least not what you’d choose to do in an ideal world. Getting clear about what’s ahead and the alternatives can be a big help. The unknown can cause us to procrastinate, which is only likely to prolong the discomfort. Accept what you must go through, if you really can’t find an alternative. Know why you’re … Continue reading What you must go through
The game you’re playing – the all encompassing one that is life – has rules. Or at least where you’re choosing to play does. Different arenas and different leagues each have variations, and in come cases a completely different set of rules. You can’t approach a banking career with the same mindset you would run a homeless charity. Retirement presents different boundaries to someone just … Continue reading What are the rules
