Tag: self help

Volume 60: Wait A Minute… (via Sill-E Thoughts)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

Our author writes in his conclusion that –

I think the sensationalism fed to us on a 24-hour news cycle is starting to make us delusional. That’s the unintended side-effect of higher ratings. Good news turns of televisions. Good news doesn’t get discussed at the bars and water coolers across America. Good news doesn’t make us feel better because we don’t get to say, “At least my life is better than theirs.” There is a cliché regarding every person getting fifteen minutes of fame. I’d like to think that if we waited a minute, the remain fourteen could serve as a sane example for others to imitate.

I like it. I have said similar things. I call for critical thinking and less television watching. I tell my students that there are better things to do with their time and almost all maintain their mass media habits in spite of my earnest protests.

I wish the author well and hope to see more of his work. Please read the whole thing.

James Pilant

Volume 60: Wait A Minute... I need a favor from those of you that have been following my blog since it began (like my girl Cool V). I need for you to explain to my growing list of new readers that, from time to time, I cut through the introspective niceties, get real, and go off. THIS is one of those times. Honestly, I didn’t know I was going to write this blog until I was talking with my wife last night. I was telling her a couple of incredible stories about people who too … Read More

via Sill-E Thoughts

Optimism Leads to Delusions? (via Sonia Jaspal’s RiskBoard)

On By southwerkIn business ethics, Philosophy of Business

For around 400 years, the Western mind has struggled attempting to solve problems by logic using facts. It has not caught on. We still read horoscopes and to my continued astonishment often believe that if we thing hard enough “positively,” it will be so.
When we make decisions, the facts and an accurate assessment are our best allies. But in the United States, there is a perception that only positive, optimistic, emotionally intelligent people are the ones to be emulated.
It’s all nonsense. Read the article, it’s somewhat in line with what I am saying. I will elaborate further in a later article.

James Pilant

Since birth, the mantra taught to us about life is optimists do better in life as they think positive, are surrounded with positive people and generate positive energy. The example of the glass filled with some water typifies our thinking. Here are three examples of the statements people make and the general opinion formed by the public regarding the statements. First person Statement: The glass is half full. Opinion: Give the guy an immediate pa … Read More

via Sonia Jaspal's RiskBoard

High Performance

On By southwerkIn ethics2 Comments

One of the things that keep me in a perpetual state of outrage is the self help movement particularly the self esteem part of it, you know, affirmations, think positive, the “secret,” and other crap.

You feel good about yourself when you accomplish things, when you do actual work and when you have concerned yourself with living in harmony and joint support with other human beings.

But that’s difficult. That’s hard. That would mean you would have to have some kind of perception of responsibility or, gasp, duty.

So, we tape stuff to the mirror, convince ourselves that our thoughts draw money, love and other goodies to us, and a host of other activities designed to make us feel momentarily content without justification.

I was reading an article by a fellow named Tony Schwartz. This is what he says:

In work with thousands of people, we’ve found that it’s possible to build any given skill or capacity in the same systematic way you do a muscle: regularly push past your comfort zone, and then rest. We’ve seen people dramatically improve skills ranging from focus, to empathy, to creativity, to summoning positive emotions, to deeply relaxing.

He then lists the six elements of achieving success.

You might give his short essay a read. Of course, you could always tape something to the fridge.

James Pilant