Thanks to a reader, I recently ran across a somewhat cynical yet surprisingly astute commentary on human relationships: There’s a really good chance that the last person who got annoyed with you for seemingly no reason at all did it … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
The Will of The “Sheeple”
Dear Dr. Hurd: It would be interesting to read your thoughts on something. I’m talking about the incident that actually made AOL news, that of the waiter who refused to serve the people in the restaurant. These diners had asked … Continue reading
Interview With Dr. Hurd
A university student recently asked me some questions that pertain to my profession. I’m publishing the interview here. How many years have you worked in the field? Since 1988 upon completion of my Master’s degree, when I began working in … Continue reading
The Economic System That Time Forgot
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the heir apparent to the leadership of the badly floundering Republican Party, made the following point after Obama’s State of the Union address. ‘Here’s the bottom line: Presidents in both parties have understood that what made … Continue reading
For the Love of Love
Marry only when the other person seems lovely to you. Marry when you love, not when you would sacrifice for him, or wish to possess him. When those twin evils, self-denial and possessiveness, enter a human relation, hell comes with … Continue reading
“Validate Me!”
Dear Dr. Hurd: Thank you for writing the piece on handling people who want to validate their irrational emotions. You answered it from your perspective as a therapist. What I also would like to know is what I could do … Continue reading
America Building Towards the Climax
The ongoing federal budget and national debt crisis reminds me of a bad—and frankly hopeless—marriage. Each side blames the other, without any implied ownership of the problem itself. If the emotions on each side were permitted to speak freely, they’d … Continue reading
Turning Teachers into Counselors Makes No Sense
Dear Dr. Hurd: I am a public elementary school teacher. At a recent in-service day an expert speaker was brought in to talk to the elementary school staff about behavior intervention. The speakers’ main thesis was that teachers need to … Continue reading
Law of Diminishing Returns Applied to Thinking
A reader sent in the following quote found somewhere on Facebook: “Funny thing is that social psychology research says that the more you think things through, the less logical your action — gives you too much time to rationalize.” It’s … Continue reading
Why to Find a Therapist Who “Makes You Mad”
Dr. Hurd: How do you (as a psychotherapist/life coach) deal with someone one who wants you to validate their irrational emotions and accuses you of not caring how they feel? Dr. Hurd’s reply: I sometimes say to people: ‘You pay … Continue reading
When Success Feels Like Fraud
Q: You wrote in a recent column: ‘It might be a fear of accomplishing something, and being found out as a fraud.’ I would welcome your thoughts on this type of thinking. I mention this because I have felt this … Continue reading
Stop the Insanity
Dear Dr. Hurd: I lie for reasons other than personal gain or approval. I make up stories about adventures I’ve never had and things like that, and I add shocking things. It’s not in my rational self-interest and it puts … Continue reading