One of the biggest mistakes people make in their relationships is taking things personally—things which are not personal. In cognitive psychotherapy, we call this error ‘personalizing.’ Personalizing is usually defined as: ‘Attribution of personal responsibility (or causal role or blame) … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: How would you recommend overcoming a fear of something? What steps should you take to combat a phobia? And should you do something as extreme as what G. Gordon Liddy said he did as a youth to … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: Your previous column [on how Obama does not own the private wealth he redistributes] reminds me of how I tried to communicate the concept of property to someone time and time again, and failed. This individual seemed … Continue reading
It’s heresy to some, but I’ve never understood the distinction between ‘civil rights’ and individual rights. The recent verdict in the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case comes to mind. Predictably, the NAACP and others have demanded that the federal government become … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, Regarding your article, ‘An Unexpected Way to Cope With Anger and Temper’ [Daily Dose of Reason July 14]: This seems like a dangerous way to deal with something. I can understand if you live in a prison … Continue reading
Here’s a technique for coping recently described by someone I know: ‘When you’re really upset at someone, imagine what you want to do to them. It might be something completely wrong or irrational to do in reality; but visualizing it … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, My husband’s father recently passed away from a heart attack. He wasn’t a particularly healthy eater, but he wasn’t obese, either. Suddenly my husband has completely changed his eating habits. Everything is ‘organic’ and supposedly healthy. Frankly, … Continue reading
In a complex world, we often rely on the knowledge of others—auto mechanics, computer technicians, brain surgeons, etc. Does this mean it’s no longer possible to define self-confidence as trust in your own judgment? No. To rely on the expertise … Continue reading
‘I can’t trust people.’ I hear this from a lot of people, and have come to conclude it’s a widespread problem. What makes it possible to trust someone? The most common answer is, ‘Honesty.’ Or integrity. True enough. But a … Continue reading
We keep reading that Obama is suspending, delaying or possibly even eliminating Obamacare requirements, at least for favored parties and until after the 2014 Congressional elections. For the latest on this see, “It’s not just the employer mandate: Three Obamacare … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: Do you agree, in the context of our free will, that bad philosophy has the potential to push people toward madness or psychosis? Dr. Hurd’s reply: Absolutely. Actually, people drowning in madness and psychosis are, by definition, … Continue reading
The governor of Missouri recently vetoed a new law. The new law, among other things, would have made it illegal to publish the name of gun owners without their consent. The governor opposed the law because, he claimed, it would … Continue reading