“Closure” is a vague but popular concept. On the surface it means seeking a neat, painless ending–or hoping for the cool, detached perspective of time which cannot be rushed. Seeking closure usually doesn’t get you what you want. Closure is … Continue reading
Category: Daily Dose of Reason
Hostility to Criticism
People who can’t be criticized–and who react with great hostility at any hint of criticism–are revealing something important about themselves. They reveal that they don’t hold their convictions and viewpoints about various matters through carefully reasoned out, fact-based judgments. Instead, … Continue reading
Crisis of Confidence
A crisis of confidence is not so much a time to pause and reflect as it is a time to plan rational action–and to remind yourself of what have done well in the past. Low confidence isn’t so much an … Continue reading
Why We’re Not the Roman Empire
In reading about the decline of the Roman Empire, I discovered that one of the political causes was oppressive taxation and–more fundamentally–the lack of an ability for the Roman people to control their government. Fundamentally, the issue was “man against … Continue reading
The Number One Cause of Anxiety
Religion is probably the number one cause of anxiety. Think about what religion emphasizes: What you don’t have control over, and how you have to surrender your will, your mind, your “fate” to a higher power or other, often unnamed … Continue reading
Competition Is Not Motivation
It’s one thing to compete with others, and another to be inspired by them. It’s one thing to think: “She’s done this well. I have to do better.” It’s another to think: “She did that well. If she can do … Continue reading
How to Love
If you love someone, you love someone as they are. If you find them not yet ready for what you envision in a relationship, then so be it. If you can love him as he IS NOW, then the green … Continue reading
Celebrities: Shut Up
It’s really in poor taste for people with a lot of money to publicly tell people with a lot less money how they should be more charitable. This is what most of our celebrities do. These are people who have … Continue reading
Look at Who Represents You
The original American notion of “representative democracy” was supposed to mean representation by your peers. The specific context for this was: Someone who has a career, a private life and private responsibilities outside the realm of politics. This person was … Continue reading
Man Is Not a Pack Animal
Man is by nature selfish and self-interested. He is not made (in nature) to follow the pack. He does so at his peril. Man must function as an individual, no matter how much he gains from the accomplishments of others. … Continue reading
The Alternative
Life isn’t just about rebellion or submission. There’s an alternative: It’s called thinking.
The Green Movement
There are two types of environmentalists. There are the majority, who are concerned about the plight of human life on earth if, say, global warming came to pass. And then there are the minority, who really don’t care about the … Continue reading