“Al Gore makes bold proposal,” brag the headlines. What’s so bold about his proposal? Essentially, he’s saying: “Oil is too expensive. It’s also–I claim–dangerous. Therefore, we should find a better source of fuel. And to make sure it happens, we’re … Continue reading
I think what people really yearn for is not so much “unconditional love” — since we all love for reasons — as “uncomplicated love.” The purest form of love is NOT love without a self, love without reasons, or love … Continue reading
I love how the Wall Street Journal said it in an editorial the other day. I’ll paraphrase here, from memory: “Dishonest socialism is when profit is private — and risk is socialized.” They were referring to the federalized mortgage lenders … Continue reading
How you think about something does not change reality. But it does change the way you interact with, and act in, reality. This will often lead to real-life consequences. For example, you hear about “the self-fulfilling prophecy.” This is not … Continue reading
Are Americans becoming a bunch of “whiners,” as one of John McCain’s top advisers suggested–an advisor whom McCain himself promptly denounced for saying it? There’s no question that most of our media engages in whining. They paint a picture of … Continue reading
Q: Dr. Hurd, what’s so bad about the welfare state? A compassionate society takes care of its own. Conservatives and liberals agree on this point, morally speaking. When I see a homeless person, I hardly think of such a terrible … Continue reading
Don’t reward the wrong behavior–and don’t reward the wrong attitudes, either. To “reward” means to respond to something wrong or unhealthy by saying or doing something positive for the person who’s wrong. Don’t do it. Try to pay attention to … Continue reading
Self-discipline, self-esteem, and mental health all require a basic love of life. You either love life, or you don’t. If you do, you will take life seriously–and you will exhibit characteristics of self-discipline and good mental habits. If you don’t … Continue reading
It used to be that parental influences were thought to be all determining in an individual’s personality. Freud, and his successors, focused on such factors as the mother-child relationship and alleged infantile sexuality as the determining factor in human nature. … Continue reading
If someone important to you—a spouse, for example—becomes defensive or hostile, then she’s probably starting to lose touch with the facts. You will do your relationship, the person with whom you’re in temporary conflict, and even yourself no service by … Continue reading
Facts are nothing to fear.
People seeking help, even people with emotional problems, usually understand the issues at stake better than a lot of mental health professionals. They understand that what they need are ideas, suggestions, perspective and solutions. They don’t need a relationship with … Continue reading