Constructive criticism consists of objective feedback given after the completion of a task. “Hypermanaging” consists of interfering and providing feedback–constructive or otherwise–before a task is completed. For example: “You didn’t do that right.” Reply: “I’m not finished yet.” Counterreply: “That’s … Continue reading
Expertise comes from experience. “Book learning” or abstract knowledge matter too. But they matter only in the context of experience to reinforce and integrate the abstract material. If you have lots of experience at something, you’re definitely an expert. If … Continue reading
Do what makes most sense to you. Try to base it on the facts, and on reason. Don’t be swayed by others–even family and friends. When influenced by them, try to examine their reasoning. Do their conclusions and recommendations follow … Continue reading
It’s not rationalizing when you have rational facts to back up your conclusion — and when you haven’t deliberately left any facts out. I sometimes hear people say, “I have to rationalize my decision.” They say it as if this … Continue reading
To take personal responsibility, psychologically speaking, is to resolve to sit in the driver’s seat of your consciousness. “But I can’t control my emotions,” some will protest. Nor can you control everything on the road, either. Does that mean, if … Continue reading
It’s not your past that makes you who you are. It’s how you interpret your past. If you look at negative past experiences as examples of how NOT to be — and (by implication) indicators of how best to be … Continue reading
Overthinking means unproductive thinking. I don’t like the term “overthinking” because it implies, incorrectly, that a certain amount of thinking is the right amount (what amount? never specified) and to go above or below it is irrational. This is no … Continue reading
You can choose what you feel. How so? Because your feelings come from your thinking. If you only think about negative things, you’ll only feel negative. If you think in a more balanced way, you’ll feel more balanced. If the … Continue reading
“Why do I act irrationally?” This is a general question, to which there is a general answer: “I’m operating on a wrong premise.” The task of introspection is to discover the wrong premise upon which you’re operating. It’s these “silent” … Continue reading
How to cope with bad news? It’s all around us, I know. But what’s GOOD? Is nothing good in your life? For a lot of people the answer is, “Much is good in my life.” My advice, then, is spending … Continue reading
Being strong doesn’t mean hiding from, or repressing, your feelings. To run from something is not a sign of strength. At the same time, wallowing in–or being overcome by–your emotions is not an indication of strength, either. Strength comes from … Continue reading
“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.” There’s truth to this old saying. You can choose to accept another’s criticism as true, or false. You can thank them if it’s true, and ignore them–or … Continue reading