January 27, 2025

​

Contentment

​

Satisfied people seem to experience a feeling of contentment rather than overwhelming happiness. It is more like a feeling of being content with your life and what you have.

 

It’s more of a quiet feeling than it would be if you seek intense feelings and intense experiences of happiness all the time

 

People in Finland report a high level of life satisfaction. They don’t actually ask whether people are happy, they ask whether they are satisfied with their lives.

 

Instead of looking for euphoria, you can try to look for the things in your life that make you feel content ― like a cup of good coffee or your partner and friends — and try to hold onto those feelings (and seek out other pleasant reminders) throughout your day.

 

It’s not only individuals who controls their happiness — it’s also their surroundings and life circumstances. Acknowledge that.

 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/finland-happiest-country-in-the-world-ano_l_67780b20e4b059a6ef87e233?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

-------------------------------------------------------- 

​​​

January 15, 2025

 

Likeability

 

Likability’s benefits are pretty obvious. People can do several things to improve their likability:

 

1. Show Genuine Enthusiasm For Meeting

Just be natural. Give your best, authentic smile. Open up your posture so your legs are at a wide stance but you’re relaxed. Make eye contact, offer a firm handshake. 

 

2. Offer A Compliment

Notice something about the person you’ve just met about which you can compliment them and do it right away. Ask a question or two that can lead to information you can later compliment them on.

 

Likeable people are great listeners right from the moment they make acquaintances. See how much you can find out about the new acquaintance.

 

3. Ask Open-Ended Questions

When someone starts talking about something they enjoy, use that as an opening to ask more. Don’t just ask yes/no or simple factual questions that might cut off their chance to really dig into it.

 

4. Find Something You Share

Find an interest or belief you both share. It’s easiest to connect with people they’ve found something in common with. These commonalities might not always be obvious, though; you have to look for them.

 

5. Say Their Name Before You Leave, And Commit Key Facts To Memory

Say it when you first meet someone; then sprinkle it throughout the conversation whenever you get the chance. At a minimum, make sure to say their name when you’re about to leave.

 

People reinforce their likability by remembering a few key details later on. Try to remember useful information to refer back to the next time you see them. 

 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/do-these-5-emotionally-intelligent-things-within-5-minutes-of-meeting-someone?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us   

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

August 1, 2024​

​

E=mc²

This famous equation developed by Albert Einstein relates mass and energy.

“E”, or energy, represents the total energy of an object. “m”, or mass, is specifically the rest mass, or the mass for this object if it were not in motion in any way. And “c² ”, is the speed of light squared … the conversion factor that balances the equation.

Every object that has a rest mass to it, m, also has an equivalent amount of energy inherent to it, E. Mass and energy are different manifestations of the same thing.

Even small amounts of mass are storing large amounts of energy. Three considerations regarding mass and energy are:

1) Masses at rest have an inherent amount of energy to them. Types of energies include:
mechanical energy, such as the energy required to lift a heavy weight up to a certain height,
chemical energy, such as the energy stored in the interior of an acid battery,
electrical energy, such as the energy that flows through a light bulb and causes it to illuminate,
kinetic energy, such as the energy that a car moving along a highway possesses.

These all are energies inherent to moving or reacting objects, and these forms of energy can be used to perform work. This allows tasks such as running an engine.

2) Mass, under the right circumstances, can be converted into pure energy. For every 1 kilogram of mass turned into energy, 9 × 1016 joules of energy are produced, which is the energy equivalent of 21 Megatons of TNT, or one of the most powerful hydrogen bombs ever detonated on Earth.

3) Energy can be used to make mass out of literally nothing other than pure energy itself. In order to obey the conservation of energy, a particle’s energy is not just the “rest mass” portion of the equation, which is E = mc², but that there also are the other types of energy present, including gravitational energy and kinetic energy. The full equation relating energy to mass is E² = m²c⁴ + p²c², where p is momentum of the particle or object in question.

By generalizing the conception of reality to include energy, momentum, and gravity, the Universe can be fully described.

Matter, of all types, has an inherent amount of energy to it. Any particle with mass can be converted, under the right conditions, into energy that can be used for a variety of purposes. Energy alone is the only ingredient necessary for the creation of objects that did not exist previously.

 

This seems consistent with all phenomena being the result of the interaction of fundamental elementary particles … which are theorized to be excitations (disruptions) in the various quantum fields … fields that extend throughout the universe. 

 

These particles combine to form larger compositions of matter and energy that in part generate the perception of Existence as objects, sensations and concepts by human, animal, plant, natural abiotic, and machine entities.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/3-lessons-einstein-equation-emc%c2%b2/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us 
 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

August 1, 2024​

​

Be Curious, Not Anxious

 

 A recent study may even offer a new way to think about anxiety. Certain brain areas tend to process uncertainty as curiosity in ambiguous situations. The study’s findings indicate how deeply the two elements are interrelated.

 

As uncertainty rose in the study subjects, so did curiosity. Brain scan data seemed to confirm high activity in two regions: the occipitotemporal cortex, known to be involved in vision and recognizing types of objects; and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which helps determine a person’s perception of value and confidence about a situation. 

 

The scans observed uncertainty driving curiosity in participants’ brains. The study’s implications may extend to how we deal with forms of uncertainty—perhaps even the intrusive, existential kind that keeps some of us up at night. 

 

Most people seem to hate uncertainty. It signals a lack of control, along with a sense of trouble looming.

 

To the human mind, uncertainty equals danger. Humans assume the worst, over-personalize threats, and jump to conclusions.

 

Uncertainty is a critical driver of stress. In fact, a scientific study concluded that uncertainty is even more stressful than situations with predictable negative outcomes.

 

A way people can deal with forms of uncertainty might be as simple as a matter of reframing. For instance, with nervousness reframe it as excitement, since the two feelings resemble each other …that way you acknowledge the physical feelings without putting a negative spin on them.

 

The same goes for uncertainty and curiosity. Another way to process uncertainty is as an opportunity for discovery. 

 

Something unclear in one’s life likely can be broken down into its component parts for further analysis. Practically all possibilities have potential for research and exploration, rather than mere dread. 

 

The shift to an attitude of curiosity will not just magically resolve the issue at hand, but it can help prepare for, or deal with, whatever awaits. The shift can feel better and be more constructive. 

 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91159221/science-your-brain-wants-you-to-be-curious-not-anxious?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

​​

--------------------------------------------------------

​​​​

June 24, 2024

​

Get Rich … Slowly

 

In addition, the stock market provides a low long-term risk method for creating individual wealth.  Over more than a hundred years, the stock market has provide a total return of about 10% … or roughly 7% after adjustment for inflation.

 

An annual investment in a standard broad stock market (e.g. S&P 500) index fund of $10,000 US in a tax deferred 401K or Roth IRAAwill produce an amount in today’s dollars of about $1.5 million ($3 million in future inflated dollars) after 40 years. Of course, variation of the annual investment amount will increase or decrease the final total investment value.

 

An investor must be able to accept significant fluctuation of market (and their investment) value day to day and sometimes over several years to achieve this growth in wealth. As long as a relatively free private enterprise system remains in effect, the broad stock market likely will sustain this performance over the long term. With your investment, you are helping fund the businesses that are making money for you.

 

It’s never too late to start saving  and investing. The sooner you start, however, the better.

 

Compound interest means the interest on an investment grows exponentially - rather than linearly -over time. What this means for a tax deferred retirement account like a 401(k) or Roth IRA is that every little bit you contribute goes a long way, especially compared to a traditional savings account. 

 

The key is that with compound interest, how early you start saving usually outweighs how much you contribute. Even an investment left untouched for decades can keep growing.

 

Assume a moderate 6.5% annual investment return on retirement funds.

 

Scenario 1: Starting at age 35

    You save $1,500 per year from age 35 to 55

    Total amount invested: $30,000

    By age 66 (31 years after starting), your investment grows to: $186,138

    Compound interest earned: $156,138

 

Scenario 2: Starting at age 25

    You save $1,500 per year from age 25 to 45

    Total amount invested: $30,000

    By age 66 (41 years after starting), your investment grows to: $373,569

    Compound interest earned: $343,569

 

Scenario 3: Starting at age 15

    You save $1,500 per year from age 15 to 35

    Total amount invested: $30,000

    By age 66 (51 years after starting), your investment grows to: $749,029

    Compound interest earned: $719,029

 

These scenarios demonstrate the advantage of starting to save and invest early:

    Starting at 35: Your $30,000 investment grows about 6.2 times.

    Starting at 25: Your $30,000 investment grows about 12.5 times.

    Starting at 15: Your $30,000 investment grows about 25 times.

 

By starting just 10 years earlier (at 25 instead of 35), you more than double your retirement savings. Starting at 15 instead of 35 results in four times the retirement savings.

 

Of course, the best-case scenario is that you start saving early and never stop investing. But the scenarios above demonstrate how important time is as a factor, and how any savings at all – if left untouched for years - can go a long way.

​

https://lifehacker.com/these-numbers-will-convince-your-teen-to-start-saving-f-1850144908?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us  

​

--------------------------------------------------------

​​

June 6, 2024

​

Optimism

​

There are ways for even pessimists to change their mindset. 

 

One method is the ABC theory, which stands for “an activating event, your belief about what it means, and the consequences of how you react to it.” For example, when somebody cuts you off in traffic, you can believe that they are a jerk or you can believe that they possibly could be rushing because they have an emergency. 

 

Another tactic is the “three blessings” exercise. Each day, write down three things that went well for you. The idea is that most people complain a lot and often don’t recognize they’re doing it, and the antidote to complaining is gratitude.

 

Flip concerns about risks to a positive question. “What’s the worst that can happen?” becomes, “What are the best possible outcomes?”

    

Share your optimistic view with others. When we repeat things out loud, we override the negative pessimistic views.

 

Surround yourself with optimistic people and news. Challenge negative comments and viewpoints when you encounter them.  

 

Being optimistic often is challenging. But, when you consider the benefits of being optimistic, it makes it worth the effort.

 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91127499/how-to-become-more-optimistic?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us   

​

--------------------------------------------------------

​​​

March 28, 2024

​

AI and the Economy

 

Some experts argue that Artificial Intelligence (AI) eventually will be powerful enough to drive per capita economic growth rates as high as 30% a year (compared to about 2% annual in the USA currently). Three general arguments are offered for why such a dramatic explosion in economic growth might be possible.

 

The first argument is historic.  The trajectory of the world economy back to 10,000 BCE is superexponential. Exponential growth means the economy grows by a steady, compounding rate every year. Superexponential growth means that the growth rate is increasing over time. 

 

The second argument relies on population growth enabling economic growth to speed up. More people are available to find new ideas, and the next new idea is discovered more quickly. That feedback loop leads not just to economic growth but to accelerating economic growth.

 

Robots could be built in a much shorter time than the decades it takes to birth, raise, and educate a human worker, and at less expense. The fast-growing population of robots would be able to come up with, and implement, enough economically useful ideas to get the economy going faster and faster.

 

The third argument for transformative growth is based on the size of the economy being dependent on the amount of labor, the amount of capital, and a measure of productivity. Capital specifically means tools and property that can be used to make stuff. Automating research, for instance, could lead to technology improving rapidly, with massive economic consequences.

 

Reasons exist to doubt a growth explosion. Effects of information technology on growth to date have been famously meager. In the US, the advent of personal computers coincided with a marked decline in productivity growth, not an increase. 

 

Economic growth as a whole is still bottlenecked by labor-intensive sectors (e.g., healthcare) where productivity growth is harder to achieve. AI, however, can help in making even these labor intensive sectors much more efficient and effective.”

 

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24108787/ai-economic-growth-explosive-automation

​

------------------------------------------

​​​

March 6, 2024

​

Parents’ Trauma Leaves Biological Traces in Children

 

Adverse experiences can change future generations through epigenetic pathways.

This is another important reason for civilized humans to prevent - or to end early - traumatic events. 

 

Research has confirmed that adverse experiences may influence the next generation through multiple pathways. The most apparent route runs through parental behavior, but influences during gestation and even changes in eggs and sperm may also play a role. 

 

And all these channels seem to involve epigenetics: alterations in the way that genes function. Epigenetics potentially explains why effects of trauma may endure long after the immediate threat is gone, and it is also implicated in the diverse pathways by which trauma is transmitted to future generations.

 

The implications of these findings suggest that parental trauma predisposes offspring to be vulnerable to mental health conditions. On the other hand, there is some evidence that the epigenetic response may serve as an adaptation that might help the children of traumatized parents cope with similar adversities. 

 

Among stress hormones, cortisol plays a special, regulatory role. High levels of stress hormones, if sustained for a long time, harm the body in multiple ways, weakening the immune system and increasing susceptibility to problems such as hypertension. 

 

Understanding the molecular underpinnings of cortisol functioning—in part by examining epigenetics – we can understood how exposure to trauma might reset the cortisol feedback loop.

 

Epigenetic modification suggests a potential explanation for how trauma might reset cortisol levels. The body regulates the stress response through a complicated feedback mechanism. 

 

Some of these epigenetic changes in trauma survivors also are found in the children of trauma survivors. The uterine environment played a role as did the sex of the traumatized parent.

 

Offspring are not always passive recipients of their parents’ scars. Just as a parent was able to survive trauma by means of biological adaptations, offspring can sometimes adapt to the biological impact of their parents’ trauma.

 

How traumatized parents interact with their children, of course, also influences their development. Many psychologists and neuroscientists have examined the traumatized family, finding ever more subtleties, and the story will continue to unfold for decades to come.

 

An important question is whether epigenetic alterations in stress-related genes, particularly those reflected in the offspring of traumatized parents, are necessarily markers of vulnerability or whether they may reflect a mechanism through which offspring become better equipped to cope with adversity. 

 

Some of these stress-related and intergenerational changes may be reversible. Combat veterans with PTSD who benefited from cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy showed treatment-induced changes in FKBP5 methylation. 

 

The finding confirmed that healing is also reflected in epigenetic change. Such findings represent an important frontier in psychiatry and may suggest new avenues for treatment.

 

Source: Scientific American July 1, 2022

 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-parents-trauma-leaves-biological-traces-in-children?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

​

------------------------------------------

​​​​

December 6, 2023

​

Mindfulness

​

While it has been practiced in some cultures for centuries, “Mindfulness” is becoming more understood and practiced generally.

 

An example of practicing mindfulness is the Japanese error-prevention drill that railway employees use. Conductors point at the things they need to check and then name them out loud as they do them, a dialogue with themselves to ensure nothing gets overlooked.

 

In a research project, when asked to perform a simple task workers typically make 2.38 mistakes per 100 actions. When using mindfulness, this number reduced to just 0.38 – an 85% drop.

 

Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness. For example, participants take time to notice this moment with a person in a place never will happen again.

 

Practical applications can govern virtually every aspect of daily life, all designed to help you ‘be in the now’. They help keep you conscious of where you are and what you are doing throughout the day, 

 

 “Mindfulness is an attitude that can permeate most actions.  That present-moment awareness not only boosts stress resilience and well-being, but also lowers levels of anxiety and depression.

 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-japanese-skill-copied-by-the-world?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us  

​

------------------------------------------

​

November 24, 2023

 

Insights from a professional therapist about how best to exist

     We are what we do

     Feelings follow behavior

     Laughter is a best therapy for anxiety, depression and illness

     Be bold

     Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good

     Life’s two most important questions are “Why?” and “Why Not?”

     Most of all, don’t lie to yourself 

​

            From “Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart”  by Dr. Gordon Livingston

​

------------------------------------------ 

 

November 23, 2023

​

A Certain Sadness

 

Many people experience the kind of sadness that feels mundane and incremental - the slow accumulation of ordinary losses. Melancholy that takes hold when a person realizes that the hallmarks of happiness (marriage, children, a job, etc.) are not a guarantee against despair. 

 

Not the major devastations but the strange little ache that feels like a precondition to being human. Nothing can fully alleviate that ambient sadness. 

 

Part of it is surely existential-our lives are temporary and inscrutable; death is compulsory. In addition, we are always losing, or leaving, or being left, in ways both minor and vast. 

 

This has been described as feeling unknowable and estranged, disillusioned by the un-magnificent lives of adults. It is a soft, amorphous grief. We suffer more than we let on.

 

Something middle-aged men and teen-age girls have in common is the ongoing act of understanding our existence.

 

Those who believe in a spiritual existence sometimes can find solace in that.

 

Meanwhile, it may help to let go of the past and be with each other where we are now. Do it without trying too hard. Accept the fragility of life; enjoy the humanity of an experience.

 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/05/08/the-sad-dads-of-the-national?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

​

------------------------------------------ 

 

​

November 20, 2023

​

Four insights for successful leaders

        of any group, organization or business.

 

1. Lead by example

In the U.S. military, officers eat last. It represents an understanding that service-based leadership involves prioritizing your organization’s needs before your own.

 

Servant leaders trade their comforts for the well-being of their team. In the process, they accrue loyalty and support for when it really matters.

 

While commanding obedience to orders is simple - true leadership inspires courage and voluntary action. True leadership provides for invaluable frontline feedback which is essential for the greatest success. 

 

2. Equip and empower teams for success

Does your organization invest in people, train them for the full depth and responsibility of the job, and support their independent judgment by devolving as much decision-making authority down to the lowest possible level? Case studies and after-action reviews provide learning opportunities for constant improvement.

 

True leaders reward strong performance with the recognition it deserves. Few things damage morale more than seeing positive behavior going unnoticed or poor performance going uncorrected.

 

Leaders of any type of organization should decentralize decision-making.  Problems are recognized the quickest by those at the point of friction.

 

3. Set high standards for behavior

Leaders of any organization or group — no matter its focus or mission — should take responsibility for their actions.  Many leaders like to proclaim, ‘The buck stops here,’ but are masters at shifting blame.

 

Confident leaders are self-aware. They ask questions. Self-introspection, humility and demonstrating willingness to learn can go a long way.

 

They don’t claim success as their own or pass off failure to others. They know how to handle, and never hide, bad news. 

 

Part of setting high standards for teams is about encouraging initiative in others. This simply means: figure it out; improvise, adapt, overcome.

 

Fostering initiative is the key ingredient to creating a culture of ownership. Establish practices, traditions and vocabulary that foster unity of effort.

 

4. Create a winning culture

Instill esprit de corps - a sense of unity, mission and close association through task and purpose.

​

------------------------------------------ 

​

​

August 24, 2023

 

Emotions and Mental Health

 

So called “mental” and “emotional” aspects of humans actually are physical manifestations of the human brain and other parts of the body. Electrochemical neurotransmitters triggered by various sensors and stored information create “feelings” that have evolved to, in part, help influence actions which optimize the comfort (socialization, safety, wellness, etc.) and interests (curiosity, entertainment, etc.) of a human. These neurotransmitters sometimes become unbalanced, suboptimizing the individual’s comfort and interests.

 

Although someone may assume their senses are telling the truth, they actually are fabricated to an extent. Considering senses are unique from person to person and through our unique senses we can only interpret a fraction of what is real, there is no all-encompassing perspective one can have. Because of this, perceptions should be taken seriously, but not literally. Multiple perspectives have to be taken, as each will have some part of truth within it. Seeing partial truth in multiple perspectives is fundamental to navigating the world and making informed decisions.

 

A concept (developed by Hugo Lövheim MD, PhD.) describes the relationship between human neurotransmitters and human emotions. The concept may help advance the control of emotions in humans as well as help with developing so-called affective (emotion sensitive) machines.

 

Each human emotion is generated by varying levels of the three monoamine neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.  

 

The emotion – neurotransmitter relationships are summarized in this table:

 

Basic emotion                Serotonin      Dopamine   Noradrenaline

Shame/humiliation                     Low                  Low                  Low

Distress/anguish                        Low                  Low                  High

Fear/terror                                  Low                  High                 Low

Anger/rage                                 Low                  High                 High

Contempt/disgust                      High                 Low                  Low

Surprise/startle                          High                 Low                  High

Enjoyment/joy                            High                 High                 Low

Interest/excitement                   High                 High                 High

 

For example, Fear is produced by the combination of low serotonin, low dopamine and high noradrenaline (also known as norepinephrine). The Lövheim concept may help better understand the role of chemical transmitters in the human body and how to treat emotional disorders related to them. This model is referred to as the Lövheim “cube of emotions”.

 

Another example is that “seeking” by humans triggers a dopamine reward cycle. When new things are tried, a rush of dopamine floods the reward pathway, which makes one feel good and reinforces that pleasure. 

 

A brain adapts, however, and this increase is followed by a dopamine deficit state, which makes one crave and seek more. It is a craving that drives motivation to restore baseline levels or to go even higher. The brain processes pleasure quickly, tells us that we should get more of it, and has us move on to the next thing.

 

Dopamine rewards experiencing something new. Interests that tend to be long-lasting have a sense of unlimited learning or a community around them that provides a social benefit (such as crafting or sports). One always could get better, always learn something new, and that always is pulling people in deeper.

 

 

Endogenous opioids are opioid peptides (e.g. endorphin, enkephalin, dynorphin, nociceptin, endomorphin) produced by the body that act on opioid receptors throughout the central nervous system to cause a variety of effects, including pain relief, reduced anxiety, and enhanced mood (effects similar to those of opiate drugs).

 

Neurotransmitter levels and activity must be maintained in a range of balance to avoid unpleasant and sometimes dangerous mood extremes in an individual. This balance is maintained by:

•  Inherent individual physiology

•  Fitness: diet, exercise, sleep, etc.

•  Medications (e.g., “Haldol” rebalances dopamine in schizophrenics)

•  Attitude including actions such as deliberate positive thinking and meditation.

 

Another possible method for maintaining neurotransmitter balance is the intentional mental direct control of neurotransmitter levels and balance. For example, during waking hours an individual would think specifically of maximizing serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline levels to keep interest and energy high. For sleeping hours, thoughts are to maximize only serotonin and dopamine for relaxation and good mood.

 

This direct neurotransmitter control method is similar to autosuggestion, biofeedback and meditation all of which can generate emotional (and even physiological) changes which themselves probably produce corresponding changes in neurotransmitter activity levels.

 

This control technique is unique in that an individual directly tells his/her body, for example, to “increase and balance serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline” and as a result achieves a mood of interest and excitement.

 

No known rigorous experimentation has been completed to validate this method of direct neurotransmitter control. Individual non-rigorous ad hoc experiments with the method, however, seemingly have produced deliberate direct changes in neurotransmitter activity and related emotions.

 

Rigorous experimentation (that includes measurement of changes in actual neurotransmitter levels) may confirm direct mental control of neurotransmitter levels as a useful addition to the other means of neurotransmitter rebalancing outlined above.

 

Using an MRI machine, for example, a researcher exposed a subject to cold and confirmed that he can activate a part of the brain that releases opioids and cannabinoids into the body. These components inhibit the signals responsible for telling the body it is feeling pain or cold, and trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin. The result is a euphoric effect on the body that lasts for several minutes.

 

This effect will last only for a few minutes. For the subject to continue his ability to resist the feeling of cold, his body apparently needs to anticipate the continued effect, which in turn helps his body maintain the state it is in.  This anticipation triggers the release of more opioids, serotonin, and dopamine in a continuing cycle. The longer this method is practiced, the easier it could become.

 

These electrochemical processes can result in emotional and intellectual excess. Mindfulness of different types can help relax this excess and sometimes is useful.

 

This mental control of emotions can be extended to the concept of “Balance”.

 

Since psychological and emotional status affect physical status and vice versa for a human, both must be considered in achieving maximum homeostasis (the condition of optimal functioning for the person and includes many variables … such as body temperature and fluid balance … being maintained within certain limits). 

 

A person can attempt to use their thought to help enhance their homeostasis by thinking “balance my body” while contemplating that, from head to foot, all internal and surface physical and mental (chemical and electrical) elements adjusting to optimal integrated functioning. Among other feelings of homeostasis, this should lead to a state of increased relaxation and calmness (which also can be enhanced with diaphragmatic breathing, meditation and other techniques).

 

Balancing can help but often does not work 100%.  Some physical ailments simply require healing and will not be resolved fully with this balancing technique; however, the technique can help the healing. 

 

Psychological status (negative and positive feelings), however, affects the body’s chemical and electrical process and vice versa. That psychological status can influence physical healing negatively or positively.

 

Balancing can help mitigate a cycle of physical distress and psychological distress that can feed on each other creating ever increasing or decreasing distress both physically and psychologically.

 

---------------------------------

​

July 20, 2023

​

Thriving

 

“Thriving” is a psychological term to describe the state in which people experience a sense of both vitality and learning. The news, social media, and conversations with our family, friends, and others can generate stress which limits thriving..

 

Survey respondents reported their top three emotions were frustration, worry, and anger. The number of respondents choosing anger as one of their top emotions has risen recently.

 

Negativity can have toxic effects. Research indicates that people falter when exposed to negativity or rudeness. 

 

Mere exposure to rude words reduces the ability to process and recall information. People tend to shut down, stop communicating, and cease being helpful to others. 

 

A productive way to counter those effects is through thriving. Thriving individuals are growing, developing, and energized rather than feeling stagnated or depleted.

 

People who experience a state of thriving are healthier, more resilient, more able to focus 

And less burned out. They also are more confident 

 

To increase thriving …

 

Avoid negativity. Make choices away from negativity and toward positivity with your thoughts, the information to which you are exposed and those with whom you associate..

 

Watch out for what you say out loud. Negative language is particularly insidious and potent. It is several times more damaging to our sense of thriving if we verbalize a thought than if we just think it.

 

Think about how you are framing and speaking about a situation. Acknowledge the truth, while minimizing its power to drag you down.

 

Adopt a neutral mindset. Focusing on what we can control and what we should do next.

 

Neutral thinking is a nonjudgmental, nonreactive way of assessing problems and analyzing crises. This includes staying in the moment, reacting to each moment as it unfolds, and keeping your focus on how you can influence your next action..

 

Practice gratitude.  Gratitude reduces our stress, makes us happier, and helps us reach our goals. 

 

Manage your energy. Exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep. Spend time outside and with others; listen to music. 

 

In summary, make smart choices about who and what you surround yourself with, the mindset you adapt, and the information you consume. 

 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-to-thrive-when-everything-feels-terrible?utm_source=pocket-newtab  

​

------------------------------------------

​

 

May 29, 2023

 

Likeability

 

Being liked by those with whom you interact can help enhance personal Satisfaction. Several characteristics can help increase a person’s likeability.

 

Don’t blame. People make mistakes and don't meet expectations. Instead, focus on doing things better or smarter next time.

 

Don’t try to control. The only thing you really control is you. Control is short term at best, because it often requires force, or fear, or authority, or some form of pressure … none of which creates mutual Satisfaction. Associate with people who want to go where you're going. This results in better relationships.

 

Don’t try to impress. People may like your things, but that doesn't mean they like you. You'll form more genuine relationships when not trying to impress.

 

Don’t cling. Holding on to someone or something just for security won’t make you more Satisfied. Let go so you can reach for and try to earn what you want which will enhance Satisfaction.

 

Don’t interrupt. Listen to what others say. Focus on what they say. Ask questions to make sure you understand what they say.

 

Don’t whine. It makes you feel worse, not better. Put effort into making the situation better. 

 

Don't talk about what's wrong. Talk about how you'll make things better, even if that conversation is only with yourself.

 

Don’t criticize. Everyone is different. Appreciate the differences instead of the shortcomings and you'll see people—and yourself—in a better light.

 

Don’t preach. When you speak with more finality than foundation, people may hear you but they don't listen and won’t like you.

 

Don’t live in the past. The past is valuable experience. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from the mistakes of others. Then let it go.

 

Don’t let fear hold you back.  Whatever you've been planning, whatever you've imagined, whatever you've dreamed of, get started on it today. Today is your most precious asset—and is the one thing you should fear ... wasting. 

 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/10-things-incredibly-likable-people-never-ever-do-and-why-you-love-them-for-it?utm_source=pocket-newtab   

​

------------------------------------------

 

May 11, 2023

 

Optimal Size of Government

 

Analysis of data for over 180 countries indicates that the maximum annual real per capita GDP growth rate of 3 percent corresponded to a government expenditure-to-GDP ratio of 26 percent. Beyond this relative size of government, the rate of economic growth declined.  Economic growth and new job creation begin to slow when total government spending is larger than about 25 percent of the economy

 

Increases in output per worker over time reflect increases in the amount of complementary inputs such as natural resources, labor, and capital, as well as more productive use of all inputs. Economic growth and improvements in the standard of living hinge on increasing output per input and ultimately output per capita. 

 

As one economist noted: “Productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run it is almost everything. A country’s ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker” 

 

Government is a key factor affecting productivity and growth … with government tax and expenditure policies affecting saving, capital formation, and labor supply, as well as innovation and technological change. Government provides institutions such a rule of law and property rights that facilitate productivity and economic growth along with economic freedom, trust, low levels of corruption, and functioning bureaucracies. Spending financed by an expansion of government borrowing and ultimately public debt, raises  future inflation and higher taxes.

 

International evidence that has documented slower growth rates with larger public sectors over the course of the last 150 years. While good government promotes growth, poor government or excessively large government can reduce productivity and thereby harm economic growth. 

 

Large government can harm productivity growth in a variety of ways including by taxing and reducing the return to entrepreneurship and innovation, by discouraging capital investment and creating disincentives to work, by excessive regulation that increases costs of eco- nomic transacting, and by fueling inflation or otherwise distorting the price mechanism. Unlike the private sector, government spending decisions are not made in response to market incentives based on the highest productive return to investment. More government spending frequently leads to worse social and economic outcomes.

 

The manner in which government affects economic growth is complex, as government activities can also affect economic production positively, in part by providing societal benefits such as public goods and the rule of law, as well as by public investments in physical and social capital. However, when examined more carefully, this relationship is not linear but has been documented as “hump” shaped.

 

As the state first develops and grows, its infrastructure and institutional spending complements private sector growth, contributing to a positive relationship between public sector size and growth. However, as spending rises, along with taxes required to finance the spending, there are adverse productivity effects on the economy and a slowing of growth rates.

 

A study using a cross-section of 103 countries, found that a government size of about 19 percent of GDP, measured as the tax-to-GDP ratio expressed as a percentage, maximized economic growth rates. Another study using data for over 180 countries, identified that the maximum annual real per capita GDP growth rate of 3 percent corresponded to a government expenditure-to-GDP ratio of 26 percent. Beyond this relative size of government, the rate of economic growth declined.

 

Times of crisis seem to generate demands for government spending which, once in place, are difficult to dislodge after the crisis passes. The rate of growth of public expenditures was driven by taxpayer perception of tolerable levels of taxation, and that this tolerance is greater during times of national or social crisis. Thus, the public sector has grown in a step-like fashion of abrupt jumps and long plateaus driven by crises such as war. 

 

Economic growth and new job creation begins to slow when total government spending is larger than about 25 percent of the economy. Total government spending in the United States is about 40 percent of GDP. 

 

Governments are created to protect people and property. A government too small to establish the rule of law and protect people and their property from both foreign and domestic enemies is less than optimal.

 

Government, however, can easily become too large, which would diminish the liberties of the people and discourage them from engaging in productive activity.  After two centuries of experimentation and the unnecessary loss of hundreds of millions of human lives, most of mankind now understands that pure socialism leads to tyranny and economic stagnation.

 

How much government is necessary and desirable, and when does it become a drag on both liberty and economic well‐​being? Most studies measure the size of government as a share of GDP (realizing it is an imperfect measure because it does not measure counterproductive regulation, restrictions on liberty and other factors, but is a reasonable approximation). Free markets and uncontrolled prices do a better job in allocating resources (labor and productive investment) than politicians, who tend to resort to deciding what they believe is best for other people and, often, rewarding their friends.

 

The studies of the optimum size of government made by reputable scholars in recent decades have indicated that total government spending (federal plus state plus local) should be at least 17 percent, but no larger than about 30 percent of GDP. Their conclusion is that there is a 95 percent probability that the optimal size of government is less than 25 percent of GDP.

 

Empirical evidence shows that reducing taxes, regulations, and government spending down to at least 25 percent of GDP would do the most to spur economic growth and create more jobs over the long run.

 

https://www.cato.org/commentary/optimum-government  

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/government-size-and-economic-growth-4day-week-essay.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299514847_What_is_the_Optimum_Size_of_Government_a_Suggestion

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/livio-di-matteo-size-of-government-matters-to-the-economy-4640012

 

------------------------------------------

​

March 23, 2023

​

Your 3 Main Fears

 

A worthwhile thing to do may be to identify your three main fears.  Then think about what you can and should do in response to those fears.

 

For example, one person identified his three main fears as:

1. Losing their spouse

2. Poor health

3. Begin financially destitute

 

He determined his responses (that he had the ability to personally control) to those as:

1. Both spouses eventually will die … accept it … and meanwhile enjoy living … smile, have fun, humor … help others

2. Things he cannot control will happen to affect his health (contagious illnesses, genetic diseases, accidents, aging, etc.). He does what he can control to maintain his health (diet, exercise, sleep habits, socialize, relax, work, learn, help others, positive attitude, etc.)

3. Wisely manage his assets, income and spending … net worth

 

Understand what you can control … and what should be accepted as not in your control (and worried about as little as possible).

 

Accept … be Calm … Plan … take Action (ACPA).

 

------------------------------------------

 

February 3, 2023

​

Job Happiness and Satisfaction

 

To assess your job situation start by distinguishing between happiness and satisfaction and exploring which aspects of your job relate to each of these. From there, figure out which parts of your job are the ones that bring you the most of each. 

 

That way, as you think about your future, you can best strategize about new positions you might want to aim for. To help you along the way, here are three questions that will provide you with valuable insight into the best parts of your work life.

 

 

1. Where do I find the most satisfaction? Is it in the process of doing my work or in the final outcome?

 

We often use the words happiness and satisfaction without reflecting on the differences between them. Happiness is a momentary experience that reflects the positive feelings that result from pursuing some desirable outcome. Satisfaction is a positive feeling that reflects a longer time horizon in which you’re pleased with what you’ve achieved over a period of time. The process of your work affects your daily happiness with what you do, while the outcome is typically associated with your sense of satisfaction.

 

Because the process of your work is associated with happiness, it affects your day-to-day interest in the work you are doing. When you like the particular tasks that are part of your job, you look forward them. There is a good feeling that comes from performing well on elements of your job that you find intrinsically rewarding.

 

The outcome of your work relates to the mission of the organization for which you are working. Do you believe in that mission? Do you believe your efforts are making the world a better place? 

 

When you work toward a significant outcome and make progress on it, you feel a sense of satisfaction with your work. Research suggests that taking pride in the outcome of your work provides long-term satisfaction. 

 

If you engage in tasks you do not enjoy in service of an important goal, you still may feel a lot of satisfaction in your work, even though it does not bring you much happiness. Ultimately, however, it is best to have both the happiness as well as the long-term satisfaction.

 

 

2. How do my values align with my work?

 

After you identify the aspects of your job that you like, try to understand why those aspects of work are appealing. This evaluation is rooted in your values.

 

Values reflect key aspects of what people think is important about their life and work. Your work should align with your values. 

 

If you value helping others, then the mission of the work may be a critical component to whether you appreciate your job. If you value pleasure in life, then your daily happiness at work (reflected in the particular tasks you do) will be central to helping you to live up to that value. If you value achievement or power, then your personal accomplishments at work will influence your satisfaction with your job.

 

10 core human values have been identified that are consistent across many cultures: self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, power, security, conformity, tradition, benevolence, and universalism. 

 

A person’s values can evolve over time. For example, early in your career you may value achievement, so you might enjoy aspects of your job that bring you individual recognition, while later in your career, you may value benevolence and derive more satisfaction from aspects of your job that enable you to help others. 

 

 

3. What do I want to be able to say I’ve accomplished?

 

Alignment of your work with your values means considering not just the particular tasks you do daily, but also the accumulated influence of those tasks over time (or what you might think of as your legacy). To think about legacy, project yourself mentally to the end of your working period and look back. Focus both on whether you currently feel like your work aligns with those values, but also to explore what future positions might also help you to be satisfied with your work.

 

If you feel like your work and current trajectory will enable you to continue feeling that alignment between your job and your values, then focus on your current career trajectory. But, if you have a significant mismatch, that is a good indicator that it may be time to think about alternatives. 

 

https://hbr.org/2023/01/what-do-you-like-about-your-job?utm_source=pocket-newtab  

​

------------------------------------------

​​​

December 7, 2022

​

Your Purpose

​

Finding your purpose … at any age … can be a challenge. “The two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they’re born and the day they discover why”, Mark Twain.  Your purpose grounds you. 

 

What do you do well? Uncover your unique talent. Knowing what you do well will put you on your way to using your talent in your purpose.

 

What do your friends say you do well?  It can be hard to recognize your own talent. Ask your family or friends what they think you’re good at doing.

.

If you could do or be anything, what would you do or be? Consider those things you like to do in your free time or the projects at work you volunteer for or seek out. 

 

It is important to not confuse purpose with passion. If you are passionate about something you’re not good at, you can make it a hobby, not a career.

 

What gives you results when you do something? Your purpose will give you a return. 

 

How can you get better? Fine-tune and work harder. Develop your talent.

 

Purpose is important. Intentionality helps produce Satisfaction.

 

Few are successful doing something that they do not  like, and no one is successful doing something they cannot do well. Success is knowing your purpose in life and having a growth plan to help reach your maximum potential.

 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/5-questions-to-ask-when-you-need-help-finding-your-purpose?utm_source=pocket-newtab

​

------------------------------------------

​

TWM, LLC