Month: October 2020

How Do We Come Together?

In our current society, there are a number of factors that have divided us into different camps. How do we reverse that and come together?

There are many reasons why we look at our fellow human beings with increased distrust.

Politicians use fear and distrust of others to motive their constituents. When news outlets promote conflict, they are rewarded with increased viewership, more clicks, or a higher circulation. As more families fall into or toward poverty, they fight desperately for livelihoods.

And yet, most significant advancements have been made when we work together as a society. Advancing life spans, reduction of widespread disease, better understanding of the world around us — these things are all made possible through cooperation.

It’s not realistic to expect that everyone will agree on all, or even most, issues. But how can we disagree, yet still make progress?

Can we somehow look at our economic, political, religious rivals and somehow see our similarities rather than our differences? How do we come together after being driven so far apart? Particularly when physically coming together is limited due to the global pandemic?

Related questions: Why are we so antagonistic? How can we encourage debate? How do you know who to trust? Is our attention fractured? Division or unity?

Walk Or Run?

When you are getting some exercising, do you prefer to walk or to run? More generally, are you speedy or more deliberate?

Share why if you wish.

Walk Or Run?
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What Is Your Favorite Article Of Clothing?

What we wear defines how the world sees us. Our clothes can also be an expression of our personalities. Do you have a favorite article of clothing?

Share why if you wish.

What Expectations Do You Have Of Others?

The relationships we have — with your spouse, your friends, your boss, your neighbors, and so on — define our lives. Do you have any expectations of those people, or of those relationships?

As we navigate our lives, we build mental models of the world around us. The sun rises every day in the east, and sets in the west, for example. We can predict that, based on our previous experiences, combined with what we have learned.

Naturally, that includes the people around us. At first, your parents, and perhaps siblings. Then schoolmates, teachers, etc. What they say, how they act, teaches you about what people are like.

So what have you learned? What kinds of behaviors and actions are a baseline? Moreover, do those expectations change for someone you know well, versus someone you are meeting for the first time?

Imagine someone else exceeding your expectations. What would that mean? What are the basic things in another human being that you anticipate?

Similarly, how might someone fall below the behavior you have come to expect. Does that happen often?

Are there other factors that might influence those expectations, like age, religion, gender, political party, musical taste, hobbies, and so on?

Finally, how might that change between yourself and others? Do you expect more of yourself than someone else, or less? Do you think others would agree with your opinion in this regard?

Related questions: What are our responsibilities to others? How do you know who to trust? How important is respect? What gives a person value?

 

Perfect Or Good Enough?

As the old adage goes, “Don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good.” Are you a perfectionist, or can you move on once something is good enough?

Share why if you wish.

Perfect Or Good Enough?
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