A Jazz State of Mind: Entering the Flow State
A Flow State of Mind Continue reading A Jazz State of Mind: Entering the Flow State
Author: formerwriters
Autumnal Thoughts About Fall As Autumn Nears
As the leaves start to turn, like so many stomachs at the sight of a MAGA hat, one becomes reflective. I’m the one, by the way. I’m not saying I’m Number One or anything, it isn’t an ego thing. I just thought it would sound classier. But reading back over it, it feels maybe a little narcissistic – which isn’t a deal breaker – and … Continue reading Autumnal Thoughts About Fall As Autumn Nears
Notes From Beyond
In the spring of 2019, I was drawn to purchase “I Am That,” which is considered a spiritual classic. At the time, I was consciously unaware that its content would play such an important role in liberating “me” from “my” life. The book, which relates the wisdom that Sri Nisargatta Maharaj shared with seekers of Truth, has a bold and highly recognizable design–a bright yellow … Continue reading Notes From Beyond
Snappy Comebacks I’ve Written For You
Looking to verbally best an adversary? Look no further. Here’s all you need to be best at being a bester. Continue reading Snappy Comebacks I’ve Written For You
The Power of Listening
Amidst the rise in digital technologies and new avenues for communication, the general quality of our public discourse has declined. As I have explored in this series, modern society has become increasingly fragmented and polarized. We are no longer able to search for areas of compromise or entertain opposing viewpoints. The cause of the issue stems from our inability to truly listen to one another. … Continue reading The Power of Listening
I Walk With You
To go for a stroll with someone you love is one of the grandest experiences we could ever have. In the right company, with the right prevailing spirit, a walk hand-in-hand is sublime–a blessing for both. It is both comfortable and exciting at the same time. When we are moved by a deep sense of love, it matters not the conditions. Most persons quite naturally … Continue reading I Walk With You
What is a difficulty?
Hi everyone! Welcome to Wise & Shine! I hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend! How we define difficulty or problems is variable, or it should be. What is difficult for someone might not be so for another. Likewise, when we look at someone’s life and feel like they have everything perfect, we should not assume that they do not have problems. Sometimes, because of … Continue reading What is a difficulty?
“No Fair”: Fairness isn’t real
“No fair,” cries my son when he thinks his sister got a bigger piece of candy. “No fair,” he cries when I tell him he can’t go outside and play until he cleans his room. I politely remind him that sometimes, life isn’t fair. We see this often with children, but we don’t recognize it in ourselves as adults. How many times have you ever … Continue reading “No Fair”: Fairness isn’t real
The Science of Mindfulness
The practice of meditation may at first seem counterintuitive or foreign to the Western mind. With the abundance of digital technologies and entertainment options available to us, why would anyone abandon these luxuries to sit alone in silence. Surely there are more productive ways one ought to spend their limited time here on earth. Yet meditation has become a recent cultural phenomenon. According to one study, … Continue reading The Science of Mindfulness
Beyond “Mice and Men”
John Steinbeck, who is one of my favourite authors, won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1962. His novella entitled Of Mice and Men would undoubtedly be considered one of John Steinbeck’s literary gems. Although shorter than some of his other masterpieces, which include Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, it is on par with their greatness. This morning, I was struck by an epiphany, which I believe may … Continue reading Beyond “Mice and Men”
Family and Friends
Hi everyone, Happy Sunday! My recent experience showed me that you can get all you want and be the richest person in the world, but if you don’t have anyone to share it with, it does not mean much. This is a (unfortunately) new understanding for me because I have always been goal-oriented (goals that did not include family or friends) and I have not … Continue reading Family and Friends
Breaking News: Document Seized at Mar-A-Lago Leaked
The NY Times reports the FBI seized a recording of former President Trump trying to pre-emptively pardon himself and his children during its search of his house in August. . Here, according to anonymous sources, the transcript: Trump: So listen. I want to pardon myself for stuff. White House Lawyer: what “stuff,” sir? Trump: Just answer the question. WHL: You didn’t ask a question, sir. … Continue reading Breaking News: Document Seized at Mar-A-Lago Leaked
Love So Deep
The Bible might be unfamiliar territory to a lot of readers (myself included), but the majority of persons may have heard or read the following well-known passage. Found in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, the passage describes the nature and qualities of God/Love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is … Continue reading Love So Deep
A Mercifully Brief Post About Knowing Nothing
Like most people, I’ve led an unusual life. For me, part of its unorthodoxy is my insistence on trying to make a living as a writer. Let’s just say, it’s been an uphill climb. But occasionally I comfort myself with the knowledge that there are a million reasons why things either gain recognition or fail to. So, here are a few quick and hilarious examples. … Continue reading A Mercifully Brief Post About Knowing Nothing
3 Stoic Exercises to Achieve Tranquility and Inner Peace
In this blog post on the philosophy of Stoicism I want to explore 3 practical Stoic techniques that I have found particularly useful for attaining confidence and tranquility of the mind. If you take a step back and look at your life from a cosmic perspective you will realize how small and insignificant you are compared to the enormity of the universe. Consider this – … Continue reading 3 Stoic Exercises to Achieve Tranquility and Inner Peace
Please Stop Assuring Me I’m Right
Prime time cable shows aren’t interested in prompting informed debate. They are indignation dispensaries Continue reading Please Stop Assuring Me I’m Right
The Fire of Our Being
In this article, we’re going to figuratively gather around the collective “The Fire of Our Being.” We might imagine it is a large bonfire that is glowing with flames that are dancing lively and flicking their sparks toward the evening sky. The burning wood snaps with sizzling crackles as its energy is released. Around the fire, there are benches and chairs on which we can … Continue reading The Fire of Our Being
Learning Empathy from a Book About War
In a webinar on Tactical Communication put on by the Verbal Judo Institute, the instructor often cited Sun Tzu’s Art of War. In Verbal Judo, one of the key parts of de-escalation and tactical communication is empathy. Several definitions are floating around, but in essence, empathy is the ability to “recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of another.” Its literal Greek translation is … Continue reading Learning Empathy from a Book About War
On Writing Down Your Goals
Hello my fellow bloggers and blog-lovers! If you’re new here, welcome, and if you’ve been around for awhile, welcome back. You can call me Elle, or by my pen name E.L. Jayne, and I’m one of the writers here on the talented team at Pointless Overthinking. This winter I was accepted into my top choice for a graduate program to study Philosophy & Economics in … Continue reading On Writing Down Your Goals
Decision Making
Hello! I have recently been thinking about some changes I want to make in my life and I tried to observe my decision-making process. I noticed a few things that I want to share. How do we make decisions? One of the common ways is to write down pros and cons of each option and choose the option with more pros and less cons. It … Continue reading Decision Making