When we speak about creativity, most people think mainly of fine arts, and artistic creations, whose role is mainly aesthetic. But creativity is not only that. So, what is creativity? Creativity is defined as the ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method … More What Is Creativity?
He was an Olympic level jerkface (apologies for the salty language), a veritable Ebenezer Scrooge if Scrooge were really into landscaping, and by any basic measure, not a friendly man. … More I Was Jerk to a Jerk Yesterday (and I Liked It)
The tutors who work at the Palo Alto College Writing Assistance Center are mostly in their late twenties and early thirties which means they’re young and energetic. Because they haven’t clocked many years on this planet, they’re not yet tired or jaded. This is likely the reason they’re so incredibly gung-ho about everything. So, when … More Max Dodo
Are Americans freer than Europeans? Find out when Troy Headrick and Cristiana (“crisbiecoach”) have a thought-provoking discussion on freedom, enslavement, choice, possessions, money, and a variety of related topics.
Nearing Christmas, we are usually getting ready for family traditions. Perhaps you have a religious ritual you perform or a meal you prepare. These traditions add to the ambiance of the experience. Sometimes, though, they create a sense of sacredness, which can be harmful if it limits our ability to adapt, change, and grow. At … More Family Traditions: A Recipe For Realization
Hello there! I hope everyone had a good start to their week! I just finished reading ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ by Robin Sharma. I had a couple of issues with the narration but what I want to talk about here is the issue with some of the content. Overall, I think the author … More Speed of Personal Development
The Four Forces of Flight There’s an analogy I want to imprint on your mind today. It’s one I intend to come back to repeatedly as I go about writing my high-flying book. It concerns something known in aviation as the four forces of flight. To give you a quick lesson in aerodynamics, those are … More Stalling: The Aerodynamics of Life
Hi! We’ve just posted a new episode of the Wise & Shine podcast. Have a listen as I talk with the uber-talented and insightful Art Russell. In this podcast, we attempt to answer the question “What’s Really Important?” Thanks for tuning in!
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. Seneca Seneca in a few words summarised that only when a human being understands the very nature of existence can spend a joyful life with full potential. What is the … More The Fear of Being Happy – Cherophobia
I’m pretty upset with myself. I grew up in the Austin area (and yet!) I never once heard of El Arroyo restaurant, not until a few days ago. Since the 1980s, besides serving fine Tex-Mex cuisine to countless customers, the eatery has been posting imaginably funny and clever signs in its parking lot. In fact, … More That’s Punny!
One of the guides that I climbed mountains with, Phil, taught the skill of weighing objective risks versus subjective risks. Objective risks in the mountains include avalanche danger, weather forecast, rock fall areas, and navigating around crevasses. It is because of objective risk that we’d often leave for the summit in the middle of the … More Life: Risky Business
That happened maybe about a month ago, and then a week or so ago, I had a close repeat of the same experience. … More A Dramatic Drop in Anxiety
I want to tell you about a fellow named David, a retired educator and part-time tutor of mathematics who works in the Math Learning Center, a place just down the hall from the Writing Assistance Center, the place I manage and often mention in blogs I write for Wise & Shine. David is one of … More David’s “Walking Lunches”
Check out Wise & Shine’s new podcast. In our latest episode, I talk with Wynne Leon about “Finding My Father’s Faith,” her memoir. Enjoy!
What is important is rarely urgent and what is urgent is rarely important. Above quote is from Dwight Eisenhower, who left us, besides his valuable strategies, one of the best matrix for time management. Let’s find out first why it is called the Eisenhower Matrix. London, February 1944. The bombing alarms sound throughout all the … More Time Management – The Eisenhower Matrix
Note: I’ve included some thinking exercises in this piece, toward the second half of the blog. Please participate in completing those and leaving your answers in the comment section. I hope you don’t feel that I’m beating a dead horse here, talking so much and with such passion about thinking. It’s just that I’m reminded … More Building the Muscular Mind (Final Installment with Exercises)
If you’re a regular reader, you know I’ve been posting recently about the new Wise & Shine podcast. We’ve published four episodes, and I’m working hard to plan and record others. Our goal is to begin posting a new episode each Tuesday. I’d like to preview a few upcoming episodes. This weekend, I’ll be talking … More The Wise & Shine Podcast: Coming Attractions
I apologize for the lateness of posting this. I had an unexpectedly hard time finishing the follow-up to my first installment. I actually completed it more than a week ago, but I didn’t feel good about what I’d written. It felt like the tone was all wrong. I was being too strident and too dark, … More Building the Muscular Mind (Installment Two)
just as Seneca thought Stoics could benefit from various Epicurean principles and practices, so should Stoics be able to use this traditionally Buddhist exercise … More A non-Stoic exercise for Stoic philanthropia
Yoda famously said to Luke Skywalker, “Do or do not, there is no try.” And even though I understand what the great Jedi master is talking about, I’m going to risk the wrath of the force by disagreeing with him. After all he’s just a little green puppet in an old movie. There is “try”. Or at least there should be. … More There Is Try: Why Yoda Was Wrong