Post-mortem deconstruction of a choice is far easier than deconstruction in the moment. Still, with just a bit of rigorous checking, we humans can catch the warning signs of a bad decision from far off. Here are six questions to ask yourself before making any major – even potentially major – life decisions.
Tag: friends
How My Grandfather Won His Last Battle
Today my grandfather died. I’m still processing what it means to live in a world without him. But there’s one thought that gives me extraordinary satisfaction: he ended so well.
Did it Really Work For You?
You don’t have to be happy, but you probably shouldn’t be the person who talks about how important a product is for people’s happiness if your life looks like a glaring counterexample. If you’re going to fight for a particular point of view, then you should at least try to look satisfied with the life it gave you.
Irony Is Stunting Your Relationships
It’s easy to make acquaintances in the modern world. New connections are just a few taps away on any mobile device. That’s an amazing thing. Sincerity and depth in relationships with other young people is harder to get at.
Trust In the Power of Your Asking
Take a chance on the power of your asking. Give your relationships an opportunity to work on the basis of sincerity and sympathy. You’ll have a lot more fun that way. Don’t pull out a fire extinguisher if all you need to do is ask someone to blow out a candle.
All Acquaintances Are Not Allies
A true friend is more than someone who loves to hang out with you. A true friend is someone who will encourage you to pursue your goals and handle your responsibilities even if that cuts into some of your hangout sessions together.
Cooperation vs. Interventionism
Henry J. Gomez of buzzfeed recently wrote an article about libertarianism. To his credit, he mostly describes libertarian foreign politics as non-interventionist – except for one awful passage: “libertarians believe […] less-interventionist, more-isolationist themes.” No, no, a thousand times no.
Letter To a Prospective Homeschooling Parent
Welcome to the exciting world of learning without schooling! You have already taken the important first step in redefining your child’s education by acknowledging the limitations of mass schooling, recognizing the ways it can dull a child’s curiosity and exuberance, and seeking alternatives to school. Now it’s time to take a deep breath, exhale, and explore.
How Curiosity Can Help You Overcome Suffering
I’ve lived through a couple of rounds of layoffs at this point in my career. On the worse occasion, one of my coworkers was facing down the reality of picking up the pieces of their work after losing several team members. The only thing keeping them going? Curiosity about what it would take to continue operating. Curiosity about what life would be like now. Curiosity about whether success was now achievable.
Bend Without Breaking
It doesn’t feel easy when you’re being stretched, but that’s precisely how we develop the ability to stay loose. The alternative is becoming uptight, rigid, and stiff. How’s that for having it easy?