Category Archives: Choice

Don’t Work. Be Hated. Love Someone.

Posted on April 14, 2012 by AJ Kessler

A commencement speech full of contrarian advice, some of it totally wrong, but definitely worth reading and thinking about: You’ve probably been told the big lie that “Learning is a lifelong process”and that therefore you will continue studying and taking … Continue reading →

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Big Money

Posted on April 13, 2012 by AJ Kessler

There’s a not-so-strange tendency for people make really poor financial decisions when there’s a lot of money involved. If you’re buying a $50,000 car that comes with 17″ aluminum wheels, but the salesman offers you the fancy 18″ chrome wheels … Continue reading →

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How To Beat Distraction

Posted on April 12, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Everyone gets distracted.  We’re wired to.  Those of us who weren’t didn’t get to pass their genes along.  Everyone can be sucked into procrastination mode, even if you really love what you do.  (Which is why you should schedule your … Continue reading →

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Create More Than You Consume

Posted on April 8, 2012 by AJ Kessler

It’s very easy to consume.  We’ve created a culture that glamorizes it.  Television and internet access alone are unending conveyer belts, delivering as much distraction and escapism as you can possibly guzzle.  But we also have magazines, books, movie theaters, … Continue reading →

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Happiness Obligation

Posted on April 7, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Other people don’t have an obligation to make you happy. You have an obligation to those around you to be happy.  Even if you’re not, you have an obligation to appear happy.  Fake it, if necessary. Don’t bum out your … Continue reading →

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How To Break A Habit

Posted on April 1, 2012 by AJ Kessler

We’ve talked before about building habits.  That’s important.  But so is breaking habits.  Luckily, unlike forcing yourself to repeatedly do something new and scary, breaking existing habits isn’t nearly as hard.  One of the easiest ways is simply to substitute … Continue reading →

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You Can Decide To Be Happy

Posted on March 30, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Good listen:

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Unimaginable Sameness

Posted on March 12, 2012 by AJ Kessler

What’s the worst part about prison? One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich is all you need to know about Ivan Denisovich, because the idea that anyone could live for a minute in such circumstances seems impossible; one day … Continue reading →

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All You Can Do?

Posted on March 11, 2012 by AJ Kessler

John Mayer was supposed to release a new album six months ago.  A granuloma near his vocal chords required surgery and prevented him from finishing the record.  Once the surgery was completed and his throat given a month or so … Continue reading →

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Stop. Breathe. Think.

Posted on March 1, 2012 by AJ Kessler

One of the things law schools sear into students is the ability, and tendency, to argue.  An early emphasis on being able to argue both sides of any case breeds people who argue just for the sake of argument.  Shockingly, … Continue reading →

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Those Crazy Anti-Authoritarians

Posted on February 28, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Some fascinating thoughts about psychiatry and anti-authoritarianism: Gaining acceptance into graduate school or medical school and achieving a PhD or MD and becoming a psychologist or psychiatrist means jumping through many hoops, all of which require much behavioral and attentional … Continue reading →

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Mind Control

Posted on February 10, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Free will exists, right? We are in control of our own minds and thus our own actions? That’s what most of us like to believe, but what if a simple parasitic organism robbed us of at least part of that … Continue reading →

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Sustained Charity

Posted on February 6, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Most people think of charity is something to be done weekly, monthly, or yearly.  A tithe, or a purged closet to Goodwill, or serving Thanksgiving meals to the homeless. But charity can be practiced on a more immediate, more constant … Continue reading →

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