Category Archives: Psychology

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 →

Posted in Advice, Choice, Food For Thought, Psychology, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Psychology of Morality

Posted on April 11, 2012 by AJ Kessler

At least one study shows that our default setting might be to cheat.  Only when we have a bit of time for reflection does our penchant for morality kick in: Dr Shalvi, Dr Eldar and Dr Bereby-Meyer gave each of 76 … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Business, Food For Thought, Psychology, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Advice, Choice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Rationality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Creativity and the Importance of Disappointment

Posted on April 4, 2012 by AJ Kessler

I’m just diving into Jonah Lehrer’s new book on creativity, Imagine: How Creativity Works.  We’ve discussed creativity here extensively, and even addressed how to be creative, but I hope to share some new insights from this book soon.  In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Quotes | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Most Astounding Fact About The Universe

Posted on April 2, 2012 by AJ Kessler

You may have seen Neil deGrasse Tyson’s quote about what he considers to be the most astounding fact about the universe, but it’s even more impressive when mashed up by Max Schlickenmeyer:

Posted in Art, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Quotes, Rationality, Video | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Choice, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Persuasion, Productivity, Psychology, Quotes, Rationality, Self-Improvement, Video | Tagged , | Leave a comment

You Can Decide To Be Happy

Posted on March 30, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Good listen:

Posted in Advice, Choice, Food For Thought, Psychology, Quotes, Rationality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

…But No One Else Is Doing It

Posted on March 25, 2012 by AJ Kessler

It’s scary if you’re the only one doing something.  The immediate thought is that you must be doing something wrong.  Surely, if you were right, someone else would be doing it. Sometimes, that’s true.  Nobody is selling bacon-flavored oxygen because … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Rationality, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fear Breeds Superstition

Posted on March 22, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Superstition, then, is engendered, preserved, and fostered by fear.  If anyone desire an example, let him take Alexander, who only began superstitiously to seek guidance from seers, when he first learnt to fear fortune in the passes of Sysis (Curtius, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Quotes, Rationality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Problem Solving In The Real World

Posted on March 21, 2012 by AJ Kessler

From about 5 years old to somewhere between 18 and 30 years old, we’re asked to solve problems in some specific way in order to demonstrate we understand what the professor was paid to teach us.  You’re allowed to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Food For Thought, Psychology, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Atheism 2.0: Religious Benefits for the Secular Life

Posted on March 20, 2012 by AJ Kessler

The video, embedded below, is difficult to quote, but touches on some of the issues we’ve discussed before.  Definitely worth soaking in:

Posted in Food For Thought, Psychology, Rationality, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Who Am I

Posted on March 19, 2012 by AJ Kessler

When I see those paparazzi pictures of Fat Kevin Federline, sometimes sporting dopey cornrows, sometimes waddling across some anonymous poolside deck with beer in hand, I imagine a guy who does not know who he is, what he is supposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Quotes, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What You Want

Posted on March 18, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Alain de Botton with a good reminder: One of the interesting things about success is that we think we know what it means. A lot of the time our ideas about what it would mean to live successfully are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Psychology, Quotes, Rationality, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Solve The Right Problem

Posted on March 17, 2012 by AJ Kessler

In 1959, long before the X-prize, Henry Kremer offered 50,000 pounds to anyone who could finally build a flying machine powered only by the pilot’s body power.  All an entrant had to do was fly in a figure eight around … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Art, Business, Creativity, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Leading, Productivity, Psychology, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

One Easy Step To Flatter People, Show You Care, and Demonstrate Your Dedication

Posted on March 14, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Don’t be ashamed to need help.  Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish.  And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up?  So what? – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Book 7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Business, Food For Thought, Inspiration, Persuasion, Productivity, Psychology, Quotes, Relationships, Self-Improvement | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment