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Human beings have a tendency to be overconfident… we tend to believe that we know more than we actually do. From the decisions that we make, to the opinions that we hold, we should be careful to consider our tendency to be overconfident in our thoughts and behavior… it frequently bites us all in the ass. Confusing luck, with “being good” or “being skilled” is another form of overconfidence as well.
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Daniel Kahneman, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his seminal work in psychology that challenged the rational model of judgment and decision making, is one of our most important thinkers. His ideas have had a profound and widely regarded impact on many fields—including economics, medicine, and politics—but until now, he has never brought together his many years of research and thinking in one book.
In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behavior. The impact of loss aversion and overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the challenges of properly framing risks at work and at home, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning the next vacation—each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems work together to shape our judgments and decisions.
Engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives—and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble. Thinking, Fast and Slow will transform the way you think about thinking.
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Action, with little reflection, has no depth, while reflection, with little action, has no influence.
The majority of us lead lives of too much action… with far too little reflection.
Strike the right balance and you’ll find success.
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Life has no single ubiquitous meaning; in other words, life has no primary goal that’s built into each and everyone of us, as human beings. However, it’s absolutely essential, that each one of us, carefully defines what gives our specific life meaning. If we’re to live a life worth living… we certainly must define that for ourselves.
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The best personal trainers aren’t necessarily those that make the most money, keep the highest public profile or possess the greatest physical appeal; rather, the best personal trainers are those most responsible for improving the overall quality of your life.
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Personal discipline is something we choose to pursue… it doesn’t just happen to us. If we control our impulses, our basic desires and instincts, as well as our emotions, not because we have to… but because we want to, being disciplined becomes quite enjoyable.
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We should differentiate ourselves from others (in a positive manner of course) by being physically strong and mentally wise; neither characteristic comes without lifelong pursuit and daily dedication. On the other hand, integration and sharing with others, is one of the finest things in our lives, and is just as important as the characteristic of differentiation. The combination of these two powerful qualities – differentiation and integration – is a whole worth achieving.
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See You There!
P.F. Changs Arizona Rock’n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon
Sunday, January 15th, 2012
Both Races start at 7:30am!
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“Every action done in company, ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.” George Washington
I believe in the wisdom and correctness of this quote regardless of its origination… and I keep this precept in mind, even when others have no idea what good civility should look like.
It should be the very definition of civilization…
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Currently Reading: The Highly Sensitive Person
Are you a highly sensitive person?
Do you have a keen imagination and vivid dreams? Is time alone each day as essential to you as food and water? Are you “too shy” or “too sensitive” according to others? Do noise and confusion quickly overwhelm you? If your answers are yes, you may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).
Most of us feel overstimulated every once in a while, but for the Highly Sensitive Person, it’s a way of life. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Elaine Aron, a psychotherapist, workshop leader and highly sensitive person herself, shows you how to identify this trait in yourself and make the most of it in everyday situations. Drawing on her many years of research and hundreds of interviews, she shows how you can better understand yourself and your trait to create a fuller, richer life.
Are you an HSP? Are you easily overwhelmed by stimuli? Affected by other people’s moods? Easily startled? Do you need to withdraw during busy times to a private, quiet place? Do you get nervous or shaky if someone is observing you or competing with you? HSP, shorthand for “highly sensitive person,” describes 15 to 20 percent of the population. Being sensitive is a normal trait–nothing defective about it. But you may not realize that, because society rewards the outgoing personality and treats shyness and sensitivity as something to be overcome. According to author Elaine Aron (herself an HSP), sensitive people have the unusual ability to sense subtleties, spot or avoid errors, concentrate deeply, and delve deeply. This book helps HSPs to understand themselves and their sensitive trait and its impact on personal history, career, relationships, and inner life. The book offers advice for typical problems. For example, you learn strategies for coping with overarousal, overcoming social discomfort, being in love relationships, managing job challenges, and much more. The author covers a lot of material clearly, in an approachable style, using case studies, self-tests, and exercises to bring the information home. The book is essential for you if you are an HSP–you’ll learn a lot about yourself. It’s also useful for people in a relationship with an HSP. –Joan Price
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Disrespectful, pompous, aggressive, rude or insensitive behavior… is frequently nothing more than a failed personal interpretation of what it means to be confident and strong.
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Obesity is the biggest health threat we face as human beings… it increases the risk factors for the majority of cancers from head to toe (there are well over 100 different types of cancer) and it’s a bigger risk factor than smoking cigarettes; even being slightly overweight carries tremendous health risks. Maintaining a healthy body composition for our age group is the best way to avoid the risk factors associated with this condition.
ACSM Recommended Body Composition (body fat %) for Men and Women:
Men 10%-18%
Women 18%-25%
Follow The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) link below for more detailed body composition and health guidelines:
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We cannot control many of the events in our lives, but we can control how we react to these events. For instance, we certainly don’t choose to be stuck in heavy traffic, but we certainly choose how we react when we find ourselves stuck in heavy traffic. The choice is ours to make… a positive, satisfied, relaxed reality; or a negative, dissatisfied, agitated reality. Our personal reaction, to any event, becomes our reality.
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Whatever our current circumstances, involuntary suffering will most likely touch all of our lives. How we live with it, when it’s experienced and how we help others who are experiencing it… will certainly reflect on how we’ve lived our lives.
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The majority of us, if not all human beings, have a need to expand… but keep in mind that expansion can and does come in many forms, both positive and negative.
Whether this need is met through earning more money and higher promotions, buying and collecting more things, earning more awards and accolades or simply continuing to earn a higher and higher education – we all seek self-expansion.
It’s best to direct this need for self-expansion in a positive manner; to expand our personal base of specific knowledge, and then to apply this knowledge, would be a positive example… to expand our personal possessions, at the expense of our savings account and personal security, would be a negative example.
Productive and meaningful self-expansion is important to our personal success and our level of contentment as well… this powerful influence should be directed thoughtfully and not misused.
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Whenever some of our wants and needs are finally met, whether permanently or temporarily, we immediately begin wanting and needing something else. This chronic dissatisfaction with the way things are in our lives has certainly led to unbelievable human achievements, but more frequently than not, it has simply led to perpetual discontent. Sometimes it’s simply best to appreciate, and care for, what we already have…
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Those with a lower tolerance for stimulation (up to 50% of us) would be wise to choose a job that reflects this predisposition.
Within this aforementioned 50% – there’s another 20% – who find themselves “highly sensitive” and do not thrive at all even under moderate stimulation!
This is an important personal quality that should not be ignored.
To find meaning and enjoyment in our lives, it’s important to understand and listen to ourselves… to “know they self” is an important concept worthy of your time.
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Glib conversations with others, wrought with thoughtless topics and superficial responses, do very little for us intellectually in the long run. Although superficial conversations are necessary at times, relying upon this method of communication can leave us out of touch and stymied in our personal growth. Learn to explore your thoughts and share personal ideas that you’ve spent much time with, while being willing to do the same for someone else.
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