Life is a Cow
Everyone is to be respected. But respect does not mean praiseworthy. We are cool about bad behaviour but it doesn’t mean we condone and agree. Equanimity. All are equal in Buddha’s eyes. But behaviours and deeds do differentiate in levels. This is related to the amount of dirt and dust covering sentient beings. Our cultivation […]
If utility theory doesn’t work, then what does? One alternative is prospect theory, developed by the author. Kahneman’s prospect theory challenges utility theory by showing that when we make choices, we don’t always act in the most rational way. Imagine these two scenarios for example: In the first scenario, you’re given $1,000 and then must choose […]
How can you make predictions on whether certain things will happen? One effective way is to keep the base rate in mind. This refers to a statistical base, which other statistics rely on. For example, imagine a large taxi company has 20 percent yellow cabs and 80 percent red cabs. That means the base rate for yellow […]
There is a compelling drama going on in our minds, a filmlike plot between two main characters with twists, dramas and tensions. These two characters are the impulsive, automatic, intuitive System 1, and the thoughtful, deliberate, calculating System 2. As they play off against each other, their interactions determine how we think, make judgments and decisions, and act. System […]
Do you ever put off a task you hate, like doing your taxes? Of course you do. Here’s why. Humans aren’t great at comparing short-term and long-term benefits. Psychiatrist George Ainslie found that, when offered a choice between $50 now and $100 in the future, most people chose the $50 up front. But he also […]
Some people have trouble with critical feedback. But the truth is, feedback is crucial to improvement. Let’s face it, no one’s perfect. Deep down, we know that there’s room for improvement, yet we don’t like to hear about our shortcomings from a colleague. When we receive feedback with suggestions on how to improve, we may […]
Do you keep your New Year’s resolutions? Probably not. A 1972 study that looked at whether people succeeded with their New Year’s resolutions or not found that 25 percent of participants had abandoned their resolutions after 15 weeks. In a similar 1989 study, that number had gone down to only one week! The underlying issue […]
Do you feel bad when someone you know becomes successful? If so, you’re not alone. This kind of envy is common. A 2013 study by psychologist Mina Cikara found that people not only resent other people’s success, they also take particular pleasure if a person suffering bad luck is a particularly successful person. Participants in […]
But Macy learned from this experience and vowed not to make the same mistake again. The next time he opened a “Macy Dry Goods” store he chose a prime location in downtown New York. It was a massive hit. Macy’s became one of the biggest chain stores in the world and still holds a parade […]
Mathis’s success is testament to another characteristic of mentally strong people: embracing change in your life. So how can you adopt the right attitude toward change? The first step is to ask yourself which change you’d like to make in your life, thinking very carefully about how this change would make you feel. Pay special […]