You have an emotion factory in your head. Emotions aren’t the raw material. They’re not even the end product. But they are manufactured along the way. Once you know they’re just one stop in a workflow, you can start to appreciate all of the mini-connections and feedback loops concurrently networking. All within your factory. (That … Continue reading How Emotions Are Made
Category: books
Swim Till You Sink
It’s ok to take on a challenge without knowing where it could take you. Breathe in for a minute. Think about the word “pointless” and then exhale. Ok, one more time, adding some nuance: It’s ok to take on a challenge without a precisely identified endpoint, goal, or purpose. This is one of those “zen … Continue reading Swim Till You Sink
The 5 F’s Of Stress Response (Fight, Flight, Follow, Freeze, F*** It)
In Peter Atwater’s book, The Confidence Map, he says the situations where we are MOST stressed, are those when our feeling of certainty and control are the lowest. Makes sense. I remember sitting down for a class in high school and having the teacher say, “Clear your desks, pens and pencils only, I’m passing out … Continue reading The 5 F’s Of Stress Response (Fight, Flight, Follow, Freeze, F*** It)
Applying Atwater’s Confidence Map
It’s often as hard to make sense of “where’d we start” and “where’d we go” as it is to make sense of “where are we now” and “where are we going?” I can hear you thinking. “Matt, no it’s not. Or at least it’s not really that hard. Beyond simple cause and effect, there’s a … Continue reading Applying Atwater’s Confidence Map
How To Make Love Stay
I was having a moment. “Are all of my life lessons derived from the ‘80s?” I was shouting to my wife from the other room. “Uhh, are you OK?” She started back. “That sounds like a very big and very random statement. And maybe a cry for help.” I walked out to the living room … Continue reading How To Make Love Stay
More Evil Doesn’t Beat Evil, Good Beats Evil. Duh.
If you haven’t read The Lord of the Rings, or seen the movies, or even if you only half-remember The Hobbit cartoon from the ‘70s - I have a non-spoiling spoiler for you (because it applies to writing online and life in general): More evil doesn’t beat evil. Good beats evil. Duh. You can try … Continue reading More Evil Doesn’t Beat Evil, Good Beats Evil. Duh.
Podcast Of The Week: Merve Emre’s New Criticism Podcast Might Be My New Favorite Thing
It’s one episode in and I’m prone to hyperbole, but. I found Merve Emre via her book The Personality Brokers back in 2018ish. This book helped me better understand the Meyers-Briggs personality test. Not my particular personality (INTJ, as discussed here, or anyone else’s for that matter), but - where the test came from, who … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Merve Emre’s New Criticism Podcast Might Be My New Favorite Thing
Before You Assume You’re Right, Try This
Before you assume you’re right about anything, remember to ask this question. From Will Storr (as told to David McRaney, as relayed to Bogumil Baranowski): Am I right about everything? The answer is, “No.” It’s not even hard to say. Try it (we'll say it together. 1, 2, 3 and) - "I am most certainly … Continue reading Before You Assume You’re Right, Try This
Cross-Generational Quick Connection Hacks
“OK, Boomer.” “OK, Zoomer.” “OK, _____” Want to forge stronger connections and build relationships outside of your age range? Do it the same way you do it within your own age range. Start with something they care about. It helps if you care about it too. AKA be curious. And skip over the boring stuff. … Continue reading Cross-Generational Quick Connection Hacks
How To Write A Foreword That Disses The Author (McKee vs. Pressfield)
When Steven Pressfield asked Robert McKee to write the foreword to The War of Art, he probably didn’t expect McKee to include a strong disagreement. You know, in the intro of HIS book. But McKee did it. It makes McKee’s War of Art intro one of my favorite forewords ever, if not the gold standard … Continue reading How To Write A Foreword That Disses The Author (McKee vs. Pressfield)