Marty Nemko's Blog, page 215

The Lonely Conservative: Ideas for the out-of-step

Anyone who is 65 or younger, especially if “well-educated,” has throughout their life, probably received a consistent message from society's mind molders—the schools colleges and media—that liberal is good, conservative is bad. 

Broadly, that translates into redistributing from the Haves to the Have-Nots: whether it’s more taxpayer-paid programs for the poor, supporting Palestinians over Israelis, and, of course, supporting Democrats over Republicans.

I have both liberal and conservative friends. In recent years and acceleratingly so in recent months, the liberals are feeling buoyed and/or angry, while the conservatives are more often sad, silenced, and often lonely. My Psychology Today article today offers a few thoughts for conservatives.

Should You Be More Suspicious or Less So? A 10-item self-assessment

When are we exercising due caution rather than crossing the line into over-suspiciousness?

Of course, that question can’t have a black-and-white answer. But it might help to inventory your level of trust in common situations and then reflect on whether and in what circumstances you should be more trusting or less. My Psychology Today article today offers a 10-item self-assessment.

Adventure: Is it time for a more or a less piquant life?

Adventure. That word can evoke images from shopping to swashbuckling.
My Psychology Today article today offers composite letters, one from a person who is living a quite standard life, the other from someone who is living quite large. I offer thoughts to each.

A Case for Silence: Why listening may be more important than ever

There certainly are times to speak up. At the macro level, we might speak out on a political issue. Micro, we often should ask for what we want lest we unduly sacrifice our agency. Plus, speaking is active learning: We grow from figuring out what to say and then saying it.

But these days, silence may be getting short shrift. I make the case in my Psychology Today article today.

What To Believe: Distnguising truth from truthiness

Stephen Colbert coined the term, "truthiness," which refers to an assertion that seems true but well may not be. In our heated times, it seems that truthiness has proliferated.

My Psychology Today article today attempts to make it easier to distinguish truth from truthiness.

Aim for Easy: A counterpoint to our strive-hard society

Sure, there’s a time to go hard, for example, when competing in the Olympics. But perhaps surprisingly often, it's wise to aim for the easy. My Psychology Today article today offers easier options for approaches to activities in both your professional and personal life

Likely Trends in Work in 2021 and beyond

Rarely are predictions of dramatic change accurate. Prospects are better although less impressive when predicting continuation of existing trends. My Psychology Today article today offers my best shots.

19 Words That Make You Seem Smart . . . And actually make you smarter

Of course, a list of words that convey intelligence could fill a small dictionary, but given space limitations, My Psychology Today article today offers  19 that seem particularly useful in today’s roiling times. I use COVID-related examples of how each word could be used.
Using these words, many of which aren't fancy, should add intelligence and nuance to what you say or write.

“Am I Living Life the Right Way?”

Many people wonder if they should of should have lived life differently. My Psychology Today article today offers four letters offer varied expressions of that doubt. I offer my response to each.

4 Career Problems . . . and possible solutions

 
My Psychology Today article today presents four career problems and the advice I’d give.