Critical-Thinking
In a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 61% of Americans reported feeling stressed when talking to people with opposing political views. That figure alone paints a grim picture of our national dialogue. Faced with discomfort, most people retreat to one of two instinctual responses: confrontation or avoidance. And so, our politics divide.
On one end, we have the loud and combative. The are quick to vilify anyone who challenges their tribe. On the other, the silent and withdrawn. They keep their beliefs close and their conversations safer still.
Read more →
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines non-conformity as “refusal to conform to an established or conventional creed, rule, or practice.” On the surface, this seems straightforward. Non-conformity can be expressed quite simply by beginning a sentence with “I reject…”
Conceptually, non-conformity is often seen as a destructive, or at least disruptive force. It involves the removal or denial of some guiding influence. Yet despite this, non-conformity is frequently celebrated as the engine of social progress. Revolutionary figures in the 18th century, such as those who catalyzed the American and French revolutions, were seen as non-conformists. In the 20th century, Martin Luther King Jr., widely regarded as a non-conformist, helped drive transformative social change. History offers no shortage of examples in which individuals stepped outside the bounds of accepted norms, sparking positive and necessary change.
Read more →
You’ve probably heard of the law of attraction, the idea that whatever you focus on intensely enough will eventually show up in your life. Want to be rich? Visualize the money. Want your dream home? Picture it, believe it, and the universe will supposedly handle the rest.
This law of attraction critique isn’t about tearing down optimism or mocking hope. It’s about taking a closer look at what this philosophy promises — and what it quietly demands in return. There’s value in thinking positively. But there’s also danger in mistaking thoughts for guarantees.
Read more →
