#modern wisdom

[stahsm]

Chris Williamson’s podcast Modern Wisdom —— interview with Joe Hudson (Does Heartbreak Expand Your Capacity To Love?)

YouTube: Why You Feel Helpless... and How to Break the Loop

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Chris Williamson: "Some ways pop psychology lies to you: Everyone you dislike is not a narcissist. Every unpleasant experience is not trauma. Having needs does not make you codependent. Disagreement is not gaslighting. Conflict is not abuse. Taking offence is not being triggered. Everything does not need to be normalised. Speaking like an HR memo is not self-awareness."

One of my favorite posts from you. Are these, sort of the 9 horsemen of psychology?

Seerut Chawla: These are definitely some of them. It's a dialogue around narcissism. It's creating this strange, you know, fan-fiction version of narcissism that only lives on the internet. Anybody you don't like is a narcissist. Any form of abuse or poor treatment is narcissism. Words mean things, especially when it's clinical language. And we've taken this therapy-speak, which is a part of therapy culture, and you use it to inflate every little thing. You're not just offended or you don't like something or you're uncomfortable, you've been triggered. You haven't been triggered. You don't like this so it's cause cognitive dissonance.

-

Pop psychology is not psychology.

• Everyone you dislike is not a narcissist. • Every unpleasant experience is not trauma. • Having needs does not make you codependent. • Disagreement is not gaslighting. • Conflict is not abuse. • Taking offence is not being triggered. • Everything does not need to be normalised. • Speaking like an HR memo is not self-awareness.

==

"Therapy speak" is a great way to figure out who you should simply ignore.

[christiancornelius]

“Give a man purpose and the ability to achieve it and he will crawl over broken glass with a smile” - Chris Williamson

[mcthuggets]

"What could you do today that you will thank yourself for tomorrow ?"

This quote from Modern Wisdom | Jimmy Carr really stood out to me and is something I have started to ask myself as I go about my days.

On those days where I'm not sure what to do with my time, this simple but profound question helps me re-align myself with my goals and to consider the trajectory I want my life to follow. It has led me to put in an extra hour of study, find the motivation to go to the gym, reach out to friends, etc.

I often find myself struggling to find a good reason not to spend the time scrolling through social media or otherwise "just chilling". I really appreciated this perspective and would highly recommend checking out this episode of Modern Wisdom.

[rcxeira]

But here’s a little secret for you: no one is ever the same thing again after anything. You are never the same twice, and much of your unhappiness comes from trying to pretend that you are. Accept that you are different each day, and do so joyfully, recognizing it for the gift it is. Work within the desires and goals of the person you are currently, until you aren’t that person anymore, and everything changes once again.

Welcome to Nightvale, Episode 75: Through the Narrow Place

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Is Social Justice A Religion? - Andrew Doyle | Modern Wisdom Podcast

Chris: How similar do you draw the parallels in terms of religion? You know, like the sacred texts, the idols...

Andrew: It's a way that you can understand it, if you perceive it as a religion. Because it's a belief system, albeit of a secular kind, which is largely faith-based, so they believe in these invisible power structures, they believe in lived experience, they believe in all this stuff that you have to just take on trust. And the people who are uniquely qualified to detect these power structures, those who have studied “Whiteness Studies” or whatever it might be - so there's that element to it.

But also it it bears all the hallmarks of fundamentalist religion insofar as it will not tolerate any dissent. It attacks heretics, it roots them out, it excommunicates anyone who strays from it. It has its own liturgical cant, doesn't it? Phrases that you are expected to repeat, like “trans women are women,” “trans men are men,” et cetera.

It has its own esoteric language, pseudo-religious language, it has its own gods - Judith Butler, Kimberly Crenshaw, Michel Foucault - its own saints at least.

It has its foundational holy texts. It has all sorts of things in common with religion, so yeah i think it's a really helpful way to understand it.

But also, the main thing I think, is that as Stephen Weinberg the physicist said, “without religion you have good people doing good things and bad people doing bad things; for good people to do bad things that takes religion.”

And it makes sense of things for us, because the Inquisitors who who burned people at the stake, strapped people to the rack, thought they were doing God's work, thought they were the good guys.

The social justice activists who have this incredible unmitigated rage and ferocity, who will happily destroy your life, they will end you. They are merciless and brutal, but they think they're doing good.

And that I think is that's why it makes sense to think of it as a religion. That's why it it helps us to comprehend why - look a lot of the people in this movement will be bullies and will be the sadists. It attracts people of that kind, because they get to do what they want to do and look like the good guys and they get away with it.

But most of them will be really decent people who think that they are upholding social justice and who will think that they are combating racism, combating fascists. They probably believe that fascists are everywhere even though all the studies tell us that they're not.

So that's why I think the comparison with religion is important to understand, because I don't want to just dismiss these people as all... you know, if you just judge them on their actions you think, god these people are psychotic, they have no human empathy. Just none.

But it can't be that, can it? Because I have a fundamental belief in humanity and I think some people are sociopaths, some people have no empathy, and some of them will be part of the social justice movement, sure. But I think most of them are pretty good people who just got it very wrong.

==

Long but worthwhile chat between Chris Williamson and Andrew Doyle.

[theblindmachine]

"## 40 Hard-Earned Truths I Wish I Knew in My 20s As we journey through life, there are certain experiences that leave indelible marks on us, shaping not just who we are today, but who we’ll become in the future. Having spent years in the White House, advising Fortune 500 companies, and delving into the intricate dance of human behavior through my books, I've gathered a treasure trove of insights—40 hard-earned truths I wish I knew in my 20s. These aren’t just platitudes; they are the raw, unfiltered lessons that have molded my perspective on success, happiness, and the relationships we cultivate. Let’s cut to the chase: some of these truths will challenge your thinking. Others will make you feel a little uncomfortable. But that’s the point. This isn’t about agreement; it’s about growth. ### Rethinking Success First and foremost, let’s talk about success. In today’s hyper-competitive world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring our worth by external accolades—titles, salaries, likes on social media. But here’s the hard truth: success isn’t just what you achieve; it’s how you achieve it. The real measure of success lies in the passion you pour into your work and the impact you have on those around you. ### The Weight of Regret Next comes regret. Yes, we’ve all had our share of choices that haunt us, but remember: every so-called “failure” is a lesson in disguise. Each misstep is a stepping stone towards clarity and self-awareness. Embrace your regrets, learn from them, and use them to fuel your ambition rather than letting them weigh you down. ### Unpacking Reputation Your reputation is a fragile thing, easily shaped by the opinions of others. Build a legacy founded on authenticity and integrity. People will forget what you said; they may even forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Strive to create meaningful connections that are rooted in honesty and respect. ### Chasing Happiness When it comes to happiness, let’s get one thing straight: it’s not a destination, but a journey. The hustle and bustle of daily life can drown out our ability to appreciate the little things. Cultivate gratitude in your life. Recognize that happiness often resides in the present moment, not in some distant future goal. ### Ambition and Relationships Ambition is vital, but don’t let it come at the cost of your relationships. Nurturing the connections you have with family, friends, and colleagues can significantly enrich your life. Approach your career with zest, but don’t neglect the people cheering you on from the sidelines. ### A Field Guide for Modern Life With each of these insights, remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to navigating the complexities of modern life. This collection of truths serves as your field guide—an invitation to reflect, to challenge your current beliefs, and to embark on a journey toward greater clarity and purpose. And hey, you might not resonate with every single one of these. That’s perfectly okay. But perhaps one of them will ignite a spark and change the way you see everything. Ready to dive deeper? For more insights, resources, and to explore the full spectrum of my work, head on over to [danpink.com](https://danpink.com). Your journey towards living with intention starts now."