Just at this moment life seems to be very full of “situations” and it is clear that each situation can only be influenced to a limited extent. In some cases that may well mean that no influence can be brought to bear and I don’t think there is any where full control can be applied. For these situations it is crucial that efforts are focussed on what can be influenced – and not wasted on the rest.
Decision Making
Thoughts On A Meme
I have to admit that I ‘collect’ what the online world has taken to calling “memes”. Now I have been collecting them since before they were called that (I think) – certainly before it was part of popular usage – when they were ‘merely’ aphorisms. (and yes – I do realise that in the accepted sense “memes” are more than ‘just’ “aphorisms”)
On Morality
When it comes to “right” or “wrong” it seems that, increasingly, there is a continuum from one extreme to the other and little agreement as to where in that long line any particular thing resides. Even the most heinous of acts can – from some perspectives – have some aspect of ‘good’ about them. Equally – something done with the best of intentions can be portrayed as evil – if the ‘wrong’ slant is put on it.
Memories Of The Future
Now, another facet of the mystery of memories comes from what was the kids story on Sunday Morning. Here the children were asked to imagine where they might be, or wanted to be, in ten years time. A variation on “what do you want to be when you grow up”.
Doing And Fixing
As someone who is, by nature, destined to ponder on “why” it is no real surprise that I often find myself analysing my own thought processes – certainly a road to eternal recursion – thinking about thinking about thinking about….
Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder
The first ‘serious’ book I have read for a while – have had the book for a few months and just started to read it. Sometimes new ideas are difficult to grasp – but for me the central idea of this book is “obvious”. I put that in quotes because it is only obvious because of other things I have read/experienced/thought over the years. Taleb’s style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I quite enjoy reading him.
Predictably Irrational
A very interesting read – have particularly liked the comparison of behaviour when operating under the social domain as against the market norms. That is something that many employers need to understand. There were lots of useful anecdotes and reports on research that shows that we are all often irrational – and predictably so!
The Other Side of “If Only”
When you start to think about it, it is sobering – no – downright scary just how many people and events may be affected in the future by the decisions we make, individually and collectively, today. I may believe that I have some idea of the immediate effects however, given the way that the world is now connected so much more than ever before, it is next to impossible to determine the totality of the effect of each and every decision we make.
If Only
I have had personal and harrowing experience of the “if only” thoughts – I find it hardest to deal with in respect of how my actions (or my inaction) affects other people. I don’t mean directly – since that is ‘usually’ understood at the time – at least to a certain extent – I am talking about decisions that have long term repercussions that are far from what is envisaged.
The Meaning Of Average
What a bizarre headline for an article was my first thought, but then – is this how most people think? Then again – bizarre headlines are not exactly unusual – they appear everywhere and are mainly designed to pull in the unsuspecting reader.