Abraham H. Maslow, in his seminal paper A Theory of Human Motivation, said that man [human beings] is a perpetually wanting animal. There seems to be no denying this, and, in fact, it seems to be a fundamental basis for the growth of the species. In this mode of wanting, in our desire for more, to fill a psychological void, there is the prospect of achieving peak experience. Peak Experience is the seemingly seldom reached place where we may say that we have made it, if even for only a short period.
The Illusion of Free Will
Is free will an illusion? Do we have free will to choose our future life experience, or are our lives predetermined in some way? We seem to have the free will to perform trivial tasks like cross the street or not, to buy a coffee here or over there, to pay for our ticket now or wait for a better deal. But, when it comes to significant life events, perhaps it’s not so cut and dry. Despite our best intentions, stuff happens. So, are we fooled by the illusion of free will?
Why Do We Work Jobs We Hate?
Why do we work? What is the purpose of work apart from providing us with money to buy stuff we don’t need and pay bills? Is it possible to be happy and fulfilled in our daily work or are we destined to despise, yet endure its demands on our lives? Sure, we need money in our pockets to function within the societal system, but most of us it seems, are dissatisfied and disengaged
What’s The Meaning Of Life?
What is the meaning of life? Why am I here, and how can I achieve happiness? These questions, I believe, occupy the minds of people the world over. It seems that the more complex society becomes, the more information available, the more lost we are and the greater our striving for meaning. In our desperation for answers, we often turn to ill-suited and unreliable external sources.
How To Make Rational Decisions
In this week’s Sunday Letters article I’m taking a look at how we can make rational decisions and how sometimes, what we think is rational is actually irrational, and if not irrational, certainly to our disadvantage.
Analogical Thinking: A Method For Solving Problems
How To Solve Problems By Analogy The ability to solve problems is an essential skill for our survival and growth in the fast-paced, moment to moment shifting of modern society. No matter what the domain of expertise or work, challenges present themselves at an ever-increasing rate. And so it should be, for what is a […]
The 22 Self Disciplines of Buckminster Fuller
Self Disciplines of Buckminster Fuller In 1927, Buckminster Fuller found himself in financial ruin and personal turmoil. Five years earlier, his first child, Alexandra, has passed away aged four from spinal meningitis. Now his business had failed, leaving him broke with investors, his family and friends who invested in him, at a loss. He drank […]
Going Narrow And Deep
In today’s article, I want to get into the subject of going deep and narrow versus going broad and shallow. Some advice suggests we should diversify, be skilled in many areas – broad and shallow in other words.
Creativity Happens When…
When does creativity happen? It seems that the more we try to make something happen, the more interference we introduce to the creative process. So how do we achieve a breakthrough?
Sunday Letters: New Format
Sunday Letters has been on the go about 18 months or so and over the 77 odd issues, the format has been pretty much one dimensional and simple: an article. But now it’s time for change. When I started writing again I decided to forget about monetising and just write about things that interested me. […]