Like many young families, my home is an absolute mess. We’re caught in the cycle of messy build-up that becomes outrageous, sending us into a frenzy of cleaning. I recently joked with my wife that we should have more people over because we do our best cleaning when we know company is on its way. …
Do me a favor. Pull out a notebook, virtual or physical. Then, read the following statement and write down any words or phrases that are vague, confusing, or you don’t recognize. Here’s the statement: “He’s not a team player, and his attitude is affecting morale.” Done? Great. Next, write down questions that could be asked …
Here’s a question I don’t think we ask enough: What are we actually afraid of when we avoid genuine conversations with people who hold different political views? The surface answer is usually something about not wanting to waste time on “bad faith” arguments or not wanting to legitimize “harmful” ideas. But in my work helping …
The Identity Question: Why We’re Afraid to Listen Across Political Lines Read More »
With the US presidential election approaching, it’s natural for folks to feel a surge of anxiety. It’s almost as if our individual actions may get lost in the vastness of the electorate. This feeling of powerlessness can make voting seem like a small, even inconsequential, gesture. The profound thing about humanity is that something that …
The Ripple Effect of Showing Up: Why Your Vote Matters Beyond the Ballot Read More »
Today, I want to take some time to look at a core driver of who we are, how we think, and what we believe; Our Worldview. What is a “Worldview?” A worldview is the lens through which we perceive and interpret the world around us. It encompasses our beliefs, values, and assumptions about how things …
Do Good People Do Bad Things? How We Decide What’s Right, What’s Wrong, and How to Vote. Read More »
Reading is a passion of mine. Nearly all my epiphanies arise from the books, articles, and research papers I devour. I apply the same level of curiosity to these texts that I encourage others to use in their daily work, during conflicts, and when confronting limiting beliefs. Most of my moments of inspiration come from …
The Benefits of Reading When Discovering New Solutions Read More »
I love this quote by Larry Whitmore during an interview: “My opinion always changes with the facts.” I think this is true for the majority of us. People’s opinions often change when confronted with new facts. but, when an opinion is deeply tied to one’s sense of self, changing it requires more than just presenting …
Empathy and Validation: How to Change Deeply Held Beliefs Read More »
I’m working on a good description of what I do for work. The problem is that it’s amorphous on the best of days. So far, the best I have come up with is: I’m a professional question-asker. The reason I have job security in the field of professional curiosity is that a breakthrough in a …
To be human is to be a storyteller, intricately weaving narratives that shape our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us. However, the very fabric of these stories is made of subjective perspectives and biased interpretations. As we navigate the tapestry of human existence, our eyes are inevitably drawn toward the expansive political …
The Stories We Tell: Bridging political divides by rewriting our internal narratives Read More »
Conflict is something most of us dread. The way we prepare for it, the way we navigate it – it often leaves us feeling uneasy, burdened by a storm of emotions and differing opinions. We’ve been conditioned to view conflict as inherently unhealthy, a zero-sum game where one person wins at the expense of the …
