I’m one of the least religious people you can find. I’ve never been to a church service in my life and I’ve never leaned towards a theological explanation of the world. I’m also pretty hostile to the word ‘spiritual’. At best, it’s used as a glib catchphrase to suggest the person has non-materialistic motivations without […]
Inconvenient Conveniences – Is Easier Always Better?
Everywhere in our society, we’re sold things to make life easier. We’re sold cars so we don’t need to walk. Fast food so we don’t need to cook. Blackberries and iPhones so we never need to be offline. The standard logic is that if something makes life easier, it automatically makes life better. I wonder […]
Will Reaching the Ideal Life Make You any Happier?
Much of what I write here is centered around the pursuit of the ideal life. There are plenty of problems with that pursuit: perfection is impossible, we have limitations, and how do you define “ideal.” But, for the most part, I believe thinking about what the ideal way to live, and making small steps forward, […]
Pragmatic Optimism: How Your Fears and Doubts Can Allow You to Succeed
Deep down, I’m a die-hard optimist. I believe the world is getting better and that the pursuit of the ideal life is possible and worthwhile. While I disagree with a lot of current self-help, I embrace the core premise: that we can become better people. But, as optimistic as I am about the pursuit itself, […]