The following is attributed to John Lennon: There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and…
Category: Personal
Lawyers
From experience, I have two pieces of advice regarding lawyers – neither of which you’ll get from AI. Be A Good Client This is a lot more than paying invoices timely. You’ll benefit from developing a productive and respectful relationship with your lawyer. Here’s how: There’s more to being a good client but I’m sure…
Love and Relationships—Valentine’s Day Reflections
Love is a profound and joyful emotion. However, it is more than an emotion—it is a recognition and appreciation of the value someone or something adds to our lives. Love brings joy, meaning, and fulfillment. When we love deeply, a psychological bond forms that enriches our lives. Love is also action—things we do to nurture…
Am I Capable of Erotic Love?
“Are you capable of erotic love?” Jason Stotts asks in his book, Ethos and Eros. Me? Let me think. What qualities would I need to bring to and for a loving romantic relationship? Can I live up to this and be worthy of a romantic partner? More tomorrow on Valentine’s Day. Carl B. BarneyFebruary 13,…
The Power of Love
Love, in the Objectivist ethics, is a response to values. It is the emotional price paid by one person for the joy they receive from the virtues of another. It’s not a payment for services rendered nor a compensation for disvalues, but a celebration of all that is good in another person and oneself. Love…
Trump’s Playfulness
President Trump’s unpredictability, flexibility, and impulsivity is criticized. But perhaps these are strengths. Perhaps he’s playing; perhaps he is negotiating. Perhaps this is his Art of the Deal. President Trump’s behavior is brilliantly characterized by Joe Klein, a former Time Magazine columnist. He writes: I’ll not fall for the bait. I watched Trump’s press conference….
Falling Asleep
I’ve been working on my sleep. Formerly, I would get four and a half to five and a half hours of sleep per night, and I thought that was healthy. It’s not. I’ve now achieved seven hours of sleep a night on average. I’ve been working on falling asleep and have come up with some…
Strategic Planning
I recently came across an exceptionally clear article detailing Israel’s strategic planning during its confrontation on three fronts: Gaza/Hamas, Lebanon/Hezbollah, and Iran—the so-called “axis of evil.” This analysis is a masterclass in strategy and demonstrates how precise, targeted actions can change the course of history. You can read the full article here: Netanyahu: The Inside…
Thanksgiving Message: Generosity, Appreciation, and Gratitude
I’ve learned some important lessons about generosity and its emotional offspring, gratitude. I’m pleased to announce that my book, The Happiness Experiment, is at the publisher and will be launched next year. While writing the book, I researched and struggled with many philosophical, psychological, and practical issues. I learned a lot. Generosity, appreciation, and gratitude…
American Sense of Life
During this election year, I despaired over the American sense of life: Had the life and spirit of America finally died? And I’m delighted that émigré Konstantine Kisin captures the American sense of life that went into play with the recent election. Here, in full, are his ten reasons we didn’t see Trump coming: 1….