tedbilich.com

Blocked Mindfulness

TBilich — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:03:55 +0000

What if you have been taking my advice and trying to be more mindful, but it just isn’t working out? I found this brief article, from The Emotion Machine, quite useful. The author of the blog, Steven Handel, also has a number of other helpful posts on mindfulness. His blog, in short, rewards one’s attention.

Mindfulness is not synonymous with meditation. The two are related, however, since meditation is mindful and can enhance mindfulness even when you are not meditating. For a nice discussion of meditation, I will again mention Full Catastrophe Living. There, Jon Kabat-Zinn takes the reader step by step through the process of learning Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. This provides the curious with a solid introduction to mindfulness and meditation without the religious trappings that so often accompany the subject.

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China’s Creative Class?

TBilich — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:53:34 +0000

One can dispute the 1/24/12 post by Dominic Basulto on the blog Big Think on the rise of China’s creative class on a number of levels, but I wish to mention just one. Basulto seems to frame the issue of creativity in us v. them terms, strongly implying that the “rise” of the creative class in China is bad for the United States. The basic premise appears to be that creative endeavors — or endeavors for creative people — are a static-pie phenomenon. There’s only so much to share.

Perhaps, instead, the creative class tends to expand the economic pie? And perhaps the “rise” of the creative class in China (if that is happening) might increase the opportunities for shared values across cultures? Just a couple of thoughts.

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Success Steps

TBilich — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:20:34 +0000

This is not a self-help blog, and I don’t like posts that merely point to another’s writing. With that disclaimer, this recent post over at the blog Marc and Angel Hack Life really nails it. Each of the suggestions for achieving more success and personal satisfaction is based on sound psychological principles. Each is simple and incremental. Each is worth it. And number one on the list? Making — and accounting for — goals.

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The Practical Dividends of Kindness

TBilich — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:50:08 +0000

Want to feel better? Be kind. It really is that simple. As this article by Joe Wilner points out, acts of kindness to others — done without expectation of reward, remuneration, recognition, or repayment — paradoxically pay real dividends to the giver. The irony is sweet, no? Very sweet indeed.

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The Great Collaborations

TBilich — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:21 +0000

What are the greatest collaborations in history?

This interesting question arose in a Twitter conversation. Mike Brown at Brainzooming had referred to a great little post he’d written about the collaboration between John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles. In an exchange following Mike’s tweet, we started discussing great collaborations.

Of course, the term “great” depends on the metric. Millions have received pleasure from the Lennon/McCartney collaboration, but that partnership was perhaps rather trivial in world-historical terms. Thus my question, and it is for you, the reader. What do you consider the great collaborations in different disciplines — politics, science, music, and the arts?

For example, consider Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who not only closely collaborated in their political philosophies, but also effectively controlled the US Presidency for 25 years (if you count the third and less significant of their group, James Monroe). Louis Brandeis and Felix Frankfurter also come to mind, since their multi-year collaboration had enormous impact on progressive law and US politics during the middle years of the 20th century (described in this book).

These examples stem from my background in political and legal thought. I’m interested, however, in the great, dominating partnerships in any discipline — particularly those with which I lack familiarity.

Please comment and provide your best examples. I am seeking thoughts from readers because you have so many different backgrounds, interests, and values. Take a moment to give it some thought and provide me with some feedback about your candidates for the truly “great” partnerships.

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