Life is too short to worry about little things. Have fun. Regret nothing.

It is your responsibility to stop thinking negative thoughts about yourself before they become fixed in your mind as beliefs. Smile. Say something nice about yourself. Make a list of your blessings.

Smile

There are many things that you can do to calm your jitters.  Perhaps the most overlooked way is simply to smile.  People smile when they are happy.  And equally important is that smiling can help you feel happy.  “Fake ’till you make it” is an ambiguous term.  Some people see it as a disingenuous way of faking your skills.  Another view is that faking confidence can help you gain confidence. A smile triggers thoughts that generate happiness.
The smiley face emoji says to other people you approve of what they have to say.  Smiling has a similar effect.  It tells people you approve of them.  It creates trust and helps people open up to you.

You are generating charisma.  People find your presence attractive.  Your smiling helps people feel more confident and comfortable being around you.  In turn, they smile and you feel confident from their signal of approval.

A frown will chase away friends.  Ah, but there is something about a smile that attracts people and draws people to you.

So, let it go.  When you see people, start with a smile.  As people approach, nod and smile.  When you are shaking hands with people, look at them and smile.

Social Anxiety: Is It Killing Your Career?

“Don’t let the world change your smile.  Let your smile change the world.”  A Work in Progress by Connor Franta

Social anxiety is common.  People who are shy are not the only people who experience social anxiety.  People who are confident about what they say or do around friends and family may feel social anxiety when they are among strangers or in front of an audience.

Social anxiety can make you avoid opportunities for work, fun, and networking.  It can cut your opportunities for leadership roles.  Your anxiety can generate signals that make it harder for people to reach out to you.

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Wouldn’t it be great if you could make everyone on the Internet either agree with you or shut the heck up?  You betcha.  I’ve tried.  But they don’t shut up.  They just come back and post more stuff to tick you off.  I can either embrace them or avoid them.

Emotions and Critical Thinking

Beliefs are convictions or assumptions that people hold to be true, even if they can’t be proven or disproven. When issues challenge our beliefs and stir our emotions, we find comfort in seeking information to confirm our beliefs. To think critically, we must free ourselves from our emotions. However, religious, political, and cultural beliefs are not like math or chemistry. These beliefs vary based on ideas that make us feel safe and accepted.

The Risks of  Saying Stupid Stuff on the Internet

Wow, the Internet is immediate and permanent.  And that’s a long time!  I see screen captures of deleted Tweets, Facebook posts, and Instagram on the Internet all the time.

I have posted and deleted material I later thought might possibly be sketchy.  When my gut tells me that I am posting something sketchy, I side with my gut. There is absolutely nothing I can post in a forum that is worth my reputation.

Trolling and Trolls

I love Internet forums.  I read forums for fun and for information.

But forums have a sneaky way of getting readers into a blind date with a troll.  A few months ago, I made the mistake of giving my opinion as opposed to the facts on a forum, only to find that a troll challenged me to explain myself.  Answering the person would only have made the conversation grow.  How wonderful, I could have a relationship with a troll!  I deleted the comment.

On a gut level, the idea of trolling has some appeal.  You know, you create a sneaky identity just to sound off with your opinions and set people right.  But this tactic has a price, especially when people lift your covers.  I read an article a few months ago about a politician who spent $35,000 to find the identity of a troll.  And he found him!

Occasionally, I read an offensive post, something intended to tick people off, at least tick some people.  These posts have a magic for creating rants and counter rants.  People who know how to troll take as much or more pleasure in making people angry as they do in attracting people who agree with them.  Reacting to trolling just raises the post in forum streams.  I just let it go, let it go, let it go.  ♫ ♫ ♫

How to Lose Friends and Lose Influence: Talk about Politics on the Internet

The web is rife with political stuff during political seasons.  Most people have a bias more than a brain when it comes to politics.  Politicians do not give people information.  They give people sound bites, clickbait and headlines to chum the waters for political fish.  People can rise to the bait suck it up.  But political chum is less cool in business and social forums. When I see people posting chum in my Internet feeds, I unfollow them.  See ya, not.  Don’t want your tweets. Don’t want your face on Facebook.  Don’t want your political wisdom on LinkedIn. No, no, no, not now, not ever.

I don’t unfriend them or disconnect from them all the time.  I just unfollow Friends Who Post Politics on the Internet.

Beliefs and claims are important elements in critical thinking because they provide the foundation for reasoning and evaluating evidence. Beliefs are convictions or assumptions that a person holds to be true, even if they can’t be proven or disproven. They often shape a person’s perspective and understanding of the world. Claims, on the other hand, are statements that can be evaluated based on evidence. In critical thinking, it is important to distinguish between beliefs and claims. One should not take their beliefs as fact without evaluating the evidence and reasoning behind them. Additionally, one should evaluate claims by examining the evidence and reasoning presented, and considering alternative perspectives.It is also important to be aware of one’s own beliefs, and to be open to re-evaluating them in light of new evidence. This allows for more accurate and fair evaluations of claims.Overall, critical thinking requires a balance of considering one’s own beliefs and claims, while also evaluating the evidence and reasoning behind them.

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Changing my attitude creates self-wins. Sometimes I believe that I need to negotiate better conditions at work. A good place to start those negotiations is with that voice between my ears.
Jay Wren

Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash

There’s no better time than right now to feel grateful. ~Jay Wren

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Six steps to reducing stress and increasing happiness.

Live in the Present Moment.

Living in the present moment means being fully aware of what is happening right now, without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It is a state of mind that can bring many benefits, such as:

• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Enhancing happiness and gratitude
• Improving focus and creativity
• Strengthening relationships and empathy

Breathe deeply and consciously.

Breathing is the most basic and essential function of life, yet we often take it for granted. By paying attention to your breath, you can anchor yourself to the present moment and calm your mind. Try to breathe deeply and slowly, filling your lungs with air and exhaling fully. Notice how your chest and abdomen rise and fall, and how your body feels with each breath. You can also use a simple mantra, such as “I am here, I am now”, to focus your attention.

Observe your surroundings.

Another way to live in the present moment is to observe your surroundings with curiosity and openness. Use your senses to notice the details of your environment, such as the colors, shapes, sounds, smells, and textures. You can also try to find something new or interesting in familiar places, such as a flower, a painting, or a sign. By doing this, you can appreciate the beauty and diversity of life, and avoid getting stuck in your thoughts.

Do one thing at a time.

In today’s busy and multitasking world, it is easy to get distracted and lose focus. However, doing too many things at once can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed, and reduce the quality of your work and experience. To live in the present moment, try to do one thing at a time, and give it your full attention and energy. Whether it is reading a book, cooking a meal, or having a conversation, immerse yourself in the activity and enjoy the process.

Express gratitude.

You can express gratitude by writing a journal, saying thank you to someone, or simply reflecting on what you are grateful for. By doing this, you can boost your happiness and well-being, and foster a positive outlook on life.

Why People Believe Political Lies

Politics is a domain where lying seems to be rampant and pervasive. From false claims about one’s opponents, to exaggerated promises about one’s policies, to outright denial of facts and evidence, political lies are everywhere. But why do people believe them? What makes us susceptible to deception by those who seek power and influence?

In this article, I will explore some of the psychological and social factors that contribute to our tendency to believe political lies, and some of the ways we can protect ourselves from being misled.

Motivated Reasoning

One of the main reasons why people believe political lies is that they are motivated to do so. That is, they have a preference or a bias for a certain outcome, and they adjust their reasoning and evaluation of information to fit that outcome. This is known as motivated reasoning, and it can affect how we process and interpret political information.

For example, if we support a certain candidate or party, we are more likely to believe their statements, even if they are false or dubious, and we are more likely to dismiss or ignore the statements of their opponents, even if they are true or valid. We are also more likely to seek out and accept information that confirms our existing beliefs, and to avoid or reject information that challenges them. This is known as confirmation bias, and it can lead us to form a distorted or incomplete picture of reality.

Motivated reasoning can also make us more vulnerable to political lies that appeal to our emotions, values, or identities. For instance, if we feel angry, fearful, or hopeful about a certain issue, we are more likely to believe political lies that amplify or exploit those emotions, and to disregard political truths that contradict or undermine them. Similarly, if we identify strongly with a certain group, such as a nation, a religion, or a social class, we are more likely to believe political lies that affirm or defend that group, and to reject political truths that criticize or threaten it.

Motivated reasoning can be influenced by various factors, such as our personality, our education, our culture, and our media exposure. However, it is not a fixed or immutable trait. We can change our motivation and our reasoning, if we are aware of our biases and willing to challenge them.

Cognitive Laziness

Another reason why people believe political lies is that they are cognitively lazy. That is, they do not invest enough mental effort or resources to evaluate the veracity and validity of political information. They rely on heuristics, or mental shortcuts, that simplify and speed up their decision-making, but also increase the risk of error and deception.

For example, if we encounter a political statement, we may not bother to check its source, its evidence, or its logic. We may just accept it as true, if it sounds plausible, coherent, or familiar. This is known as the illusory truth effect, and it can make us more susceptible to repeated or widespread political lies. Alternatively, we may just reject it as false, if it sounds implausible, incoherent, or unfamiliar. This is known as the backfire effect, and it can make us more resistant to new or complex political truths.

Cognitive laziness can also make us more dependent on political lies that provide us with simple and clear answers, solutions, or scapegoats. For instance, if we are confused, uncertain, or overwhelmed by a political issue, we are more likely to believe political lies that reduce the complexity and ambiguity of the issue, and that offer us a straightforward and satisfying explanation, action, or blame. Conversely, we are less likely to believe political truths that increase the complexity and ambiguity of the issue, and that require us to think critically, creatively, or responsibly.

Cognitive laziness can be influenced by various factors, such as our intelligence, our knowledge, our mood, and our attention span. However, it is not a permanent or inevitable state. We can overcome our laziness and improve our cognition, if we are curious, interested, and engaged with political information.

Social Influence

A third reason why people believe political lies is that they are socially influenced. That is, they are affected by the opinions, behaviors, and norms of other people, especially those who are close, similar, or authoritative to them. They conform to the expectations and pressures of their social groups, and they follow the cues and signals of their social leaders.

For example, if we belong to a certain community, such as a family, a neighborhood, or a workplace, we are more likely to believe the political lies that are shared, endorsed, or promoted by that community, and we are more likely to conform to the political views and actions that are prevalent, accepted, or rewarded by that community. We are also more likely to avoid or resist the political truths that are rejected, criticized, or punished by that community. This is known as social conformity, and it can lead us to adopt or maintain political beliefs that are inaccurate or irrational.

Social influence can also make us more receptive to political lies that appeal to our social needs, such as belonging, approval, or status. For instance, if we feel lonely, insecure, or inferior in our social context, we are more likely to believe political lies that make us feel connected, validated, or superior to others, and to disregard political truths that make us feel isolated, rejected, or inferior to others. Likewise, if we admire, trust, or fear a certain person, such as a friend, a celebrity, or a leader, we are more likely to believe the political lies that they tell us, and to ignore the political truths that they hide from us. This is known as social influence, and it can lead us to follow or imitate political opinions and behaviors that are harmful or unethical.

Social influence can be influenced by various factors, such as our relationships, our roles, our cultures, and our media consumption. However, it is not a constant or uncontrollable force. We can resist and change our social influence, if we are aware of our social context and willing to assert our individuality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, people believe political lies for various reasons, but they can be grouped into three main categories: motivated reasoning, cognitive laziness, and social influence. These factors can interact and reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle of deception and ignorance. However, they can also be counteracted and corrected, creating a virtuous cycle of truth and knowledge. The key is to be aware of our own psychological and social tendencies, and to be willing to challenge and improve them. By doing so, we can protect ourselves from being deceived by political lies, and we can empower ourselves to seek and support political truths.