Ideas are free, execution is priceless.

A linguistic element for navigating fear is using evaluative language. The goal is to create a sense of urgency. To prompt ourselves to critically assess our choices and motivations. Using such phrasing encourages our emotional shift from passive acceptance to active evaluation of our actions and their consequences. A question we can learn to ask ourselves is this: Would it serve me more to avoid temporary discomfort here, or…

Rhetorical questions are the most underrated linguistic tool in our arsenal. They’re powerful because they’re more about making a point than getting an answer. Such language stimulates introspection, which is an invaluable asset when navigating fear. We need to learn how to deploy that within on a moment’s notice. During the pandemic, I remember reading headlines each day, seeing the same doom and gloom everyone else did. But there…

Here is a useful framework for freeing ourselves from fear. This tool contains four elements. Dichotomy, rhetoric, evaluation and empowerment. Dichotomy presents us a choice between two contrasting options. This trait prompts us to reflect on our own beliefs and encourages critical thinking. Dichotomy helps to break free from binary thinking and open up possibilities for more nuanced understanding. For example, late one night, our relative sends us a…

Identity is a complex, dynamic and multifaceted entity. And it’s not evenly distributed. Who we are as unique individuals rests at the nexus of a vast number of dynamic and interwoven factors. Whitman’s immortal mantra, I am large, I contain multitudes, is not an understatement. The interesting question to ask is, in the mosaic of our lives, composed of these diverse and distinct tiles, which pieces are most prominent?…

There’s no such thing as a person who is always right. Certain people may over index on intelligence, intuition and prescience, and their batting average may be an order of magnitude higher than the rest of us. But do the math. At eight billion strong, the human experience is far too complicated, dynamic and immense for anyone to always be right. People are fallible and prone to errors in…