Why it's bad to be a lazy thinker

Between work, kids, household chores, and other responsibilities, many of us are left with depleted physical and mental resources at the end of the day.

However, I've observed that even on weekends -- when we have more spare time to read, write, play Sudoku, or engage in other mentally-stimulating activities -- many people still opt to do things that require minimal thinking, such as sifting through Facebook posts or binge-watching The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Mind you, there's nothing wrong with these kinds of things. But while I'm all for giving the mind a rest at certain points throughout the day, I can't go more than a couple of hours without wanting to learn something new -- whether it's the meaning of a word I came across in an article or about President Trump's latest economic proposals.

I'm on a seemingly never-ending quest to expand my vocabulary and gain as much insight into the world -- and the human mind -- as I possibly can. I try my best to sate that intellectual curiosity by reading books, writing blog posts, watching educational documentaries, and visiting museums.

I realize, though, that not everyone shares the same willingness/disposition to learn new things.

I recognize, for example, that counting Jeopardy! and CSPAN history programming among my favorite shows puts me in the minority.

The point here is not that everyone should become a bookworm, watch only quiz shows, and play Scrabble for fun.

It's that we should make a conscious effort to do things every once in a while that involve mental rigor -- whether reading instructions to assemble a bookshelf, proofreading a nephew's book report, playing a game of chess with a friend, or investing the time to learn the history of destinations you're considering traveling to.

Thinking critically and creatively keeps the mind sharp and improves memory -- something we all need as we age.

The way I see it, human beings don't come endowed with superhero powers. We can't fly. We can't shoot fireballs. We can't teleport or wield an invisibility shield.

We do, however, have a brain and the capacity to boost its power.

And how exactly can we amplify our brainpower? By feeding the mind knowledge.
A person armed with knowledge is a powerful person indeed. Thus, knowledge itself is power.

My social psychology professor in college put it rather succinctly: "We are cognitive misers." We are inclined toward conserving our cognitive resources as much as we can.

And there's no question that as technology becomes more and more sophisticated, our reliance on it to complete the simplest of tasks will only grow.

It's important we give our brains a little exercise here and there. Challenging ourselves to learn and retain information will not only serve to sharpen our cognitive skills, but make us wiser and better informed.

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

How To Understand People

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