I am very curious how you came to be so well and broadly read. What are your undergrad degrees?
I just heard Jordan Peterson say, "to minimize the amount of suffering in the world, now that is something to do." That is the ethic with which I attempt to operate.
If I could get everyone I come in contact with in my practice "to make stepping onto this path more alluring than any alternative," I would be out of business.
BA in political science, minor in leadership (thanks ROTC), 1 class away from a minor in Islamic studies. I was going in the direction of social psychology initially, but group differences being a part of that field and seeing the pressure to downplay them for unscientific reasons I got off that path. I would've liked to be a social psychologist in a different world, but I digress. I'm not as well read as I may appear, I get the broad part because I unashamedly stand on the shoulders of others who ARE very well read in order to focus my attention on the information I find most valuable. I could go on and on talking about the heuristics I use in my quest for truth and knowledge, but I think the key to ratiocination (to use one of my favorite words) has to do with something in this article, namely, self-awareness. Knowing your motivations is key, and I long time ago I decided I discovered I really enjoyed being right about things. Well, the best way to do that is to be primarily motivated by accuracy. Once you can see that motivation trumps reason, it becomes pretty easy to spot in the writings/beliefs of others. Whenever I detect inconsistency (which sometimes starts with emotional irritation), I see if there is a motivation that might explain this inconsistency. I use this to model the ideology of others, authors in particular. At this point you might be wondering how this is answering the question, well, this explains the breadth. I go with the cliff notes version of ideas of people who I am convinced have motivations other than accuracy dominating their ideology. I'm also very interested in how particular ideas relate to one another almost like building blocks. This constructs a kind of grand narrative for the evolution of ideology that makes it so I remember what I read about ideas very clearly, even if only a salient paragraph 15 years ago. I don't typically read books cover to cover, I read what I am excited to read and about things I am especially motivated to know about, then move on when no longer interested. I depend on conversation with others to fill in the blanks. For example, if I'm missing some central idea, I will get called out. If that happens, I go look up that idea and where it came from, the ideas the preceded it, and the ideas that proceeded from it. Sorry if that is kind of a rambling mess, you got me reflecting on processes that are very habitual at this point but fun to examine!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I am very interested in other people's processes. I enjoy watching/listening to others as their thoughts unfold to answer questions. From your answer, I was thinking that you sounded very much like a stoic. I am sure they were a part of your leadership training. I was introduced to them via Ryan Holiday. I got sick of him (Ryan Holiday) quickly as I felt it was just all self-promotion and have not revisited the stoics since 2020 (the world went crazy).
I do not have your somewhat photographic memory. Looking at your dento-facial development, I would say that you were breast fed. Your calmness and ability to think under pressure, as evidenced by the DH podcast, makes me think that you have high seretonin levels. Clearly you have a high level of ethics, and these all make you an excellent leader. Above all, you seem to remain humble, an even rarer quality.
I'm definitely incorporating some stoicism, but talk about a philosophy that is short and sweet to get the broad strokes. You know, they really should include it in leadership training, but they don't, at least not for my minor in undergrad which is pretty weak. Ryan is in the unenviable position of having to continue to create content when like I said, the philosophy is simple. At a certain point you're going to get really repetitive. You're right on the breastfeeding thing, but funny story, my mom cut me off on around 5-6 months because I wasn't "on-task" enough, which I bust her chops about to this day, good to see that this was enough to result in some physical evidence! The humility thing is something I've had to work on, and being proven wrong about a few things I was sure about over the years has helped, but to be honest, I don't typically come across as humble. Not arrogant mind you, but too confident in my beliefs/disposition for the tastes of some. I've been trying to play up self deprecation and recognition of my personal weaknesses over the past couple years to bridge the gap/communicate more effectively, good to see that this effort isn't in vain!
What's your story if you don't mind me asking? With your comment about being worked out of a job if folks were eager to step on the path and speculation about neurotransmitter levels based on observed task performance makes me think you're some type of behavioral health provider.
I'm just a chiropractor. In a sense, anyone attempting to encourage healthier lifestyles/habits, is a behavioral health provider. I am fascinated by human behavior, especially the humans I admire. You have many admirable qualities, though I am more convinced than ever that you would make an abominable woman ;)
I'm telling you, I just hide my feminine side very well. I just learned from transgender training today that I'm authorized to dress as a female in public and wear makeup in what is called "Real Life Experience" even without a change in gender status in DEERS (our system of record) so who knows? You being a chiro, ever read Stu McGill's stuff by any chance?
Just came across your name reading Chris Bray. This is the first time I am reading your material(thoughts, beliefs may be a better description). It is a LOT to take in. I will continue to read as I feel I have a lot to learn about myself. Didn’t even know that until Chris directed me to “minute 49” of a 2 hour podcast you were part of. It got my attention.
Love the Hume reference. From your previous work, I'm confident you actually read Hume! Not to be cynical, but I do wonder if some people are purpose-driven and so willing to create their own roles, whereas other people are understandably seeking community membership and so align themselves accordingly -- spiritually and mentally -- and fulfill (insofar as they do, or anyone does) existing roles. Not criticizing either type. Do think leadership matters, as well as who we surround ourselves with. Moreover, am I committed to truly sharing the burdens? Helping raise my cohort up or at least keep them afloat, so to speak? As I get older, the intangibles -- the spiritual -- matter more and more.
What's particularly good about your model -- the direction your work is going here -- is that it prepares people for life after the military. With purpose, you have direction and even structure for your own life and social environment. Without it, you are -- or can be -- at the mercy of your current situation. I do find too many people trapped in the present, as it were.
In one of the footnotes I mention Olympic athletes and their struggles, I see a strong parallel with veterans. While I haven't gotten into it every day, another way I frame the issue in the military is that if you want to be healthy and fit, you'll need to do it in spite of the Army, not because of it. All too often in dealing with the day to day stresses and bullshit, Soldiers come to the conclusion that they'll just survive until they get out and establish some really bad habits. The thing that is difficult to appreciate, is that these bad habits are even harder to kick once you're out of the military and you don't have a steady paycheck coming in and (relatively) robust healthcare services at your disposal. I think this dynamic is one of the things that contributes to the epidemic in veteran suicide.
I am very curious how you came to be so well and broadly read. What are your undergrad degrees?
I just heard Jordan Peterson say, "to minimize the amount of suffering in the world, now that is something to do." That is the ethic with which I attempt to operate.
If I could get everyone I come in contact with in my practice "to make stepping onto this path more alluring than any alternative," I would be out of business.
BA in political science, minor in leadership (thanks ROTC), 1 class away from a minor in Islamic studies. I was going in the direction of social psychology initially, but group differences being a part of that field and seeing the pressure to downplay them for unscientific reasons I got off that path. I would've liked to be a social psychologist in a different world, but I digress. I'm not as well read as I may appear, I get the broad part because I unashamedly stand on the shoulders of others who ARE very well read in order to focus my attention on the information I find most valuable. I could go on and on talking about the heuristics I use in my quest for truth and knowledge, but I think the key to ratiocination (to use one of my favorite words) has to do with something in this article, namely, self-awareness. Knowing your motivations is key, and I long time ago I decided I discovered I really enjoyed being right about things. Well, the best way to do that is to be primarily motivated by accuracy. Once you can see that motivation trumps reason, it becomes pretty easy to spot in the writings/beliefs of others. Whenever I detect inconsistency (which sometimes starts with emotional irritation), I see if there is a motivation that might explain this inconsistency. I use this to model the ideology of others, authors in particular. At this point you might be wondering how this is answering the question, well, this explains the breadth. I go with the cliff notes version of ideas of people who I am convinced have motivations other than accuracy dominating their ideology. I'm also very interested in how particular ideas relate to one another almost like building blocks. This constructs a kind of grand narrative for the evolution of ideology that makes it so I remember what I read about ideas very clearly, even if only a salient paragraph 15 years ago. I don't typically read books cover to cover, I read what I am excited to read and about things I am especially motivated to know about, then move on when no longer interested. I depend on conversation with others to fill in the blanks. For example, if I'm missing some central idea, I will get called out. If that happens, I go look up that idea and where it came from, the ideas the preceded it, and the ideas that proceeded from it. Sorry if that is kind of a rambling mess, you got me reflecting on processes that are very habitual at this point but fun to examine!
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I am very interested in other people's processes. I enjoy watching/listening to others as their thoughts unfold to answer questions. From your answer, I was thinking that you sounded very much like a stoic. I am sure they were a part of your leadership training. I was introduced to them via Ryan Holiday. I got sick of him (Ryan Holiday) quickly as I felt it was just all self-promotion and have not revisited the stoics since 2020 (the world went crazy).
I do not have your somewhat photographic memory. Looking at your dento-facial development, I would say that you were breast fed. Your calmness and ability to think under pressure, as evidenced by the DH podcast, makes me think that you have high seretonin levels. Clearly you have a high level of ethics, and these all make you an excellent leader. Above all, you seem to remain humble, an even rarer quality.
I'm definitely incorporating some stoicism, but talk about a philosophy that is short and sweet to get the broad strokes. You know, they really should include it in leadership training, but they don't, at least not for my minor in undergrad which is pretty weak. Ryan is in the unenviable position of having to continue to create content when like I said, the philosophy is simple. At a certain point you're going to get really repetitive. You're right on the breastfeeding thing, but funny story, my mom cut me off on around 5-6 months because I wasn't "on-task" enough, which I bust her chops about to this day, good to see that this was enough to result in some physical evidence! The humility thing is something I've had to work on, and being proven wrong about a few things I was sure about over the years has helped, but to be honest, I don't typically come across as humble. Not arrogant mind you, but too confident in my beliefs/disposition for the tastes of some. I've been trying to play up self deprecation and recognition of my personal weaknesses over the past couple years to bridge the gap/communicate more effectively, good to see that this effort isn't in vain!
What's your story if you don't mind me asking? With your comment about being worked out of a job if folks were eager to step on the path and speculation about neurotransmitter levels based on observed task performance makes me think you're some type of behavioral health provider.
I'm just a chiropractor. In a sense, anyone attempting to encourage healthier lifestyles/habits, is a behavioral health provider. I am fascinated by human behavior, especially the humans I admire. You have many admirable qualities, though I am more convinced than ever that you would make an abominable woman ;)
I'm telling you, I just hide my feminine side very well. I just learned from transgender training today that I'm authorized to dress as a female in public and wear makeup in what is called "Real Life Experience" even without a change in gender status in DEERS (our system of record) so who knows? You being a chiro, ever read Stu McGill's stuff by any chance?
I am very familiar with his concepts. I have read some, not fully versed. I've been meaning to read more.
Just came across your name reading Chris Bray. This is the first time I am reading your material(thoughts, beliefs may be a better description). It is a LOT to take in. I will continue to read as I feel I have a lot to learn about myself. Didn’t even know that until Chris directed me to “minute 49” of a 2 hour podcast you were part of. It got my attention.
Thanks for stopping by and good to have you here!
Love the Hume reference. From your previous work, I'm confident you actually read Hume! Not to be cynical, but I do wonder if some people are purpose-driven and so willing to create their own roles, whereas other people are understandably seeking community membership and so align themselves accordingly -- spiritually and mentally -- and fulfill (insofar as they do, or anyone does) existing roles. Not criticizing either type. Do think leadership matters, as well as who we surround ourselves with. Moreover, am I committed to truly sharing the burdens? Helping raise my cohort up or at least keep them afloat, so to speak? As I get older, the intangibles -- the spiritual -- matter more and more.
What's particularly good about your model -- the direction your work is going here -- is that it prepares people for life after the military. With purpose, you have direction and even structure for your own life and social environment. Without it, you are -- or can be -- at the mercy of your current situation. I do find too many people trapped in the present, as it were.
In one of the footnotes I mention Olympic athletes and their struggles, I see a strong parallel with veterans. While I haven't gotten into it every day, another way I frame the issue in the military is that if you want to be healthy and fit, you'll need to do it in spite of the Army, not because of it. All too often in dealing with the day to day stresses and bullshit, Soldiers come to the conclusion that they'll just survive until they get out and establish some really bad habits. The thing that is difficult to appreciate, is that these bad habits are even harder to kick once you're out of the military and you don't have a steady paycheck coming in and (relatively) robust healthcare services at your disposal. I think this dynamic is one of the things that contributes to the epidemic in veteran suicide.