Energetic Life

What is neurosis? How Sigmund Freud modeled the mind? Sigmund Freud - the infamous and highly criticized psychologist and father of psychoanalysis - sheds light on a new and foreign phenomenon (Neurosis).  This is a continuation of  Analyzing errors  and  Dreams  from the book  Introduction to psychoanalysis . Freud has changed his opinion and views many times. He himself states that and is proud of his modifications. Yet I think he is still trustworthy, for who is not open to error? In contrast, he who doesn't change his opinions is stubborn, biased, and the most suspicious. At least he (apparently) is being himself and acting according to his own dictates.  Freud model of the mind: The unconscious is like an ante-chamber - a house. In that house thoughts and impulses run freely and wildly. The conscious mind is a small room in that house, with a guard or a watcher sitting at the entrance. Only approved thought is allowed to reach the conscious. This...

How strategy is similar to science? A strategy is like a scientific hypothesis. An educated prediction of how the world works. A good strategy is built on functional knowledge - what works, what doesn't, and why. It is necessarily empirical and pragmatic.  Good strategy Bad strategy  dives deeper into the science of strategy. The ultimate worth of strategy is determined by its success. I recommend checking  Introduction to strategy  post before you continue. Who is called "The father of strategy"?  Hannibal of Carthage (247 BC). Hannibal taught painful lessons to the roman republic through many catastrophic and tragic defeats, which caused Romans to adopt many of his tactics and strategy and evolve from there. The master strategist is a designer. The design is adroit and clever - a configuration of resources and activities that yield an advantage . The design should be from upstart early conquests rather than mature states. The strategist should identify which a...

Do you know what to ask? How to ask? Who to ask? Why did you come up with that question? Questions challenge authority and disrupt established structures processes and systems. Force you to think and do something differently. There is no formula for questioning. Accept that it's OK with not knowing. In this complex and dynamic world, answers are a commodity losing value. Questions: Spades to unearth hidden truths Shine light where you need to go Organize our thinking around what we don't know Engines of intellect Flashlight Make you learn We live in the world our questions create.  A more beautiful question  talks about how to ask "beautiful" questions.  A beautiful question is ambitious and actionable.  Begins to shift the way you perceive or think. Serve as a catalyst for change.  Tend to follow a logical progression: Why: Step back. Notice what others miss. Challenge assumptions. Contextual inquiry for deeper understanding. Take ownership of a particular q...

Stress is harmful. Right? Not really. In The Upside Of Stress , Kelly McGonigal - Ph.D., a research psychologist, and an award-winning science writer - argues why stress is actually good. If you let it be. Her arguments and research is based mainly on scientific research and experiments. The main trick is a mindset change. Viewing stress as helpful creates a different biological reality. Specifically, the hormone DHEA (responsible for growth) increases, while the hormone Cortisol stays the same. The increase of DHEA sets the ratio to a healthier state. The effect you expect is the effect you get. What is stress? Stress is what arises when something you care about is at stake. Stress and meaning are inextricably linked in your life. The latest science states that stress can make you smarter, stronger, leading a meaningful life. Adopting a new positive view of stress and developing a different, better relationship with stress can reduce "Stress problems" and enable you to thri...

What is strategy?  A strategy is a coherent set of analyses, concepts, policies, arguments, and actions to respond to a challenge. Strategic planning is a dear subject to me since childhood. This is a small summary from the book  Good/Bad Strategy . A strategy is about how to advance forward. It is the craft of figuring out which purposes are both worth pursuing and can be accomplished. The basic idea of Strategy is applying strength versus weakness or most promising opportunities. It is a way through a difficulty, an approach to overcome an obstacle. It Involves choice , setting aside goals in favor of others, which, is the most essential difficulty.  The heart of the matter in strategy is Advantage . To Achieve a powerful competitive punch or problem-solving effect. Some properties of Good Strategy: Recognizes the nature of the challenge and offers a way of surmounting Unexpected Creates Strength through coherence of design and subtle shifts of viewpoints Hard work - no...