Category Archives: Communication

Correcting The Details

When I was a teenager, my dad received a special bonus to take his family out for dinner and so we headed for a fancy French restaurant in our town called The Catacombs.  I don’t remember much of the actual … Continue reading

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When Life Breaks Relationships

Relationships are a complicated mix of expectations, communication and growth. In the short-term, relationships grow quickly with people whose life situation is the same as ours. Over time people’s circumstances change.  Sometimes it’s us, sometimes it’s the other person, either … Continue reading

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Bending The Golden Rule

Sometimes we need to bend the golden rule — we should NOT treat others as we would want to be treated by them. The Golden Rule provides a simple heuristic for empathy. Our actions affect others usually in the same … Continue reading

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The Cult Of Busy

There was a time when the question, “How are you doing?” was given the non-answer: “Fine”. Lately though, I hear myself giving the answer: “Busy” or perhaps to cover my bases: “Fine… Busy!”. Do I really think I’m more busy … Continue reading

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The Unreasonable Response : Avoid Too Little, Too Late

“We’re under a lot of pressure internally and the decision has not yet been made, but unfortunately it looks like it’s only 40% likely that we’ll be moving forward with you.”  Sounds bad, but it could be worse. At least … Continue reading

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The Search For Complicity

A cult in the Chicago area believed the world was going to come to an end. They didn’t seem too concerned for others going into that date. They gathered in a home and waited for the end. It didn’t come. … Continue reading

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Lipitor – “80% of Heart Attack Victims Have High Cholesterol”

80% of Heart Attack Victims Have High Cholesterol -Lipitor Television Ad If you had high cholesterol, would you start feeling worried? Lipitor is lying. Not in a factual sense, but in an emotional one. This is an example of a … Continue reading

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My Failure To Communicate

“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw Ann and I were sitting at a Starbucks having a Define-The-Relationship conversation. Like so many others falling in love, I wanted to define … Continue reading

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The 50/50 Fallacy

The ability to distinguish sensations resulting from our own actions from those with an external cause is a fundamental aspect of human behaviour. This distinction is in some cases reflected directly in perception: for example, tickling oneself produces a less … Continue reading

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Only Seeing the Differences

“Wow! That’s really cool that you and the other groomsman wore matching tuxedos!” I was amazed at the comment. How could it be any other way? But this wasn’t a typical wedding, it was my brother and his Swedish bride’s … Continue reading

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