#288. Dad, tell me about failure and self-worth.
Failure does not determine your self-worth. Only you do
#287. Dad, is change necessary?
Yes. Without change, there would be no butterflies.
#286. Dad, what is wabi-sabi?
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese philosophy of embracing the beauty of imperfection.
#285. Dad, tell me about Remembrance Day
Remembrance day is a day to reflect and show gratitude to all those who served to protect us.
#284. Dad, some people may not like what I have to say
Don’t hide your message because some people won’t like it.
#283. Dad, do I only improve by moving forward?
Eliminating mistakes is an under-appreciated way to improve.
#282. Dad, what is “Hofstadter’s law?’
Hofstadter’s law states that everything always takes longer than expected. Therefore, build in a buffer to meet your deadline.
#281.Dad, what is catastrophizing?
When you build a crisis in your mind and expect everything to go wrong.
#280. Dad, what is specificity?
Specificity is the ability to be specific about what you want, what you say and what you do. This forces clarity.
#279. Dad, how do I apologize?
Acknowledge what you did wrong, express remorse, explain what you will do differently in the future.
#278. Dad, do I need external validation to recognize my success?
Self-esteem and self-worth only come from the inside and other people’s validation should not matter
#277. Dad, can I always be perfectly happy?
There is no magic bullet to happiness. There will always be discomfort and worry.
#276. Dad, tell me about self doubt.
It is the feeling of panic and anxiety at the idea of failure.
#275. Dad, what is a “peaceful life?”
A “peaceful life” is the removal of ongoing stress.
#274. Dad, how do I know if I am in love?
You will know because it’s deliberate and conscious. Love is an act, not a feeling.
#273. Dad, what are the origins of “Trick or Treat?
It started with the Scottish Halloween custom of “guising”. Children disguised in costumes and went from house to house for food or money.
#272. Dad, what is moral elevation?
The feeling you get when you witness a virtuous act that makes you want to act virtuous too.
#271. Dad, what is karma?
The belief that the universe restores moral order by rewarding and punishing people based on their past actions.
#270. Dad, who should I have as a mentor?
Somebody you can trust, has high integrity and has reliable judgement.
#269. Dad, how do I respond to unfair criticism?
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all
#268. Dad, what is emotional self-reliance?
I like Mark Manson’s definition: “The ability to see one’s own flaws and be accountable for them.”
#267. Dad, what causes unhappiness?
Our own unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others makes us unhappy.
#266. Dad, tell me about financial discipline.
Financial discipline fosters character traits like self control, prudence, and patience.
#265. Dad, what is Wu-Wei?
Wu-Wei is action through non action. Letting go and letting things unfold. It is the opposite of trying to control.
#264. Dad, I feel overwhelmed.
Ask yourself what is the minimum I can do. Then, just do that.