Monthly Archives: June 2006

I’ve been reading about “unconscious overclaiming”—and realizing that I’m a big offender. In “unconscious overclaiming,” we unconsciously overestimate our contributions or skills relative to other people’s. This makes sense, because of course we’re far more aware of what we do than what other people do. For example, in one study, when students in a work group each estimated their contribution … →

A review in the New York Times Book Review this weekend mentioned a “newly popular genre” that author Hugo Lindgren called “stunt nonfiction”–when the writer reads the whole encyclopedia or says yes to every date for a year. Reading this threw me into a panic. Oh no, I’m part of a genre–and a “stunt genre” at that! It took me … →

“We are never so much disposed to quarrel with others as when we are dissatisfied with ourselves.” –William Hazlitt

Between the ages of twenty and forty we are engaged in the process of discovering who we are, which involves learning the difference between accidental limitations which it is our duty to outgrow and the necessary limitations of our nature beyond which we cannot trespass with impunity. –W. H. Auden An accidental limitation of my nature is my fear of … →

I opened up the New York Times this morning to see the story Into the Closet, about “America’s obsession with putting its house in order.” The piece explored people’s new interest in fixing up closets, and the very high-end features some people incorporate: fridge, love seat, super-fancy cabinetry, even meditation areas. Featured in the story were Visual Therapy closet consultants, … →