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be a good friend to yourself


I’m sharing a little love this week. Last week, a good friend of mine sent me a link to a video about how to be a good friend and it took me to YouTube video created by a site I already subscribe to. With all the news in the world these past months, I’d forgotten all about this site so I was really glad to have the universe nudge me back in their direction through my friend’s serendipitous intervention. It’s called The School of Life; check it out. You might like it.


I’ve been a subscriber for several years now. I’ve read many articles, watched videos and I’ve purchased a number of their books, card decks and other items. I went looking for a deck of theirs I own called Critical Thinking Cards so I could share a few examples with you, in the spirit of “We can all use a little help now.” The deck is made up of 24 Logical Fallacies cards and 24 Cognitive Biases cards. Here are four examples.


From the “your fallacy is” cards, here’s Ad Hominem.

  • Attacking your opponent’s character or personal traits in an attempt to undermine their argument. After Sally presents an eloquent and compelling case for a more equitable taxation system, Sam asks the audience whether we should believe anything from a woman who isn't married and probably eats her own boogers.


Here’s Personal Incredulity.

  • Saying that because one finds something difficult to understand that it’s therefore not true. Kirk drew a picture of a fish and a human and, with effusive disdain, asked Richard if he really thought we were stupid enough to believe that a fish somehow turned into a human being through just, like, random things happening over time.


From the “your bias is” cards, here’s Fundamental Attribution Error.

  • You judge others on their character, but yourself on the situation. It’s not only kind to view others’ perspectives with charity, it’s more objective too. Try to be mindful to err on the side of taking personal responsibility rather than justifying and blaming.


Or how about Framing Effect?

  • You allow yourself to be unduly influenced by context and delivery. No one likes to think of themselves as easily manipulated, however it’s only when we have the intellectual humility to accept the fact that we can be influenced, that we can limit how much we actually are. Try to be mindful of how things are being framed or what's being left out.


You get the idea. And, does it sound familiar? If you’re on social media, I’ll bet it does!


I hope you’ll check out all they offer. With clarity, kindness and a little humor, the articles, videos, podcasting and certainly the books and other produce found in The School of Life can be very helpful, personally and professionally.


2/24/25

 

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