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Gray B's avatar

Reminds me of teenagehood and the desparate need for adult guidance. Swinging from delight to despair in one breath. Not really knowing what to do, what to think, how to be. Going down bad alley ways with parents praying and hoping we dont kill oyrselves before we grow some sense and meaning. I remember some good, caring adult voices, some!. Just a caring sentence or 2 - I am sure I would not have survived. Thats what they do - those adult voices - they've been thro it, they have found meaning and they turn back to try to give it down the line. Thx adult-voice Jim.

Kevin Jordan's avatar

For those seeking a scientifically grounded approach to authentic human flourishing—one that moves beyond both naïve optimism and cultivated despair—I highly recommend the work being done at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, founded by psychologist and neuroscientist Richard Davidson. Their research on well-being and flourishing is thoughtfully summarized in the recent book Born to Flourish, co-authored with Cortland Dahl.

Edward Arnold's avatar

Is this book centered around meditation, mindful self-compassion , or something else?

Keri King's avatar

I deeply resonated with your assessment of much of humankind's current state. I was hoping you could provide some actionable things that would empower a shift to the middle, so to speak. As a minister, I encounter both ways of being in myself and others. Perhaps this a time of the exposure of duality and a time of integration?

Edward Arnold's avatar

I did not fully understand how ridiculous toxic positivity is, until I confronted my own trauma. Which also caused me to exit social media dominated by toxic negativity. Thank you for founding CNRS, its members strike a good balance between the two.

Tim Miller's avatar

Very true! It is hard these days not to get cynical about political leadership.

Margaret Root's avatar

Terrific message—so relevant! Thank you,Jim. Already shared it and will likely share again. 🙏