Introspection

Is it because I started blogging that I became more introspective? I've noticed this lately, but I think it's been a long time coming. Going to college encouraged me to think about things I had never thought about before. This week, I had a lot of pillow chatter with some deep questions, and this topic came up several times.

Coming into college, I knew plenty of technical topics and so on, but I really needed to learn about many other aspects of "intelligence." Here's one of them: emotional intelligence. I took this test on Prevention.com. No, I don't visit their often. This is what they told me:

You can cope with some emotional curveballs, but your reserves need bolstering. Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches "are often your body's way of telling you you're on emotional overload," says Ann Webster, PhD, a health psychologist at the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School.

I can sort of see what they're getting at, but with just a few questions, it's not very complete. Basically, I'm quite imperfect in the area. So I took another test by the HayGroup. I scored a 65 out of 100, whatever that means.

So here's what got me thinking. This is question 8, then the next paragraph is what they say on the answer page. I answered D. I just thought this was interesting in light of a recent conversation and what they recommend for action.

8. A discussion between you and your partner has escalated into a shouting match. You are both upset and in the heat of the argument, start making personal attacks which neither of you really mean. What is the best thing to do?
A. Agree to take a 20-minute break before continuing the discussion.
B. Go silent, regardless of what your partner says.
C. Say you are sorry, and ask your partner to apologize too.
D. Stop for a moment, collect your thoughts, then restate your side of the case as precisely as possible.

8. The shouting match:
The most emotionally intelligent answer is A. In these circumstances, the most appropriate behavior is to take a 20-minute break. As the argument has intensified, so have the physiological responses in your nervous system, to the point at which it will take at least 20 minutes to clear your body of these emotions of anger and arousal. Any other course of action is likely merely to aggravate an already tense and
uncontrolled situation.

[A] 10 Points - Agree to take a 20-minute break before continuing the discussion. [Correct Answer]
[B] 0 Points - Go silent, regardless of what your partner says.
[C] 0 Points - Say you are sorry, and ask your partner to apologize too.
[D] 0 Points - Stop for a moment, collect your thoughts, then restate your side of the case as precisely as possible. [My Answer]

Graphic Designers

Today I feel badly for graphic designers because I can't imagine having to be creative and imaginative every day! Today is one of those days where I don't have a particular drive to make something, do something, go somewhere, etc. When I really need to feel motivated to do homework! At any rate...

The CTL website is in the middle of a redesign, especially in light of the recruiting efforts we're putting on to hire people. The whole effort is closely aligned with our overhauling of the company from the inside out with a tremendous amount of money and effort being invested.

Well, writing this is motivating in and of itself. :) Thanks for reading.

Shame on Social Security

Social Security funds are here to bail out Wall Street. Financeers have waited a long time for this day to infuse new life into the financial economy. Now, all of our dollars will allow them to make more for themselves and move their money into other investments. This is all short-term and quite disturbing since we'll market rebound and hear about how our economy is "heating up" and other lies as trillions of dollars float the economy for a while until the harsh reality that it's not anything substantive happening but just another change of the window dressings.

What needs to happen? Keep SS funds in government accounts, out of the hands of brokers. Fix the economy by re-investing in the disintegrating roads and rails and by making money available to states, municipalities, and certain coporations to begin building public works (including museums, libraries, and other FDR-esque projects). You can't make private industry prosper, but you can lay the groundwork for it to take place and as a result provide jobs for people to support themselves, their families, and their futures.

The Early Church

Reading through the Bible, I finished Matthew last week and started the Book of Acts yesterday. The progression is fascinating really. Here you go from what Jesus was doing - about 3 years of ministry, is dead for 3 days, returns and teaches for another 40 days, then says he's coming back soon. I got to thinking, if I was a disciple, I would've thought he'd be back in, oh, a couple of days. Really - maybe a couple of weeks, tops. Certainly not more than 3 years. Fast forward today, we're still waiting, 2000 years later.

Back to AD 50 something, I'm drawn to the fact that people who met Jesus and tramped around the Israeli countryside with him were the early church. These people - persecuted, martyred, and thrown into arenas - knew that Jesus was a flesh and blood person. They had spent years with him and dedicated their lives to something that they knew was real. No way, no way, did these people dream up a religion only to get slaughtered by the Romans. They experienced a real relationship and wanted to share this with people, no matter what the cost, because it was worth it.

And here we are today, not so far removed. It's just moved from generation to generation with exactly the same message. There's more to this life than living and dying. We're more than flesh and blood. It's awesome. Really.

Self

So Texas Sarah and I have discussed this at length recently... It's funny that she brought it up because I had spent time thinking about it over the last week only to have her mention it since she's learning about it in her philosophy class. At any rate, the topic is self.

It cracks me up when people say, "That is so not me" or "I'm just not an office person" or words to that effect. Because in my mind, who you are is a function of what you do. So in some way, what you're doing is reflected in who you are, whether you like doing it or not. Of course, your motive is likewise reflected. So maybe you aren't an office person, but you're willing to do it for a six-figure salary. Ha! That says something about who you are.

So I've come to terms with the fact that I am who I am in a physical, spiritual, mental sense and that I am what I do. "Nick is a maniac" refers to all of those categories, both in a potential sense and a historical pattern of behavior sense. Right? :)

Perhaps people mean that they don't want to be like that. Which makes sense. I don't want to be a woman; hence, I avoid wearing dresses. Not that I....nevermind... But Pink just isn't my color, and she isn't my girlfriend either. I don't want to be in an office all-day, every day. But it sure is nice when it's below zero. For that, I have a cozy place with a nice wood door and an oversized window. Ahh....

Texas Sarah is far brighter than I and could carry this conversation much further, but I'm out. Hope everyone enjoyed my half birthday on Wednesday. :-o