Certainty

Today is both Good Friday and Tax Day. (Ok, the filing day is technically Monday). So it makes some sense to reflect on Benjamin Franklin's observation:

However, despite the impermanence and uncertainty that characterizes everything else, there's a real hunger for certainty: to be sure about our team, cause, beliefs, etc. And it probably feels better to be certain, but as Voltaire pointed out (I will spare you another graphic):

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one.

Paradoxically, (there he goes again with that word) acknowledging doubt, impermanence, and uncertainty makes room for living fully. But that's just me. Moreover, that's just public-facing and performative me.

Certain That We Belong

Yearning for Proof: the real incentive for blockchains (Douglas Rushkoff). Despite numerous potential use cases for smart contracts and distributed ledger technologies, there is something more to this than a push to improve process. Reminds me of Douglas Adams' writing about the Babel Fish.

The Feeling of Being Certain

Radical Anger Management with Dr. Christian Conte (The One You Feed Podcast). There's nothing wrong with wanting to feel right, righteous, or absolutely certain. But it comes with a significant cost.

The Certainty of Belief

Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid (Jonathan Haidt). Critical thinking requires us to challenge our beliefs, even those most deeply held beliefs. But it's hard.

The Certainty of Loss and Insisting on Being There

Smartless: Michael Lewis. Just listen. This is the most heart-wrenching description of the importance of holding space- and nothing more- for others when they grieve. We all most certainly will experience loss: the question is how we respond.

Certain Not to Have a Weekend Like This One Again, Most Likely

Remembering Easter Weekend 1994. These are some random recollections of another time's forgotten space.

Since This is For Certain . . .