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Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist. He has been researching Stoicism for over twenty years and is one of the founding members of the nonprofit Modern Stoicism. He is also the founder and president of the Platos Academy Centre nonprofit in Greece. Whats the big idea? The philosophy and methods of Socrates can help bring calm and clarity to the distracted, nervous, and angry modern mind. His training techniques share remarkable overlaps with modern cognitive-behavioral therapy. Below, Donald shares five key insights from his new book, How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World. Listen to the audio versionread by Donald himselfin the Next Big Idea App. 1. How to practice the Socratic Method. Socrates, despite being one of the most influential philosophers in history, wrote nothing. At least, thats what people like to say. However, Plato, his most famous student, tells us that while in prison awaiting his execution, Socrates wrote poetry. More intriguingly, Epictetus, the famous Stoic philosopher who lived four centuries later, claimed that Socrates jotted down countless notes that were designed for his own self-improvement but never intended for publication. Another of his students describes how Socrates taught a young man to practice philosophy by means of a formal written exercise. For this exercise, Socrates drew two columns, the first headed Justice and the second Injustice. His companion was invited to list examples of wrongdoing under the heading of injustice, such as theft and deceit. Its often easier to understand our values if we begin by defining their opposites. However, the basic skill underlying the Socratic Method really comes into play in the next step. Socrates asked his friend to imagine any situations where the things hed listed under Injustice might be placed under the heading of Justice. For instance, a general who seized the weapons of the enemy during a war might be said to be stealing, but perhaps thats not unjust. Likewise, a father might be considered justified in concealing medicine in his sick childs food despite this being a form of deceit. Socrates was skilled at coming up with these sorts of examples. Training yourself to think of exceptions to rules and definitions can help you avoid applying them too rigidly. This skill is important because the advice and techniques we learn from self-help books are often of limited value. Whats good advice in one situation may become bad advice in another. Solutions that work well for some problems may backfire when applied to others. Wisdom consists of thinking for yourself by adapting rules to fit new situations. Socratess two-column technique only teaches one small part of his famous philosophical method, but its a great way to start thinking more flexibly and adaptively about life. 2. Generate alternative perspectives. Epictetus said, People are distressed not by events but by their opinions about events. This was one of the main inspirations behind cognitive therapy, the leading form of modern evidence-based psychotherapy. The idea goes back to Socrates, a century before the Stoic school of philosophy was founded. Modern psychological research has confirmed that our beliefs shape our emotions more than we normally assume. By changing the way we think, we can change the way we feel. Socrates, at times, behaved rather like a modern-day cognitive therapist. An obstacle stands in the way. Some of our beliefs are so entrenched that we find it difficult to imagine ever viewing events differently. When were gripped by strong emotions, such as fear or anger, it may feel natural to view certain events as catastrophic or certain people as unbearable. Socrates, at times, behaved rather like a modern-day cognitive therapist. He would ask his friends whether they imagined that the events that upset them might be viewed differently by other people. What you see as a catastrophe, someone else might view as bad but only temporary, whereas a third might even look at it as an opportunity. By becoming aware that multiple alternative perspectives are conceivable, you can attune to the way your beliefs influence your emotions. 3. Separate your thoughts from external events. Cognitive therapists say our beliefs are like colored lenses through which we look at the world. Suppose youre wearing blue lenses, which color the world with sadness. Theres a difference between looking at the world through your sad, blue lenses and looking at them. This shift in perspective can be compared to observing your own biases as if you were observing someone elses. When we can distinguish between our thoughts and external reality, we experience two main benefits. The most obvious is that our emotions tend to be reduced in intensity. The second is more subtle but arguably even more valuable: We become better at exploring alternative ways of looking at problems. With this flexibility, we find creative solutions to improve how things work out in the long term. Therapists today have fancy names for this, like cognitive distancing or defusion, but it basically means learning to separate beliefs from the things they refer to. It allows you to view your own thinking with greater objectivity and has been found especially helpful for emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. The simplest way to do this is by writing your thoughts down and observing them from a detached perspective. Another method is to tell yourself, I notice right now that I am having the thought . . . and then state the thought you were having as if you were putting it in quotation marks. You can also imagine that some thought or belief has been painted in big letters on a wall, picturing the color and shape of the letters or changing their appearance until you have a sense of the words being like external objects. Therapists may also ask their clients to repeat a troubling thought aloud rapidly for around 30 seconds or to say it more slowly, with longer pauses. Its interesting to try worrying in slow motion! These techniques allow us to experience a thought or belief with greater detachment by looking at our mental lenses rather than looking through them. Youre not avoiding the thought, and you can still discuss evidence for and against it. Youre just experiencing it from another perspective. I believe that Socrates gained this sort of detachment from his own beliefs by discussing them with his friends. He compared self-knowledge to an eye that sees itself, and the best way to achieve this, he thought, was by engaging in philosophical conversations where you view the other person as a mirror for the mind, in which you contemplate your thinking more objectively. 4. Illeism, meaning talking in the third person. When Socrates finished discussing philosophy with his friends, he would go home and continue the conversation with himself in private. He would imagine another Socrates interrogating him about his assumptions concerning wisdom, justice, and other virtues. Socrtes appears to have been known for referring to himself as if he was another person. A similar technique, which involves talking about yourself using your name or third-person pronouns, is called Illeism. It is occasionally used in modern psychotherapy to help clients manage anxiety and other distressing emotions. We often seem better at giving other people advice than solving our own problems. The psychologist Igor Grossmann heads a center that conducts research on the nature of wisdom at the University of Waterloo, in Canada. He was intrigued by a paradox: We often seem better at giving other people advice than solving our own problems. He and his colleagues carried out a variety of experiments and found that when people write about their problems in a journal using the third person, they exhibit more wisdom than when writing in the first person. He calls this method distanced reflection, and it can improve your ability to reason, especially about problems that normally evoke strong feelings. 5. Anger and perceived injustice. Philosophers have debated the nature of justice for thousands of years, but we dont normally think doing so is therapeutic. However, studies have found that individuals who suffer from clinical depression often perceive themselves as victims of injustice. Ancient Greek philosophers understood that anger is often associated with a desire for those we perceive as having acted unjustly to be punished. Cognitive psychologists have arrived at a similar conclusion:Anger often involves blaming others for violating some rule. Socrates insisted that the injustice of others could not harm him. He was not angry with the men responsible for his unjust trial and execution. Paradoxically, he believed that injustice harms the perpetrator more than the victim. Few people today would accept such a radical position, but we can imagine how it may have helped Socrates show extraordinary fortitude and resilience in the face of persecution. Get into the habit of asking what does you more harm: your anger or the things youre angry about? Although there are real injustices in the world, anger is seldom the most helpful response. In trivial cases, it may be best to let go of our sense of injustice so that we can move on. When facing more serious problems, it may be easier to replace anger with assertiveness. It can be challenging to decide whether our feelings are justified, but its important to spot when anger is doing us more harm than the wrongdoing were concerned about. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
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In this economy, job seekers face a tough market, despite strong job growth. Some apply for more than a hundred jobs before landing one. Many are looking for any edge they can getto secure a coveted interview, and eventually, land a position they’re excited about. In his book, Sell Yourself Like a CEO, headhunter Ryan Sheppard provides valuable guidelines for anyone wanting to advance in their career. Sheppard, who works closely with CEOs, argues that top leaders have skills that anyone in the job market would do well to emulate. Here are five ways to sell yourself like a successful CEO would: 1. DEVELOP A CEO MINDSET A strong CEO is able to convey their visionand the mission of the company clearly to stakeholders. I have always been impressed with what CEOs bring to their role,” says Sheppard. “They present a powerful vision and demonstrate leadership. Sheppard encourages readers to think like a CEO by taking ownership of their careers, and bring to each interview a vision and sense of direction. They should manage their career and resources the way a CEO would direct a company. 2. COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY If you want to impress the hiring manager, you’ll need to communicate with clarity. Sheppard encourages job seekers to boil their goals down to one sentence. For example you might choose something like this: I see myself leading a technology company through a major transformation, from a volume-based to a value-based firm. (For further insight into how to develop that one sentence message, see my book, The Job Seekers Script.) Clarity in presenting your goals also involves the ability to see into the future. Sheppard says for job candidates clarity means knowing what you see yourself doing; where you want to be in 5 years; and whats important to you as you look ahead. 3. SHOW CONFIDENCE Third, it’s important to show confidence in your job search. Some candidates are hesitant to say what theyve contributed. In praising their team, they may fail to show how they added value. While you shouldnt appear egotistical or arrogant, emphasize your strong leadership and accomplishments. If you want to project the confidence of a successful CEO, Sheppard recommends that you go into the interview with a “confidence inventory.” “Write down situations in which you facedand overcamechallenges,” he says. Memorize these talking points and bring them forward in the interview. Selling yourself is about presenting the leadership you have shown in your career. Have the confidence to act as if you are the leader whom the company is hiring for. 4. PROJECT CHARISMA It is also important to project charismaanother key attribute for successful CEOs and those in the job market. Top leaders know what charisma is. A misconception is that charisma is self-centered and that it reflects a big ego. On the contrary, Sheppard says charismatic individuals make others feel great. Sheppard advises that you strive to be interested, not interesting. He says that successful CEOs are focused on others, not themselves. He advises successful job seekers to know the power of asking great questions, being curious, taking a genuine interest in the interviewers. You might say Tell me about the growth plans of the company. What are the key challenges the company faces? How will you and I collaborate? What challenges should I expect in this role? All these questions show your unselfish interest in the company and they will allow you to project true charisma. 5. DEMONSTRATE YOUR NEGOTIATION SKILLS The final step of the process involves demonstrating top notch negotiating skills. Have the courage to ask for what you feel you are worth. Negotiating with a future boss can be very intimidating,” Sheppard acknowledges.” When a future boss asks what is your salary expectation? the candidate has often not thought it through. So Sheppard advises that you come prepared to name a figure or a range. Before the interview, add up the components of your present salary package. The total might include your base, bonus, and benefits. Then negotiate a percentage increase, say 8-10% more than your present package gives you. says Sheppard. That is rarely done. Candidates will often say Im hoping for such and such an amount. The essence of negotiation is to be clear about what you want. Whatever number you ask for, ask with conviction.
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Rural residents face unique challenges and barriers when it comes to accessing high-quality healthcare. Many rural areas do not have a hospital or medical center nearby, forcing residents to drive hours to the nearest doctor or healthcare clinic. This delaysand in some cases preventsrural residents from receiving care quickly, efficiently and safely. Due in part to these barriers, rural patients take advantage of preventive care less often than their urban counterparts and face higher health risks, such as cancer, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Women, specifically mothers, are among those most significantly impacted in these rural communities. In fact, less than half of rural women live within a 30-minute drive to the nearest hospital offering perinatal services. According to the March of Dimes, 36% of U.S. counties are maternity care desertsmeaning there are no hospitals providing obstetric care, no birth centers, no OB/GYNs, and no certified nurse midwives. Of those counties, about 62% are considered rural. On top of that, maternal and infant mortality rates in the most remote areas of the country are significantly higher than those in large metropolitan areas, and rural hospitals report higher rates of postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusions during labor and delivery, compared to their urban counterparts. As a woman and a mother, these numbers are deeply troubling to me. But they should be equally concerning to all Americans. The first step: Expand the healthcare workforce Addressing healthcare workforce shortages nationwide is the first step to tackling these health disparities. Everyone knows we need more healthcare providers. But the numbers are daunting. If everyoneincluding the marginalized, rural, and uninsuredhad the same access to healthcare as those with fewer barriers, the U.S. would have needed 202,800 additional physicians as of 2021. Thats in addition to the number we need to replace the providers who leave the workforce every day due to burnout and stress. This is no easy feat, but it can be done. It starts with expanding access to healthcare education and training healthcare professionals at scale. To do this, we need to be creative in how we think about traditional education in this country. To attract a diverse population of students, we need to truly understand the barriers some populations face when pursuing an education. Whether financial, academic, or logistical, we need to find ways to systemically dismantle those barriers and design educational programs that meet students real-world needs. This can include simplified admissions processes, online coursework options, enhanced scholarship opportunities, ongoing support programs, and innovative technologies that foster student-faculty engagement and educational success. We also must ensure that we adequately prepare studentsboth academically and practicallyfor career success, supplementing classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Partnerships with hospitals and health centers can provide students with educational experiences that mimic the clinical setting and provide a realistic understanding of the skills they will need for their chosen specialty area. These are critical steps to expanding educational opportunities for more students interested in the healthcare profession. As these graduates go on to serve patients, many of them returning to practice in their own communities, we unleash a robust and much-needed healthcare workforce that serves critical primary care needs and underserved populations across the U.S. When these graduates have received the educational support and the real-world training they need to be successful, they are ready on day one to meet their patients unique healthcare needs. This benefits mothers in rural areasas well as fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and entire communities. A ZIP code should never serve as a barrier to accessing critical healthcare services. Those living in rural communities face unique health care challenges, and women, including pregnant women, are among the most significantly impacted. We need to expand the pipeline of diverse healthcare professionals and equip them with high-quality, specialized training to serve these communities. By doing so, we can dismantle barriers to care and help meet the unique health needs of rural patients. Blake Simpson is chief communications and corporate affairs officer of Adtalem Global Education.
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