Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down by Kathleen Smith. I’ve been taking a deep dive into Bowen Family Systems Theory this year. The theory is all about learning how to become a differentiated self within groups consumed with chronic anxiety, and I’ve found understanding it very useful in becoming a more calmly assertive man. One book that I found really helpful in understanding Bowen Family Systems Theory is Everything Isn’t Terrible by Kathleen Smith. Kathleen is a psychologist who specializes in Bowen Family Systems Theory, and her book offers a great overview of its big concepts. It’s also pretty dang funny. Her follow-up book, True to You: A Therapist’s Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself, is also very good. It’s packed with actionable advice on how to stop people pleasing. Highly recommend picking up both. For an audio intro to Bowen Family Systems Theory, listen to my conversation with leadership consultant Steve Cuss.
DreamSky AM/FM Portable Radio. Our 13-year-old son Gus recently acquired an AM/FM radio and loves it. He likes to listen to jazz and classical music on our local public radio stations as well as AM sports talk radio. He says the static-y AM radio at night is nice to fall asleep to. It’s interesting to see my Gen-Z teenager gravitate towards old-school tech. I reckon we’ll be seeing more tech choices like this from younger folks who feel oversaturated with digital screens and just get those nostalgic longings, as every generation does, for the accouterments of bygone days.
The Cost of Apathy. Jack Raines makes the case that modern life’s comforts can lead to a dangerous sense of apathy, especially in stable jobs where ambition fades. It’s not just about laziness but the quiet erosion of drive and purpose. The article is a wake-up call to live with intention and avoid the modern adult’s slow, all-too-common drift into complacency and mediocrity. If you’re feeling stuck, it’s worth a read.
12 Angry Men. We recently watched this classic film as a family. You wouldn’t think a movie that’s about something many consider burdensome and banal, jury duty, and takes place almost entirely within the confines of a deliberation room, would make for a compelling flick, but it’s a great watch. Some of the mid-20th century’s best actors turn in supreme performances as their characters fight against apathy, prejudice, and personal biases and get, well, angry as they strive to give their fellow citizen a fair trial. It’s an engaging ode to the American judicial system and to having a moral backbone amidst the pressures of group-think.
Quote of the Week
The right use of leisure is no doubt a harder problem than the right use of our working hours. The soul is dyed the color of its leisure thoughts.
—Dean Inge
