loving art, science and creative kids
4/20/2018 6:30:43 PM
Applauding the Blues
Flowers provide me with a great deal of pleasure.
They remind me that there is hidden beauty to be found, even when things appear bleak.
Acrylic on Canvas/ Gold Frame/ 19.25" by 23.5"/ $ 495
A Desire to Better
A kind and supportive board member approached me as I left my job at OMSI says that he would like to invest in whatever business I choose to found. When I mentioned that my reason for leaving the museum was to start an educational toy catalog he invested $ 200,000. I asked him why he was willing to offer such amazing support and he answered that others helped him get started and it was time to pass the favor on.
I thought about this angel investor as I sat catorgorizing and analyzing 200 requests for prayers. Each week the lay ministers at the UU Church collect these statements of intention, hope, and pleas for help. I wanted to better understand the concerns people have and see if there were other ways to help them than by praying. More than half the requests were centered around illness, divorce or death of a close friend or family member. Many mentioned drug or alcohol abuse by a child or spouse. Parents talked of the loneliness they feel now that their children have left home or moved out of town. A few were worried that their 19 and 20 year olds would not become mature enough to leave home. There were several categories, however, that surprised me greatly.
Quite a few members wanted us to pray for them to be better people. I find it difficult to understand how the prayers of a stranger can possibly help them become a better person but am warmed to know they have a desire to be so. Another group wanted outlet, a place to share warm feelings of gratitude. They reminded me of my benefactor for they seem happy and satisfied yet are searching for communal ways express thanks for the good things that brought them joy.
The requests I found most distressing were those asking for help because of political angst. War, environmental issues, distrust, the political divide, and violence were high on their list of worries. They write of being burdened by a heavy heart. Though they have moments of happiness, they can not rid themselves of an overwhelming feeling of sadness caused by the state of political turmoil.
Political Anxiety was coined to describe the stressful emotions people have due to political situations. Though not an official mental health diagnosis, it is real cause of depression. Both Republicans and Democrats report increased stress among their members due to the divided political climate raging throughout the United States. It is problematic when the administration is perceived as unpredictable and dangerous or when policies of the party in power oppose their own strongly held beliefs. People worrying about the negative impact of new policies, about repercussions form overturned laws, and they feel anxious at not being able to predict future. Though their general angst may be based in fact (today there are more hate crimes against minorities), there are instances when their fears are overblown (the likelihood of being hit by a nuclear bomb). In both situations, there is a tendency to see the opposing party's views as those of an enemy.
Political anxiety is known to cause stress, insomnia, nightmares, digestive issues, headaches, feeling unsafe, and muscle tension. Serious, more lasting, health issues can occur when overall feeling anxiousness is left untreated.
What do therapists recommend to help overcome political anxiety? Get involved is their first answer. Becoming active in community affairs and working to bring about change reduces feelings of helplessness. Voting, participating in protests, joining organizations, volunteering are a few ways to show support. Activism as a form of self-care reduces stress. It is especially effective when combined with exercise, meditation, yoga, and massage.
Since negativity does little to raise the spirit why dwell on fears of what might or might not occur? Learning how to turn your attention towards beauty and happiness will build an internal supply of energy to overcome adversity. Acknowledging acts kindness, seeing blooms in nature, and recognizing joy, will light a candle in the darkest of moments. Where do I find joy?
I pay attention to the change of seasons, to birds singing to attract a mate, and to children chatting as they walk home from school. Sitting in a parked car during a downpour makes me feel safe. I find it comforting to watch and hear the rain everywhere except in my bubble. How fortunate I am to not live in sub-Saharan Africa with limited water to drink or spread on crops. I am fortunate.
When I am happy, I want everyone to share my good fortune. When the gratitude gene kicks it puts people on a path to goodness. My investor showed me how much fun it was to help young adults achieve their goals. He demonstrated his compassion and a willingness to share a part of himself. His primary gift was not one of money, but rather of caring.
Prayer requests have taught me that to be a better person self-care must come first. Acknowledging good while working to overcome bad is second. Lastly, and most important for those who hav lived well, is a willingness to share time, wisdom, and resources. Asking for prayers to be a better person, won't make it so, but a conscious choice to help those you love will.
References
Political Anxiety,( 2018) GoodTherapy. retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/political-anxiety
4/14/2018 6:28:34 PM
Flickers caring for the Next Generation
Birds have little need for politics though they have great need for human beings to act as stewards on their behalf.
22" by 26" / acrylic on Canvas/ wood frame / $ 399
Sleuths for Truths
During the last election cycle we often heard stories about Horrible Hillary. Taunts about her private email servers turn her into a criminal in the minds of many. However, she wasn’t the only one to use private email accounts. Competing politicians such as Jeb Bush, Mike Pence, Jared Kushner, and Sean Spicer acted similarly without receiving public rancor.
Hypocrisy and name calling are not new to politics, but chants that Clinton was a criminal unfit for office imbedded thoughts that she was shady. Lies abounded, like the video clip narrated by a medical doctor saying that she had Parkinson’s disease. The possibility that one lie might be true made us tremendously uncomfortable. Bullying and hacked internet sites bludgeoned her so thoroughly that it became impossible to separate truth from fiction. Could she have done anything differently to change the public’s mind?
For many years scientists have been trying to discover what factors influence beliefs. Every study I read came to the same conclusion—facts do not change minds. Back in 1957 Festinger, Riecken, and Schacter wrote in When Prophecy Fails:
“A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point…Suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will happen? The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before.”
Psychologists say that we are influenced by motivated reasoning. It is why we remain convinced that our beliefs are correct even when they are proven wrong. We are more comfortable holding on to false ideas and double down in our convictions when presented with conflicting evidence. We tend to seek out information we find agreeable and avoid or devalue contradictory arguments. Most people do not watch a variety of channels in order to obtain a balanced perspective on the news.
It took many years to convince sailors they would not fall off the end of the earth when traveling across the Atlantic. Strangely, some still hang on to that notion. The Flat World Society boasts of an increase in membership, proving that even when beliefs are totally refuted some people will not alter their thinking. In many instances, those appearing to be reasonable turn out to be the most irrational.
Harvard cognitive scientists Mercier and Sperber say the reason people turn away from rational thinking is because we are a cooperative species. We seek supporting information to confirm the group’s beliefs. Concerned with social standing, we feel more secure when our beliefs are not questioned. Arguments that call for change are likely to be at odds with the group’s expectations. New facts and information can burden the recipient with the responsibility to change the group’s thinking—not an easy task. We saw this play out when we learned that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, yet the establishment still decided to proceed with going after Saddam Hussein.
A Stanford University study divided a group of students into two categories based on their support for or disagreement with capital punishment. Participants were then presented with bogus pro and con articles to read. Filled with statistics, the papers gave solid sounding evidence in support of each point of view. By the conclusion of the study, those who started out in the pro camp were more in favor than they were before and those opposed became more hostile to using capital punishment. In other words, both sides dug into their positions and were stuck in the mud.
Most people do not understand the origin of their beliefs. Scientists say global warming is human induced, but those of us who accept their conclusions find it difficult to explain the basis of their claims to another person. Those against global warming theories are also unable to give reasoned arguments to support their point of view. The public mostly relies on media accounts that filter comments that come in sound bites by expert witnesses. Viewers do not want to receive information requiring them to change their way of life. If I were willing to follow my belief in global warming then I would become a vegan and stop driving, something I don’t want to do. Few of us are willing to take the time to analyze hidden agendas or understand the science behind our beliefs. Yet, despite our inadequate knowledge, we are quick to share misinformation with friends.
In the United States, technological developments are more readily accepted than sociological shifts. There is often an advantage to being an early adaptor of technology. The first people to use calculators were much more efficient than their slide rule colleagues and they got ahead in their work.
The political realm is more likely to get us into trouble for we cling to feelings around many issues. The need to be wary of those who are smug about their biased beliefs for they can easily become a danger to society.
Good science allows no room for bias and results doming from a well executed research plan provides a path towards rational decision making. It is a way to get unstuck from false beliefs. Yes, there are times when research needs to be confirmed with replication ,but at least the scientific method provides a system to encourage critical thinking.
In my opinion, Hillary was a poor campaigner who did not know how to inspire her audience. Her arguments were well researched but that is not what listeners wanted to hear. She talked statistics, presented facts and spoke in such a cerebral manner that people tuned out. Her audiences would have preferred receiving messages that spoke to their hearts instead of their brains. By not doing so, her arguments were ignored in favor of slogans from opposing candidates.
It is not unusual for an intellectual campaigner to be defeated in their bid for public office. Intellectuals as presidents are few—perhaps eight in all—two Adamses, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, and Obama (who tried to disguise it). Those who win are smart enough to package their intelligence as wit. Jokes, gibes, and slogans do more to inspire crowds than lectures.
References:
Meyers,S (2016) Use of Unclassified Email Systems Not Limited to Clinton. New York Times. retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/us/clinton-emails-routine-practice.html
Apuzzo,M & Haberman.M (2017) At Least 6 white House Advisers Used Private Email Accounts. New York times. retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/us/politics/private-email-trump-kushner-bannon.html
Beck,J. ( 2017) This Article won’t Change Your Mind.. The Atlantic. retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/03/this-article-wont-change-your-mind/519093/
Kolbert,E. (2017) Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds. The New Yorker. retrieved from
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds
Cooper JR.,J ( 2017) The Historical Presidency: Few and Mostly Far Between: Reflections on Intellectuals as Presidents. Wiley Online Library. retrieved from abstract https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/psq.12398
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4/6/2018 8:55:48 PM
Curious Cat Emerging (NFS)
Curious Cat Emerging
Throughout the year, the back deck of our house is visited by many birds. Large and small come to feast on our suet bricks or seed dispenser. In warm weather we enjoy standing by our window to watch them splash in our bird bath. They look like they are having a great deal of fun, but I have to keep an eye on my cat.
Franny is a warm weather feline reluctant to go outside when it is cold. She spends much of her time moving lazily from room to room in search of a comfortable pillow. Most of her day is spent sleeping soundly. The only time she bounds with energy is during morning and evening feedings. She will cry incessantly until a dish of salmon or mackerel is placed before her. Accustomed to a gourmet diet, Franny has become a little butter ball. Unfortunately, she gained too much weight, so on her last visit the vet told us to reduced her portions to keep her from getting diabetes.
Our cat, however, has other ideas. If we are not going to feed her then she is prepared to augment her own diet. We began to notice her spending hours at the glass doors leading to the deck. Staring at the birds without moving a muscle she watched every flick made by those visiting the feeders. When we weren’t careful when we opened the door, she scooted out between our legs. Her readiness to punch made us quite nervous.
Now that is warmer, Franny has become quite a different animal. Awake from a winter of hibernation, we worry as she resumes old feline tricks. Last year she caught mice and brought them into the house as playmates. She would release them in order to hunt them down once more. One captured mouse was pregnant and it wasn’t long before a litter of baby mice ran through the house.
To escape her clutches the babies scurried to the top of a curtain rod that was over a large picture window. While they ran back and forth afraid to come down, our cat sat stone still for hours watching their antics. As soon as one did descend Franny was ready to capture the poor mouse. Sometimes she batted it around, releasing it each time it was in her grasp, though sometimes it became a meal. In his effort to rid the house of Franny’s playmates, Ray almost fell down the stairs running after them.
Baby birds, mice, and moles have little chance if Franny is around. Unless we keep her in the house all of the time, putting her on a diet is a joke. Who are we to think we can control what she eats? When we don’t feed her, she certainly knows how to fill her belly.
Franny made me aware that just as I don’t have power over her diet, neither do I have over my family’s. I can’t make husband, children (or myself) eat reasonably sized portions of a healthy diet unless they are willing to do so. They always manage to find a way around food austerity measures. If they want soda pop, candy, or ice cream they know where to find it. Willpower is an elusive subject and obesity is a problem that bothers more than 30 percent of the population. It is not a subject I am ready to tackle however, if you have a solution, do let me know.
