Political discourse and public animosity shroud us all in a cloud of pessimism that can be hard to see past. This week, I suggest that things are never as good or as bad as they seem and that we might find more optimism by looking back as much as looking forward.

Forecasting is important. But when doing so, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of forgetting that things change and even our most certain convictions shift over time. I find this to be a powerful tool for considering conflict and improving our public discourse. As Shankar Vendantma says in the linked TED talk “of the people you disagree with you might want to include your future self”.

Self-love, and self-compassion, is an important step in holding compassion for those around us. If we are to solve the new and evolving problems in the world around us, acknowledging and accepting our own faults is an important, if not essential, first step.

Let's talk politics --- I know, sounds taboo. This week, I reflect upon a way to move forward from our current political climate, one filled with extremism on both ends, towards a kinder, more productive, and moderate future.

Intentions run deep and are often more important in communication than what we are saying. This week, I discuss the unifying power of good intentions as we strive to improve the quality of our public discourse.

The primary reason I write this newsletter is to build a bridge between ideas and people and improve our current public discourse, which appears to grow more bitter by the minute. While some grow hopeless, I see a path forward that includes constructive debate and the plurality of ideas -- after all, it's the only way we will solve the looming problems we face in our world. This week, I share a few articles and new books on how we can improve our public conversation.

The recent passing of Queen Elizabeth, and the ensuing debate around monarchies at large, is yet another manifestation of our cultural bias toward binary thinking. This week I, as is the objective of these newsletters, try reflecting on the redeeming values of monarchies.

Life is full of uphill climbs. In a sea of hierarchies, from religion to work to government, we succeed and fail at putting the best people at the top. But in the case of organizational leadership, what are the best predictors of success and how can we learn from the selection process?

There are a few recent headlines that have demonstrated a growing, and concerning trend in our current political and cultural climate: the desire, and demand, for one convenient shared reality. Without plurality, we find ourselves in dangerous territory. Political correctness and identity politics are truly hurting our public discourse.

The words we use have the power to bring us closer to things we have previously not considered--especially words from other cultures. This week, I discuss the rich cultural concept of Lagom in Swedish, which I think we could all use a bit more of in America these days.

Our social fabric is being torn apart. Weaving is a great metaphor that reminds us that we are all weavers and our job here is to contribute to a stronger, more beautiful social fabric. In this post discuss David Brooks’ great work in Second Mountain as well as the Weaver Project.

Language is one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal for communication, connection, and understanding. But how do we still feel so far apart? I look to our framework for education for answers, which these days feels narrow and individualistic by design. This week, I discuss a more expansive, civic-centered view of education and how it might benefit us all.

While many people consider reflecting on the finite nature of our lives uncomfortable, I find it to be a compelling and fruitful exercise worth considering.

Regeneration is nothing new -- it's part of our biology and the ecology of the natural world. But on a personal and political level, we have lost touch with regeneration. Instead of fighting nature, we should embrace its more circular qualities to fix what is so obviously broken in our current discourse.

After an unusual, for me, rant about the senseless gun violence as of late I forced myself back to where I prefer to be. Thinking about how to live a happier life. I reflect on both being happy IN your life as well as WITH your life and what that difference and tension might be about (thanks to Laurie Santos for distinction)

These days, our culture feels as divisive as ever. But what I've also come to observe is there is a large gap between our beliefs and our behaviors. If we let our actions speak more than our words I think we are more likely to close the divide that is currently standing in the way between today and a brighter tomorrow.

In order to fight our own personal biases, and solve the complex problems we face in our current world, we must expand our own worldview. It's part of why I write this newsletter to inspire myself, and hopefully, others, to widen our aperture and build bridges of understanding with our fellow humans.

As Father's Day approaches, I have been reflecting on my own roles, both as grandfather, father, and son. One of the guiding principles of my father's parenting was setting a high bar for both himself and for us. Expectations are like "performance elevators". We need them. As we celebrate Father's Day we should consider raising our collective expectations on a future it feels some are giving up on too early.

The uncertainty of our future is making us lose our footing. By and large, we aren't able to address the problems of our world because are using the tools of the past, rather than the present. Bruce Feiler shared an impactful TED talk on how to navigate through life's transitions, which I find to be a useful lens to approach the problems in our world and in our interpersonal lives.

The holiday weekend and a recent trip to Sweden found me steeped in my memories. This week, I reflect upon the value of reconnecting with your roots and the role our past plays in shaping both the present and our future.