Fluency & Repetition (Paradox Pair #70)
Referential linking is a shortcut our brains use to improve processing fluency, however, as a side effect, it causes us to believe things the more often we hear them, even if untrue.
Paradox Pairs
Two ideas that at first seem to be in opposition. A deeper study shows they more often complement each other and provide the natural boundaries and tension necessary for creativity, innovation, and appreciation. In this series I will offer definitions of both words in a paradox pair that when combined establish a harmony where both virtue and dissonance are in balance. Each definition is written as a belief statement or describe ways in which we draw strength and value from the pair.
Facts & Storytelling (Paradox Pair #69)
Storytelling is essential because we know that the impression we leave on others is really about how we make them feel.
React & Respond (Paradox Pair #68)
Hysteresis alerting, where we delay alerting until a threshold is consistently passed, normalizes our reactions, allowing us to respond in a more constructive manner.
Preferences & Choices (Paradox Pair #67)
The more choices we have the harder it is to make a selection, and we are less satisfied with the final determination.
Maps, Models, and Reality (Paradox Pair #66)
To make a map necessitates a loss of fidelity, yet people often confuse the model of a system for the system itself.
Brainstorming: Alone & Together (Paradox Pair #65)
We are apt to follow a course of action we don't agree with due to our fear of acting contrary to what we perceive a group wants.
Instinct & Intellect (Paradox Pair #64)
Instinct is a problem solver, intellect is a problem seeker — only together do we act with purpose.
Self-Trust & Skepticism (Paradox Pair #63)
Skepticism is critical for success, yet to be acted upon it has to clear the high bar of our self-trust.
Novel & Familiar (Paradox Pair #62)
When creating something new, the best choice may be to incorporate some of the familiar to ease the cognitive burden of the novel.
One & Many (Paradox Pair #61), Bildung Part 3
The Circles of Belonging represent the increasingly larger and complex communities we contribute to as we grow.
Transferable & Experienced Knowledge (Paradox Pair #60), Bildung Part 2
Bildung occurs within relationships when we have the need to revise our view of the world. It is a currency that is created from friction, paradoxes, and pushback.
Naivety & Mastery (Paradox Pair #59), Bildung Part 1
In the middle ground between a beginner and a master lies competence. Here the merely proficient toil, creating "good enough" solutions, the competency trap.