Every Sunday I like to write about the random things that are on my mind.
Sometimes these things are about business…
Sometimes they’re about life…
And other times they’re just completely random.
So with that said…
Let’s jump into the first thing on my mind this morning.
1. Ignoring possible truths because they might make people uncomfortable is a recipe for disaster
A few days ago I stumbled across an article on Twitter about a professor who was fired for research he published on race and IQ.
This is obviously a hot topic.
And any research showing that white people have higher IQ’s than other races (due to genetics and not due to upbringing) is bound to create an uproar.
But here’s my question…
If the research is true (and I’m not saying it is)…
Should people not be allowed to talk about this because the answer might be uncomfortable?
Should researchers not do research on this topic because it’s a divisive, hot-button issue?
My belief is no.
I don’t think we should shun researching certain topics simply because the answer might make people uncomfortable.
That’s a bad idea.
If there’s legit research proving certain races have genetic advantages in terms of IQ, then that should be discussed.
Obviously the elephant in the room with this topic is that it’s all about white people versus black people.
If the research showed Asians have a higher IQ than Latinos, you would probably never hear a word about it.
Cause that’s not an emotional issue.
No one would care outside of a few academics…
But because this inevitably becomes a white versus black conversation, it’s highly controversial.
But however you frame it…
My original point remains…
I’m not in favor of discouraging discussions or research around topics simply because they make some people uncomfortable.
If we’re going to make the right decisions as a society, then we need to have open discussions and an accurate view of the data.
Discouraging research because the result might make some people uncomfortable isn’t the answer.
Alright, let’s hop to the second thing on my mind this morning…
2. I feel like I am entering a much more introspective period of my life now that I’m 38
One of my favorite books is Alison Armstrong’s “The Amazing Development of Men”.
The book basically breaks down the main stages of life that men go through.
So when you’re 18-25 years old, you’re what’s called a knight. You’re full of adventure, and everything in your life is about having fun. Long term plans and thinking about the future are not really on your mind.
After being a knight, you move into the “prince” stage. This is your “building” stage. It’s where most guys discover how they’re going to make their mark, and they’re pretty much nose to the grindstone working their ass off for 10-12 years.
Then after this, most men go through a tough period that Alison calls “the tunnel”.
The tunnel is basically the period of introspection before you become a “king”.
In the tunnel, you start to think deeply about your life.
You start to question your own mortality…
You wonder if all the “building” you did was worth it…
You ponder “what do I really want my life to be about”…
That’s what the tunnel is.
And I’m fairly certain this is the stage I’m in right now.
Because all these questions are starting to come up for me.
I’ve been thinking a lot more about what I want my life to be about…
Who I want to spend it with…
Was all the work I put in over the last 15 years worth it?
How long am I gonna live?
That’s all been on my mind (and it rarely was before).
So it’s been an interesting few months…
Obviously these questions are not easy to answer.
Cause they get to the core of who you are and what you want to be.
Fortunately for me, I have some idea that it’s normal to go through this.
Had I not read her book, I probably would have thought I was starting to lose it.
But I know that’s not the case.
I’m just in “the tunnel”.
And every guy goes through this whether they’re aware of it or not.
So I’m just staying the course…
Journaling my thoughts…
And trying to navigate some of the big questions in front of me.
Anyways…
I’d highly recommend Alison’s book if you’ve never read it.
I have the audiobook and it’s incredible.
Well worth it if you want to understand where you are in life and what you’re going through.
That’s all I got for ya this morning.
Hope you got a nugget or two from this.
Enjoy your Sunday,
– Justin
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