Introduction Examine the seasons of your life. Start with the one youโre in, and stop farming against the weather. The inference is this: Find a posteriori justifications for living authentically, in accordance with your true nature, as a rejection of hypothetical potential. The constant tension catalyzed by status anxiety in the drive for โsuccessโ and…
Disguised Coercion & Performativity IntroductionThe Mechanism of Disguised CoercionHow Performativity Delivers CoercionTracking Coercion via a Diagnostic LensWhy This Tracks Especially Well with Efficiency IdeologyA Midlife-Specific ObservationConclusion & Key TakeawaysAdditional Reading Introduction In the previous installment,[1] I discussed performativity and the ideology of efficiency. Specifically, I examined efficiency as getting the most done in the least…
Healthy vs Controlling Boundaries Distinguishing between safe, respectful, healthy boundaries and controlling boundaries is important for fostering positive, respectful relationships. The following indicators and this infographic (click image below) can help you make that distinction: When Statements Are Coercion Disguised as a Boundary In relationships, statements that seem used to set boundaries can sometimes mask…
IntroductionEfficiency vs. PerformativityThe Gen X ProblemWorking BetterโNeither Smarter nor HarderThe Perspectival ShiftConclusion Introduction In this writing, Iโll discuss performativity and the ideology of efficiency. The inference is straightforward: The point of efficiency is to get the most (maximum) done in the least (minimum) amount of time. But what if performativity isnโt about efficiency at all,…
Battling Disguised Coercion In Aging Introduction As people age, they often face a subtle yet pervasive form of status anxiety called disguised coercion, in which society truncates their human worth by equating aging with a loss of utility and obsolescence. Rather than accepting this marginalization, older adults can reclaim their personal value by shifting their…
When Boundaries Are Misused Boundaries are important in daily life, mental health, and overall well-being. They are a foundation of healthy relationships, peace of mind, and individual well-being. Unfortunately, disguised coercion, often misused to erode boundaries, may be wielded to gain compliance and control. And while boundaries are designed to protect an individualโs autonomy, emotional…
Never an I Love You A life reduced to introspection, with no vehicle of diversion. A Reference to a Serial Killer?An Island of OneWhy Write This?The Coercive CudgelHow It All EndsAdditional Reading A Reference to a Serial Killer? Big Ed Kemper,[1] after decapitating his mother, placed her severed head on a mantel and screamed at…
The Post-Role Autopsy When we tie our worth to a job title, we often unknowingly adopt external expectations as our own. This is disguised coercion; the expectation doesnโt feel like pressure; it feels like choice. We often apply this pressure to the roles we take in our professional lives. CEO, Principal, and Founder are powerful-sounding…
A Reaction to Digital Distraction IntroductionDonโt Call It a ComebackReframing Influence: From Purity to LegibilityWhat Ambiguity? Preserve the UsefulWhat Authenticity Looks LikeA Workable TemplateHow to Fill Each HonestlyThings to Watch (Three Gotchas)A Get Started SampleStructure Against the AmbiguousConclusion Introduction If weโre talking about combating digital distraction, we should talk about the ambiguity of so-called influencers.…
Introduction What do family, colleagues, friends, and digital distractions all have in common? Theyโre frequent intruders in the landscape where focus is indispensable: Time. Consider time as a landscape of exclusion, and time management sits at the intersection of focus, time burglars, and disguised coercion. Time burglars and disguised coercion are inexorably linked to how…