Author: Munro Stewart

I think formulating an ideology and creating ways of living based solely on practical habits or action instead of theoretical beliefs or dogma may be beneficial and essential to further maintain and improve our overall wellbeing and happiness.

On Beliefs, Theories & Dogmas

Beliefs, theories, dogmas, and myths can often be harmful as they can be used to promote rituals based upon mere suspicion, and therefore they may not be practically helpful.

• I think we should reserve belief only as a tool to believe in ourselves to do something
• Beliefs, theories, and dogmas may be harmful and unhelpful in making life better for all
• It may be worth striving to focus only on knowing things instead of believing in things
• Decoupling beliefs from practices within church and communities may be important

On Practices, Habits & Actions

Practices, habits, actions, and plans may shape our positive wellbeing and happiness if we proactively create good practices, or our negative suffering and misery if we do not.

• As for ideology, I might broaden its definition to include not just beliefs, but practices
• Whatever we call it, I think creating habits and practices to make life better can succeed
• It may be worth focusing not on what is right or true, but what is good or better for all
• Focusing on practices, habits, action, and values may be worthwhile and important

April 22, 2025

I wonder if we should use bullet lists for all or most of our writing, and particularly to make concise, argumentative list essays that present a single plan, idea, practice, or habit with points describing the action or steps the author suggests.

Names

• List Essay or Bullet Essay
• Brief or Bullet

What

• Can a bullet list of points be an essay?
• Should we write more ideas and plans as argumentative essays in bullet list form?
• We could call this simplified and brief style of writing a "List Essay" or "Bullet Essay"
• Argumentative essays with a single idea would work particularly well as a list essay
• Any idea, plan, practice, habit, policy, strategy, or rule could work well as a list essay
• Any and all types of writing may be simpler, better, and read easier as bullet lists too

Why

• Many books, essays, texts, articles, and literary works are way too long
• We need to focus on brevity and simplifying our information and important actions
• Maybe we should shorten our ideas and other information and just get to the point
• It is easier and quicker to skim a list of lines and points than long paragraphs or essays
• An idea should often focus on what and why changes are to be made more so than how
• A bulleted list encourages the author to describe their idea or information much simpler

How

• Use bulleted lists instead of paragraphs, hopefully which will fit on a single line
• Shorter sentences might be preferred, but sentences of any length would work
• Possibly make groups of 6 points or less separated with headings for further simplicity
• Create a What section with a simple description of your idea, plan, action, or habit
• Often create a Why section to outline the reasons for the idea or explain your argument
• Optionally create How, Steps, or Rules sections to further detail your plan, idea, or action

April 8, 2025

Meditate every day because it improves your wellbeing and your mind by helping you to become more relaxed, focused, and aware of all the unnecessary thoughts in your head, which can make you happier and more relaxed and focused on each day you meditate.

What

• Sit down and breathe slowly and deeply for some amount of minutes at least once a day
• Attempt to clear your mind of thoughts and focus on one thing, such as your breathing
• Focus on your breath, body, surroundings, or close your eyes to focus on one thing
• Don't worry if thoughts creep into your mind, just try to let them go, breathe, and focus
• You can also try saying a mantra like "I'm grateful for today. I'm hopeful for the future."
• You may also spend time focusing or contemplating on single projects, goals, or dreams

Why

• Breathing deeply may provide oxygen to the brain which is key for our brain functioning
• Relaxing our mind may allow it to make new connections, which occurs when we sleep
• It may help us become more focused, improve our concentration, and get things done
• It may help us become more relaxed, improve our happiness, and feel naturally calmer
• It may help us process our thoughts, be more creative, and improve our critical thinking
• It may help us slow down and recognize that the thoughts in our head are not our reality

April 1, 2025

Ask open-ended questions by remembering the acronym WHI and starting with why, what, how, and in what way, in order to become a better listener who encourages longer and more revealing answers from people.

• WHI? - Why? - What? How? In what way? - Yes/Open
• WHO? - Who? - When? Where? Would you? - No/Closed
• Asking open-ended questions allows others to share their thoughts
• Asking open-ended questions allows you to become a better listener
• Why, what, how, and "in what way" encourage long open answers
• Who, when, where, and "would you" encourage short fixed answers

March 25, 2025

I wonder if we should show respect for those that are currently weaker or younger than us, and shake hands after we win instead of gloating or putting others down at the end of a competition.

Dear Anonymous Athlete,

Thanks

• You should be very proud of yourself for everything you have achieved in your life
• You have had an exceptional career as a basketball player due to your hard work
• You have made your own life as well as your family much better in many ways
• You have brought joy to many people who enjoy watching a fun competition

Gifts

• You are also lucky to have been given some incredible and uncommon physical gifts
• You are lucky to have been given an amazing opportunity and life partially by chance
• We should realize we could easily have been born as someone else without such gifts
• We should consider treating opponents and others as we would our young children

Respect The Weak

• Unwritten rules like not scoring at the end of the game can be confusing to understand
• I think the reason for this unwritten rule is not so both teams stop trying at the end
• The weaker team losing should always keep competing until the very end to catch up
• The stronger team should show some mercy, not run up the score, and shake hands after

Competition Can Be Good

• Competition is good because it makes all of us better, even the weakest and youngest
• Competition is good if the older and stronger show respect for the younger and weaker
• Competition can be bad if the stronger and older do not show some level of respect to those that are currently weaker or younger than them for competing and taking part, which could cause some people, who are not lucky enough to be as intelligent or strong, to give up and not want to compete or contribute to society at all
• Competition can be bad if the strong rub it in the face of the weak or young at every opportunity and never come to realize or learn to understand that the goal should be to ultimately pass on their superior skills and knowledge to future generations through competition and to make us all better in the process

Quote

• "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box." - Italian Proverb

March 25, 2025

I think we should rename and change the pronunciation we use for the letter "w" from its three syllables of "duhble-yoo", to a simpler sound of only one syllable, just like every other letter in the alphabet. I suggest "wee".

What

• Pronounce the letter "w" as "wee"

Why

• All other letters in the alphabet are a single syllable
• Saying the letter "w" becomes shorter and simpler
• Spelling out words becomes shorter and simpler
• Reciting the alphabet becomes shorter and simpler

Options

• wee
• woo
• wey
• voo
• vey
• vi

March 11, 2025