Cynicism is not a neutral position — and although it asks almost nothing of us, it is highly infectious and unbelievably destructive. IIn my view, it is the most common and easy of evils. I know this because much of my early life was spent holding the world and the people in it in contempt. It was a position both seductive and indulgent.

Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, and can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth. Hopefulness is not a neutral position either. It is adversarial. It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism. Each redemptive or loving act, as small as you like… keeps the devil down in the hole. It says the world and its inhabitants have value and are worth defending. It says the world is worth believing in. In time, we come to find that it is so.

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Philosophy

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Communication

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Love & Relationships

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Teamwork

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Human Resources

Cynicism And Hopefulness | Nick Cave

For years, we’ve heard that sugar is one of the main drivers behind the global rise in type 2 diabetes. But new research from Brigham Young University is changing the way we look at sugar. According to the findings, where our sugar comes from matters just as much as how much we consume.

Not All Sugars Are Created Equal

In the most extensive analysis of its kind, researchers from Brigham Young University and institutions in Germany examined data from over 500,000 people across multiple continents. Their discovery? Sugars from drinks like soda and even fruit juice were consistently linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Surprisingly, sugars from other sources did not show this same risk. In fact, some were even linked to a lower risk.

Sugar From Drinks VS Sugar From Solid Foods

Even after accounting for factors like body mass index, overall calorie intake, and several other lifestyle risk factors, the differences were striking:With each additional 12-oz serving of sugar-sweetened beverages (i.e., soft drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks) per day, the risk for developing T2D increased by 25%. This strong relationship showed that the increased risk began from the very first daily serving with no minimum threshold below which intake appeared to be safe.

One 12-oz Serving Of Soft Drink = 25% Higher Risk For Diabetes

With each additional 8-oz serving of fruit juice per day (i.e., 100% fruit juice, nectars and juice drinks), the risk for developing T2D increased by 5%.Fruit juice, even with some vitamins and nutrients, is much less beneficial. Because of its high and concentrated sugar content, the researchers conclude that fruit juice is a poor substitute for whole fruits, which provide more fiber to support better blood glucose regulation.

One 8-oz Serving Of Fruit Juice = 5% Higher Risk For Diabetes

The above risks are relative not absolute. For example, if the average person’s baseline risk of developing T2D is about 10%, four sodas a day could raise that to roughly 20%, not 100%.Comparatively, 20 g/day intakes of total sucrose (table sugar) and total sugar (the sum of all naturally occurring and added sugars in the diet) showed an inverse association with T2D, hinting at a surprising protective association.

20 g/day Of Total Sucrose And Total Sugar May Even Be Protective

Why drinking sugar would be more problematic than eating sugar may come down to the differing metabolic effects. Sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice supply isolated sugars, leading to a greater glycemic impact that would overwhelm and disrupt liver metabolism, thereby increasing liver fat and insulin resistance.

The Metabolic Consequences of Liquid Sugar

On the other hand, dietary sugars consumed in or added to nutrient-dense foods, such as whole fruits, dairy products, or whole grains, do not cause metabolic overload in the liver. These embedded sugars elicit slower blood glucose responses due to accompanying fiber, fats, proteins, and other beneficial nutrients.

The Metabolic Consequences of Embedded Sugar

“This study underscores the need for even more stringent recommendations for liquid sugars such as those in sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, as they appear to harmfully associate with metabolic health,” Karen Della Corte, lead author and BYU nutritional science professor said. “Rather than condemning all added sugars, future dietary guidelines might consider the differential effects of sugar based on its source and form.”

“Rather Than Condemn, Reconsider” Goes For Sugar As Well

A massive new study reveals that the source of sugar makes all the difference. While sugary drinks like soda and even fruit juice sharply increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, sugars in solid foods—especially nutrient-rich ones—may actually be less harmful or even protective.

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Where Our Sugar Comes From Matters Just As Much As How Much We Consume

Practice until you get it right, and you’ll need perfect conditions.Practice until you can’t get it wrong, and conditions no longer matter.

Don’t let your worst moments become your story.You blow the presentation and spend the drive home scripting perfect comebacks to an audience that’s already gone. Your relationship ends, and you spend months replaying conversations that can’t be changed. All the time spent perfecting the past is stolen from the future that’s still waiting.The past is a teacher, not a judge. Your next move matters more than your last mistake.

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Strategy

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Business

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Leadership & Management

Practice Until You Can’t Get It Wrong | Shane Parrish

Right or wrong is the output of a decision. Good or bad is the input.A good decision is based on the facts at hand when you are making it. A bad decision does not weigh in the facts and relies more on assumptions and guesses. So by making good decisions, you will be right more often. And even when you turn out to be wrong, you made the right decision based on what you knew.

Making decisions is a profession. Yet, many of us struggle with both timing and method of coming up with the right ones.

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Productivity

The Difference Between A Good And A Right Decision

Shortcuts tend to accelerate effort, not replace it. Supplements and cutting edge recovery methods might speed up your progress in the gym, but they don’t replace the need to do the workout.In general, the people who benefit most from shortcuts are those who continue to practice the fundamentals consistently.

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Entrepreneurship

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Startups

How The Shortcuts We Take Relate To The Effort We Make | James Clear

Benjamin Franklin grew up in working-class conditions, starting his career early on as a tradesman and then pivoting into writing for and producing newspapers. He decided he was destined for more at an early age. As such, he created 13 guiding principles on a long ship ride across the Atlantic, which shaped the path to becoming the esteemed scientist, writer, politician, and founding father over the next 50 years.

A Long Ship Ride Across The Atlantic

”Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” Modern medicine confirms the wide variety of health benefits that come from avoiding overeating and obesity, including the promotion of longevity. Likewise, imbibing alcoholic beverages frequently contributes to an increased risk of a variety of diseases and all-cause mortality. More likely along the lines of Franklin’s thinking when creating this first principle, gluttony from food and alcohol can stifle personal productivity and diminish others’ perception of us.

Virtue #1: Temperance

“Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation .”Franklin hosted a variety of philosophical clubs throughout his life. These clubs would often involve debates and intellectual sparring between members. Franklin cut his teeth during these debates, which contributed to him evolving into the politician, diplomat, and founding father that he became. In his professional and personal life, Franklin preferred deep conversation over small talk. Social scientists have found that deeper conversational topics promote social bonding more than small talk.

Virtue #2: Silence

”Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.” Being organized in one’s physical spaces and in how one spends their time was important to Franklin. Both facets of this wisdom help us enhance personal productivity while simultaneously avoiding careless errors, such as losing an important document or missing an important business meeting. The order principle taps into the personality trait of conscientiousness, which is the strongest of the Big 5 traits in predicting success metrics.

Virtue #3: Order

“Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.” Here we see another tried and true statement about honoring one’s word. Franklin was a strong believer in commitment and performing work dutifully. Those who stick to their professional and personal commitments are held in higher regard compared to those who fail to do so.

Virtue #4: Resolution

“Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself (i.e., waste nothing).” Franklin did not tolerate financial wastefulness. He developed frugal habits early on in life. Even later in life, when Franklin was wealthy, he practiced and preached the importance of economical behavior. He often wore old robes to high-stakes political meetings (perhaps to a fault), and he was quick to instill a lesson in frugality whenever a family member requested something extravagant. Indeed, research suggests that materialistic aspirations are negatively associated with happiness and psychological health.

Virtue #5: Frugality

“Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.” The list of lifetime accomplishments on Franklin’s CV is as astonishing: He discovered electricity, understood the cause of colds (germs, not cold air), observed that exercise prevents disease and exercise intensity is more important than duration, linked illness across a variety of trades as being caused by lead poisoning, established police and firefighting systems, established a postal system between the colonies and worked as postmaster, and established the declaration of independence.

Virtue #6: Industry

“Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.” Franklin was a proponent of telling the truth above all else. Franklin was a gentlemanly politician who preferred to discuss matters cordially and thoroughly. The sincerity principle operates similarly to authenticity, a construct that describes Franklin well and is associated with increased likability.

Virtue #7: Sincerity

“Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.” Treat others fairly and fulfill your moral duties. Avoid causing physical or emotional damage to others and go further by helping others whom you consider your adversary if it is your job to do so. This principle helped Franklin serve effectively as an intermediary between the U.S. and Britain during tense times. Psychology research confirms that seeking revenge can have negative consequences, personally and socially.

Virtue #8: Justice

“Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.” The key idea here is to stay balanced in life. Franklin advocates for harmony across disciplines as evidence of the variety of accomplishments and careers he held. Social science research supports the idea that balance is important for avoiding burnout and maintaining creativity and consistency.

Virtue #9: Moderation

“Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.”Although perhaps less enlightening than the other principles, keep in mind this was before running water and the germ theory of disease. As silly as this sounds now, Franklin was forward-thinking in his cleanliness principle, which may have contributed to his significantly longer than average life. Health scientists are now unanimous in their recommendation of personal hygiene practices.

Virtue #10: Cleanliness

”Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.” Franklin was a student of Stoic philosophy. If something negative happens to you that is outside of your control, accept your bad luck and move on without brooding in negative emotions. Psychology research finds that ruminating on negative events hurts well-being and mental health.

Virtue #11: Tranquility

“Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.” This one is a bit personal to Franklin: Franklin’s first child was conceived out of wedlock to a woman who was never revealed by Franklin nor discovered by historians. Franklin was criticized for his personal indiscretion by enemies throughout his career, and it took a toll on his marriage. Recent research finds that sexual misconduct is punished even more harshly than academic misconduct (misreporting or faking data).

Virtue #12: Chastity

“Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” Practice humility by learning from wise and virtuous role models. Franklin was a lifelong learner and an astounding scholar, receiving several honorary doctoral degrees despite having zero formal education. He believed in learning from others, which aligns well with the classic psychology finding of observational learning.

Virtue #13: Humility

At the ripe old age of twenty, Benjamin Franklin created his own list of 13 virtues. His selections were ordered by importance, and he saw the earliest ones as being needed to achieve the latter ones. They were also chosen for simplicity, as each covers a small and defined area of character.

How Benjamin Franklin understood psychological principles to help guide him to an extraordinary life, and what you can learn from them.

Understand yourself and those around you.

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Psychology

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Personal Development

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Motivation & Inspiration

13 Virtues - What Benjamin Franklin Can Teach Us About Leading A Successful And Influential Life

When my information changes, I alter my conclusions. What do you do, sir?

When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?

Keynes, to whom the quote is attributed, was never afraid to change his mind. Samuelson, who some argue originated the quote, relates a joke that if the British Parliament asked six economists for an opinion on any subject, they always got seven answers — two from John Maynard Keynes.

Discover the world of business and economics.

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Economics

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Politics

The Importance of Changing Your Mind | John Maynard Keynes

Why do we love committers but act like browsers? I think it’s because of 3 fears.First, we have a fear of regret: we worry that if we commit to something, we will later regret having not committed to something else. Second, we have a fear of association: we think that if we commit to something, we will be vulnerable to the chaos that that commitment brings to our identity, our reputation, and our sense of control. Third, we have a fear of missing out: we feel that if we commit to something, the responsibilities that come with it will prevent us from being everything, everywhere, to everyone.

Because of these three fears, the tension sticks around. We act like browsers, we love committers, and we’re too scared to make the jump—so we’re stuck.”

Three fears keep us from making the jump from browsers to committers.

3 Fears: Why We Love People Who Commit But Don’t Commit | Pete Davis

For most people, game theory lives in two corners of life: economics classrooms and video games. It’s a phrase that evokes images of Cold War negotiations or player-versus-player showdowns. And to their credit, that’s grounded.At its core, game theory studies how people make decisions when outcomes hinge not just on their choices, but on others’ choices too. Originally a mathematical model developed to analyze strategic interactions, it’s now applied to everything from dating apps to corporate strategy.

Game Theory: Negotiations Or Showdowns

But in real life, nobody is perfectly rational. We don’t just calculate; we feel, too. That’s where the brain kicks in.According to the “Expected Value of Control” framework from cognitive neuroscience, we calibrate our effort by asking two questions:<ul><li>How big is the reward?</li><li>How much control do I have in getting it?</li></ul>When both answers are high, motivation spikes. When either drops, we disengage. Research shows this pattern in real time — the brain works harder when success feels attainable.

Calculation VS Calibration And Reward & Control

It’s important to be aware of how our choices affect others and how theirs affect ours, but it’s also dangerously easy for that awareness to tip over into an unproductive state of hyperawareness.Game theory is a legitimately powerful lens — but like any lens, it should be used sparingly and with the right intentions. Pick your battles, and if you’re curious how to apply it in your own career, start with clarity, empathy and a telescope and compass. Use these not to dominate the game, but to understand it and play it to the best of your abilities, so everyone wins.

A Powerful Lens, But A Mono-focal One

”Work smarter, not harder” makes sense at first glance — but in elite professional environments, it’s a rather reductive and presumptuous approach.The phrase can carry the implication that others aren’t working smart or that they aren’t capable of working smart. But in high-performing teams, where stakes are real and decisions have impact, most people are smart. Most are optimizers. And that means “working smart” will only take you so far before everyone’s doing the same. After that, the only edge left is consistent, high-quality production — what we generalize as hard work.

1. Establish Competence For Yourself…

From a game theory lens, this type of hard work essentially increases your odds. Overdelivering, consistently and visibly, skews the probability curve in your favor. You either become impossible to ignore, or highly valuable. Ideally, aim for both.And here’s where the real move comes in: assume the same of others. In most multiplayer games, especially online ones, expecting competence from your opponents forces you to play better. It raises the floor of your expectations, improves collaboration and protects you from the trap of underestimating the consequences of your actions.

… And Assume It From Others

If you can identify aspects of your work that you uniquely enjoy — and that others may see as tedious, difficult or draining — you may have found an edge. Because in competitive environments, advantage is often about doing the same amount with less psychological cost.

2. Exploit The Parts Of Work That Don’t Feel Like Work To You

In game theory terms, you’re exploiting an asymmetric payoff structure, where your internal reward is higher than that of your peers for the same action. When others see effort, you feel flow. That makes you highly resilient and harder to outlast. It’s also how you avoid falling into the trap of accepting a Nash equilibrium. This is a state where each person settles on a strategy that feels rational given everyone else’s, even if the group as a whole is stuck in mediocrity. No one deviates, because no one has an incentive to, unless someone changes the underlying payoff structure.

The Asymmetric Payoff Structure And The Nash Equilibrium

Now, imagine a team project where everyone quietly agrees to put in just enough effort to get by, no more, no less. It feels fair, and no one wants to overextend. But if even one person realizes they could stand to gain by going above that baseline, they have an incentive to break the agreement. The moment they do, the equilibrium collapses, because now others are pressured to step up or risk falling behind.

The Trap Of “Just Enough, No More, No Less”

In a true equilibrium, each person’s strategy is the best possible response to what everyone else is doing. No one gains by changing course. However, when your internal motivation shifts the reward equation, you may begin to question the basis of the equilibrium itself.All this is why the advice to “follow your passion” often misfires. Unless there’s a clear definition of what constitutes passion, the advice lands as too vague. A more precise version is this: find and hone a valuable skill that energizes you, but might drain most others.

Anyone May Begin To Question The Basis Of The Equilibrium Itself

There’s a certain kind of professional who doesn’t chase money for money’s sake. Maybe he writes code for a game studio as a day job, writes blogs on the side and even mentors high school kids on their computer science projects. But this isn’t so much about padding his lifestyle or building a mountain of cash.What he’s really doing is looking for games: intellectually engaging challenges, satisfying loops and rewarding feedback. In a sense, he’s always gaming, not because he’s avoiding work, but because he’s designed his life around what feels like play.

3. Follow The Money Only Far Enough To Find The Game

This mindset flips the usual money narrative on its head. And ironically, that’s often what leads to sustainable financial success: finding personal fulfillment that makes consistent effort easier for you and everyone around you.This is a self-reinforcing loop: the more the game rewards you internally, the less you need external motivation to keep showing up.

Be Always Gaming

So instead of asking, “What’s the highest-paying path?” — ask, “Which games would I play even if I didn’t have to?” Then, work backward to find ways to monetize them. This does two incredibly valuable things in tandem: It respects the system you’re in, and it respects the goals you personally hold dear.

Play A Game If It’s Play, Play A Game If You’re Game For It

Remember that a game is a structured type of play, and play is “freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages”.

3 Ways ‘Game Theory’ Could Benefit Us At Work, By A Psychologist

Every entrepreneur knows the feeling: that moment of despair when the only thing you are aware of is the giant gap between where you find yourself and the life and business you imagine.Once you succeed, people see only the success. If you fail, they see only the failure. Rarely do they see the turning points that could have taken you in a completely different direction. But it’s at these inflection points that the most important lessons in business and life are learned.

“Once you succeed, people see only the success. If you fail, they see only the failure.”

Cynicism And Hopefulness | Nick Cave

Where Our Sugar Comes From Matters Just As Much As How Much We Consume

Practice Until You Can’t Get It Wrong | Shane Parrish

The Difference Between A Good And A Right Decision

How The Shortcuts We Take Relate To The Effort We Make | James Clear

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