Structural Biases
R ==> Relationships: Focusing on Those That Matter Most
Stress in relationships leads to emotional exhaustion, which eventually can compromise physical health and invariably reduces our level of happiness. This holds true regardless of context, whether a strained relationship with co-workers that jeopardizes achieving organizational goals, a strained relationship with a spouse that undermines the presumed benefit of long-term coupling, or a strained relationship with an estranged but loved adult sibling. Whatever the particular circumstance, a rewirement toward a fresh approach likely will prove beneficial.
E ==> Emotions: Overcoming the Challenging Curveballs of Life
Life is messy, rarely following whatever trajectory one imagines in their youth. Much of the messiness stems from randomness, and our tendency is to passively embrace the many seemingly random positive events in life -- while obsessing on the innate unfairness of a seemingly random negative event. Whether dealing with the unexpected loss of a loved one, the trauma and guilt that often follows an assault, or perceived failures in a classroom or workplace, a rewirement can provide perspective that helps provide context and a path toward better times.
W ==> Worldviews: Comparing and Crossing Borders
Childhood perspectives are necessarily limited by family life and immediate surroundings, but over time it becomes a choice whether we expand our horizons by crossing borders to engage other races, cultures, and societies. Those seeking to cross physical, social or cultural boundaries to become “global citizens” tend to become more tolerant, more compassionate and more informed. They also expand their personal toolkit for approaching lifes’ challenges by recognizing alternative perspectives, borrowing from what works elsewhere, and overcoming the blinders that may limit those less worldly.
I ==> Instructional Design and Technology: A Post-Pandemic Imperative
The 2020 pandemic and its disruptive impact both accelerated our reliance on technology and demonstrated the need to better understand and harness it for our individual and collective benefit. The education sector was exposed as woefully underprepared for delivering effective and enriching learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings. The elderly sector was flummoxed as restaurant menus became accessible only through “QR scans” with cell-phone apps. Both providers and consumers of services could benefit from technology rewirement, fresh thinking on providing more intuitive, engaging and productive interactions with the web, free of algorithmic biases.
R ==> Retirements: Lifestyle Transformation & Asset Decumulation
During the “go-go” stage of the life-cycle our focus is on accumulating resources to provide basic needs and aspirational wants for self and family. At the “slo-go” stage some struggle with loss of identity as they scale back or depart from work. Shortly thereafter, and often throughout the ensuing “no-go” years, many struggle with the challenge of a financial rewirement from accumulation of assets to a strategic decumulation over an unknowable future time horizon and set of risks.
E ==> Evolving Technologies: Not Your Parents' PDA
Most people are competent users of whatever technology was available to them during their formative youth. Similarly, most employees become competent in using whatever technology was in place when they were hired. However, in both circumstances there often is resistance to radically new technologies, despite conceding they provide better opportunities to achieve goals. Such resistance to change can be overcome.
M ==> Money Matters: Personal and Family Finance
Many people dislike working with numbers, and therefore shy away from financial analysis beyond perhaps a rudimentary budget. Unfortunately, that approach has a potentially large opportunity cost. Furthermore, there are tools and strategies available, ranging from online financial calculators to glide path portfolios and exchange-traded funds, that capture much of what one needs to know about their financial decisions without bogging down in numbers. They require a rewirement.
E ==> Education Systems: Global Perspectives, Local Imperatives
The world is increasingly global and interconnected, yet education systems tend to work in isolation. There is much to be learned from one another. Educational policies need to be cognizant of local issues, but also introduce global perspectives and approaches to learning. Education systems need an overhaul and rewirement to present circumstances and opportunities, focused on best preparing students for futures we may not fully anticipate. No industry has changed less this past millennium.
N ==> Newsiness: Not All the "News" is Fit to Print
We are told to differentiate "fake news" from the "real news". While the task sometimes is easy, such as when there is a clear underlying political agenda, the distinction often is more subtle, even unintentional. Further, the issue extends beyond mass news to specialized news, such as academic research in peer-reviewed journals. There are tools to help differentiate.
T ==> Time and Travel: Don't Let Work Expand to Meet the Time Available
Many individuals and organizations are careful in how they spend money but careless in how they spend time, although there is substantial evidence that managing the latter is much the more fulfilling endeavor. Sociological research has established a clear path from increased vacation time and variety to increased subsequent yields in work productivity, with corresponding decreases in stress levels.
S ==> Spirituality: The Limits to Logic and Science
Spirituality can be thought of as an intelligence among the other identified and commonly accepted intelligences. It is prewired in the brain but needs to be stimulated to contribute to holistic decision making in life. It manifests itself as wisdom and contributes to a person’s overall sense of being connected to something bigger than oneself. It is not a religion. Cultivating spirituality is a life-long process; it is a rewirement of mind and heart to help navigate toward whatever we perceive as our ultimate pursuit and purpose in life.