Happy Holidays from Mindful Construct!

Mindful Construct is over two years old now!

To be honest, I’ve lost track of the time and the article count. All I know is that I’m super lucky to have such wonderful readers with which to discuss topics that matter to me.

Seriously, you guys rock! You’re smart, deep, thoughtful, and passionate, and you care about making a difference, in your own life, and the world.

A lot happened here in 2010. Here are six things I’m very grateful for.

1. Identifying two kinds of commenters

This year it became clear to me that articles attract two major types of commenters.

1. Those who think critically about the topic of discussion, and

• Chime in,
• Provide constructive feedback,
• And/or ask genuine questions

2. Those who already disagree with an article before they start reading, or don’t really want to discuss the topic at hand

As part of this realization, I started the article series, Juicing Negative Blog Comments.

It provides the platform to deconstruct naysaying comments in a constructive way. You can only be mindful about your constructs if you are willing to look into them.

The latest juice can be found in: I’m Not Blogging to Save the World.

2. Finding rhythm

This year I found a comfortable pace for publishing articles.

One article per week provides enough space for a comment discussion to run its course, and for digesting a certain topic.

I’d thought about doing one regular and one “shorter” article per week, but brevity doesn’t come easy to me!

And this fall I started my first semester of the M.A. program in Experimental Psychology at Cal State San Marcos. The program keeps me busy, so I plan to carry this rhythm into 2011.

3. Experimenting with different article types

In 2010, Mindful Construct articles included quite a variety…

Commentaries on scientific studies

I had to read 90+ studies during the semester, which trickled into two articles late in the year:

• Why Adversity is Good for You
• Boys Lack Emotional Intelligence Training

(I read The Contradiction of Mindfulness before the semester started.)

Would you like to see more? Any requests on how to approach them?

I don’t really want to focus solely on research. Many blogs have that covered. And research is only half of the equation.

But I’m happy to write my take on studies I’ve read, or that are easy to obtain and on-topic. Ideally I’d stick to linkable pdf’s.

Goodness knows there are tons of interesting studies being published these days!

A series on the PBS production, “This Emotional Life”

It was pretty intense going from DVR recording to text editor, and spending less time overall editing this series.

But it was well worth it. For one thing, the show clued me in on the mainstream proliferation of mindfulness meditation.

A series on mindfulness meditation

The Dark Side of Mindfulness Meditation has over 100 comments!

Check out the full article series here and if you haven’t already you can join the discussion.

A series on my interview with AI researcher Dr. Goertzel

I may still add to this series in the future, as there was much from the interview not yet covered. Would you want to see more?

The series, Juicing Negative Blog Comments

I’m looking forward to expanding this series. It’s amazing how the dysfunctions of in-person communication are so easily mirrored online.

One book review

There was one book “review” done in two parts. It’s one of my favorite books. If you haven’t yet read it, get a copy for the new year.

I don’t spend a lot of time reading the kinds of books that would make for good Mindful Construct reviews — self-help type works. But I have listed my favorite self-help book in the free e-class, and would be happy to write reviews or commentaries by request. Just be specific in what you’d like to see. If I’ve read it or plan to, and maybe a review or some other type of article will make sense.

Articles related to television shows

I don’t watch much television programming, but I like to follow a couple science fiction shows. This year it so happened that “V, “LOST,” and “Doctor Who” inspired articles.

Have you seen any good science fiction lately? How many of you cool people watched one of the matrix films this year? I attended my second back-to-back trilogy screening and it was awesome.

Articles inspired by readers

In addition to the topics for the juicing series, many ideas came in, directly and indirectly, through comments and emails. Thus inspiring:

• 3 Reasons Why You Can’t Kill Your Emotions
• Don’t Take Someone Else’s Addiction Personally
• 5 Reasons Why I’m All Into Working With Emotions
• Catch Your Anger Early and Establish Healthy Boundaries Instead
• The Smart Way to Get Something Off Your Chest
• Are You Someone Else’s Venting Ground?
• The Only Way to Get Over Heartbreak

Get in touch if you have an article topic you’d like to see covered. It just might turn into an article.

3 stellar guest articles

Cory Chu-Keenan and Chris Edgar kindly filled in for me when I was in Alaska this summer.

Their thoughtful provocations were followed by some great discussions:

• What Emotional Intelligence Really Means
• 3 Things the Personal Development Critics Got Wrong
• 3 Things Your Self-Help Guru Won’t Tell You

I look forward to future guest articles to come.

4. Launching the free report/ e-class/ newsletter

Yes, all three were launched at once — if you haven’t signed up yet, check it out!

• Read the special report that deconstructs science, in a constructive way [this report is no longer offered through newsletter sign-ups]
• Then go through the 10-part e-class which shows you more of how your life is your construct
• And automatically receive the email newsletter, where I share my thoughts in a more free-flowing format and talk about other projects I think are important

You can sign up right now by entering your email address below:

5. Tapping into Facebook and Twitter

I was hesitant to start a Facebook Fanpage, but it has a nice interface for sharing new articles and related content.

I try to post article updates on both Facebook and Twitter, but Facebook seems more suitable for asking questions. It also feels more comfortable linking to off-topic articles on Twitter.

Do you use either service, or both? Anything you’d like to see from Mindful Construct?

6. Getting into some meaty topics

Recurring topics this year included…

Working with anger

• Why You Need to Take Everything Personally
• Why You Have to Take It Personally Before You Can Get Over It
• How Anger Gets Stored in Your Body
• 4 Crucial Ways Anger Management Falls Short
• Why Genuine Gratitude is Healthier than Forgiveness
• Catch Your Anger Early and Establish Healthy Boundaries Instead
• The Smart Way to Get Something Off Your Chest
• How Good is Your Excuse for Keeping Your Cool?
• Are You Someone Else’s Venting Ground?

The case for appreciating your emotions

• What Emotional Intelligence Really Means
• 7 Life Lessons I Learned from My Pain
• 5 Reasons Why I’m All Into Working With Emotions
  
• How Will You Use Your Icky Emotions to Better Navigate Your Life?
• Why It’s Good to Be Buffeted By Your Emotions
• 3 Reasons Why You Can’t Kill Your Emotions
• Do You Want to Control Your Emotions?
• How to Look Into the Black Box of Your Mind
• Your Emotions Act as an Information Filter
• The Red Pill of Personal Development

Being critical of self-help

• Why I Don’t Blog About Happiness
• The Little Known Secret to Self-Help Success
• 8 Ways Self-Help Can Hurt You
• 3 Things Your Self-Help Guru Won’t Tell You
• 3 Things the Personal Development Critics Got Wrong

Deconstructing cultural myths

• How the New Age is the New Religion
• 3 Dangerous Myths of Disneyland
• You Live in a Made-Up World
• Fake Patriotism & the TSA’s X-Ray Scanners
• Santa Claus & Lazy Parenting

What topics do you, or would you, like to see recurring?

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for making 2010 so awesome!

I’ve appreciated all your comments, and if you have any thoughts or memorable moments to share, I’d love to hear them!

Have a safe holiday and a happy new year, and I’ll see you in 2011!

P.S. If you have some extra reading time over the holidays, sign up for the e-class and kick off the new year with some healthy perspective on how your life is your construct.