Parents should prevent children from having social media accounts until high school, ideally age 16, and limit total screen time to two hours daily (excluding homework). This is crucial because social media is strongly linked to a severe mental health crisis in youth, particularly girls, leading to increased depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide.
Let children, especially between ages 7-12, have unsupervised free play and adventures with other kids in physically safe environments. This allows them to learn from mistakes and develop crucial social skills and independence through experience, which is far more effective than being told facts.
Allow children to experience the natural consequences of their mistakes, such as forgetting homework, rather than always intervening to prevent failure. This approach, exemplified by “let him make his mistakes, let him suffer the consequences,” is essential for them to learn effectively from feedback and develop resilience.
Actively learn and apply Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, such as recognizing and countering cognitive distortions like catastrophizing or black-and-white thinking. CBT is highly effective in improving mental health, beating depression, and enhancing overall thinking, even for those not clinically depressed.
Actively seek out and welcome critics or people who hold counter-arguments to your own ideas. Engaging with those who disagree is the only way to strengthen your own thinking and avoid intellectual stagnation, as “he who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.”
When disagreeing, start by finding common ground or acknowledging valid points from the other person before introducing your counter-argument. This approach, as taught by Dale Carnegie, makes you much more likely to persuade and engage in productive dialogue.
Develop intellectual humility, generosity of spirit, and the habit of giving people the benefit of the doubt, rather than being overconfident. These virtues are essential for discussing and debating ideas without taking them personally, fostering a healthier intellectual environment.
Be cautious about allowing or encouraging yourself or others to adopt labels like “victim” or “traumatized” for general unpleasant experiences. This practice can be disempowering and contributes to a culture that inadvertently celebrates weakness.
In organizations, leaders should encourage giving colleagues the benefit of the doubt and addressing interpersonal conflicts informally, rather than immediately resorting to bureaucratic procedures. This helps counter call-out culture, promotes cooperation, and allows for mistakes and forgiveness.
Practice making the case for both sides of an argument, not just your own, as is common in some high school curricula. This skill helps you understand different perspectives deeply and strengthens your overall argumentative abilities, as you hear views from those who genuinely believe them.
For groups struggling with political polarization and division, use resources like the Open Mind Platform (openmindplatform.org). This platform helps people learn to talk across differences, give others the benefit of the doubt, and ask questions constructively, improving organizational dynamics.