The times, they are a-changing
Sarb Johal
We are switching seasons around the world as we move through the equinox: spring for the Northern Hemisphere and autumn for those of us in the South. But other rhythms are being disrupted too. Although much of the world has seen horrific war over the past 30 years, we reached a real inflection point after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. American political scientist Francis Fukuyama argued in his book, The End of History and The Last Man that with the predominance of Western liberal democracy — which occurred after the Cold War (1945–1991) and the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991) — humanity has reached, “not just … the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history… That is, the end-point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.”
In more recent years, this idea has been criticised on many levels, but none so relevant right now than the growth in the economic and political power of two countries, Russia and China. As we consider the geopolitics of the last few years in retrospect, as well as the years to come, we cannot escape how pivotal these two powers have become and will remain. We are at another inflection point. How sharp it will be remains to be seen.
This week’s newsletter contains some reading about this, as well as some tips on wellbeing, and some fun distractions too. As always, please share widely with your friends, colleagues and family. It really supports me to grow my audience, and perhaps help a few more people too. Thank you - now, let’s get to it.
As a violent storm approached, people climbed a hill to watch. A metaphor for our times?
Geopolitics
A single book, written in 1997, signalled every significant foreign policy move of the Russian Federation over the following two decades. The United States, Europe, and every nation intertwined with Russia failed to see the signs. From the annexation of Crimea to Britain’s exit from the European Union, the grand strategy laid out in Aleksandr Dugin’s Foundation of Geopolitics: The Geopolitical Future of Russia has unfolded beautifully in a disastrous manner for the western rules-based international order. Perhaps, his words also telegraph the belligerent Putin’s future intentions.
Eurasia Group | Top Risks 2022
Strap yourself in for this one, and check my tweet thread below if you feel the need to de-stress after reading this.
There’s lots more below the paywall fold for subscribers and you’ll also get access to my 30,000 Days project too. Thanks to all my paid subscribers who make all this possible.
Your vagus nerve is your secret weapon in fighting stress 🦸🏽♂️💪🏼
Here's why understanding the role of your vagus nerve is important and 6 ways for you to harness the benefits of stimulating it.
What are the symptoms of stress? ⇩
Confronted with irreconcilable objectives, China is putting on a brave face as it deals with a serious dilemma
Being prepared for a volatile and uncertain world may involve not just learning about what faces us ahead, but also relearning—or unlearning—lessons of old.
Submerging yourself in bad news helps nobody, least of all Ukrainians. Instead, create boundaries and focus on the things you can control
Why is internet access on planes so bad?
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of enforced downtime from the internet on a plane. But as we think about long haul travel again, it is odd that airplane internet is so bad and so expensive. Elon Musk thinks he may have a solution via the Starlink system.
This newsletter didn’t write itself. If you’re in the position to make a donation to support my writing, click the link here to do so easily. Thank you!
Better sleep
I wrote this. It’s got everything you wanted to know about sleep with tips to help. And I know that it’s something that people have been struggling with, as it has come up in the Q + A sessions in webinars I have run recently. It’s the price of a coffee but won’t keep you awake.
11 Best Sleep Gadgets and Apps: Noise Machines, Blankets, Lights, and More
Do you struggle to nod off or stay asleep through the night? These WIRED-tested tools can help.
Behaviour insights
The untold story of 2021: people became kinder.
Global rates of helping strangers, volunteering, and giving to charity are nearly 25% above pre-pandemic levels.
The dominant response to suffering is not selfishness. It's compassion. The worst of times bring out the best in us. https://t.co/2ylhuY1IWq
How Long Should It Take to Grieve?
The latest edition of the DSM-5, sometimes known as “psychiatry’s bible,” includes a controversial new diagnosis: prolonged grief disorder. Made free to access for Noise Reduction subscribers and readers.
There's hope for jerks ... "This research suggests that taking small steps to become more agreeable may also reduce individuals’ levels of the dark triad" https://t.co/8AmAbYdExE https://t.co/EaJbHxRJi3
Join clinical psychologist Dr Ramani Durvasula, who has built a career out of demystifying and dismantling the toxic influence of narcissism, in her conversation with Jessie Mulligan.
Present-Moment Awareness: Overview, Benefits, and Practice
Present-moment awareness, a central tenet of mindfulness. Here’s a great summary of what it is and how to practice it.
Three things with Adam Liaw: ‘We wake up to freshly cooked rice at 6am’
Which three objects in your daily life give you the most pleasure?
Chocolate treats
How posh hot chocolate is conquering the UK
I posted this link on Twitter this week. It caused equal measures of horror and approval. As we head into the cosier months in New Zealand, are you bored with coffee yet? Do you need to switch up your hot beverage game?
🍫 Individuals who were randomly assigned to take a cocoa extract experienced a 27% reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease.
🫀 When the researchers excluded non-adherent subjects, the cocoa supplement group showed a 39% reduction in CVD deaths.
https://t.co/oil66BsBen https://t.co/yXYZH4Ofbh
And finally ...
Find out all the things that have happened since you were born, and when they happened in your personal timeline. And you can do it for other people too. What are you waiting for?
That’s it for this week. Don’t forget to share this newsletter far and wide. Thanks for reading - and drop me a line to tell me if anything particularly resonated with you this week. It’s always fun to hear from you. Take care out there.
"It is essential that we not respond impulsively...take a moment before reacting, and you will find it is easier to maintain control." Epictetus
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