"The Kitchen Table" Presented by TPI Canada

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Welcome to Season Nine the Wisdom Study 2.0 where we explore the ever-increasing challenge of anxiety.  In this season, we will begin by diving into the connection between Uncertainty, Anxiety, and Suffering. Building on the Wisdom Formula we introduced in Wisdom Study 1.0, we’ll focus on how to turn wisdom into practice—offering models & practical ways to ease anxiety in the middle of life’s complexity.

As the world grows more uncertain, anxiety naturally grows with it. Our hope is that these conversations will give you tools, insights, and stories to help apply wisdom in your everyday life, so you can face challenges with more clarity, calm, and courage.

Background

Simply stated Anxiety is increasing.

• Global trends: Surveys like the World Health Organization and Gallup Global Emotions Report show rising levels of stress, worry, and anxiety over the past decade. Events such as the pandemic, political polarization, economic uncertainty, climate change, and rapid technological shifts have amplified this trend.
• Generational patterns: Younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) report higher levels of anxiety compared to older cohorts, often tied to social media use, financial stress, and a less predictable future.
• Clinical reality: Diagnosed anxiety disorders are becoming more common, but even outside clinical diagnoses, day-to-day experiences of anxiety are increasing for many people.
• Root causes: Greater uncertainty—about health, work, identity, the environment, and social cohesion—appears to be fueling this rise.

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In this episode, Gregg, Dave and Ron get trapped in misinformation, supposedly coming from the new Pope Leo IVX. What does "woke" mean? What does "anti-woke" mean? What is the truth? Where is the truth? Be careful...it may be mis-information. Even if you like the answers.

Additional Link

Timothy Caulfield from his book;  The Certainty Illusion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf7dG62GcGo

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In this episode, Gregg, Dave, and Ron examine the use of "labels" in our lives. Labels give us a short-cut. Even help us judge others quickly. But can we dig a little deeper? Our Wisdom Model opens us to curiosity, even maturity. Join us on the journey.

 Additional References

Core Wisdom Formula: Experience + Knowledge + Maturity = Wisdom (+)

The formula highlights the interdependence of three key components in developing wisdom:

1. Experience: Encompasses personal interactions, emotions, and perceptions, forming the subjective lens through which the world is understood.
2. Knowledge: Refers to acquired information or awareness, gained through education or experience.
3. Maturity: Demonstrated in one’s ability to respond thoughtfully and deliberately to life’s challenges, beyond mere age.

Wisdom results when these elements merge, and Wisdom+ represents the ability to apply them, leading to wise action with tangible benefit

Seven Spectrums of Woke

 he Seven Spectrums of Woke describe a range of beliefs and attitudes toward the concept of "woke," highlighting how perspectives vary significantly across the political and social landscape. From enthusiastic support for systemic social justice (Far Left) to viewing "woke" as a threat to traditional values and freedoms (Far Right), this spectrum provides clarity on the nuances and diversity of opinions surrounding the term. Understanding that there is a spectrum helps us appreciate the complexity of cultural debates and recognize where individuals might find themselves positioned within the broader dialogue about social awareness, inclusion, and cultural change.

 1.     Far Left

a.    Sees woke as essentially for social justice and a systemic change.

2.    Progressive Left

a.    Views woke as raising awareness about any inequalities, discrimination and human rights.

3.    Moderate Left 

a.    Supports many woke ideas but believe some policies may go too far. 

4.    Center

a.    Recognizes both the benefit and excessive of woke culture favours balance.

5.    Moderate Right

a.    Believes woke can be excessive, harming free speech and traditional values.

6.    Conservative Right 

a.    Strongly opposes woke seeing it as politically correct taken too far.

7.    Far Right 

a.    Views woke as a dangerous ideology the threatens western culture and freedoms.

Four Maturity Capabilities: Maturity is developed through four capabilities:
  - Objective self-analysis: Extending time between stimulus and response to evaluate beliefs and emotions.

  - Understanding & integrating multiple perspectives: Acknowledging ambiguity and others’ worldviews.

- Empathetic reasoning: Considering others’ welfare while maintaining personal balance

 Thinking and acting autonomously and authentically : Aligning behavior with values, acting autonomously and with integrity.

 SCARF Model (Dr. David Rock): This model identifies five social domains—status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness—that influence human behavior by triggering reward or threat responses. These social elements explain much of modern society’s polarization, lack of civility, and increasing tribalism. People often seek to avoid threats and approach rewards, creating division when these domains are challenged.

This wisdom framework seeks to answer critical questions about contemporary social dynamics, such as the rise of populism, polarization, and the erosion of pluralism. By understanding the foundational

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In this episode, Gregg, Dave and Ron revisit their reflections on Pope Francis. With some trepidation, especially Ron. But we do evolve our religious beliefs. Especially as we age and mature. We are three podcasters, with different "cosmic addresses". There is no one size fits all

Additional References

Core Wisdom Formula: Experience + Knowledge + Maturity = Wisdom (+)

The formula highlights the interdependence of three key components in developing wisdom:

1. Experience: Encompasses personal interactions, emotions, and perceptions, forming the subjective lens through which the world is understood.
2. Knowledge: Refers to acquired information or awareness, gained through education or experience.
3. Maturity: Demonstrated in one’s ability to respond thoughtfully and deliberately to life’s challenges, beyond mere age.

Wisdom results when these elements merge, and Wisdom+ represents the ability to apply them, leading to wise action with tangible benefits.

Four Wisdom Support Constructs

1. Wisdom Practice Model: Stories, Ologies, Beliefs, Wisdom+
  - Stories: Interpretations of experiences.
  - Ologies Fields of study (e.g., biology, psychology) that influence belief systems.
  - Beliefs: Shaped by stories and ologies, forming personal behaviors.
  - Wisdom+: Integration of experience, knowledge, and maturity into practical wisdom.

2. Wisdom to the 3rd Power: Noun, Verb, and Creative Subconscious
  - Noun: Represents wisdom as a philosophy, virtue, or practice.
  - Verb: Wisdom in action, application, or response.
  - Creative Subconscious: The incubator for pondering and creatively engaging wisdom.

3. Four Maturity Capabilities: Maturity is developed through four capabilities:
  - Objective self-analysis: Extending time between stimulus and response to evaluate beliefs and emotions.
  - Understanding & integrating multiple perspectives: Acknowledging ambiguity and others’ worldviews.
  - Empathetic reasoning: Considering others’ welfare while maintaining personal balance.
  - Thinking and acting autonomously and authentically : Aligning behavior with values, acting autonomously and with integrity.

4. SCARF Model (Dr. David Rock): This model identifies five social domains—status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness—that influence human behavior by triggering reward or threat responses. These social elements explain much of modern society’s polarization, lack of civility, and increasing tribalism. People often seek to avoid threats and approach rewards, creating division when these domains are challenged.

This wisdom framework seeks to answer critical questions about contemporary social dynamics, such as the rise of populism, polarization, and the erosion of pluralism. By understanding the foundational elements of wisdom and the forces that shape human reactions (e.g., the SCARF model), individuals can foster more nuanced and thoughtful responses to life’s challenges. The maturity capabilities offer a path to wise action, rooted in empathy, perspective-taking, and authenticity.

This approach also suggests that the more developed these constructs are within individuals, the better equipped they are to navigate complex social and personal situations, leading to more harmonious and inclusive societies.

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In this episode, Ron, Dave and Gregg share their perspectives on the life, ministry, and papistry of Pope Francis. All three of us, looking through the lens of our wisdom model, describe a unique world leader. Also important are our own stories. And how Francis' life illuminates our own evolving values.

Additional References

Core Wisdom Formula: Experience + Knowledge + Maturity = Wisdom (+)

The formula highlights the interdependence of three key components in developing wisdom:

1. Experience: Encompasses personal interactions, emotions, and perceptions, forming the subjective lens through which the world is understood.
2. Knowledge: Refers to acquired information or awareness, gained through education or experience.
3. Maturity: Demonstrated in one’s ability to respond thoughtfully and deliberately to life’s challenges, beyond mere age.

Wisdom results when these elements merge, and Wisdom+ represents the ability to apply them, leading to wise action with tangible benefits.

Four Wisdom Support Constructs

1. Wisdom Practice Model: Stories, Ologies, Beliefs, Wisdom+
  - Stories: Interpretations of experiences.
  - Ologies Fields of study (e.g., biology, psychology) that influence belief systems.
  - Beliefs: Shaped by stories and ologies, forming personal behaviors.
  - Wisdom+: Integration of experience, knowledge, and maturity into practical wisdom.

2. Wisdom to the 3rd Power: Noun, Verb, and Creative Subconscious
  - Noun: Represents wisdom as a philosophy, virtue, or practice.
  - Verb: Wisdom in action, application, or response.
  - Creative Subconscious: The incubator for pondering and creatively engaging wisdom.

3. Four Maturity Capabilities: Maturity is developed through four capabilities:
  - Objective self-analysis: Extending time between stimulus and response to evaluate beliefs and emotions.
  - Understanding & integrating multiple perspectives: Acknowledging ambiguity and others’ worldviews.
  - Empathetic reasoning: Considering others’ welfare while maintaining personal balance.
  - Thinking and acting autonomously and authentically : Aligning behavior with values, acting autonomously and with integrity.

4. SCARF Model (Dr. David Rock): This model identifies five social domains—status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness—that influence human behavior by triggering reward or threat responses. These social elements explain much of modern society’s polarization, lack of civility, and increasing tribalism. People often seek to avoid threats and approach rewards, creating division when these domains are challenged.

This wisdom framework seeks to answer critical questions about contemporary social dynamics, such as the rise of populism, polarization, and the erosion of pluralism. By understanding the foundational elements of wisdom and the forces that shape human reactions (e.g., the SCARF model), individuals can foster more nuanced and thoughtful responses to life’s challenges. The maturity capabilities offer a path to wise action, rooted in empathy, perspective-taking, and authenticity.

This approach also suggests that the more developed these constructs are within individuals, the better equipped they are to navigate complex social and personal situations, leading to more harmonious and inclusive societies.

We’d love to hear from you please leave a comment

In this episode, Gregg and Ron expose the psychological. biological, and technological forces affecting today’s politics. Raise your awareness. Take control of the cycle. Stay sane while staying engaged. We need perspective, especially about the power of negative news.

Summary of Paper

Hooked on the Drama, the Uncertainty, the Outrage: Why We Can’t Look Away  & How to Break Free

The Kitchen Table-Gregg Cochlan

 Introduction

What began as a personal inquiry into why I—and so many others—feel hooked by negative stories, news and people. I asked myself: Why do I keep getting pulled into negative news—especially stories about- him (you know who I am talking about) —even when I don’t want to? This paper has revealed that our attention isn’t weak or broken. It’s human. We are biologically, psychologically, and socially wired to notice threats, react to injustice, and seek certainty in chaos. And in today's media environment, those very instincts are being exploited—by algorithms, by political figures, and by a news economy that profits from keeping us anxious, outraged, and constantly checking for updates.

As much as it pains me to say it, but his media dominance—it may not be an accident. It appears to be the product of a unique convergence of psychological insight, technological mastery, ideological resonance, and social polarization. Understanding this is not just informative—it’s liberating. Because once we understand why we’re drawn in, we can start to choose whether to stay there.

The real power in this inquiry is not in diagnosing the problem, but in offering practical strategies to disrupt the cycle. From setting boundaries and curating our news intake, to becoming mindful of our emotional triggers and actively seeking diverse perspectives, we can begin to shift from passive consumers to intentional citizens.

This isn’t about tuning out—it’s about tuning in with discernment. It’s about protecting our attention as one of our most precious resources.

Along the way, I found language, research, and examples that helped me name what was happening: the dopamine-driven seeking system, moral outrage as reward, negativity bias, confirmation bias, the need for closure, and his’s strategic manipulation of all of it. But what mattered most was discovering that there are things we can do about it.

This isn’t about tuning out the world or becoming passive. It’s about learning how to stay informed without being consumed. It’s about stepping out of the automatic stimulus-response loop—and choosing a more thoughtful, intentional way to engage. I didn’t want to stay in that loop. I wanted to understand it so I could interrupt it—and reclaim some agency over what I give my time, energy, and attention to.

I wrote this for myself, but also for anyone else who has found themselves stuck in the same cycle. If that’s you, then here’s what I’ve learned:

• Notice the next outrage and “pause” before clicking.
• You can ask whether a headline is helping or hijacking your attention.
• You can be informed without being inflamed.
• Interrupt the next dopamine loop.

It’s about reclaiming our emotional sovereignty in a world that profits from taking it away

# 95  A Reflection On Maturity And Summer’s Politics:

 In this episode, Dave, Gregg and Ron offer their wisdom models, especially Dave’s analysis on the four capabilities of maturity. Mature thinking must include empathy and not just confrontation. Are we being emotional in our worldview, but increasing the threat in our politics. We can smarter, wiser.  We can be better.

 Additional References

 Maturity in the Study of Wisdom- Dave Derksen

 With greater maturity comes a greater likelihood that one may offer a wise response in any situation. Knowledge from study and insight from experience provide background understanding which supports a wise response. However, without maturity, knowledge and experience alone may lead to responses that are unwise (self-serving and intrusive i.e. unhelpful to others). Note also that a wise response may be inaction.  To decern whether or not to act in a situation requires maturity.

Four Maturity Capabilities
To develop maturity means to become more capable of:

1.     Objective self-analysis (holding and evolving our beliefs and opinions, rather than being subject to their control*)

o   Extending the time between stimulus and response to allow for analysis 

o   Acknowledging our emotions as part of decision making rather reacting quickly based on emotion. 

2.     Understanding and integrating multiple perspectives 

o   Living with ambiguity 

o   Acknowledging the world view and motivations of others

3.     Empathetic reasoning (thinking humanely)

o   Considering the welfare and experience of others as well as our own.

o   Recognizing the needs that lead to decisions e.g. safety (physical, social, emotional etc.) or sense of purpose.

4.     Thinking and acting autonomously and authentically 

o   Aligning actions with values – congruence between beliefs and behaviour

o   Giving appropriate weight to the influence of external factors (consequences of actions)

SCARF- Dr. David Rock

As away to understand:  either why you’re behaving or acting the way that you do, or why others do. We offer you neuroscientist  Dr. David Rock. SCARF model . Rock identifies  social situations  that creates  either  are reward response for us 'threat response. 

Rock explains  there are five social domains : status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness & fairness that if you have in  life things move along quite nicely however, once these are threatened it causes people to react with fight, flight or freeze reaction.

It can help explain our original  questions 

•Why the world is so polarized.

•Why there is a increasing  lack of civility and citizenship responsibly and rise of populism. 

•Where people are tend to look for things that people are against versus what people are for. 

•Why there is an  erosion of pluralism and growth in tribalism

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In this episode, Gregg, Ron, And Dave analyze the Trump/Zelensky meeting. Using the Wisdom Practice Model for guidance, the team focuses on what can we learn? To pause. To slow our emotions down. To run the events through our personal self-reflection, stories, and examples.

A. Psychological aspects of Zelensky’s meeting with Trump

This analysis has been circulating online regarding the psychological aspects of Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, conducted using ChatGPT. From this analysis,  we witnessed gaslighting, manipulation, and coercion on the part of Trump. 

Key points:

1. Blaming the victim for their own situation

Trump  tells Zelensky: “You have allowed yourself to be in a very bad position.” This is classic abuser rhetoric—blaming the victim for their suffering. 

2. Pressure and coercion into ‘gratitude’

Vance demands that Zelensky say “thank you.” This is an extremely toxic tactic—forcing the victim to express gratitude for the help they desperately need, only to later accuse them of ingratitude if they attempt to assert their rights.

3. Manipulating the concept of ‘peace’

Trump claims that Zelensky is “not ready for peace.” However, what he actually means is Ukraine’s capitulation. This is a classic manipulation technique—substituting the idea of a just peace with the notion of surrender.

4. Refusing to acknowledge the reality of war

Trump  insists that Zelensky has “no cards to play” and that “without us, you have nothing.” This is yet another abusive tactic—undermining the victim’s efforts by asserting that they are powerless without the mercy of their ‘saviour.’

5. Devaluing the victims of war

“If you get a ceasefire, you must accept it so that bullets stop flying and your people stop dying,” Trump says. Yet, he ignores the fact that a ceasefire without guarantees is merely an opportunity for Russia to regroup and strike again.

6. Dominance tactics

Trump constantly interrupts Zelensky, cutting him off: “No, no, you’ve already said enough,” and “You’re not in a position to dictate to us.” This is deliberate psychological pressure designed to establish a hierarchy in which Zelensky is the subordinate.

7. Forcing capitulation under the guise of ‘diplomacy’

Vance asserts that “the path to peace lies through diplomacy.” This is a classic strategy where the aggressor is given the opportunity to continue their aggression unchallenged.

8. Projection and distortion of reality

Trump declares: “You are playing with the lives of millions of people.” Yet, in reality, it is he who is doing exactly that—shifting responsibility onto Zelensky.

9. Creating the illusion that Ukraine ‘owes’ the US

Yes, the US is assisting Ukraine, but presenting this aid as “you must obey, or you will receive nothing” is not a partnership—it is financial and military coercion.

10. Undermining Ukraine’s resistance

Trump states that “if it weren’t for our weapons, this war would have ended in two weeks.” This is an attempt to erase Ukraine’s achievements and portray its efforts as entirely dependent on US support

B. Do you want to Fast this Lent? in the words of Pope Francis 

·      Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

·      Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. 

·      Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

·      Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. 

·      Fast from worries and have trust in God. 

·      Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.

·      Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

·      Fast from bitterness, filled your heart with joy.· 

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In this episode, Gregg, Dave, and Ron take a deep breath, to step out of the noise of the day. Disruptions. Threats. Real and imagined. Why do I feel the way that I do? Political tensions, new every day. How do I keep my balance? This takes maturity, and a wise practice

Constructs 3 & 4

3. Maturity Capabilities

  - Objective self-analysis: Extending time between stimulus and response to evaluate beliefs and emotions.
  - Understanding & integrating multiple perspectives: Acknowledging ambiguity and others’ worldviews.
  - Empathetic reasoning: Considering others’ welfare while maintaining personal balance.
  - Thinking and acting autonomously and authentically : Aligning behavior with values, acting autonomously and with integrity.

4. SCARF Model (Dr. David Rock): This model identifies five social domains—status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness—that influence human behavior by triggering reward or threat responses. These social elements explain much of modern society’s polarization, lack of civility, and increasing tribalism. People often seek to avoid threats and approach rewards, creating division when these domains are challenged

We’d love to hear from you please leave a comment

In this episode, Gregg, Dave, and Ron step into the breach of multiple information sources coming our way.  Especially, the post-election news deluge. Multiple information platforms compete for our attention. It’s complicated. All the more reason to build a strategy that starts with a pause. Who’s in charge here? 

The Relationship of Information and Knowledge:

•The strength of one’s knowledge is directly influenced by the quality and relevance of information. 

•Accurate and comprehensive information needs to well-founded knowledge while information or incomplete data results in misconceptions.

•Therefore it’s critical to evaluate information sources, ensuring that the reliability is crucial to developing robust knowledge.

The Internet and AI sources have become dominant due to their access of speed and convenience however traditional sources like TV and personal communications remain essentially, especially among older demographics or in the area of less technology penetration the challenge lies and distinguishing trustworthy information from information or misinformation or disinformation especially in the fast pace, algorithm online landscape 

What are your Information sources?

Are they Fiction or True? Is it Accurate?