Danielle and José discuss having consistency in our ideas and beliefs. Why is consistency important? Should we have more allowance for nuance, evolution, or mushiness in our thoughts? What are the risks of remaining inconsistent or, conversely, of being too rigid in our thinking?

We welcome special guest Jeff Guenther LPC to defend the Law of Attraction, which we lambasted in #37 Vision Bored. Creator of Therapy Den and the Portland Therapy Center, Jeff claims that the law of attraction is the best model we have for how the universe works, and that there’s nothing problematic about it. José and Danielle are not so sure.

Danielle and José assess whether or not the Law of Attraction is total bullshit. After careful consideration, we’ve determined that although there are lots of ways in which the Law of Attraction might be helpful, it also can be politically dangerous and, at times, utter nonsense.

What happens when the responsibility to have an open mind pushes against the responsibility to protect people from hateful speech and ideology? José argues that having an open mind is required for us all to develop into our full selves, but cautions that this open-mindedness should happen primarily in the intimacy of private spaces, not necessarily on the public stage.This episode is the bookend to: “#11: Tolerating the Nazi Next Door,” so we recommend you take a listen to that one from our archives here.

Are you the same person that you were when you were six years old? Does identity exist over time? Danielle suggests that there is no such thing as a permanent essential self or soul and argues for the Buddhist idea of “no-self.” José is skeptical, believing instead that we are essentially the same over time.

Is prostitution immoral? Danielle begins this episode thinking that prostitution is morally permissible, if it is between two consenting adults. José argues that prostitution is morally wrong because it objectifies and dehumanizes women in a physical and irredeemable way. By the end of their conversation, Danielle’s not sure what she thinks anymore.

Why is feeling two or more conflicting things at the same time so hard? Danielle and José talk about the experience of ambivalence and dive into how our feelings are connected to our beliefs about the world. They explore some ways to understand, work through, or even just sometimes accept ambivalence in our daily lives.

José is troubled by his sexual fantasies of women because it objectifies them. Danielle and José consider: Does sexual desire always or necessarily involve the dehumanizing objectification of others? Is it morally acceptable to objectify someone in the privacy of your own mind or will that objectification always spill out into the way you interact with others? Is it possible to keep sexual fantasies completely separate from workplace relationships? Are there solutions to the social problems in which people are forced to navigate their sexual desires along with their desires to see others in their full humanity?

During this (past) holiday season, Danielle and José explored why cultivating gratitude may lead to increased well being, happiness, and richness of meaning. They suggest that gratitude is an achieved mental state that involves a re-cognition of our lives into a narrative of growth and positivity. Links Our music was graciously provided by BenSound. Audio engineering and editing services were benevolently provided by Dan Short. Come visit our website, our Facebook Page, or talk to us on twitter @thinkhardpod, @DanielleLaSusa, @themuniz. Audible Sponsorship This week, we’re sponsored by Audible. Right now, Think Hard listeners will get a special offer of one free audiobooks by signing up at thinkhardpodcast.com/audible. After 30 days, you get one audiobook a month for $14.95/month, and you’ll receive 30% off the price of additional audiobook purchases. Cancel at any time. A member’s books are theirs to keep, even if they cancel. That’s thinkhardpodcast.com/audible.

José hates casual clothes: jeans, cargo shorts, sweat pants, and the dreaded flip flops. He argues that the excuse many people give that these clothes are “comfortable” is really just a band-aid, and will never get to the real underlying source of discomfort that people feel. Danielle is not so sure.