Happy Sunday! If you didn't notice already, last week I forgot to send the Stir. I had it all planned out, just needed some final touches on it and then I was going to send it. BUT...I forgot. So sorry if that threw off your routine entirely :P My apologies! Now bringing you your uninterrupted broadcast.

Alrighty on to the Stir!

The World of Pop Psychology

Pop social psychology promises quick fixes to complex problems but most doesn't stand up to scientific scrutiny. The validity of psych fads like power poses, implicit association tests (IAT), grit start to fall apart when their "findings" are put under pressure.

Only about half of all published experimental psychological findings are successfully replicated by other researchers.

Makes you start to wonder about how many of those extremely popular Ted Talks about trendy concepts are scientifically unproven. What's sad is that these ideas catch on and continue to garner lots of attention well after they've been disproven.

Fortunately, there’s reason for hope that the worst social-psychology fads are behind us. As awareness of the full severity of the field’s so-called replication crisis has taken hold, so too has an ardor for methodological reform that will likely make tomorrow’s studies sturdier than today’s. The original power-posing study, for example, would be less likely to get published in 2021, at least in a top scientific journal.

On the topic of pop psychology, the one lie that everyone now just accepts as true because it's been repeated over and over again is Emotional Intelligence or EQ. It doesn't exist. You can't just invent traits. It was created by journalist, not a psychologist. Don't get me going on that subject. I may do a deep dive post taking down emotional intelligence one day.

The World of Testosterone

Testosterone levels in young men today are low and that is not good. It's very bad.

An average 22 year-old male today has roughly the same testosterone levels as a 67 year old had in the year 2000. Average testosterone has fallen close to 50% in the last 2 decades, and nobody is talking about it.

Most young men are walking around with the testosterone of a senior citizen. It's bad because testosterone affects every aspect of a man's life:

• Improves heart health
• Supercharges energy
• Increases sex drive
• Decreases body fat
• Increases muscle growth

At the same time we are seeing historically low rates of testosterone, we’re also seeing marriage rates at historic lows, birth rates at historic lows, and 18-29 year olds reportedly having less sex than any other age group (with some 23% of them having zero sex in the last year!).

We're now starting to see the effects of low T in young men and it's likely to have some serious consequences if we don't turn the ship around quick. Why is this happening? How do you increase your T? Lots we could discuss here but will leave that out for now.

The World of Fatherlessness

I truly believe that fatherlessness is the single greatest cause for every social ill facing our country. It's a true epidemic and I'm all for anybody trying to address this massive issue in our society. I came across this story of a teacher who is doing just that. Such an inspiring story. Read below.

Stuff like this is going to make a world of difference in these kids lives. We need more men like this teacher doing what they can to be a healthy role model for these youngsters.

The World of Proverbs

"A stream narrowly hemmed in by its banks will flow more impetuously."

The more focused you become the more energy and power that flows. A wide river turns into a trickle but a narrow bank, makes the river flow faster. So it is with your mind. The more focus you have, the more power that is generated. Protect your focus.

End Note

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Live free,

Brennen