Editor’s Picks — Top 10: How Sharing Powerful Insights As Opposed to Opinions Is the Key

Let’s go through our top 10 insightful stories

The word insight is becoming a cliche. Most people don’t know the difference between an insight and an opinion.

We need insights to solve our dilemmas of life.

An insight takes you to the why part of an issue — the context matters. An opinion is how you felt when you had an experience. Your experiences can be insights if you are Elon Musk and you are talking about the electric car industry.

An insight implies an accurate understanding of the issue. An opinion is meant to be a one-sided view — that may or may not be right.

If you are trying to share your insights, delve deep into the details of the topic. You have to mention research, books, a figure of authority, or a famous personality. That is the reason people read anything that has “Warren Buffet’s three tips about — ,” in the headline. For example, I can tell you to publish more articles to become more creative — it is my opinion. But when Seth Godin says you should ship more articles to be more creative — now it is an insight, since it comes from the bestselling author of twenty books.

Insights need obsessive digging. If you shy away from collecting supporting materials, you’ll end up serving half-cooked opinions.

You form an opinion inside you when you observe reality from your perspective — it belongs to you. But an insight feels external — belongs to something outside of you — even when you are the first one to realize it.

When people encounter an insight, they immediately agree. In the case of opinions, they are quick to disagree. When you are watching a TED talk, you rarely disagree with the presenter. But when you are listening to Donald Trump’s speech, you seldom agree. Do you feel the difference?

Insights are expert opinions. Your observations can be your beliefs and impressions. Suppose you are lost in a desert. You believe and opine, ‘I am seeing water ahead of this dune.’ The expert gives her insight, ‘It is a mirage, not water.’ Your belief, in this case, can kill you. But the expert’s insight can save your life. (Yes, I know an expert can be wrong too. But not always.)

Some of the things that an insight can be:

• A less known truth.
• A new way of viewing our surroundings.
• An incisive discovery about human character and relationships.
• An unveiling of hidden motivations behind human behaviors.

If you do something correctly, you’ll finally get what you want to get. But if you don’t know the right way, you’ll not get there in a million years.

Your experiences and observations are the starting point of your insights. But to share them, you have to think creatively. Focus and think deeply about your topic. With sufficient research, you can compose short and powerful sentences to say what you want to say.

Locate and mention the sources that support what you are saying. Find the why — go down that rabbit hole. Tackle the how — come up with some practical ways to solve the issue.

Dig deep — I believe you can do better.

Here is the list of our top 10 stories today — written by people who like to dig deep:

10. Is Kamala Harris Indian, South Asian, or Asian?

Vishnu*s Virtues tells you about simple ideas to get out of your own way and live a meaningful life. He is an ex-lawyer, ex-Californian, ex-husband.

He is a fine writer. His writing style is to the point, full of suspense, and very engaging. If you start reading his story, you’d not be able to click away easily.

There has been much debate of late on how to identify our first female Vice President of color, Kamala Harris. She’s been described as our first black and African American Vice President because of her Jamaican father but she’s been defined in different ways because of her Indian mother.

Some have called her Indian, some have called her South Asian, and others have referred to her as our first Asian American Vice-President. Why the confusion and why the many ways of describing Kamala Harris? What’s the best way to define her Indian heritage? Which term is appropriate to describe her South Asian ancestry?

9. Are You Writing for Money?

Luke Beling is a husband and father, adventurer, and a writer who finds joy in every day stories. He lives on the Big Island of Hawaii.

He is an exceptional writer. His writing style is honest, emotional, and very engaging. Do check his other work as well.

I’ve enjoyed writing as a casual pastime for most of my life. Two years ago, I decided to hone in on the craft. I began a rigorous reading routine and committed to typing two-hundred-and fifty words a day. I wrote an article that intrigued the eyes of an emerging surf brand. A couple of emails later, I became their part-time content writer. It was hardly the start of a way to pay for the mortgage, but I could finally answer affirmatively,

“I’m making money doing what I love.”

8. Donald Trump Made Your Life More Interesting and Now You Don’t Know What to Do

Isaiah McCall is a USA Today reporter and ultramarathoner. He writes about cryptocurrency, fitness hacks, and greek philosophy.

He is an accomplished writer. His writing style is witty, charming, and very engaging. Don’t miss this masterpiece.

What are you going to do without Donald Trump? You may say celebrate — but don’t forget how interesting he made your boring life.

You can’t glue yourself to Trump-focused news for hours You won’t be able to stalk his Twitter account You can’t virtue signal how much you hate him on social media You won’t be able to complain to your friends about every little thing he does.

7. Passionately Commit to Achieving Your Goal

Matt Reicher is a researcher, writer, and content creator trying to find his place within this world of words.

He is a good writer. His writing style is simple, direct, and engaging. I have selected many of his stories in the top 10. Do check his other work.

“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”~Tony Robbins

The first step in the journey to reach your goals is to define your level of commitment. This is not a small thing by any stretch of the imagination. Regardless of where you hope to end up, you’ll need to be willing to put one-hundred-percent of your energies into getting there.

6. The Art Of Detachment Is Pivotal To Our Mental Independence

Kashish Mehta is a blogger sharing his thoughts on entrepreneurship, personal finance, self-help, and politics.

He is a skilled writer. His writing style is pleasant, informative, and thought-provoking. If you like this story, don’t forget to check his other work.

When I see success, I remind myself that this too shall pass. When I see failure, I remind myself that this too shall pass. - Dan Go

The art of Detachment is probably one of the most misinterpreted concepts out there. A few common threads associated with this misinterpreted idea is that it is considered to be the trait of a complacent person or of one who withdraws from situations that fall outside of their comfort zone. These notions, amongst others, could not be further from the reality of it.

5. Rageaholics Anonymous

Petr Swedock. An unwieldy mix of the sacred and the profane, uneasily co-existing in an ever more fragile shell. Celebrating no-shave Nov since Sept 1989.

He is an excellent writer. His writing style is honest, to the point, and engaging. Do check his other work.

The building that houses Congress, including the hallowed chamber of the Senate, was breached by a rampaging mob. The chamber was empty, having been evacuated after a Trump rally went pear-shaped and whose members would not obey DC police orders to disperse. The intruder into the Senate chamber, a man wearing a black jacket, black gloves, a long checked scarf, and a black hat with incongruously bright red stripes seemed to be half-amused and somewhat scared under a sneering blush of anger and resentment. He was also wearing what looked like some sort of protective knee and shin guards. He reached the dais and mounted it. Seating himself in the Senate President’s chair — under the engraving of E Pluribus Unum — he raised a fist and declared that Trump had won the election.

4. Should You Quit Your Job If It Makes You Unhappy, But Pays Well?

Jordan Mendiola is committed to sharing ideas that lead to more fulfillment in all areas of life.

He is a wonderful writer. His writing style is honest, informative, and thought-provoking. Do check his other work.

Money is a lot of things, but it isn’t everything.

A few months ago, I was presented an opportunity to make $21 an hour working a twelve-hour night shift working for Abbott Laboratories making COVID test kits.

I only lasted three days and one of those days was training.

In the article I wrote previous to this one, I talk about why you should stick to your commitments and not give up early. So why am I going against my own advice?

3. Why “Nice Guys Finish Last” Might Just be So True

Victor Kananda is a self-improvement guru and a freelance writer. Seeking but not finding, but adding one thing to another to discover the schemes of things.

He is a superb writer. His writing style is simple, direct, and pleasant to read. You’ll love his work. He is new to Medium and needs your love.

I’m just as guilty as the next person.

I used to be a nice guy.

To be honest, I still am — but nowadays, I don’t really act like it to prove anything to anyone

I was the nicest guy you’ll ever come across. When a girl cancelled a date on me, I’d ask for another. When she took two days to reply to my texts, I’d still reply in a matter of seconds. And if she’d take three days before replying, I’d send another to remind her that I still existed.

2. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Should Clear James Comey’s Name — And Her Record — Before She’s Elected to Anything

Dr. Dion is an outstanding writer. Unbothered. Unapologetic. Unashamed.

Her writing style is direct, informative, and very engaging. Some of her stories have gone viral in recent days. Follow her. Read her. Try to learn from her style.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former press secretary and personal attack dog for Donald Trump, recently announced her run for governor of Arkansas. Her intro video hit all the familiar notes; she’s asking for our prayers, will fight for law and order, and will oppose the “radical” Green New Deal. Despite having worked for the laziest president in history — one who rarely was dressed and out of bed before noon — she is going to “incentivize work” for the poor.

1. 10 Types of Friends You’ll Have Throughout Your Life

At number one, it is Caitlin Jill Anders. She is a full-time writer with anxiety figuring it out. She likes talking about sex, mental health, relationships, and everything in between.

She is an outstanding writer. Her writing style is frank, friendly, charming, and likable. Read her. Follow her and wait for her next story.

We first learn how to make friends in preschool and kindergarten, but I don’t think the process ever really stops. We’re constantly learning and relearning how to make friends, how to be a friend, how to keep friends, and so on. Even if we think we’ve mastered the skill, I don’t think we’re ever really done.

I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and I’ve always been a little quirky, so making friends doesn’t always come naturally to me. I’m so proud of myself when I actually manage to meet and make friends in a new situation. Sometimes though, I think I let that excitement overwhelm everything else, including the thought process of whether the friendships I’m creating are healthy or not.

This post is part of the Top 10 Series — you can meet almost 400 top writers with these links:

1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–11–12–13–14–15–16–17–18–19–20–21–22–23–24–25–26–27–28–29–30–31–32–33–34–35–36–37–38–39–40–41–42–43–44–45–46–47–48–49–50–51–52 –53–54–55–56–57–58–59–60–61–62–63–64–65–66

Final Thoughts

If your story was selected in the Top 10, please share another one of your stories with a brief introduction and a short convincing review. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the Chief Editor and Founder of Illumination and Illumination-Curated, read, highlighted, and applauded every good story when he started his publications. He still reads almost all of the good ones. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz has kindly allotted the top 10 series a full shelf on the front page of Illumination-Curated:

If you find any mistake, typo, or other error, please leave a private note for correction. Thanks.

Happy New Year!

To be included as a top 10 writer, read these curation guidelines carefully.

You can read my curated stories here.