The NYC Experience

Description:

Finding someone you’re attracted to is one thing. Determining whether that person could be a compatible lifelong partner is something much more complicated.

In this interactive workshop, Garrett Lang will walk us through the process he developed for finding and evaluating a potential lifelong partner. Rather than relying mainly on chemistry, first impressions, or the hope that major differences will eventually disappear, Garrett’s approach is designed to help people get to know each other deliberately before making a serious commitment.

We’ll explore why Garrett recommends beginning with friendship, allowing time to observe someone’s character, and discussing the subjects that often create major problems only after a relationship has become serious.

Garrett will explain how to:
• Identify the beliefs and priorities you would not compromise for anyone
• Ask a potential partner about their own non-negotiables
• Distinguish manageable differences from fundamental incompatibilities
• Evaluate intellectual, emotional, physical, philosophical, spiritual, and lifestyle compatibility
• Compare values and understand which ones matter most to each person
• Discuss major life-path questions involving children, family, career, finances, location, social life, and privacy
• Determine whether attraction and chemistry are supported by genuine friendship and compatibility
• Observe whether care, effort, respect, and commitment are reciprocal

Participants will also have an opportunity to begin creating their own partner-compatibility framework. We’ll consider which qualities are essential, which are preferences, where compromise is possible, and which differences should be treated as warning signs.

Some of the questions we’ll discuss include:
• Should a romantic relationship begin as a friendship?
• What should you learn about someone before becoming deeply committed?
• How much compatibility is necessary for a relationship to last?
• Which differences can strengthen a relationship, and which are likely to create lasting conflict?
• How should we balance chemistry with reason?
• What does it mean for two people to be compatible if they prioritize different kinds of connection?
• How can the FTI’s Six Intentions help us choose—and become—better partners?

There is no guaranteed formula for finding the right person. However, a thoughtful process can help us make one of life’s most consequential decisions with greater self-awareness, honesty, reason, and compassion.

Whether you are single, dating, considering a serious commitment, already partnered and polyamorous, or simply interested in understanding long-term relationships, you are welcome to participate.

Format:

Lecture and discussion

We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.

Here’s our legal notice:
Recording and Media Release Notice

For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to record, use, reproduce, edit, modify, publish, distribute, display, transmit, and otherwise exploit any and all Zoom recordings, photographs, audio recordings, screenshots, and other media captured during the event, in whole or in part, for trade, advertising, educational, promotional, commercial, or any other lawful purpose, in any media now known or hereafter developed. I further grant Free Thinker Institute the right to alter, edit, combine, crop, or otherwise modify such recordings without restriction.
I hereby release and discharge Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses arising out of or related to such recordings and uses.

Except as expressly authorized in writing by Free Thinker Institute, attendees may not record, copy, reproduce, distribute, rebroadcast, livestream, transmit, publish, display, excerpt, edit, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit any portion of the event or its recordings. Unauthorized recording, publication, posting, sharing, or redistribution of any portion of the event, including on YouTube, social media platforms, websites, podcasts, or other media channels, is strictly prohibited and may constitute copyright infringement and a violation of these event terms. Free Thinker Institute reserves all rights and remedies available under applicable law, including the right to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, statutory damages, attorneys' fees where permitted, and any other available legal or equitable remedies.

By attending the event, I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to these terms.

Description:

We all like to believe that we look at the evidence and then form our opinions. But very often, our minds work in the opposite direction: we form a belief and then become remarkably good at finding evidence that supports it.

Join the Free Thinker Institute for an interactive discussion about the psychology of confirmation bias—what it is, why virtually everyone experiences it, how it can distort our judgment and decision-making, and, most importantly, what we can do to overcome it.

We'll explore why intelligent, well-intentioned people can look at the same information and reach completely different conclusions, why being smart doesn't necessarily protect us from our own biases, and practical techniques we can use to become more open-minded, intellectually honest, and accurate thinkers.

If time permits, we'll also explore some of the many ways people can be persuaded to believe things that aren't true—from repetition and emotional appeals to social pressure, misleading statistics, selective evidence, and other techniques.

The goal isn't to tell anyone what to think. It's to get better at how we think—and to become more resilient when someone, intentionally or unintentionally, tries to convince us of something that isn't true.

Come prepared to question your assumptions—including your own.

Description:
This event serves as a placeholder for our ongoing weekly discussions.

While the specific topic for this week may not yet be finalized, Free Thinker Institute hosts a new discussion every week focused on psychology, philosophy, science, politics, technology, society, and other thought-provoking subjects.

As we get closer to the event date, the final title, description, and discussion materials will be updated. Our goal is simple: create a space where curious people can explore important ideas without political bias, challenge assumptions, learn from different perspectives, and engage in respectful conversation.

This event is brought to you by the Free Thinker Institute (FTI), a not-for-profit looking to support and empower personal development for its members - and for everyone interested. We organize an event every Tuesday to discuss ways to transform wisdom into practical applications that benefit our lives, covering topics widely ranging from professional subjects to spiritual ones.

Format:
Lecture and discussion

We publish our event recordings on our Youtube channel to offer our help to anyone who would like to but can’t attend the meeting, so we need to give this clause. If you don’t want to be recorded, just remain on mute and keep your video off.

Here’s our legal notice:

Recording and Media Release Notice

For valuable consideration received, by joining this event I hereby grant Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns, the irrevocable and unrestricted right to record, use, reproduce, edit, modify, publish, distribute, display, transmit, and otherwise exploit any and all Zoom recordings, photographs, audio recordings, screenshots, and other media captured during the event, in whole or in part, for trade, advertising, educational, promotional, commercial, or any other lawful purpose, in any media now known or hereafter developed. I further grant Free Thinker Institute the right to alter, edit, combine, crop, or otherwise modify such recordings without restriction.

I hereby release and discharge Free Thinker Institute and its legal representatives and assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses arising out of or related to such recordings and uses.

Except as expressly authorized in writing by Free Thinker Institute, attendees may not record, copy, reproduce, distribute, rebroadcast, livestream, transmit, publish, display, excerpt, edit, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit any portion of the event or its recordings. Unauthorized recording, publication, posting, sharing, or redistribution of any portion of the event, including on YouTube, social media platforms, websites, podcasts, or other media channels, is strictly prohibited and may constitute copyright infringement and a violation of these event terms. Free Thinker Institute reserves all rights and remedies available under applicable law, including the right to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, statutory damages, attorneys' fees where permitted, and any other available legal or equitable remedies.

By attending the event, I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to these terms.