The CCTV Thought Experiment: You Are What You Do, Not Say

What if aliens installed a silent CCTV camera above your shoulder for 30 days and compiled a report on what you truly value—based purely on your calendar, screen time, purchases, and how you spend your evenings? Would you recognize yourself?
Jordan Peterson says if you want to know what someone believes, watch their feet, not their words. The Stoics put it even more bluntly: Acta non verba. Actions, not words.

Reviews

Thanks, Jon!
Donna

Smile, you’re on candid camera :) great talk. Actions do speak louder than words. Thank you for this Jon and all of us for being here 🙏🏻💕✨🌴

Fantastic! I’ve often tried to “do the right thing, even when no one‘s watching“, and as I listened to your talk, I realize there are opportunities for improvement. I appreciate your reminder that this isn’t about self-flagellation or shame. We all have choices. We choose our values and then we choose if we live according to our values. Looking at one’s screen time use is a great suggestion for learning how we truly spend our valuable time. Thank you! I learned about stoicism from you and have been trying to be more mindful of these principles. I really appreciate your gift.