Question Assumptions. Pursue Truth.
Think Better. Live Better.
Affolter Academy is dedicated to helping people examine the assumptions that shape their lives. We explore personal growth, business, health, politics, and spirituality—not to tell you what to think, but to help you think more clearly.
The basic idea behind this publication is simple: our brains are like biological computers. From the day we are born, they are programmed by our families, our schools, our culture, our experiences, and perhaps even by generations that came before us.
Researchers have shown that mice can inherit fear. If mice are trained to associate a particular smell with an electric shock, their offspring can show a fear response to that same smell despite never experiencing the shock themselves. The effect has even been observed in grandchildren. That raises an interesting question: How much of what we think and feel is inherited or learned before we are old enough to question it?
I was reminded of this while teaching my grandson Nathan to talk. One morning he climbed onto my lap, pointed to my coffee, and proudly said, “Hot coffee.” I explained that it wasn’t hot anymore—it was simply coffee. He smiled and repeated, “Coffee.”
Then I wondered: What if I had told him it was chocolate? He would have accepted it without question. Someday he would have asked for chocolate, expecting a cup of coffee, and wondered why everyone else seemed confused.
We begin life that way. We trust the people who teach us because we have no choice. They give us language, customs, values, opinions, and beliefs. Much of that programming serves us well. Some of it does not.
Our brains also have a tendency to defend what they already believe. Psychologists call this confirmation bias. We naturally notice information that supports our existing beliefs and overlook information that challenges them. Two intelligent people can experience the same event and arrive at completely different conclusions because they begin with different assumptions.
One experience taught me this lesson vividly. Years ago I became irritated because my wife opened the blinds before sunrise. An hour later, while riding the bus to work, I suddenly remembered my mother teaching me as a child, “We close the blinds at night because people can see inside.” I realized I wasn’t upset about the blinds. I was upset because my wife had unknowingly violated a rule that had been programmed into me decades earlier. The moment I recognized the source of my reaction, it lost its power.
That experience convinced me that one of the greatest freedoms in life is learning to examine our own programming instead of being controlled by it.
That is the purpose of Affolter Academy.
The site is organized into five areas:
Spirituality explores our deepest beliefs and values. I believe our spirit gives us the ability to examine our minds, question our assumptions, and deliberately choose better ways of thinking and living.
Health reflects my background as a Doctor of Chiropractic. I’m interested not only in disease but also in the causes of health and in understanding why healthcare has become so expensive. Premium subscribers also receive access to my book, How Politics Increased the Cost of Healthcare in America.
Business covers entrepreneurship, money, investing, and practical decision-making. I also offer my course, 20/20 Business Education for Healthcare Professionals, along with my book A Doctor’s Guide to Real Estate Investing. Both grew out of lessons I learned by questioning assumptions—including some taught during my own education.
Personal Growth asks a simple question: What beliefs are limiting our lives? Growth often begins by replacing unexamined assumptions with better ones.
Politics examines how public policy shapes freedom, prosperity, and opportunity. Rather than focusing on personalities or parties, I want to explore the ideas and incentives behind the policies.
You will also find tabs for Books and Courses, where you can explore additional resources.
If there’s one idea I hope you take away from Affolter Academy, it’s this:
The most powerful ideas aren’t the ones we’re taught—they’re the ones we choose to question.
Welcome. I hope these articles help you think more clearly and, as a result, live a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.