Humans have advanced cognitive abilities that allow them to think about themselves and the world around them. That gives them greater survival capabilities, but it also allows them to wallow in despair. The question is, what causes the latter to occur? In other words, why are you questioning your existence?
Read MoreCognitive dissonance occurs when there is a conflict between a belief you hold and a behavior, new information, or a conflicting belief. The "dissonance" in this case causes discomfort, necessitating a change in the person's behavior or beliefs to alleviate it. The most famous example in history is the Aesop fable of Sour Grapes. In the fable, a...
Read MoreWhen you can’t feel anything other than depression, loneliness, isolation, dread, or emptiness, getting back to normal can require a monumental amount of willpower and effort to push through the resistance and lack of motivation. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet or perfect solution to the problem because there are several different causes...
Read MoreLaw of Attraction, or self-fulfilling prophecy? The power of faith, or the Placebo effect? Science and spirituality make different arguments for the cause and effect happening between human thoughts and behaviors and the outcomes that they see. What is really going on here, and (why) does it matter? Let’s explore.
Read MoreLife can be tough. But even in the best of times, you need support to reach your full potential. In either case, it helps to have a base of support to help you, whether it's to fall back on when you stumble or to stand on to reach higher than you could otherwise. So, what or who is your rock? This is a big question so that you can prepare for to...
Read MoreFreddie Mercury might have been born to love you, but you were not born to suffer. While I try to remain objective, analytical, and dispassionate in helping people find meaning in their lives, this mistaken conclusion that people come to is reinforced by popular philosophies...and so it irritates me to no end. Buddhism talks about dukkha, which is...
Read MoreThere are plenty of times when you might feel so bad about the world that you might want to blame and hate someone for it. There are plenty of things to be angry or sad about in the world if you look for them. When it comes to broad issues without a specific perpetrator, though, you might begin to blame yourself as if you had some part in it. Ma...
Read MorePeople who are in a period of indecision or listlessness ponder what they can do to get back the motivation they need to live a more productive, fruitful life and feel more happiness and purpose. Fortunately, the means through which you can make that switch are pretty simple (not easy, but simple).
Read MoreMany people wonder how they can feel mixed emotions such as happiness and sadness at the same time and what that means for them. In this post, we'll talk about whether it's possible to feel many emotions at once, how your emotions work, what they're telling you, and how you can respond based on their feedback.
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