Is it fair to stigmatize steroid usage?

Key Points: 1. For a multitude of reasons, those who use steroids have incentives to lie about it. 2. Particularly among young people, this dishonesty skews perceptions about what type of physique can be achieved naturally, which contributes to body dysmorphia. 3. The stigma around steroid usage resembles the one around marijuana–concern about health risks … Read more

Is it better to be lucky than (a) good (person)?

Key Points: 1. Sometimes, selfish and dangerous behavior will cause harm to other people. Other times, it won’t. 2. Therefore, we should avoid judging ourselves or others based on a single action. 3. This concept forms an idea known as “moral luck.” Embracing it can help us become more empathetic and forgiving. Estimated reading time: … Read more

Do NFL fans secretly prefer socialism to capitalism?

Key Points: 1. In both the US and Europe, the most popular sport directly contradicts each region’s broadly-accepted economic models. 2. The U.S.’s favorite league, the NFL, follows many principles of economic socialism. 3. In an interesting reversal, Europe’s most-watched soccer leagues are run in an unashamedly capitalist manner. Estimated reading time: 7-14 minutes Listen … Read more

What do you do when you realize you haven’t been practicing what you preach? (Part 2)

Key Points: 1. I’ve long said that (1) fasting and (2) eating only meals, not snacks, are two of the best ways to show ourselves that hunger doesn’t need to control us. 2. This past year, I hadn’t really been taking my own advice. 3. In response, I underwent a challenging but illuminating 90-hour fasting … Read more

What do you do when you realize you haven’t been practicing what you preach? (Part 1)

Key Points: 1. Unconsciously held identities hold a great deal of power to affect our behavior. Often not in beneficial ways. 2. I recently became aware of such an identity, related to my self-assessed ability to handle stress. 3. Facing these influential identities is often uncomfortable, but always worth it. Estimated reading time: 5-10 minutes … Read more

The Parallels Between Fitness & Finance: Part 2

Key Points: 1. Most of us struggle in some way with our fitnesses, finances, or both. 2. Societal forces and early childhood experiences play a large role in this. 3. Education and compassionate self-examination are two of our best tools for overcoming these struggles. Estimated reading time: 4-8 minutes Listen to this article on Spotify! … Read more

What is woo?

Key Points: 1. We often overvalue the concrete at the expense of the abstract. 2. However, none of us would likely enjoy living in a world where the value of everything was concrete and definable. 3. Meditation can help us remember this. Estimated reading time: 4-8 minutes The last few weeks’ pieces have focused heavily … Read more