Listen to this article on Spotify! Key Points: Many people feel intense stress around buying gifts during the holidays. A few years ago, I stopped buying gifts for my loved ones at Christmas and told them to do the same for me. This turns into a special gift for all of us, freedom from the … Read more
Listen to this article on Spotify! Key Points: Overall, the experiment was a success, leading to dramatically reduced phone usage and clarity around the mindlessness of a “distraction-seeking” habit that needed addressing. However, some logistical challenges highlighted the practical benefits of a smartphone. As a result of the experiment, I’ve purchased a limited-capability “Light Phone” … Read more
Listen to this article on Spotify! Key Points: A recent “at-home meditation retreat” highlighted something I’ve known for a while. I spend too much time on my phone. I experienced palpable relief and relaxation by being free of my phone, yet gradually fell back into the habit of overusing it. An article I read last … Read more
Key Points: None this week. This is too nuanced a subject to sum up in three succinct bullet points. So, for those of you who just read those and not the article (I’m looking at you, Nathan!) you’re out of luck for this piece. And for those who do that, I still love you all, … Read more
Estimated reading time: 4-8 minutes Listen to this episode on Spotify! As a quick warning, I was inspired to finally write about this topic by a truly sad incident that occurred a little over a week ago. So if you’re having a rough day, maybe save this post for tomorrow, or skip it and read … Read more
Key Points: Pride, whether individual or national, often leads to the creation of an identity. The consequences of excessive pride are often far less severe on an individual than on a national level, where it can lead to war and even genocide. “National gratitude” is a far less destructive concept. It’s much less compatible with … Read more
Key Points: Expectations can create suffering and cause us to miss out on incredible opportunities. In romantic partnerships, the phrase, “You should just know,” embodies this concept. It’s toxic for happiness and relationship satisfaction. There are multiple reasons why we may expect our partner to read our mind and take it personally when they don’t. … Read more
Key Points: The U.S. has a long history of attempting to limit the influence of wealthy individuals and powerful organizations on elections. Recent legislation essentially declaring that “corporations are people, too,” counters this while also utterly failing the “common sense test.” Banning donations of any kind from non-individuals (while also maintaining individual donation limits at … Read more
Key Points: The belief that Americans are more divided than ever is so prevalent we take it for granted. However, fascinating research shows this isn’t actually the case. The Pareto Principle, or “80/20 Rule” can be applied to politics, explaining how a small but vocal minority is disproportionately responsible for a majority of the problems. … Read more
Key Points: Synchronicities can be understood as moments that seem like they must be related even if there’s no logical reason to believe so. Whether or not these moments share a “causal connection” doesn’t really matter, in my opinion. We can enjoy them, regardless. An incident during a recent soccer game led to a synchronicity … Read more