Key Points: It can be tempting to label certain individuals as inherently bad, even evil, based on their actions. However, I believe such labels oversimplify complex situations. Others believe that people are neither inherently bad nor good, simply selfish, but neuroscience research on infants shows us that selfishness is learned, not innate. While admittedly anecdotal, … Read more
Key Points: Sometimes, a particular person can cause disproportionate feelings of negativity within us, seemingly worse than their actions or words would warrant. Often, this response highlights something we don’t like within ourselves, so I’ve created a handy checklist to see if this is the case. The first step towards decreasing unwanted reactivity is cultivating … Read more
Key Points: Determining whether or not to attend college is a much different proposition for students today than it was in years past. In my admittedly anecdotal experience, individuals of previous generations seem to have more affection for their alma mater than those of mine. This has financial implications for institutions of higher education that … Read more
Key Points: The “appropriate” amount of use varies from substance to substance and person to person. It’s incredibly personal. Beliefs about what we “need” or “shouldn’t” do can negatively influence our relationship to drugs. Short-term experiments can help us reframe these beliefs from positions of dependence or moralizing to enjoyment. Estimated reading time: 6-12 minutes … Read more
Key Points: Drugs like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms can suppress the effects of our egos, allowing us to “get out of our own heads.” For decades I’d been taught (and certainly believed) that “drugs are bad.” Full stop, no room for nuance. However, the first time I tried psychedelics led to feelings of wonderful connectedness, … Read more
Key Points: Alcohol is by far the U.S.’s most popular drug. Drinking makes us more likely to believe and act upon thoughts we’d be less likely to internalize when sober. In this way, alcohol can be best understood as an “ego-enhancer,” the opposite of “ego-suppressing” drugs like psilocybin. Estimated reading time: 6-12 minutes Listen to … Read more
Key Points: These weren’t as easy to succinctly describe this week, so in their place, I’ll leave you with this. WARNING: Spoilers for two 2023 films, Oppenheimer and Barbie, feature heavily in this piece. Estimated reading time: 8-16 minutes My younger brother would probably be the first to tell you that I’m not a big … Read more
Key Points: “Euphemistic evolution” is when what’s considered “acceptable terminology” changes over time. Keeping up with the trends of euphemistic evolution can help us avoid unknowingly causing distress for others. While there’s a fine line between self-censorship and not being an a**hole, we do bear moral and even legal responsibility for our words. Estimated reading … Read more
Key Points: Sporting events have a long history of colorful language being used by fans towards opposition players. For the past decade, FIFA has been trying to eliminate a particular chant with homophobic connotations from games featuring Mexico’s national team. They face an uphill battle, because there is a cultural disagreement regarding how offensive the … Read more
Key Points: In any pursuit, we often spend far too much time worrying about small details that have sharply diminishing returns. Many of us resist the idea that we need to spend more time on the basics and consider doing so “beneath us.” Nutrition is one of the worst offenders in this regard. Estimated reading … Read more