I would like to take this chance to move away from philosophical discussion and touch on the new prevalence of mental illness. While the ‘new normal’ normally describes a post-COVID world, to many, the new normal will mean digging themselves out of a mental crisis. During COVID-19, we see massive increases in both feelings of helplessness and thoughts of harm. One of the largest increases of mental illnesses we are seeing revolve around phobias. Phobias remain one of the most unique mental challenges anyone can face. They represent a constant battle between what one finds to be logical versus ..read more

I have been up every night at 2 am this last week stressing about the coming day. Adrenaline spiking and heart racing. This anxiety visits rarely now but, like an old friend, it still feels comfortable even if we haven’t seen each other in months. I am realizing the core of this anxiety is my view on failure. I thought I was past this feeling. But, much like recovering alcoholics fight the call to drink, my mind finds itself fighting the fear of failure. As anyone with a long stretch of sobriety will tell you – that part of you that craves the drink never truly leaves. The same can be said fo ..read more

We find lessons in the most inconspicuous of events. For example, I play chess with my ten-year-old nephew over holidays. He never relents. In these games, I find insight into the philosophy of chess. Our games started as a mix of learning piece movement and strategy. He picked it up quickly. No matter how many games lost, he kept wanting to play. In a society of frail egos and participation trophies, I love seeing him thrill over the idea of overcoming and winning. I rarely see that tenacity in adults – I admire him for it. These lessons will bode well for him in life. Imploring different st ..read more

Disclaimer: I do NOT support participation awards. With that said, I do feel that fully grasping the effect of topics like this on development can allow us to understand the effect on society. Understanding equals growth – even if we do not agree with individual opinions. Participation awards define the group of us who grew up in the late 80s to the early 2000s. The chide remarks of older generations claim that, somehow, these awards made us soft. They represent the decline of toughness, accountability, and discipline. They also imply that it was one of the many stepping stones to a group tha ..read more

Original post appeared on Critical Ingredients. Check out more content by following the link! This month marks the thirtieth month on my meditation journey. I started meditating in early 2018 as a way to cope with a culmination of work-related stress, anxiety and a constant case of tension headache. Over time as I mediated, I am more equipped with dealing with these stressors. Nowadays, my tension headaches are mostly absent; my sleep quality are much better; I am more disciplined and energized. With a daily 10-20 minutes of meditation, I have found myself more calm and grounded. I have also ..read more

The average obituary comes in at an underwhelming 200 words. Combine that with the average human lifespan of 73 years and you are allocated just under 3 words for every year of life. All of the vibrancy and chaos experienced through our life will be distilled down to approximately 10 sentences. The immense joy, the overwhelming fear, the bitter hate, and the expressions of love lived through a whirlwind of experience. Seems sinful to contract all that life into something so small. In contrast, that lens promotes rigid conciseness that focuses us to cut the fat and hone in on what matters. Nob ..read more

The ability to take and play with different perspectives is one of the most telling signs of an emotionally mature individual. The skill allows us to practice our mindfulness as we’re able to absorb the underlying motivators of those around us. It’s a superpower. That ability to channel empathy improves any relationship instantly. Imagine the power in approaching an argument with someone you love with understanding instead of anger. Not only do both sides reach a compromise faster, but it solidifies a foundation of mutual respect and caring that few other people skills can ever accomplish. Th ..read more

“A proverb is the wit of one and the wisdom of many”— Lord John Russell Sometimes what can be expressed in six words has more wisdom than something expressed with sixty, or even six hundred. Even the aforementioned sentence can be boiled down to the maxim: “Less is more.” Proverbs are shared wisdom and are understood by people through experience and time. To some, they’re witty quotes and nothing more. To others, they are fundamental truths to live by. However, as Lord John Russell said, they are undeniably the wit of one yet the wisdom of many. Proverbs connect humans in many incredible wa ..read more

Traumatic events often drive retrospection. In the last week, I have seen a grandparent die and an uncle suffer a major heart attack. We think we will live forever. That sentiment drives many to only focus on death as they are approaching it. Much like yin and yang, examining the nature of death helps us appreciate the nature of life. Life is defined as a ‘condition’ that separates animals and organisms from inorganic matter driven by the capacity to continuously grow preceding death. Seems a bit too cold to describe my family members above. This definition excludes the happy memories and goo ..read more

News articles flash that the United States is at its most critical tipping point in history. The threats of economic shutdown strike fear in many. Juxtapose that with rising COVID cases and it is no wonder people on both sides feel scared. The media as a machine shows its inherent power as we all hear iterations of both parties’ ideals at their extremes. But how do we know these apocalyptical thoughts are reality? And why do we obsess over these potential draconian realities? Enter existential OCD. Existential OCD involves intrusive and unrelenting thoughts around questions that we, as humans ..read more