We’re often advised to be our true selves, unleash our nature, or be authentic. It has become a new mindfulness movement to fight against socially imposed norms and search for our true, most authentic selves. At the same time, showing and accepting ourselves the way we are, unconditionally, can be challenging and, let’s admit it, scary. So let’s shed some light on this dilemma by exploring what is an authentic self and how we can embrace it. The Dilemma of Authenticity Being accepted by a social group we care about is important for our mental and emotional health, but only when it doesn’t come ..read more

When nothing goes right, go left. We do like clever wordplay. But this quirky adage with its double entendre carries a deeper meaning: in the face of adversity, search for unconventional solutions and carve your own path. It’s encouragement with a pinch of daring to step off the beaten track and onto one of the roads less traveled. Did you know that in the game of chess, there is a situation called Zugzwang? It’s a strategic impasse, where every option diminishes the player's prospects. You are forced to make a move, but every available step only puts you in a worse position. Whatever you do ..read more

Have you ever wondered why some relationships feel effortlessly supportive, while others leave you feeling insecure and misunderstood? The answer often lies not in the stars but in something much closer to home: your attachment style. Originating from the groundbreaking work of early 20th-century pioneers like John Bowlby and Harry Harlow, our understanding of attachment shapes every interaction we have. Whether it's the joy of a parent reunited with their child or the dedication of Konrad Lorenz's ducklings, the principles of attachment are universally observable and deeply personal. This is ..read more

Very often, when there’s a new scientific discovery, we find ourselves surprised. We would have never thought that this novel concept was possible, let alone achievable. The same goes for pretty much every domain in life: sports, business, technology, or art––there is so much we have yet to explore. Whether we realize it or not, the boundaries of our reality expand every single day, not because the universe decides to grow but because humankind continually does. We build our lives according to what we accept as true. Therefore, we have the power to bend our reality to our own liking and there ..read more

The way that single days string together a lifetime is nothing short of amazing. Precious seconds, priceless minutes, and golden hours compose unique stories into mosaics of human experience. It’s enough to make our heads spin, all this beauty in elusive moments. Stillness. That is what we need to fully appreciate the ephemerality of the here and now. Press pause and take a deep breath. The secret of a good life lies in the attention to detail. A ray of sunshine, birdsong, and a cup of good coffee make up the meaning of everything. Dancing in the moments between moments, every day becomes a g ..read more

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, a princess was trapped in a castle on a hill. Heartbroken and distressed, locked in the highest chamber of the highest tower, she longingly gazed at the freedom beyond the heavy castle walls. Until one day, tired of waiting for Prince Charming to save her, she took matters into her own hands. It’s a tale as old as time, that of a damsel in distress. Of course, these days, castles serve as museums and we have much more agency over our lives. The proverbial knight in shining armor is now a friendly therapist who helps us pick the lock of our oppress ..read more

In July 1969, the Apollo 11 crewed lunar mission landed humans on the Moon for the very first time in our existence. With the help of many scientists, engineers, and technicians, three astronauts―Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, and Pilot Michael Collins―accomplished something that up to that point only lived in our collective imagination.   It was Neil Armstrong who first set foot onto the lunar surface and proclaimed, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”    Indeed, the gravity of that spectacular historic event (pun intended ..read more

By now conversations around sustainability have infiltrated the mainstream. You would have definitely heard the term in passing or seen the numerous newspaper headlines highlighting the threat of climate change our planet is facing. But who is really paying attention and trying to grasp the concept of sustainability, beyond the flashy headlines and trending conversations on social media?  It's so easy to lose the real meaning of the cause amidst all the noise, contradictory information, and continued temptation of overconsumption. It's even easier to feel overwhelmed or powerless at the ..read more

Reality can be a lot to bear. It’s never more apparent than when we draw our first breath upon arriving into this world—anything might be overwhelming to a newborn baby. So we let out a scream because the lights are too bright, there are faces around us we don’t yet grasp the concept of, and we very quickly need to learn how to live with dozens of new sensations that we’ve never experienced. Still, that very first cry is highly encouraged. It serves as proof that the newborn can breathe properly and their freshly formed and tender respiratory system works well. That cry is both a distress cal ..read more

Humans can experience around 34000 of them. Adding depth to who we are, they enable us to taste life in all its flavors, even when they get completely out of control. Some people like to bury them inside, keep them hidden, and some of us learn how to use them as a driving force, for example, in artistic expression. Sometimes they meddle with our success, other times they take us precisely where we want to be.  Emotions – the energy within, the essence, the colors.  They connect us with our inner selves and others, manifest who we are to the outside world, and make our reality multi ..read more