Photo by Skyler Ewing We’re addicted to being busy. We rush from task to task, trying to keep up with the endless chase of more. More work, responsibilities, events, and errands. It’s so common that we wear it as a badge of honor. Busy is how we reply when people ask how we’re doing. It fills us with a sense of self-importance and achievement. It keeps us occupied, and it fills our lives. There is nothing inherently wrong with being busy, but it often leads to stress and burnout, which begets further misery. Why are we so busy all the time? Because we think it’s how we “should” live our lives ..read more

Photo by Jackson David Have you ever wanted to do something, but you were too full of doubt to do it? That’s how I used to be with charity. Every time I wanted to donate, a line of questions stopped me in my tracks. Will my money be spent well? How do I know which organization to choose? Can this organization be trusted with this donation? These are valid concerns, and common ones too. When facing analysis paralysis, we often push the topic to the side or give up altogether. Investigating every non-profit is an impossible and daunting task within itself. Eager to delegate that responsibility ..read more

Photo by Dim Hou In a world where we value fast food, instant results, and same day delivery, we all crave a fast-paced lifestyle. We don’t consider a slower lifestyle because we associate it with bumper-to-bumper traffic, long lines, and tedious processes. We also say, “slow down” even though “down” tends to have a negative connotation. The stock market went down. Why are you feeling down today? Don’t look down. While “up” tends to have a positive connotation. Cheer up! He’s up for it. She went up in pay. What if instead of “slow down”, we said “slow up”? When we go slow, we notice multiple i ..read more

Photo by Hugo Kerr The other day my friend and I were going to an event, and I was unsure what to wear. I asked, “Are you wearing a short sleeve or long sleeve shirt?” They replied, “A three quarter sleeve shirt.” At first, this felt unhelpful. If anything, it left me more confused than before. Yet when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see any specific shirt type; I saw my binary perspective. It’s easy to classify things into binary options, a black or white mentality. Is the glass half empty or half full? Are you a morning or a night person? Should I wear a short sleeve or long sleeve shirt ..read more

Photo by Callum Shaw The past couple of years have brought no shortage of stressors to people across the world. Wars, a global pandemic, and political tension are only a sample. When we have big problems, we want big solutions. What’s the best way to end world hunger? How do we achieve world peace? What’s the best way to end poverty? There is nothing wrong with seeking to solve these problems, yet even the right solution might not redeem results in our lifetime. These problems did not occur overnight, nor will they end that way. They are complex issues, which leave us feeling helpless. As poli ..read more

Photo by Petar Petkovski We have more technology and modern conveniences than ever before, yet it wouldn’t seem like it. Looking around, it’s easy to see everyone is piled with demands. We’re expected to perfectly execute everything at the same time, yet it’s still not good enough. Drained and exhausted, it feels like we can never get ahead, or even caught up. Multitasking feels like the only solution, yet it’s one of the problems. Our attention gets diced and distributed to so many things, it’s no surprise we’re left exhausted. What if we monotask by focusing on one task at a time? Making the ..read more

Photo by Maria Oswalt We all want the perfect balance in our lives. Saving money and having play money. Eating healthy and enjoying sweets. Working hard and playing hard. Whenever I set a fixed limit, it backfires. Setting unrealistic goals puts us under pressure. Pressure makes it easier to shut down on our goals. Yet a life without any pressure isn’t realistic either. We all have real demands, expectations, and responsibilities on our plates. So, what’s one to do? Balance is like a balloon. Fill up a balloon with helium and watch it rise. If you fill up the balloon too much, it will fall to ..read more

Photo by Ellen Borglund Anytime we recognize, pause, and appreciate the good things in life, we’re experiencing gratitude. This often happens after the pleasant experience has passed. Appreciating an amazing trip after it’s over. Mourning a magnificent marriage during the divorce. Savoring a healthy immune system once we’re sick. If any of these resonate, you’re not alone. Taking good things for granted is our default state. We quickly acclimate to good situations. It’s only when things have dropped when they get our attention. Negative visualization helps us stop this pattern. Quite simply, i ..read more

Photo by Kevin Mueller The term ‘mediocre’ has turned into a profanity. Anyone who assigns this label is considered rude or insensitive. Anyone who associates with this term believes they’re a pathetic loser. Let’s flip this around on its head — and on my head. I’m mediocre at most things. This isn’t self-beratement, it’s the truth. I’m not good at everything; no one is. Believing otherwise is a myth that makes us miserable. This myth becomes more prevalent when it comes to our hobbies. Instead of embracing activities that bring us joy, we become embarrassed. A writer with a hidden manuscript ..read more

Photo by Sasha Freemind Fun fact: Ultrasounds are for more than just pregnant patients. Ultrasounds help examine the heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, and much more. Before a sonographer can examine the organs, they need to find the best location for the probe to scan the organs. In ultrasound, they call this an acoustic window. A good friend of mine is at the top of their ultrasound class. The other students look up to them when it comes to medical terminology and scanning. Where do you start your scan? Where is the best place to look? How do you find the perfect acoustic window? Every student w ..read more