The article challenges the common advice of replacing bad habits with new ones, advocating instead for a technique called “progressive extremism” to break unwanted behaviors. This method involves gradually eliminating specific, easily dispensable items or habits from one’s life, marking the change from a temporary “can’t” to a permanent “don’t,” and then patiently adding more…

When preparing for a significant event, such as a competition or performance, it’s common to experience heightened mental alertness and physiological changes due to activating hormones, hence making it difficult to sleep. Acknowledging these responses as adaptive can help reduce stress. Practicing gratitude towards the body’s efforts can be beneficial. Techniques like intention setting, focusing…

This article explores how a sense of meaning in life can act as a buffer against anxiety, particularly in today’s world where traditional sources of meaning—like close relationships, community, work, and spiritual connections—are increasingly threatened. It draws from existential psychology to offer guidance on cultivating meaning, emphasizing the importance of deep connections to combat feelings…

In an age of increasing isolation and reliance on technology, we seem to have lost the ability to grapple with life’s fundamental questions, clinging instead to inadequate formulas promising security and predictability. However, facing challenges like loss and trauma reveals the flaws in these formulas, necessitating a new initiation into a more mature understanding of…

The article “Multipolar Traps: Why Good Intentions Aren’t Enough for Systemic Change” explores the concept of multipolar traps, where individual actors, despite recognizing harmful outcomes, are compelled to engage in detrimental behaviors due to competitive pressures and systemic incentives. It argues that merely having good intentions is insufficient for enacting meaningful social change, as these…

The article discusses the potential of collective meditation, specifically Transcendental Meditation (TM), as a powerful tool for conflict resolution and societal improvement. Dr. Tony Nader outlines evidence from various studies showing that large groups practicing TM can significantly reduce violence and improve quality of life in their surroundings, citing successful experiments in Lebanon and Washington,…