Mental Health, page 2
Anxiety, stress, burnout, therapy ideas, emotional wellbeing. 111 links, newest first. Page 2 of 3.
Links 51 to 100
Authenticity matters more than attention spans
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #186
Nothing feels real online, so scrolling gives no sense of connection
Summary
Attention spans are not the problem; the real gap is authenticity and the sense of connection that feels meaningful.
The speaker disputes the idea that Gen Z cannot sit through longer videos, arguing that the real problem is a lack of authenticity and connection. Much of what people scroll through feels unreal, so little feels meaningful. He suggests returning to something you once loved, such as a game or a sport, to recover that sense of connection and excitement.
Key points- Nothing feels real online, so scrolling gives no sense of connection
- Playing a game or sport you once loved can bring that connection back
- The speaker says this will not solve every problem, but it helps
How to Reinvent Yourself in 2022
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #185
Nathaniel Drew's video on reinventing yourself at the start of a new year, aimed at people who feel worn out.
Summary
Nathaniel Drew's video on reinventing yourself at the start of a new year, aimed at people who feel worn out. It tackles self-doubt, fear and exhaustion, and proposes naming fears instead of setting goals, drawing on Carl Jung's shadow work to break self-sabotage. He recommends relaxed decision-making, gradual growth and learning from mistakes.
How The Gambling Epidemic Is Destroying Society
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #183
A video from the channel Moon presenting gambling as an epidemic that is damaging society.
Summary
A video from the channel Moon presenting gambling as an epidemic that is damaging society.
Obsessive productivity can be a trauma response
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #181
Growing up with no consistent support can push you to earn stability yourself
Summary
Obsessive productivity may be a trauma response, where the drive is for safety rather than success.
The speaker suggests that obsessive productivity may be a trauma response. Growing up with little consistent support can lead a person to earn stability through grades, jobs and busyness. He argues the drive comes from seeking safety rather than success, which is why nothing feels like enough. Self-worth, he says, comes from who you are, and rest does not mean failure.
Key points- Growing up with no consistent support can push you to earn stability yourself
- No achievement feels like enough when the real need is safety, the speaker says
- Your value comes from who you are, not from what you produce, he says
A short take on healthy boundaries
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #177
A short TikTok about setting healthy boundaries.
Summary
A short TikTok about setting healthy boundaries.
Daily good morning texts build belonging
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #171
Daily good morning texts fulfil an expectation, which builds reliability
Summary
Texting one to three friends a good morning every day builds safety and acceptance through reliable expectations.
The speaker says one of the best ways to improve your life is to have one to three friends you text every morning, and who text you back. The value lies in reliability, an expectation that is fulfilled. The speaker links this to safety and acceptance, since predictable interaction signals that someone accepts you.
Key points- Daily good morning texts fulfil an expectation, which builds reliability
- No one texts good morning to someone they dismiss or do not accept, he says
- Safety comes from the predictability of the interaction, not from big gestures
Three techniques to tackle stress
Short · instagram.com · Issue #170
A short Instagram post presenting three techniques for dealing with stress.
Summary
A short Instagram post presenting three techniques for dealing with stress.
Calm voice and naming emotions defuse crises
Short · youtu.be · Issue #170
Start with a calm, soothing voice before anything else
Summary
On a crisis hotline, a calm voice and naming the caller's emotion quickly deactivates the intensity.
The speaker, who volunteered on a hotline, says a calm, soothing voice has a strong calming effect. They say labeling the emotion they hear, without judging it, is the most effective way to deactivate it. On one call, naming the caller's frantic state calmed the caller, and reflecting back that the caller sounded determined reinforced a positive trait.
Key points- Start with a calm, soothing voice before anything else
- Name the emotion you hear, such as saying I'm frantic or sound determined
- Reflecting a caller's determination back helped him calm down
How Companies Can End a Culture of Overwork
Read · hbr.org · 12 min · Issue #169
Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed and Over Work, argues that personal factors drive workaholism, but workplaces can make overwork worse.
Summary
Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed and Over Work, argues that personal factors drive workaholism, but workplaces can make overwork worse. Long hours and constant work preoccupation, she says, do not improve results. She recommends that leaders stop rewarding visible presence, fix processes that create extra work, staff teams so people can take breaks, and set clear boundaries. Published in HBR's September 2024 Overcoming Overwork series.
How to stay calm
Short · instagram.com · Issue #166
A short Instagram reel on how to stay calm.
Summary
A short Instagram reel on how to stay calm.
StressBuddy: Calming Stress Relief App
Tool · stressbuddyapp.com · Issue #166
StressBuddy is a free app for Android, iOS and Kindle with light, calming activities such as breathing exercises and playing with colors.
Summary
StressBuddy is a free app for Android, iOS and Kindle with light, calming activities such as breathing exercises and playing with colors. It is presented as suited to anxiety and as a break from social media scrolling, and it works offline with no ads or in-app purchases. The site also recommends the Reflective app for people who use an app alongside their therapist.
The real reason behind burnout
Short · instagram.com · Issue #163
A short Instagram post on what it presents as the real cause of burnout.
Summary
A short Instagram post on what it presents as the real cause of burnout.
Hours of vulnerable talk build connection
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #162
Four hours with Busta Rhymes covered depression, grief and a near-death experience
Summary
Sitting with someone for hours on vulnerable topics is the bridge to connection, the speaker says.
The speaker argues that vulnerability is the doorway to connection, citing a podcast interview with Busta Rhymes. Over four hours, the guest talked about depression, a near-death experience, and the deaths of his bodyguard and father, and the two ended up hugging and becoming close friends. The speaker says two to three hours of conversation about vulnerable topics builds deep bonds in business, life, and romance.
Key points- Four hours with Busta Rhymes covered depression, grief and a near-death experience
- Two to three hours of vulnerable talk deepens any relationship, he says
- After the conversation, the two hugged for about two minutes and became friends
The only way out is through
Short · youtube.com · Issue #162
Quotes Peterson answering whether feeling everything deeply is a blessing or a curse
Summary
Peterson's advice is that the only way out is through: take more of what poisons you until it becomes a tonic.
The speaker recalls a live talk by Jordan Peterson where an audience member asked whether feeling everything deeply is a blessing or a curse. Peterson answered that the only way out is through: you take more of the thing that poisons you until it becomes a tonic. The speaker initially found the answer harsh.
Key points- Quotes Peterson answering whether feeling everything deeply is a blessing or a curse
- The speaker calls the answer awful, yet an analytic piece of life advice
Panic over unanswered texts is anxious attachment
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #160
Arguing with the thoughts fails, and the feelings grow until you need reassurance
Summary
Panic after an unanswered text comes from anxious attachment, a fear of not being good enough, not from being broken.
The speaker describes the anxiety of waiting for a reply. Thoughts like "they don't like me" persist despite logic, which can lead to repeated texts and then guilt. The speaker links this to anxious attachment, driven by fear that the thoughts prove one is not good enough. They say the pattern can change and promise more videos on building confidence.
Key points- Arguing with the thoughts fails, and the feelings grow until you need reassurance
- Afterwards, guilt and shame set in about how you acted
- The speaker says insecurity, specifically anxious attachment, drives this reaction
Feelings are valid, some behaviours are not
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #160
Anger is valid, but yelling is not, the speaker says
Summary
Your emotions are always valid, but some behaviours are not, so separate feelings from actions.
The speaker separates emotions from behavior. Anger, jealousy, and pain are valid feelings, but yelling, poor judgment, drinking, or going back to someone who hurt you are not. Emotions are always valid, while behavior is judged on its own.
Key points- Anger is valid, but yelling is not, the speaker says
- Jealousy and pain are valid, but judgment and drinking are not
- Missing someone is valid, but going back to them is not
Two follow-ups help people facing hard news
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #159
Use 'tell me more' when someone shares news like a divorce or a death
Summary
Two follow-ups, 'tell me more' and 'how's this been affecting you?', make someone facing hard news feel heard.
The speaker offers two responses for when someone shares something painful, such as a divorce, a death, or a job loss. The first is "tell me more," which invites them to keep sharing. The second is "how's this been affecting you?", which helps the other person feel seen and heard. The speaker says these two questions can carry a conversation a long way.
Key points- Use 'tell me more' when someone shares news like a divorce or a death
- After a job loss, ask 'how's this been affecting you?' to go deeper
- The speaker says these two questions carry a dialogue a long way
Let lost points go and commit fully
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #159
Negative energy is wasted energy, the speaker says, and doubt is part of the game
Summary
Once a point is lost, let it go and commit fully to the next one, because mastering hard moments marks a champion.
The speaker says each point matters while it is played but should be left behind once it ends. Committing fully to the next point depends on that mindset. Losses are part of any game or career, and opponents doubt themselves too. The speaker argues that the mark of a champion is mastering hard moments, since even the best do not win every point.
Key points- Negative energy is wasted energy, the speaker says, and doubt is part of the game
- Opponents have self-doubt too, so keep your focus on the next point
- The best are not the best because they win every point, he says
Why Small Tasks Feel Hard: Executive Functions
Read · yearofmentalhealth.com · 3 min · Issue #158
Chris Guillebeau argues that struggling with small tasks often reflects weak executive functioning, not laziness or a lack of desire.
Summary
Chris Guillebeau argues that struggling with small tasks often reflects weak executive functioning, not laziness or a lack of desire. He says discipline-based productivity advice assumes skills some people lack, and that time blocking is hard to sustain with time blindness. He lists six executive functions: organization, task initiation, working memory, impulse control, focus and emotional regulation. This post opens a series on improving them.
The Atlas of Emotions
Tool · atlasofemotions.org · Issue #153
The Atlas of Emotions, created by Paul and Eve Ekman with Stamen Design, is an interactive guide to five emotion continents: anger, fear, disgust, sadness and enjoyment.
Summary
The Atlas of Emotions, created by Paul and Eve Ekman with Stamen Design, is an interactive guide to five emotion continents: anger, fear, disgust, sadness and enjoyment. It shows how each emotion has states of varying intensity, triggers, and constructive or destructive actions, and links moods and personality traits to related conditions. It draws on scientific consensus and cites Paul Ekman's work.
Why Therapy Sucks for Men
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #151
HealthyGamerGG's video argues that therapy can pose unique challenges for men, largely because of social expectations, stereotypes and stigma around seeking help.
Summary
HealthyGamerGG's video argues that therapy can pose unique challenges for men, largely because of social expectations, stereotypes and stigma around seeking help. Its topics include how men handle emotions, reluctance toward couples counseling, differences in male communication, and the link between physical and emotional health. The platform's coaches are peer supporters, not trained professionals.
Breathe in four, hold seven, out eight
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #151
Breathe quietly in through the nose to a count of four, then hold for seven
Summary
Breathe in for four, hold for seven and exhale for eight, repeated four cycles, to access a strong relaxation response.
The speaker describes 4-7-8 breathing: inhale quietly through the nose for a count of four, hold for seven, then exhale forcefully through the mouth for eight. Repeat four cycles, up to eight, at least twice a day. The speaker says regular practice for four to six weeks produces the strongest effects, which include a rapid shift into a relaxed state and reduced anxiety.
Key points- Breathe quietly in through the nose to a count of four, then hold for seven
- Blow out through the mouth to a count of eight, twice a day, four cycles
- The speaker says the real effects come after four to six weeks of practice
Body cues can create and reverse anxiety
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #148
Darting eyes, a tense body and shallow breathing trigger anxiety, the speaker says
Summary
Anxiety can be created and reversed through body cues, so slow your breathing, fix your eyes, and relax your body.
The speaker describes three body signals that create anxiety: erratic head and eye movement, a tense body and shallow breathing. Doing the opposite reverses the feeling, by breathing slowly, fixing the eyes on one point and relaxing the body. The speaker says anxiety responds to these cues automatically in both directions.
Key points- Darting eyes, a tense body and shallow breathing trigger anxiety, the speaker says
- Reverse them by slowing breath, fixing your eyes on one thing, and relaxing
- The speaker says he wishes he had learned this much earlier in life
Triggers are events magnified by your trauma lens
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #148
Your reaction comes from your trauma lens, not from the event alone
Summary
Triggers come from the event magnified through your trauma lens, which turns an ambiguous remark into a worst-case reading.
The speaker says people are not triggered by an event itself but by that event magnified through the lens of their past trauma. A neutral remark or action gets translated into a perceived betrayal, such as cheating.
Key points- Your reaction comes from your trauma lens, not from the event alone
- The speaker's example is an ambiguous remark translated into cheating
Show up for depressed friends with low effort
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #148
Suggest a plan that needs no explanation, like making s'mores or cooking dinner
Summary
Show up for depressed friends with low-effort plans and presence, rather than asking how they feel or what they need.
The speaker says texting a depressed friend with questions about how they feel or with suggestions adds pressure. Instead, offer a low-effort plan for connection, like making s'mores or dinner together and watching a movie without talking. The speaker says depression is often loneliness with loss, aimlessness and hopelessness, and presence without pressure helps.
Key points- Suggest a plan that needs no explanation, like making s'mores or cooking dinner
- Being present, without pressure to explain or fix, can pull things in a new direction
- The speaker says much depression is loneliness with loss, and suggestions dig deeper
On Spending Time Alone
Read · theguardian.com · 10 min · Issue #147
A Guardian article on time spent alone looks at how the pandemic made working from home routine for many people.
Summary
A Guardian article on time spent alone looks at how the pandemic made working from home routine for many people. The author notes that for many of them the flat is also the office.
Treat an overactive mind like a dramatic child
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #146
The speaker says thoughts drive feelings, so constant thinking brings unease
Summary
Treat your overactive thinking mind like a dramatic child, and quieten it gently with attention and kindness.
The speaker suggests picturing the thinking mind as a dramatic child and quieting it by bringing attention to the thoughts and saying shh with kindness. Because thoughts drive feelings and worry often threatens without doing anything, the speaker says the mind usually slows down once it is calmed this way.
Key points- The speaker says thoughts drive feelings, so constant thinking brings unease
- Say shh to the voice in your head, as you would calm a child
- Worry does not accomplish anything, so calm attention can slow the mind
Write harsh thoughts, answer as your wiser self
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #146
Write the negative thoughts, then reply as your higher, wiser self would
Summary
Write down harsh thoughts, then answer them as your wiser adult self, twice a day for six months.
The speaker describes writing down harsh self-talk, then answering it twice a day as a wiser adult self would, for six months. Next came a raw inventory of every relationship and an unpacking of childhood, which felt painful but freeing. The speaker then spent a month alone in a cabin in Vermont with no phone or computer, journaling, and reports feeling clear, energetic and expansive afterward.
Key points- Write the negative thoughts, then reply as your higher, wiser self would
- The speaker did this twice daily for six months, which was hard at first
- Unpacking every past relationship and childhood memory freed him, he says
The Struggle: Ben Horowitz on Hard Times at Companies
Read · fs.blog · 4 min · Issue #145
Shane Parrish of Farnam Street summarizes Ben Horowitz's book The Hard Thing About Hard Things, which covers the low point founders reach when a company goes wrong, the Struggle.
Summary
Shane Parrish of Farnam Street summarizes Ben Horowitz's book The Hard Thing About Hard Things, which covers the low point founders reach when a company goes wrong, the Struggle. The article argues hardship is a normal part of building a company and where greatness comes from. It offers six coping ideas, including sharing the burden, keeping focus on the goal and avoiding harsh self-judgment.
Rehearsing problems makes them grow
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #142
Rumination, obsessing over pain, is described as the number one symptom of depression
Summary
Thinking and talking about problems over and over makes them grow, and rumination is a core symptom of depression.
In a conversation about a book on rumination, the speaker says that repetitively dwelling on pain is a core symptom of depression, and that activity such as running errands helps more than talking about problems. They argue human history is a story of resilience, that a little anxiety and bad memories are normal and can be useful, and that treating every hardship as trauma can backfire.
Key points- Rumination, obsessing over pain, is described as the number one symptom of depression
- Good therapists break that pattern first, while many just indulge it
- The speaker says the worst thing that happened to you is the worst thing for you
Insomnia is revenge for avoided thoughts
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #134
Thoughts you avoid during the day return at 3 am
Summary
The speaker says insomnia is revenge for thoughts you avoid by day, so have a deeper talk with yourself before sleep.
The speaker describes insomnia as thoughts avoided during the day returning at 3 a.m. because they want to be heard. The suggested fix is a more in-depth conversation with yourself before sleep, which the speaker says allows a deeper rest.
Key points- Thoughts you avoid during the day return at 3 am
- Says a more in-depth conversation with yourself before bed allows deep rest
Change state, then story, then strategy
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #132
Low-energy states tend to produce disabling stories and ineffective strategies
Summary
Change your state first, then your story, then your strategy, because a gray outlook produces weak plans.
The speaker recalls a framework from Tony Robbins for low moods like depression or anxiety. Starting with a problem-solving story in a low energy state tends to produce disabling stories and ineffective strategies. Changing state first, through a cold shower, 50 jumping jacks or 20 push-ups, brings a more enabling story and better strategies. The order is state, story, strategy.
Key points- Low-energy states tend to produce disabling stories and ineffective strategies
- Quick state changes include a five-minute cold shower or 50 jumping jacks
- The speaker credits Tony Robbins with the order: state, story, then strategy
Stop controlling others to look inward
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #128
Opinions about other people's choices hook your energy on things you cannot control
Summary
Stop controlling others, since letting them be frees your energy to look back at yourself.
The speaker summarizes the let them idea: stop trying to control other people, since their actions and feelings are outside your control. Worry and opinions about others hook your energy to them, usually driven by insecurity, a need for control or anxiety. Saying let them acknowledges the situation without getting worked up, which turns attention back to yourself.
Key points- Opinions about other people's choices hook your energy on things you cannot control
- Saying let them acknowledges the situation and stops you being worked up
- The speaker says the urge to control comes from insecurity, control or anxiety
The Endless To-Do List
Read · chrisbailey.com · 5 min · Issue #125
Chris Bailey argues that a to-do list is never fully cleared, so the aim is to prioritize well rather than finish everything.
Summary
Chris Bailey argues that a to-do list is never fully cleared, so the aim is to prioritize well rather than finish everything. He keeps about 100 tasks on his list and expects a similar number even in retirement. Chasing an empty list through constant hustle is a trap, since the finish line keeps moving. He recommends prioritizing just enough to know what matters now, and keeping a calm mind.
The Problem of Caring What Others Think
Read · moretothat.com · 3 min · Issue #121
Lawrence Yeo's More to That post argues that worry about what others think mostly reflects your own opinion of yourself, since it is rarely about that person's opinion of you.
Summary
Lawrence Yeo's More to That post argues that worry about what others think mostly reflects your own opinion of yourself, since it is rarely about that person's opinion of you. People show different selves to different people, and switching between them is exhausting. The remedy he offers is equanimity across these selves, through reflection or distancing from people who pull you toward behavior you dislike.
A written list of concrete supports helps
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #120
The depressed partner typed about a thousand small ways to support them
Summary
Replacing vague requests with a written list of small concrete supports helped one couple break a depression loop.
The speaker describes a frustrating pattern in a marriage when one partner is depressed: the depressed partner cannot name what would help, and the other feels helpless. After 15 years, the speaker says they typed a list of about a thousand small supportive actions, such as helping finish a project or going to bed at a decent hour, and gave it to their partner to choose from.
Key points- The depressed partner typed about a thousand small ways to support them
- Examples included helping finish a project or going to bed at a decent hour
- Replying in writing avoided stress from misread facial cues
Tell a child it was not their fault
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #117
Script: acknowledge the moments that felt bad and say they were not the child's fault
Summary
A sincere call to a child, admitting the bad moments were not their fault and offering to listen, can start repair.
A clinical psychologist describes an exercise in which you imagine a call from a parent, or finding a letter if a parent has died, in which they acknowledge painful moments from your childhood, say those moments were not your fault, and promise to listen to understand. The speaker says many adults have a strong reaction to the exercise and suggests a real repair could matter similarly for a child.
Key points- Script: acknowledge the moments that felt bad and say they were not the child's fault
- Promise to listen to understand, not to rebut
- The speaker says adults often react strongly to imagining this exact call
Wendy Suzuki on Anxiety as a Feature, Not a Bug
Watch · youtube.com · 8 min · Issue #114
In this Big Think video from August 2023, neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki argues that anxiety is an evolved feature rather than a defect, and that it can be redirected toward positive outcomes.
Summary
In this Big Think video from August 2023, neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki argues that anxiety is an evolved feature rather than a defect, and that it can be redirected toward positive outcomes. She describes six superpowers of anxiety and explains that the amygdala activates automatically under stress, while the prefrontal cortex can shut down when it is needed most. Cognitive flexibility is one way to put anxiety to use.
Work as escape makes rest feel stressful
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #112
Quotes a friend: if busyness is your drug, rest will feel like stress
Summary
Using work as an escape makes rest feel like stress, so be honest about whether long hours are only for a season.
The speaker quotes Ian Simkins: if busyness is your drug, rest will feel like stress. Using work to fund goals, such as a house down payment, can turn into a way of avoiding other things, and the speaker urges honesty about whether work is for a season or a habit. The speaker admits being good at endless work but not yet at being married.
Key points- Quotes a friend: if busyness is your drug, rest will feel like stress
- The speaker admits he hides in endless work and struggles with marriage
- Suggests tying long hours to a set goal, such as a house down payment
Why Self-Care Hasn't Cured Your Burnout
Read · bustle.com · 13 min · Issue #109
Heather Havrilesky's Bustle essay argues that rest and self-care do not always cure burnout, and that burnout can reflect ambition with nowhere to go.
Summary
Heather Havrilesky's Bustle essay argues that rest and self-care do not always cure burnout, and that burnout can reflect ambition with nowhere to go. She suggests physically absorbing or even repetitive tasks can restore a sense of satisfaction, citing her own work pulling ivy in her mother's yard. The piece also says modest goals can feel unmotivating, and that a more ambitious version of a goal may help.
The Art of Being Alone
Read · fs.blog · 6 min · Issue #95
Shane Parrish's July 2022 Farnam Street article argues that loneliness depends more on how we perceive our circumstances than on how many people are around us.
Summary
Shane Parrish's July 2022 Farnam Street article argues that loneliness depends more on how we perceive our circumstances than on how many people are around us. Drawing on Olivia Laing's The Lonely City, it gives examples from Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol. It suggests that making or engaging with art can turn painful loneliness into more fulfilling solitude.
Anxiety and gut problems share a cause
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #89
Same neurotransmitters control mood and gut motility, the speaker says
Summary
The speaker claims anxiety and gut problems often share a cause, and that many food allergies are not real.
Per its description, this is an excerpt from The Diary of a CEO podcast with Gary Brecka. The speaker says many people with generalized anxiety or depression also have gut problems, because the same neurotransmitters control gut motility. The speaker also argues that people who report many food allergies usually are not allergic, since true allergies are consistent rather than occasional.
Key points- Same neurotransmitters control mood and gut motility, the speaker says
- Real allergies are consistent, so eating a food without reaction means no allergy
- Says bloating, gas and IBS-type symptoms often trace back to these links
Tying yourself up to boost mood
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #86
Describes restraining himself in the bathroom before leaving for work
Summary
The speaker describes a routine for lifting mood. Each morning before leaving for work, the speaker ties hands and feet together with zip ties in the bathroom, then frees themselves. The speaker says the stressful contrast makes ordinary life feel good. The clip is a personal anecdote and cites no research.
Key points- Describes restraining himself in the bathroom before leaving for work
- Says the stunt is very scary and stressful
- Says ordinary life feels incredible once he is free
The Hidden Toll of Microstress
Read · hbr.org · 20 min · Issue #86
Rob Cross and Karen Dillon's Harvard Business Review article argues that microstresses, small brief stressors such as a worrying text during a meeting, do not trigger the brain's normal stress response and instead accumulate.
Summary
Rob Cross and Karen Dillon's Harvard Business Review article argues that microstresses, small brief stressors such as a worrying text during a meeting, do not trigger the brain's normal stress response and instead accumulate. This drains energy and harms physical and emotional health. The article opens with a pharmaceutical executive who seemed to have an ideal life. The visible excerpt cites no named studies or figures.
How to Live After Your Soulmate Has Died
Watch · youtube.com · 7 min · Issue #85
In this Big Think video, astronomer Michelle Thaller describes how she coped after her husband died of cancer in 2020.
Summary
In this Big Think video, astronomer Michelle Thaller describes how she coped after her husband died of cancer in 2020. She says science, poetry, art and literature helped her keep moving forward. The description suggests that grief may never fully go away, but connecting to something larger than oneself can offer a path through it.
Four quick fixes for a bad mood
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #84
Hate everyone: eat something
Summary
Four quick fixes for a bad mood: eat, sleep, shower, or go outside, depending on who you feel hates whom.
Shade Zahrai shares advice received long ago, a short list of simple fixes for bad moods. If you hate everyone, eat something. If everyone seems to hate you, go to sleep. If you hate yourself, take a shower. If everyone seems to hate everyone, go outside. The clip gives no further explanation.
Key points- Hate everyone: eat something
- Everyone hates you: go to sleep
- Hate yourself: have a shower, or go outside if everyone hates everyone
Robert Kelly on Childhood, Ward of the State and Sobriety
Watch · youtube.com · 15 min · Issue #69
A 15-minute clip from The Joe Rogan Experience episode 1886, posted by the PowerfulJRE channel.
Summary
A 15-minute clip from The Joe Rogan Experience episode 1886, posted by the PowerfulJRE channel. Comedian Robert Kelly talks about a difficult childhood, time as a ward of the state, and getting sober at 15. The description links only to the full episode on Spotify.
Self-talk and posture shape your feelings
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #67
Racing thoughts can make your heart race, because brain and body are wired together
Summary
Your neurons also control your body, so self-talk and posture shape how you feel, and changing them can change your life.
The speaker says neurons serve several functions at once, so thoughts and language are wired to the body. A racing heart or a sense of anxiety can start from what you think, and a hunched or upright posture signals mood to the brain. The speaker advises noticing your posture and self-talk, since both shape anxiety and self-doubt.
Key points- Racing thoughts can make your heart race, because brain and body are wired together
- Shoulders back and smiling tells your brain you are happy and safe
- Check your usual posture and self-talk if you feel anxious or full of self-doubt
Suffering is pain times resistance
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #63
Pain at 10 with resistance at 10 gives suffering of 100
Summary
Suffering equals pain times resistance, so reducing resistance cuts suffering even when the pain stays the same.
The speaker shares a formula, pain times resistance equals suffering, that was given to them by another person. If pain and resistance are each rated 10, suffering is 100, while zero resistance means zero suffering. The speaker says the formula is rough but gives practical steps for handling a difficult feeling.
Key points- Pain at 10 with resistance at 10 gives suffering of 100
- With zero resistance, suffering drops to zero, though the speaker notes some variance
- The formula gives practical steps to take when feeling a certain way
Stop labeling feelings and predicting outcomes
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #58
Resisting a feeling makes it persist, so fully accepting it lets it pass
Summary
Two practices reduce anxiety: stop labeling feelings as bad, and stop assuming you know the best and worst outcomes.
The speaker says two practices have eased anxiety, fear and worry more than anything else. The first is to stop labeling feelings and situations as bad, since resisting a feeling tends to prolong it, while full acceptance lets it pass. The second is to accept that no one can predict the best or worst outcome, so a feared result may open a better path.
Key points- Resisting a feeling makes it persist, so fully accepting it lets it pass
- Anxiety comes from assuming you know the best and worst case outcome of a situation
- A failed interview may set you on a better path, since the future cannot be predicted
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