Topics
Mind & meaning
Wanting it all, hoarding, faith, money, death, sobriety — the longer essays.
28 pieces.
Finding Forward Motion: Rethinking Sobriety Through Momentum
Discover how replacing restriction with meaningful momentum—like structured fitness routines—can naturally reduce alcohol intake by filling the void that triggers cravings.
The Science of Accountability: Why It Drives Success
Your fitness goals often fail. Discover the surprising psychology behind what truly helps. Many of us have experienced this: January 1st brings ambitious fitness resolutions,
Death by TV: Reclaiming Presence at the End of Life
: The modern hospice room defaults to distraction, using television to fill the void left by medicalized dying. We must actively choose presence, personalization, and
Television and the Medicalized Death
: Modern death occurs in sterile, institutional settings, often with a television as a constant, distracting presence. This medicalized approach prioritizes protocol over human connection.
The Scarcity Brain Meets the Abundant World: Can We Ever Be Satisfied?
We started with the stories we tell ourselves to justify wanting everything. We explored how having infinite options paradoxically leaves us with nothing. We examined
From ‘MINE!’ to Maybe Sharing: What Childhood Teaches Us About Human Nature
Remember the toddler from our last conversation, the one screaming “MINE!” while clutching a toy truck? Here’s what makes that scene so fascinating: that same
Mine, Not Ours: Why We Hoard Instead of Share
The zero-sum mind and the evolutionary roots of hoarding Watch a toddler with a toy. The moment another child reaches for it, you’ll hear the
The Straight and Narrow Path: Why Having Everything Means Choosing Nothing
When unlimited options become the ultimate constraint. Money expands the path. Or rather, it opens up multiple paths. And giving away money—narrowing your resources, reducing
The Stories We Tell: How We Justify Wanting It All
Rationalization mechanisms, moral justifications, and cognitive dissonance around inequality (~15min read) You see a homeless person on your morning commute. For a split second, discomfort
The Psychology of Giving Up — Why Smart People Know When to Stop
We’ve all been told “Don’t give up!” It’s stitched into motivational posters, leadership speeches, and gym walls. But modern psychology says something different: sometimes, giving
What Prayer and “Manifestation” Have in Common — and Where Christian Theology Parts Ways
You’ve probably seen two ideas side-by-side on TikTok or Instagram: “Visualize it, then claim it” and “Pray bold prayers in faith.” They can sound almost
What “F-You Money” Really Means (And Why It’s Not Just About Wealth)
You’ve probably heard the term “F-You Money” tossed around in podcasts, movies, or finance blogs. At its core, it’s the idea of having enough money
The Labyrinth of Our Mind
Introduction: Entering the Maze The human mind is vast, intricate, and often mysterious. Within it lie entire worlds: dreams, memories, imagined futures, and uncharted spaces
Fewer Jobs Meet Fewer People. Isn’t that a good thing?
Two powerful forces are reshaping the global economy simultaneously, and their intersection may determine the next chapter of human civilization. The first is the exponential
Main Character Syndrome: When Life Feels Like a Movie
It usually starts with a joke. Someone posts a video walking dramatically through a sunlit street, coffee in hand, music swelling in the background. The
The Hidden Riches of a “Poor Dad”: What I Only Learned After 40
When I Thought I Knew Better When I was 20, I read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Like many young people, I was
Why Everyone Should Learn to Cook (Even Just a Little)
In a world full of food delivery apps and instant meals, it’s easy to sidestep the kitchen entirely. But when we do, we miss out
The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Dance Between Freedom and Meaning
What does it mean to live a meaningful life if everything happens only once? This is the haunting question at the heart of Milan Kundera’s
Learning to Be Satisfied with What You Have, But Not Who You Are.
In today’s hyper-connected world, we’re constantly surrounded by messages telling us we need more—newer, better, faster, shinier. A new phone launch, the latest fashion trend,
Learning to See People as They Truly Are.
We live in a world where people are often defined by what they have—their jobs, wealth, appearance, achievements, or social status. But beneath all these
Learning to be Imperfect.
The Obsession with Perfection in AI and Life 🤖 Have you ever found yourself scrutinizing AI-generated images, counting fingers and toes, and discarding those that
How Ambitious Should I Be?
At some point in life—whether as a teenager envisioning the future or an adult reassessing their path—the question arises: How ambitious should I be? Is
Fake It Till You Make It?
“Fake it till you make it.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard before, often thrown around as a motivational mantra. But is it good advice?
The Power of Thinking Less: When Less is More.
In a world that glorifies overthinking and information overload, it may seem counterintuitive to argue that thinking less can sometimes be the key to making
Learning to Be Kinder: A Daily Effort.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on something simple: I need to make a more conscious effort to be kinder to others. Not just when it’s easy
Learning My Way Out of Sadness.
I want to learn my way out of sadness. Is that possible? There are days when the world feels heavy, when thoughts spiral inward, and
The Uncanny Valley: Playing with Ghosts of People Who Were Never Born.
We now have the power to create people who never existed. AI-generated faces, built from vast datasets of real human features, can look startlingly lifelike.
How Can Christianity Help Your Learning?
Learning is a lifelong journey, and for many people, faith plays a key role in how they grow in knowledge and wisdom. Christianity, in particular,