We know that there is some complex chemistry in our brain and we are not entirely in control of it. Typically we do not even care to think about it: too many factors involved. Today I want to make an exception. Also, check out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Brain blood barrier …
The birth and the death of the great cities
We live in one of the ages of great cities, and yet for me, it feels like this particular age is nearing a conclusion. If I am correct in my assessment, this means a lot of questions, opportunities, and possible threats. If I am wrong, this is still an interesting questions to discuss. Why does …
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The mechanics of mindfulness
How does mindfulness work? Do we even understand it? Are we using something we cannot actually formulate or test? Is there any science behind it? Do we know that mindfulness helps? More reading here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. New age placebo Many of our new-age buzzwords are placebos. Superfoods are approximately …
Happy marriage and Socrates
“By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” Socrates From time to time I stop to write about my family and my personal life. There are several reasons for this. I was not married to Anna, nothing of what you …
Quality time with kids
“I am bored. What should we do now?” My kids tend to be bored. Just like any kids. And having MORE things to do does not remove boredom. Quite often the weather allows for cool activities. Other times we create the activities at home. Here are some fun things I did with my kids. Ask …
Leadership through humor
Humor is a surprisingly effective leadership tool. Used effectively it can reduce tensions and diffuse conflicts, motivate against overwhelming odds and even inspire. More reading here, here, here, here, and here. The truth of the human condition When we consider the human condition as a whole it is rather pitiful. To be dramatic or majestic, authors …
Fountain pen doodling and art
How can we use our pens for doodling? A ballpoint pen or mechanical pencil can produce a good doodle, but a fountain pen or a lead holder can help in generating real art. I will try to share some perspectives. For more ideas check out here. Why doodle? Doodling has several benefits. So, even if your …
Self compassion will fuel your success
Quite often we push ourselves too hard. This increases the risks and reduces the joy. Possibly we can achieve better by showing ourselves more kindness. The self-compassionate approach is correlated with emotional stability and professional success. It enables us to deal with obsessions and cravings and focus on what really matters. More reading here, here, here, …
MindfulMess and mindfulness
A stupid typo can lead to many complex thoughts. Here are want to explore the environmental effects on mindfulness. Should spiritual people look like hippies, monks, or samurais? How does a mess affect our thoughts? Which interferences are welcome and which should be avoided? I want to describe three distinct and different forms of mindfulness …
Practice openness
Openness is one of the personality qualities that determine how much we achieve. Just like other personality qualities, we can somewhat change it in the right conditions. This will make us more open to other people, to the new technologies and practices, and new ideas. It is a somewhat risky move, but on average it …