The most expensive mistake we make isn’t moving too slowly. We move before we’re ready. We’ve confused speed with strength or competence for so long that we’ve forgotten the difference. It’s why... Read more »
Although he thought of existence as a sorry mistake, the philosopher of pessimism Arthur Schopenhauer retained a strong “will to life”. One of his reasons for settling in Frankfurt was the reputation... Read more »
People living with severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often receive treatment focused primarily on managing symptoms, yet research suggests that improvements in functioning do not automatically translate into... Read more »
Someone recently asked me what it was like to begin playing the cello as I turned 70 years old—without prior training. Taking a split-second to think about it, I replied, “It’s excruciatingly... Read more »
Some friends and I are discussing our favorite dishes. “What’s yours?” one asks me. I can feel the answer, hovering just beyond the horizon of my consciousness, but out of my reach.... Read more »
In my work as a psychologist and sex therapist, I often sit with people who feel deeply confused about their attraction to someone else. They say things like, “I feel so much... Read more »
In 2001, Angela Friederici invited me to spend a month at the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience in Leipzig. I arrived speaking no German. That month taught me what it felt... Read more »
We do everything so incredibly fast these days. Eat fast, drink fast, and get our various meetings over as quickly as possible. But all this speed has a price. A friend of... Read more »
Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning is a powerful expression of and for humanity. It’s not simply a classic of psychology or a memoir of survival. It’s built upon a deeper authority... Read more »
We occasionally talk about someone holding authority abusively, and almost never ask how authority can be held effectively and creatively. There is little consideration of how to optimize the exercise of authority.... Read more »