I remember, decades ago, hearing my sociology professor express anxiety about the fragility of American democracy. What is she talking about, I thought to myself, scoffing at her worries. American democracy was as solid as the granite faces on Mount Rushmore. I later … [Read more...] about The Impulse to Destroy Democracy
We Get Stronger by Seeing Our Weakness
To become emotionally strong, we might need to understand the inner dynamics of emotional weakness. There’s no need to feel bad about having a weakness. A man who aspires, for instance, to become a good tennis player is simply being sensible when he takes steps to overcome a weak … [Read more...] about We Get Stronger by Seeing Our Weakness
The Warmonger in Our Psyche
Humanity’s appetite for war arises from our psyche’s inner war. War is just one of the bitter fruits of our refusal to recognize and overcome the persistent disharmony that churns within us. War is a byproduct of the inner conflict that generates neurosis, and neurosis is … [Read more...] about The Warmonger in Our Psyche
Armed with Stubbornness, the Weak Go on the Warpath
A mulish stubbornness bedevils the social-political divide in America, intensifying the rancor that individuals and groups direct at each other. In its ugliest expression, stubbornness is a symptom of unrecognized psychological issues. These issues include ego-based … [Read more...] about Armed with Stubbornness, the Weak Go on the Warpath
How to Rescue Yourself from Suffering
Trying to access our inner life can feel like entering an underworld of dark, nonsensical obscurity. When we’re in emotional distress, how do we penetrate this darkness? How do we rescue ourselves from suffering and self-defeat? Whatever misery or ineptitude we’re … [Read more...] about How to Rescue Yourself from Suffering