Our intelligence triumphs when we bring into focus the self-harming dynamics going on in our psyche. These conflicting dynamics are very much indifferent to our wellbeing. When they remain hidden from us, we may have only a hit-or-miss capacity for healthy self-regulation. (An … [Read more...] about Are You Addicted to Self-Punishment?
A Hidden Cause of Loneliness
A loneliness epidemic is hurting America and much of the world. It’s probably going to get worse because one of its main causes is not being addressed or even recognized. The epidemic of loneliness is often attributed to unprecedented social and technological changes over … [Read more...] about A Hidden Cause of Loneliness
The Impulse to Destroy Democracy
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