Writing is an art, and I do occasionally like to play around with its styles, forms, devices, and different genres. My intention is to communicate serious matters in a playful, effective manner. Here, with some risk of pedantic overstepping, I lump together fiction, satire, and … [Read more...] about Unmasking Fear Itself
inner fear
Feeling Like a Fraud or an Imposter?
As a young actor in the 1960s, Michael Caine was sitting across from Frank Sinatra in a private plane on a flight to Las Vegas when, overwhelmed by the moment, he suddenly became tongue-tied and speechless. Sinatra said, “Mikey, what’s up? You scared of flying?” Caine, who … [Read more...] about Feeling Like a Fraud or an Imposter?
Emerging from Shyness
Shyness is a remarkably common affliction. Experts believe the incidence of shyness in the United States is close to 50 percent—and rising. Most shy individuals are not experiencing the problem at the acute level in which it becomes a social anxiety disorder. Yet even “gentle … [Read more...] about Emerging from Shyness
The Double Barrels of Gun Mania
We all agree about the need to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Perhaps we also need to look at some psychological issues influencing staunch defenders of gun rights. Many of these individuals are not paragons of mental health because two of their unrecognized … [Read more...] about The Double Barrels of Gun Mania
How Inner Fear Becomes Our Worst Nightmare
Diminishing our fear is vitally important because fear can cause enormous suffering. It might also have the potential to destroy humanity. The nuclear arms race is, in part, propelled by the fear that we will be attacked and destroyed by our enemies if we do not invest … [Read more...] about How Inner Fear Becomes Our Worst Nightmare