#2 — We all end up as someone’s abandoned teddy bear. — I go to the stationery store; I need paper, and the salesgirl tells me she only has yellow notebooks left. I ask why. She tells me people think they bring bad luck. I ask how many she has. She replies, “How many do you want?” All of them, I tell…

“I think it [philosophy] used to be an enquiry into what’s true and how people should live; it’s distantly related to that still, but I’d say the distance is growing rather than narrowing.” ~ John Dunn Today, the mention of philosophy elicits more groans than wonder. Convoluted pontifications and obese…

Did Nietzsche lose his way? — Before anybody started talking about self-actualization[i], there was Nietzsche, who taught us how to become who we are. Then he went mad and never made sense again. That being the case, can we trust him, or any of the people who speak about self-actualization, to be our guides? To become…

What it means to be fully alive — The meaning of life is one of the oldest questions in human cultures — and it’s as relevant today as ever before. As humans, we naturally tend to ask questions about the meaning of life and how to find meaning in it. The quest for answers often comes from deep…

Stop chasing this fleeting emotional state — If I spend a day with this person I love, I’ll feel happy. If I write something I’m truly proud of, I’ll feel happy. …

In 1956 Harry Belafonte placed a call to Coretta Scott King. With her husband arrested once again, he wanted to check in with her and see how she was doing and what the movement might need. …

Meaning is the new happiness — Happiness is an emotion that usually comes in waves. One day you’re feeling happy, and the next, it’s gone. Pursuing happiness can be difficult, especially for those with anxiety tendencies. Pursuing happiness means constantly shifting your focus from one thing to another to find that elusive sense of fulfilment. Many…

A map for when you feel lost. — When I was in my late teens and early 20s, I thought that I was very important. I thought the world — my world — revolved around me, and that if I said and did things people would automatically care about them. …

How we feel about anything is how we think about everything — David Hume was one of the most influential thinkers of the 18th century. His work on philosophy, ethics, and natural science remains relevant today. Among his many notable works are “The Natural History of Religion” and “An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.” Hume was also a big proponent of empiricism and…

A simple strategy for people who want to live longer, happier, healthier, prosperous lives. — If you’ll briefly indulge me, I need to lead this piece off with just one quick, casual gloat: I have a damn fine life. I have a beautiful home, a wonderful partner, a solid family, a kind community of friends and colleagues, and an enviable set of skills and talents…