Passion!

Relationships

The Healthy Way to Handle Irreconcilable Differences

Gregg Levoy on April 29, 2026

Two-thirds of relationship problems are unsolvable. Trying to solve them only leads to frustration and gridlock. Here’s how to handle irreconcilable differences and stay connected

Two-thirds of relationship problems are unsolvable. Trying to solve them only leads to frustration and gridlock. Here’s how to handle irreconcilable differences and stay connected

Aging

Should You 'Rage Against the Dying of the Light'?

Gregg Levoy on March 31, 2026

Dylan Thomas’ most famous poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” urges us to “rage rage against the dying of the light.” But there are pros and cons to that philosophy.

Dylan Thomas’ most famous poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” urges us to “rage rage against the dying of the light.” But there are pros and cons to that philosophy.

Beauty

The Health Benefits of Looking at Beauty

Gregg Levoy on February 28, 2026

Looking at beauty can release the same feel-good chemicals as being in love, eating chocolate, or exercising.

Looking at beauty can release the same feel-good chemicals as being in love, eating chocolate, or exercising.

Self-Talk

Talking Out Loud to Yourself Isn’t Weird—It’s Advantageous

Gregg Levoy on January 30, 2026

Talking aloud to yourself has been shown to improve cognitive functioning, problem-solving, performance, memory, and self-control.

Talking aloud to yourself has been shown to improve cognitive functioning, problem-solving, performance, memory, and self-control.

Relationships

When Communication Techniques Backfire

Gregg Levoy on December 1, 2025

Even with the best of intentions, communication and conflict-resolution tools and techniques can be weaponized and turned into power plays. Here’s how to avoid that trap.

Even with the best of intentions, communication and conflict-resolution tools and techniques can be weaponized and turned into power plays. Here’s how to avoid that trap.

Relationships

Why We Fight

Gregg Levoy on October 30, 2025

What often provokes and perpetuates fighting is the fear—and feeling—of weakness, insecurity, and vulnerability, which drives our preoccupation with displaying power and strength.

What often provokes and perpetuates fighting is the fear—and feeling—of weakness, insecurity, and vulnerability, which drives our preoccupation with displaying power and strength.

Aging

Age and the End of Ambition

Gregg Levoy on October 2, 2025

Ambition is the desire to rise higher in the world, aspiration the desire to become a better person. One of the main tasks of successful aging is relinquishing one for the other

Ambition is the desire to rise higher in the world, aspiration the desire to become a better person. One of the main tasks of successful aging is relinquishing one for the other

Relationships

Fast Friends: How to Create Genuine Intimacy Quickly

Gregg Levoy on August 28, 2025

Conventional wisdom tells us that intimacy and trust between people take a long time to develop. But in the right circumstances, depth, closeness, and trust can develop quickly.

Conventional wisdom tells us that intimacy and trust between people take a long time to develop. But in the right circumstances, depth, closeness, and trust can develop quickly.

Relationships

Are You Ready for Another Relationship?

Gregg Levoy on July 31, 2025

In readying yourself for new love, don’t mistake the mere passage of time for preparedness. It takes self-reflection and a look at your part in the dissolution of your past loves.

In readying yourself for new love, don’t mistake the mere passage of time for preparedness. It takes self-reflection and a look at your part in the dissolution of your past loves.

Repression

There’s No Delete Button in the Human Psyche—Fortunately

Gregg Levoy on June 27, 2025

Whatever you reject or repress in yourself—negative or positive—is called shadow, and it won’t go away until you claim it. Your vitality and authenticity depend on it.

Whatever you reject or repress in yourself—negative or positive—is called shadow, and it won’t go away until you claim it. Your vitality and authenticity depend on it.

Introversion

Why Socializing Is Taxing for Both Introverts and Extroverts

Gregg Levoy on May 20, 2025

Socializing requires a lot of mental multitasking, in which your brain is working hard. Understanding its dynamics is key to optimizing it.

Socializing requires a lot of mental multitasking, in which your brain is working hard. Understanding its dynamics is key to optimizing it.

Relationships

The Heart of Activism: It Starts With Caring, Not Action

Gregg Levoy on April 3, 2025

Activism is a byproduct, not a motive. Like heroism or happiness, you don’t go looking to be heroic or happy. These are the result of something else, like passion or commitment

Activism is a byproduct, not a motive. Like heroism or happiness, you don’t go looking to be heroic or happy. These are the result of something else, like passion or commitment

Relationships

Don’t Strive for Oneness in Love, Strive for Twoness

Gregg Levoy on March 2, 2025

We romanticize togetherness—the two shall be as one, I’m no one without you, one flesh and one heart—but this is enmeshment, not intimacy. Here’s why you should keep your distance.

We romanticize togetherness—the two shall be as one, I’m no one without you, one flesh and one heart—but this is enmeshment, not intimacy. Here’s why you should keep your distance.

Aging

Losing Your Looks

Gregg Levoy on February 3, 2025

Personal Perspective: If you hate losing your looks, you’re going to hate looking at yourself in the mirror, which is going to make it harder to grow old gracefully.

Personal Perspective: If you hate losing your looks, you’re going to hate looking at yourself in the mirror, which is going to make it harder to grow old gracefully.

Relationships

Love Wants to Be Soothed; Passion Wants to Be Stimulated

Gregg Levoy on January 2, 2025

We often believe that relationships either have passion or serenity, romance or companionable bonding, freedom or commitment. But it’s not an either/or equation. It’s both/and.

We often believe that relationships either have passion or serenity, romance or companionable bonding, freedom or commitment. But it’s not an either/or equation. It’s both/and.

Illusion of Control

Understanding Your Inner Control-Freak

Gregg Levoy on December 2, 2024

Personal Perspective: Control is, by definition, exerting authority over, curbing, and constraining, and when allowed to go unchecked, it exerts a throttling effect on life.

Personal Perspective: Control is, by definition, exerting authority over, curbing, and constraining, and when allowed to go unchecked, it exerts a throttling effect on life.

Relationships

The Great Underrated Truth of Love: It’s Scary

Gregg Levoy on November 1, 2024

Intimacy requires that you lower your drawbridge and welcome vulnerability into the castle. This explains why intimacy is scary, and hard work, and demands self-compassion.

Intimacy requires that you lower your drawbridge and welcome vulnerability into the castle. This explains why intimacy is scary, and hard work, and demands self-compassion.

Anxiety

The Big Picture: Aid for Anyone Suffering Election Anxiety

Gregg Levoy on October 3, 2024

Unhooking yourself from the dramas and details of the election—if not the stresses of daily life—is a powerful coping mechanism.

Unhooking yourself from the dramas and details of the election—if not the stresses of daily life—is a powerful coping mechanism.

Grief

The Truth About Getting Closure

Gregg Levoy on August 31, 2024

Finding emotional resolution around a bereavement, breakup, or trauma—finishing unfinished business and moving on with your life—is a process, not an event.

Finding emotional resolution around a bereavement, breakup, or trauma—finishing unfinished business and moving on with your life—is a process, not an event.

Mindfulness

How to Resolve the Tug-of-War Between Doing and Being

Gregg Levoy on July 31, 2024

Personal Perspective: The dialectic between being and doing can be summed up by a question: Are you a human being or a human doing?

Personal Perspective: The dialectic between being and doing can be summed up by a question: Are you a human being or a human doing?