The Pacific Heart

Relationships

Director Daniel Kwan: "Genius Emerges From the Collective"

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on March 13, 2023

Daniel Kwan delivered a rousing acceptance speech for the Best Director Oscar he shared with Daniel Scheinert, reminding us that genius emerges from relationships.

Daniel Kwan delivered a rousing acceptance speech for the Best Director Oscar he shared with Daniel Scheinert, reminding us that genius emerges from relationships.

Grief

5 Questions to Help Mourn and Transition From COVID

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 23, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Reflect and journal on these questions to help mourn and grow as we transition from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Personal Perspective: Reflect and journal on these questions to help mourn and grow as we transition from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anxiety

12 Tools to Help Cope With Catastrophic Anxiety and Worry

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 16, 2023

Catastrophic anxiety can be debilitating and destructive. How might we deal with it?

Catastrophic anxiety can be debilitating and destructive. How might we deal with it?

Bias

Overcoming Racism and Casteism and Cultivating a Better World

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 1, 2023

Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents" is an alarming and necessary read. Here are some thoughts on deconstructing casteism and racism in American life.

Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents" is an alarming and necessary read. Here are some thoughts on deconstructing casteism and racism in American life.

Empathy

How Asian American Documentaries Promote Understanding and Empathy

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 24, 2022

Personal Perspective: Two Asian American documentaries streaming now on PBS offer opportunities to build understanding and empathy for diverse Asian and Black identities at this critical time.

Personal Perspective: Two Asian American documentaries streaming now on PBS offer opportunities to build understanding and empathy for diverse Asian and Black identities at this critical time.

Empathy

Action vs. Contemplation? Finding Answers in Empathy

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 13, 2022

The debate between active and contemplative lives goes back millennia. Summit and Vermeule's 2018 book is a great summation of Western thought. Empathy helps break the impasse.

The debate between active and contemplative lives goes back millennia. Summit and Vermeule's 2018 book is a great summation of Western thought. Empathy helps break the impasse.

Relationships

America: Living Under Spells of Contempt and Idealization

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 5, 2022

Contempt and self-idealization are distortions in history and interpersonal life. First Nations are calling for an apology for one example of contempt, the Doctrine of Discovery.

Contempt and self-idealization are distortions in history and interpersonal life. First Nations are calling for an apology for one example of contempt, the Doctrine of Discovery.

Empathy

Which of Six Power Types Will You Embody and Support?

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 15, 2022

Power takes many forms in society and in interpersonal relationships. Which of these have you experienced, and what should we cultivate within and between us?

Power takes many forms in society and in interpersonal relationships. Which of these have you experienced, and what should we cultivate within and between us?

Empathy

Eight Types of Humility Needed for Cognitive Clarity

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 8, 2022

We've gone through the "Me Decade" and the "Narcissism Epidemic." Is it time we had an "Age of Humility?" Humility is important in cultivating empathy, relatedness, and awe.

We've gone through the "Me Decade" and the "Narcissism Epidemic." Is it time we had an "Age of Humility?" Humility is important in cultivating empathy, relatedness, and awe.

Relationships

Eight Questions for Understanding and Healing Resentment

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 26, 2022

Resentment is a significant factor in American and global society. How might we understand it in relationship to our journeys of identity, belonging, wellness, and meaning?

Resentment is a significant factor in American and global society. How might we understand it in relationship to our journeys of identity, belonging, wellness, and meaning?

Psychiatry

Laid Bare and Ripening: A Report from American Psychiatric Association Meeting

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on June 6, 2022

The APA Annual Meeting this year was a significant step forward in turning the giant ship of psychiatry towards the SDOMH: Social Determinants of Mental Health.

The APA Annual Meeting this year was a significant step forward in turning the giant ship of psychiatry towards the SDOMH: Social Determinants of Mental Health.

Narcissism

To Mask or Not to Mask When Masking is Not Mandatory

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 26, 2022

A federal judge overturned mask mandates, as the DOJ appeals. It's important to pay attention to our feelings, not just science or mandates. And not give way to megalomania.

A federal judge overturned mask mandates, as the DOJ appeals. It's important to pay attention to our feelings, not just science or mandates. And not give way to megalomania.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness in Silicon Valley: Is Work Becoming Religion?

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 11, 2022

Silicon Valley appears to have created an elite within corporate America, one which has developed its own religion, co-opting mindfulness. There is a cost to "techtopia."

Silicon Valley appears to have created an elite within corporate America, one which has developed its own religion, co-opting mindfulness. There is a cost to "techtopia."

Media

“Everything Everywhere”: Multiverses, Metaverses and You

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on March 29, 2022

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a spectacle for our times - about choices and where they lead us. What does it tell us about psychology, mental health, and the metaverse?

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" is a spectacle for our times - about choices and where they lead us. What does it tell us about psychology, mental health, and the metaverse?

Aging

Asian American Elders Report Low Support, Life Satisfaction

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 21, 2022

California health survey data from 2018 indicate Asian American elders have lower life satisfaction and levels of socio-cultural support. What have the last few years done?

California health survey data from 2018 indicate Asian American elders have lower life satisfaction and levels of socio-cultural support. What have the last few years done?

Self-Control

Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” and the Myth of Self-Regulation

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 7, 2022

Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest film, "Drive My Car," is a masterpiece in depicting relatedness, loss, and the effects we have on each other. It explodes the myth of self-regulation.

Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest film, "Drive My Car," is a masterpiece in depicting relatedness, loss, and the effects we have on each other. It explodes the myth of self-regulation.

Emotional Validation

Jesus, The Three Wise Men, and Universal Human Transmissions

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on December 30, 2021

The gifts of the Magi, the Three Wise Men, have messages for our common humanity. They are part of what I call "Universal Human Transmissions".

The gifts of the Magi, the Three Wise Men, have messages for our common humanity. They are part of what I call "Universal Human Transmissions".

Attention

The Facebook Papers, Congress, and Society

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on November 15, 2021

Commentary: Facebook is in the news again. Here's a summary of some key findings and actions being considered by Congress.

Commentary: Facebook is in the news again. Here's a summary of some key findings and actions being considered by Congress.

Relationships

Bad Art Friend: Discontent With Parasociality

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 6, 2021

The New York Times pitted Dawn Dorland and Sonya Larson in a complicated dispute. What lessons might we gain for communal and relational health?

The New York Times pitted Dawn Dorland and Sonya Larson in a complicated dispute. What lessons might we gain for communal and relational health?

Online Therapy

Teletherapy Versus In-Person: Subjective Views and Verdicts

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 13, 2021

Eighteen months into the pandemic, what have we learned about teletherapy versus in-person therapy?

Eighteen months into the pandemic, what have we learned about teletherapy versus in-person therapy?