The Pacific Heart

Race and Ethnicity

Asian American Men and Their Fathers: Healing Old Wounds

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on May 10, 2025

Two recent films—Tad Nakamura's "Third Act" and Tony Nguyen's "Year of the Cat"—provide important narratives for the Asian American experience and the relationships between sons and fathers.

Two recent films—Tad Nakamura's "Third Act" and Tony Nguyen's "Year of the Cat"—provide important narratives for the Asian American experience and the relationships between sons and fathers.

Trauma

Intergenerational Palestinian Trauma in “All That’s Left of You”

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 23, 2025

Cherien Dabis' film "All That's Left of You" portrays the intergenerational trauma of a Palestinian family, and asks important questions about how such pain might be held.

Cherien Dabis' film "All That's Left of You" portrays the intergenerational trauma of a Palestinian family, and asks important questions about how such pain might be held.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Culture Clash: Debate and Emotional Expression

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 23, 2025

Debate and emotional expression have different meanings around the world. They can foster interdependence or individualism, closeness or conflict.

Debate and emotional expression have different meanings around the world. They can foster interdependence or individualism, closeness or conflict.

Microaggression

Asian American Med Students Experience Microaggressions

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 5, 2025

More than two-thirds of med students surveyed experienced a variety of microaggressions.

More than two-thirds of med students surveyed experienced a variety of microaggressions.

Wisdom

Take the Red Pill: Why Buddhism Is True, and Needed

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on January 11, 2025

Personal Perspective: In the face of wildfires and global chaos, Buddhist practices can help us shed unhelpful narratives. It's time to take the red pill and drop into our bodies.

Personal Perspective: In the face of wildfires and global chaos, Buddhist practices can help us shed unhelpful narratives. It's time to take the red pill and drop into our bodies.

Politics

Duty Vs. Self-Enhancement in the American Psyche

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on January 8, 2025

President Carter's long life and passing gives us an opportunity to reflect on personality and the qualities of duty, service, and self-enhancement in the American psyche.

President Carter's long life and passing gives us an opportunity to reflect on personality and the qualities of duty, service, and self-enhancement in the American psyche.

Politics

Did the Ivy League Break America? Can the Joy League Save It?

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on January 3, 2025

Personal Perspective: A recent essay in "The Atlantic" offers food for thought on elitism and the narrow concerns of Ivy League admissions. But there's more to the story.

Personal Perspective: A recent essay in "The Atlantic" offers food for thought on elitism and the narrow concerns of Ivy League admissions. But there's more to the story.

Wisdom

An American Buddhist Psychiatrist on Our Human Struggle

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on December 25, 2024

Personal Perspective: Here are reflections on ideals and suffering from an Asian American Buddhist psychiatrist.

Personal Perspective: Here are reflections on ideals and suffering from an Asian American Buddhist psychiatrist.

Ethics and Morality

The Golden Rule: Obsolete Relic or Absolute Imperative?

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on December 19, 2024

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is timeless wisdom. And yet the Golden Rule is threatened by our political divide and by broad dissatisfaction. How do we deal?

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is timeless wisdom. And yet the Golden Rule is threatened by our political divide and by broad dissatisfaction. How do we deal?

Relationships

3 Building Blocks of Mental Health and Their Great Destroyer

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on December 3, 2024

Personal Perspective: What building blocks of mental health and social well-being can we cultivate to help us In this turbulent time of political, social, economic, and cultural changes?

Personal Perspective: What building blocks of mental health and social well-being can we cultivate to help us In this turbulent time of political, social, economic, and cultural changes?

Humor

7 Neurological and Social Effects of Put-Down Humor and Hate

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 31, 2024

Recent remarks about Puerto Rico at a political rally have stirred a prominent backlash. What are the neurological and social effects of punch-down humor and hate?

Recent remarks about Puerto Rico at a political rally have stirred a prominent backlash. What are the neurological and social effects of punch-down humor and hate?

Emotions

Beethoven’s Ninth and the Ode to Joy: Symphony and Psyche

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 12, 2024

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, including the "Ode to Joy," is one of the most popular works of all time. Here's what it continues to tell us, and why it is especially relevant now.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, including the "Ode to Joy," is one of the most popular works of all time. Here's what it continues to tell us, and why it is especially relevant now.

Trauma

The Middle East: Unfathomable Traumas, Cavernous Fears

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 9, 2024

Personal Perspective: Beneath the facts of the current conflict run unresolved emotions. Naming them helps us heal, grow, and work towards bringing peace and resolution.

Personal Perspective: Beneath the facts of the current conflict run unresolved emotions. Naming them helps us heal, grow, and work towards bringing peace and resolution.

Leadership

Leadership and Relationships Have This Single-Point Failure

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 8, 2024

There is one major red flag in leadership and human relationships, and we have not yet overcome it. In fact, it's become normalized as a quality of "genius" level disruption.

There is one major red flag in leadership and human relationships, and we have not yet overcome it. In fact, it's become normalized as a quality of "genius" level disruption.

Politics

Voting's Relationship to Mental Health

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 28, 2024

Voting is a powerful pathway to register our connection with others, in our dissatisfactions, pragmatic goals, and vision for a better future. It can help reduce collective bias.

Voting is a powerful pathway to register our connection with others, in our dissatisfactions, pragmatic goals, and vision for a better future. It can help reduce collective bias.

Wisdom

The 13 "Disses" of Abusive Power, and the Wisdom to Cope

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 30, 2024

Abusive power tries to negate others with these 13 "disses," such as distortion and distress. How do we cultivate the wisdom to combat the 13 disses?

Abusive power tries to negate others with these 13 "disses," such as distortion and distress. How do we cultivate the wisdom to combat the 13 disses?

Parental Alienation

Society Keeps the Score: Alienation, Cutoffs and Belonging

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 21, 2024

A controversial New York Times article highlighted the work of Patrick Teahan promoting no-contact cutoffs with family in cases of trauma. But there's more to the story.

A controversial New York Times article highlighted the work of Patrick Teahan promoting no-contact cutoffs with family in cases of trauma. But there's more to the story.

Trauma

Intergenerational Trauma and Ancestral Pattern Shifting

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 19, 2024

A Bay Area art collective utilizes communal process, reflection, and found objects to process and heal trauma.

A Bay Area art collective utilizes communal process, reflection, and found objects to process and heal trauma.

Dissociation

"Didi": Insecurity, Dissociation, Cringe, and Sense of Self

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 5, 2024

Sean Wang's debut feature "Didi" provides a layered look at Asian American boyhood and interiority, complete with cringe and dissociation. It's a great companion to "Inside Out 2."

Sean Wang's debut feature "Didi" provides a layered look at Asian American boyhood and interiority, complete with cringe and dissociation. It's a great companion to "Inside Out 2."

Anxiety

Biden Steps Down: Ageism, Anxiety, Antagonism, and Grace

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on July 22, 2024

A Personal Perspective: In a stunning development, Joe Biden just stepped down from his presidential campaign. What might his choice reveal about our society and collective psyche?

A Personal Perspective: In a stunning development, Joe Biden just stepped down from his presidential campaign. What might his choice reveal about our society and collective psyche?