The Search for Meaning

Beauty

Busting out All Over

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on May 21, 2020

The rite of spring is an opening up, a peeling back of the hard husk. Sometimes we like what we find, and sometimes we don’t.

The rite of spring is an opening up, a peeling back of the hard husk. Sometimes we like what we find, and sometimes we don’t.

Relationships

How Big Is Your Love?

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on June 22, 2016

Recent research on relationships in America suggests that Americans are becoming more traditional in some ways and less so in others—and identifies what we really want.

Recent research on relationships in America suggests that Americans are becoming more traditional in some ways and less so in others—and identifies what we really want.

Health

Words to Live By — or Die From

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on February 20, 2016

Encouraged by the success of Google Flu Trends, researchers wondered whether they could use similar strategies to chart psychological health in America. The answer is yes.

Encouraged by the success of Google Flu Trends, researchers wondered whether they could use similar strategies to chart psychological health in America. The answer is yes.

Happiness

Do We Find Happiness or Does Happiness Find Us?

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on October 27, 2015

Relationship guru Maggie Scarf relates a story about a memorable party she and her husband once gave. As she tells it, a somewhat plastered guest overturned a punch bowl, which landed in the leek soup. Two couples left with the wrong spouses, several noisy quarrels broke out, and Scarf herself seriously considered leaving and staying at the neighbors’ for the night.

Relationship guru Maggie Scarf relates a story about a memorable party she and her husband once gave. As she tells it, a somewhat plastered guest overturned a punch bowl, which landed in the leek soup. Two couples left with the wrong spouses, several noisy quarrels broke out, and Scarf herself seriously considered leaving and staying at the neighbors’ for the night.

To be human is to desire what we don't have.

Suicide

Freedom and Its Consequences

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on September 30, 2015

In his book Freedom Evolves, the philosopher Daniel Dennett tells about a young father who forgot to drop off his infant daughter at her day-care center on his way to work. She spent the day locked in his car in a hot parking lot. When he returned to his car, she was still strapped into her little car seat in the back seat, dead.

In his book Freedom Evolves, the philosopher Daniel Dennett tells about a young father who forgot to drop off his infant daughter at her day-care center on his way to work. She spent the day locked in his car in a hot parking lot. When he returned to his car, she was still strapped into her little car seat in the back seat, dead.

Resilience

How to Become a Successful Failure

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on September 17, 2015

Failure lurks everywhere. Nearly half of all new businesses fail within four years. About three-quarters of students who apply to top colleges aren’t accepted. More than 90% of people who resolve to lose weight fail to do so. No matter how carefully we calculate our odds and make our decisions, failure is one of the constants in life.

Failure lurks everywhere. Nearly half of all new businesses fail within four years. About three-quarters of students who apply to top colleges aren’t accepted. More than 90% of people who resolve to lose weight fail to do so. No matter how carefully we calculate our odds and make our decisions, failure is one of the constants in life.

Attention

May I Have Your Attention?

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on June 11, 2015

To ask how I spend my time focuses mainly on me, as though I am independent of the people and world around me. To ask how I invest my attention, on the other hand, focuses on how I engage with the people and world around me.

To ask how I spend my time focuses mainly on me, as though I am independent of the people and world around me. To ask how I invest my attention, on the other hand, focuses on how I engage with the people and world around me.

Child Development

Why We're in Need of Music

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on March 9, 2015

In Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Childhood’s End, a highly cerebral species of aliens known as the Overlords have been studying the human race from their spaceship, but they have encountered one puzzle they cannot solve. Why do humans spend so much of their time playing with, listening to, and preoccupied by meaningless tonal patterns—something the humans call music?

In Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Childhood’s End, a highly cerebral species of aliens known as the Overlords have been studying the human race from their spaceship, but they have encountered one puzzle they cannot solve. Why do humans spend so much of their time playing with, listening to, and preoccupied by meaningless tonal patterns—something the humans call music?

Education

The Secret of Success

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on October 24, 2014

Often the most important things in our lives remain hidden in plain sight, obscured by the rush of routine or the pull of progress. Sometimes, the most we can do is simply focus on the next thing, whatever is most urgent. In so doing, we slowly become oblivious to what’s most important.

Often the most important things in our lives remain hidden in plain sight, obscured by the rush of routine or the pull of progress. Sometimes, the most we can do is simply focus on the next thing, whatever is most urgent. In so doing, we slowly become oblivious to what’s most important.

Philosophy

You Are the Center of the Universe

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on August 24, 2014

Alan Watts, who died about 40 years ago, was one of the most widely read philosophers of the 20th century. He was best known as the leading Western interpreter of Eastern philosophy, especially Zen Buddhism. In 1971, Watts recorded a half-hour television program titled “A Conversation with Myself.”

Alan Watts, who died about 40 years ago, was one of the most widely read philosophers of the 20th century. He was best known as the leading Western interpreter of Eastern philosophy, especially Zen Buddhism. In 1971, Watts recorded a half-hour television program titled “A Conversation with Myself.”

The ancient warrior Odysseus and Elliot Rodger represent two different ways of managing male sexual desire. One sees male sexual desire, however overwhelming it may be at times, as ultimately the responsibility of men. The other approach, which has predominated throughout history, blames women and makes them responsible.

Every time a hugely talented actor, musician, or writer dies too young from alcohol or drug-related causes, the perennial question gets posed: Does alcohol and drug use foster the creative process?

Smoking

Things To Do Today: What’s on Your List?

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on January 10, 2014

The things we do each day end up fitting into three categories: things we instinctively do, things we habitually do, and things we have to make decisions about doing. Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French mathematician and philosopher, once described habit as our second nature. Our first nature is nature itself, Pascal observed, and habit is a second nature.

The things we do each day end up fitting into three categories: things we instinctively do, things we habitually do, and things we have to make decisions about doing. Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French mathematician and philosopher, once described habit as our second nature. Our first nature is nature itself, Pascal observed, and habit is a second nature.

On autopilot, it’s easy to relax and stop paying attention. We stop paying attention to our bodies: what we eat and how much we exercise. We stop paying attention to our minds: what we fill them with. And we stop paying attention to our relationships. The human equivalent of an autopilot is a habit. It’s what we do without thinking.

Guilt

Demons That Remain: When We’re Haunted By Guilt and Remorse

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on November 2, 2013

Now that the ghosts and goblins of Halloween have departed, what should we do about the demons that remain: the ghosts of guilt and the goblins of remorse?

Now that the ghosts and goblins of Halloween have departed, what should we do about the demons that remain: the ghosts of guilt and the goblins of remorse?

If you sat down and made a list of everything you want in life, how long would the list be? Are you making good progress toward getting what you want? If not, maybe the list is too long.

Behavioral Economics

Really? Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way?

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on September 18, 2013

The old English proverb asserts itself with complete assurance: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Like many time-worn sayings, this claim that mind always rules over matter rings true only some of the time. Sometimes we don’t have the will; sometimes we lose our way. What should we do then?

The old English proverb asserts itself with complete assurance: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Like many time-worn sayings, this claim that mind always rules over matter rings true only some of the time. Sometimes we don’t have the will; sometimes we lose our way. What should we do then?

Persuasion

Charting Your Path to Personal Power

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on September 9, 2013

Successful people have the ability to get things done, whether they are climbing the corporate ladder, making the world a better place, or transforming their personal lives. But some people are more effective in these endeavors than others. What’s the secret to personal power?

Successful people have the ability to get things done, whether they are climbing the corporate ladder, making the world a better place, or transforming their personal lives. But some people are more effective in these endeavors than others. What’s the secret to personal power?

Attention

Getting Your Minimum Daily Requirement of Silence

Galen Guengerich Ph.D. on August 14, 2013

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about noise and silence. Maybe it’s because I live in New York City, the vortex of volume. Especially in the summer, noise hammers at me from all sides. It’s like the world is a bell and I’m the clapper. By the end of the day, I feel quite jangled. My guess is that you sometimes do too, whether you live in a city or not.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about noise and silence. Maybe it’s because I live in New York City, the vortex of volume. Especially in the summer, noise hammers at me from all sides. It’s like the world is a bell and I’m the clapper. By the end of the day, I feel quite jangled. My guess is that you sometimes do too, whether you live in a city or not.