Psyche | on the human condition
WEBMixed in with the highly memorable rites of growing up are more troubling highlights. But these, too, can have enduring value. by Çağlayan Özdemir, Michelle D Leichtman & David B Pillemer. Psyche is a digital magazine from Aeon Media that illuminates the human condition through psychology, philosophy and the arts.
The virtue of honesty requires more than just telling the truth
WEBDec 13, 2021 · Honesty is no exception. Telling the truth, even if one is reliable in doing so, won’t be an expression of the virtue of honesty if it is done just to make a good impression on others, or to avoid getting punished, or to secure rewards in the afterlife. Indeed, in my view, any self-interested motive isn’t going to count as a virtuous motive ...
How to perform well under pressure | Psyche Guides
WEBNov 17, 2021 · To perform well under pressure, you need several elements in place: an ability to distance yourself from destructive thoughts and self-talk; a way to cope with overwhelming feelings; the mental flexibility to respond in the most effective way; and, finally, to know what matters to you.
How to motivate yourself to change | Psyche Guides
WEBJan 21, 2024 · Use ‘evocation’ exercises to prioritise your concerns and reflect on how the changes you hope to make will help you live according to your values. Build confidence. Identify your strengths, past successes, and sources of hope and inspiration that might help you make the changes you seek to make. Make a plan.
How to rest well | Psyche Guides
WEBDec 1, 2021 · Don’t neglect sleep and naps. Naps are a potent way to recharge during the day, while regular sleep patterns contribute to physical health, emotional stability and healthier ageing. Encourage others to rest with you. The more we can solve the problem of rest collectively, the better we all will be.
How to know what you really want | Psyche Guides
WEBDec 15, 2021 · Desire is a social process – it’s mimetic. As the social theorist René Girard observed, our desires don’t come from within; rather, we mimic what other people want. Identify the people or ‘models’ influencing what you want. To better control your desires, the first step is to identify the people influencing you.
How to overcome a fear of heights | Psyche Guides
WEBApr 14, 2024 · Understand and then challenge your beliefs about heights. While exposure therapy focuses on reducing feelings of anxiety, cognitive therapy exercises focus on a person’s beliefs about heights. Many people with height phobia think something bad will happen when they are up high.
How to defuse catastrophic thoughts | Psyche Guides
WEBAug 23, 2023 · Key points – How to defuse catastrophic thoughts. The tendency to think the worst is common and manageable. You can learn to spot and defuse what therapists call catastrophising (assuming the worst-case scenario is happening or will happen), as well as awfulising (believing a possible event is absolutely awful or terrible). Both cause unnecessary distress.
How to make a difficult decision | Psyche Guides
WEBJan 5, 2022 · Be clear on which parts of you want what, and try to find a compromise between them. Create distance from the decision. Imagine advising a friend making the same decision or exploring how you would feel 10 days / 10 months / 10 years after making (or avoiding) a decision. Think outside the box.
How to cope when life seems unreal | Psyche Guides
WEBApr 14, 2024 · Simply being aware of your breathing can be a great tool in reducing levels of anxiety and its symptoms, including depersonalisation. There are various breathing techniques for grounding yourself during anxiety, but an easy-to-remember method is simply to inhale for a count of six seconds, then exhale for the same.