Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. — Teddy Roosevelt Throughout my years in graduate school, I have been obsessed with trying to understand one specific human behavior: When and why people try to persuade others of their opinions (i.e., engage in “word of mouth”) In fact, I was recently featured…
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved. — George Sand Aw, love. What an amazing, terrible, beautiful, and most despicable thing love is. Since this blog’s inception, I have written on this all-consuming emotion here, here, here, here, here, and here. So, with spring back—it’s pink and cherry blossoms spreading allergies…
We never live; we are always in the expectation of living. — Voltaire Expectations are more powerful than you believe. Sure, you may be familiar with the placebo effect, where 35% of participants who expect sugar pills to be actual pain medicine feel actual relief. Or maybe you’re familiar with the effects of self-fulfilling prophecy,…
I learned more about my brain and its possibilities in the five hours after taking these mushrooms than I had in the preceding 15 years of studying and doing research in psychology. — Timothy Leary, Harvard Professor after first consuming “magic mushrooms” Although you may have no interest in trying them, it’s hard not to…
Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives. — William Dement I once spent an entire summer training myself how to dream. Well, training myself how to control my dreams. For most, dreaming happens whether you like it or not. But, what if you were able…
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. — Aristotle I have a simple question for you: In general, which do you like better, the ocean or the mountains? Although this may seem like a meaningless question, research shows that if you prefer the ocean, you tend to be more extroverted, whereas if you chose the…