The 9 Circles of the Afterlife
Though born into a family rooted in Christian beliefs and dedicated to upholding fundamental traditions, I do not follow any traditional religious beliefs — no Gods, angels, or rebirth for me. I believe religions were crafted as initial codes of conduct to exert control over people. Messages like “Don’t do this, or you’ll face hell” or “Believe in the Lord, and your soul will find salvation in heaven” serve to simplify our lives by providing predefined answers. All this offers a convenient ju...
The 9 Circles of the Afterlife
Though born into a family rooted in Christian beliefs and dedicated to upholding fundamental traditions, I do not follow any traditional religious beliefs — no Gods, angels, or rebirth for me. I believe religions were crafted as initial codes of conduct to exert control over people. Messages like “Don’t do this, or you’ll face hell” or “Believe in the Lord, and your soul will find salvation in heaven” serve to simplify our lives by providing predefined answers. All this offers a convenient ju...
How to Use the Art of Zen to Win the War of Life
There are days in life when everything falls apart, and on top of that, the voice in your head disturbs you with thoughts like, “I deserve it for being an idiot.” Days when reality turns into a time mincer that turns every minute into hamburgers eaten by your boss, partner, friends, and everyone else. Days when your free time is not free; it is slave time. Days when you first think, “No, not again, please.” And after that, you say, “Shit”. Days in which life corners you with thousands of comm...
How to Use the Art of Zen to Win the War of Life
There are days in life when everything falls apart, and on top of that, the voice in your head disturbs you with thoughts like, “I deserve it for being an idiot.” Days when reality turns into a time mincer that turns every minute into hamburgers eaten by your boss, partner, friends, and everyone else. Days when your free time is not free; it is slave time. Days when you first think, “No, not again, please.” And after that, you say, “Shit”. Days in which life corners you with thousands of comm...
4 Habits Good Listeners Avoid
As a psychologist (and husband), I think a lot about how to be a better listener:How can I help my wife to feel truly heard and understood?How can I get through this difficult discussion with my client without saying something insensitive?And while I don’t have all the answers, here’s the biggest surprise I’ve discovered about being a good listener:Being a good listener is about what you do less of, not more of.Truly great listeners don’t necessarily do more of anything than the rest of us. I...
4 Habits Good Listeners Avoid
As a psychologist (and husband), I think a lot about how to be a better listener:How can I help my wife to feel truly heard and understood?How can I get through this difficult discussion with my client without saying something insensitive?And while I don’t have all the answers, here’s the biggest surprise I’ve discovered about being a good listener:Being a good listener is about what you do less of, not more of.Truly great listeners don’t necessarily do more of anything than the rest of us. I...
Come Take a Peek Into the Minds, Lives, and Fears … of Queers
Paige is smart as a whip and fiercely articulate. She knows where she came from, who she is, and what she wants. I met her in a meeting one night in a church at the end of a dark cul-de-sac. She sat tall in her chair, face chiseled with determination, silver hair tucked neatly behind her ears. “I’m 74 years old and a widower,” she said. Yes, Paige is a widower. That’s not a typo. She was born male and lived her entire life as a man. When that man’s wife died a year ago, she became Paige. Paig...
Come Take a Peek Into the Minds, Lives, and Fears … of Queers
Paige is smart as a whip and fiercely articulate. She knows where she came from, who she is, and what she wants. I met her in a meeting one night in a church at the end of a dark cul-de-sac. She sat tall in her chair, face chiseled with determination, silver hair tucked neatly behind her ears. “I’m 74 years old and a widower,” she said. Yes, Paige is a widower. That’s not a typo. She was born male and lived her entire life as a man. When that man’s wife died a year ago, she became Paige. Paig...
A Dying Monk’s Last Piece of Advice
Have you ever imagined what your last words on Earth would be? Maybe you’d impart a piece of wisdom like Bob Marley did. Or perhaps you’d take a leaf out of Oscar Wilde’s book and make one last witty comment while you still could... For most of us, having the perfect one-liner at hand is probably unlikely. But, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be intrigued about people who managed to do just that. Before I share what a dying monk’s last piece of advice was, here are some of my favourites:“M...
A Dying Monk’s Last Piece of Advice
Have you ever imagined what your last words on Earth would be? Maybe you’d impart a piece of wisdom like Bob Marley did. Or perhaps you’d take a leaf out of Oscar Wilde’s book and make one last witty comment while you still could... For most of us, having the perfect one-liner at hand is probably unlikely. But, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be intrigued about people who managed to do just that. Before I share what a dying monk’s last piece of advice was, here are some of my favourites:“M...
