BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP: A CASE FOR BODY NEUTRALITY
The age-old struggle of body image issues has introduced many concepts over the years, notably body positivity. Body neutrality, by contrast, is a fairly new mindset that challenges the idea of body positivity. While body positivity centers around the idea of loving your body regardless of size, shape, color, or ability, body neutrality focuses on appreciating what your body can do for you rather than how it looks. Body positivity is driven by your appearance; body neutrality asks that we redirect our awareness towards the body’s natural goodness rather than investing time or energy into loving or hating its appearance. … More
awakening beyond sleep: the future of lucid dreaming
The mystical experience of dreaming constructs a world all on our own, filled with symbolism and wisdom unique to each dreamer. For many, it’s like watching a private movie while sleeping; the scenes simply slipping away once we awaken for the day. The possibility of consciously navigating the boundless realms of our dreamscapes has fascinated society since the Ancient Greek times and is passionately being studied by modern neuroscientists. Lucid dreaming occurs when the dreamer recognizes that they are, in fact, dreaming – giving them access to control their thoughts and actions in the dream. Thanks to the advancements in … More
death: The bittersweet teacher of life
Death, the hauntingly tragic sister to life, nudges us to contemplate a forbidding reality we often shy away from. Our varying experiences as humans may shape our circumstances differently and grant us varying degrees of opportunities or rights, but the one thing we all have in common is our fated ending. No one is greater than death; no one can escape it. It’s a natural cycle of life, much like the seasons changing and phases of our lives ending. Although our time here on earth is merely temporary, it is perhaps what makes it even more beautiful. In most Western … More
daydreaming
Daydreaming isn’t just for the seemingly unruly school kids anymore. It is surprisingly beneficial to our mental health and productivity. As we get older and our lives become increasingly demanding, you might find it harder to positively get lost in your thoughts. For years I stopped daydreaming, not realizing it until I was in a healthier mental state. Anxiety and depression made it hard to get lost in joyful and exciting visions. Instead, I would use my mental energy overthinking and focusing on negative aspects of my life. I created storylines that would repeat all day, or fester on angry … More
mended with gold
Depression: A coiled snake waiting to strike at the smallest disturbance. I have worked hard over the years to learn how to manage this “snake” with coping mechanisms and awareness, but it always seems to be there, lurking. My struggles might not seem prevalent at times, but are always relevant. The darkness has ironically become my guiding light, keeping me away from the shadows that I know can consume me. The darkness that causes my worst days to feel worse than my happiest days feel happy. It is a constant reminder of how bad things can get and of the … More
Boredom : what is the root?
We’ve all experienced boredom at one point or another, whether for a night or a repetitive pattern in our lives. According to Oxford Languages, boredom is defined as feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity. You may accept boredom as a part of life but have you ever questioned the root cause of this issue and how to prevent it? When you experience boredom, there are four main areas of your life that are lacking fulfillment: inspiration, pleasure, connection, or clarity. When we break down these 4 areas, we can discover antidotes to help … More
remember the why: starting new habits and sticking to them
I heard the term “habit stacking” recently and it made me reflect on why new habits can be so hard to keep and what we can do to hold ourselves accountable. Gyms are packed at the start of a new year with people who made the resolution to start working out more–but in most cases, these people haven’t worked out in years. While their intentions are in the right place, it’s a drastic lifestyle change; you need to prepare ahead of time on how you’re going to adjust your schedule. When you start feeling uncertain or uncomfortable, it’s easier to … More
