PsycHacks

Episode 137: We learn about ourselves in relationships

There's a notion of identity that assumes that -- deep down -- who we are is a sort of unchanging, crystalline entity. But I think this idea is betrayed in the practice of our everyday lives. Our experience of self changes significantly, based on where we are, who we're with, and what we're doing. This is because relationships "pull" latent aspects of self out of our personality structures that may otherwise have remained long dormant. I'll discuss more in this episode.

 

#relationships #identity #selfdevelopment

Episode 136: Conquering the fear of being judged by others

The fear of being judged by others is a fear that I commonly encounter in the scope of my clinical practice. The key to conquering this fear is an understanding of a clunky psychological concept called "theory of mind." This means that we unconsciously project the content and structure of our own consciousness onto others in order to facilitate interpersonal interaction. An amazing consequence of this tendency is that we can alter our actual experience of reality by changing the content of our own consciousness. I'll discuss more in this episode.

 

#anxiety #Buddhism #confidence

Episode 135: How to suffer less in life

In my experience, a great deal of the unnecessary suffering in the world originates in the decision to say "no" to the present moment. Placing oneself in the position of resisting reality creates friction, and this friction creates suffering. In the vast majority of cases, resistance neither improves the situation nor helps us get what we want. On the other hand, by adopting a posture of willingness to work with what is, we give ourselves the best possible chance of recognizing the potential that may be inherent in the situation.

 

#willingness #acceptance #effectiveness

Episode 134: What is the critical inner voice?

The critical inner voice is a phenomenon that most of us experience from time to time; however, it can be incessantly cruel and abusive in the case of some folks. It's the voice that is very mean to you when you make a mistake, or that generalizes global personality flaws from local failures or rejections. Many researchers believe that the critical inner voice is an introject of the parents' perceived negative attitudes toward the child. With this in mind, the first step toward mitigating the effect of this voice is to make it ego-alien, or something that's in you, but not of you.

 

#depression #selftalk #therapy

Episode 133: The sexual double standard

The sexual double standard is basically that it is socially acceptable -- or considered a positive -- for men to have multiple sexual partners, but that it is socially unacceptable -- or considered a negative -- for women to have the same. In this video, I'll discuss why I believe this double standard is culturally determined -- but not in the way most people think. Rather than a "mere" belief or attitude, this standard is deeply embedded in the cultural "rules" about who approaches whom and who is valued for what. I'll explain what I mean using the framework of behavioral economics.

#sex #relationships #economics

Episode 132: You will never have enough

"Enough" is a quantity that does not exist in reality. And if something doesn't exist, it's not something you can have. This is why no one has "enough" money, "enough" sex, or "enough" power. "Enough" is a concept that exists in our minds: it's psychological. It's the decision to accept the present moment as sufficient. Understanding this distinction opens the possibility for greater contentment and happiness in our lives.

 

#happiness #contentment #enough

Episode 131: How to heal the void within

The experience of inner emptiness is at the heart of many of the issues that I discuss with my clients. Those who experience it try to fill it in many ways: with drugs and alcohol, with sex and relationships, with work and busyness, with pleasure and distraction. And they don't work, which is to say: they work for a time at great cost. In this episode, I'll discuss the only three things I've ever found that actually heal the void within.

#healing #emptiness #recovery

Episode 130: How to do something you’ve never done before

Every day, life presents you with new and unexpected challenges to overcome. How can you respond confidently to a difficulty that you've never dealt with before? In this episode, I share two tips for successfully addressing just such a situation. Hopefully, they will help you find the wherewithal to rise to the occasion.

#confidence #selfefficacy #focus

Episode 129: Being loved by the one you’re with - The adored

According to the fundamental axiom of the balance of attraction, no two people can like each other exactly the same amount. In this episode, I'll discuss the pros and cons of being in the position of the adored, the one who likes the other less. The adored get to be loved by the ones they're with. This position is a better fit for those who prefer not to live as much in their emotions, or who (for whatever reason) would prefer not to place romantic relationships in the center of their lives.

 

#relationships #attraction #love

Episode 128: Values and decision making

Values can be expensive. So are they worth it? In this episode, I discuss one of the most valuable things about values: their utility as decision making tools. When we find ourselves at the Crossroads of Life, values can help to clarify the path forward by filtering out incongruent pathways. In a very practical way, they help us answer the question: "what should I do?"

#values #decisive #growth