Feb 22Member-onlyHow To Turn Any Negative Into A PositiveUsing challenges as fuel and focus on growth — I’m not rich. I didn’t win the genetic lottery. And I lost most of my life to heroin addiction. So why the hell am I so happy? Simple. Because I use challenges as fuel and focus on growth. Every situation is an opportunity to grow, especially difficult ones. …Life4 min readLife4 min read
Published in SIMPLE·Feb 22Member-only5 Great Questions You Should Occasionally Ask YourselfIncluding one that completely changed my life — A friend of James Clear’s once suggested that he occasionally asked himself the following question: “What am I really trying to achieve here?” Whenever he remembers to do it, he finds the question generates useful answers. …Self3 min readSelf3 min read
Published in Be Yourself·Feb 18Member-onlyThis Is What Using Heroin For The First Time Feels LikeA story of an addict turned doctor and neuroscientist — Warning: The language in this article may trigger anyone who has ever struggled with opiates. Sitting at the back of the bus, I’m both excited and afraid. Am I going to die from a heroin overdose? Or am I going to have the best night of my life? …Addiction9 min readAddiction9 min read
Published in SIMPLE·Feb 18Member-onlyFive Powerful Quotes That Slapped Me Square in the FaceEye-opening messages in case you need a push right now — Nine years ago, my life was in the gutter. But after 15 years of addiction, a near-death experience gave me the wake-up call I finally needed. …Self4 min readSelf4 min read
Mar 21, 2021Member-only6 Daring Habits of Highly Driven PeopleThose who succeed have divergent thinking — Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy was built on a willingness to put himself in the middle of the battle. In one of his most memorable speeches, Roosevelt captured his philosophy on life in just a few sentences. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the…Life7 min readLife7 min read
Published in Personal Growth·Jan 3, 2021Member-onlyPsychological Traps Are Everywhere: Here’s How To Avoid Them3 powerful metaphors to help you see the world more clearly — In John F. Kennedy’s speech about the Space Race, he announced that “America has tossed its cap over the wall of space.” JFK used this metaphor as a declaration for taking charge of the race. It’s a beautiful turn of phrase that epitomizes the power of metaphors. Metaphors, however, can…Psychology5 min readPsychology5 min read
Published in Mind Cafe·Dec 23, 2020Member-onlyHow To Use Cognitive Psychology To Change Negative BeliefsIf you believe you can or you believe you can’t, you’re right. — When our minds hold onto negative beliefs, “I can’t cope, I’m a failure,” it looks for ways to sustain these beliefs. Thankfully, when we hold onto positive beliefs, “I can do anything I put my mind to,” the same rules apply. In his exceptional book, The Magic of Thinking Big…Psychology4 min readPsychology4 min read
Published in Personal Growth·Dec 19, 2020Member-onlyMental Models For DummiesPlus 7 of the best that will help you to make sense of reality — Two young fish are swimming along when they happen to meet an older, wiser fish swimming the other way. The older fish nods and says, “Good morning boys. How’s the water?” The two young fish smile, nod, and continue on their way. …Psychology9 min readPsychology9 min read
Published in Personal Growth·Dec 16, 2020Member-onlyThe Toxic Habit of People-PleasingAnd how to say no to this unhealthy behaviour — Whitney Cummings is a highly successful comedian from Los Angeles. From 2011 to 2013, she produced and starred in her own comedy show called Whitney. During this time, however, she nearly destroyed her show because she was plagued by the toxic habit of people-pleasing. “I was so afraid of people…Psychology5 min readPsychology5 min read
Published in Personal Growth·Dec 15, 2020Member-onlyAre You Mindful or Mindless? A Neuroscientist’s PerspectivePowerful scientific evidence from an addict turned brain scientist. — I spent most of my life mindlessly obsessing about the past and the future. I was consumed by anxiety and tormented by my mind, but completely unaware of the source of my suffering. To escape my pain, I used drugs, resulting in 15 years of chronic heroin addiction. Heroin brought…Psychology11 min readPsychology11 min read
