Familiarity: Friend or foe

Familiarity is a powerful force. The invisible hand keeps us in our comfort zones, resisting change even when we know it’s for the better. It’s why we backslide into old habits and cling to the status quo. But there’s a force even more potent than...

Not my circus, not my monkeys

“Not my circus, not my monkeys” – the wonderfully apt Polish proverb perfectly captures the art of maintaining emotional boundaries. Frankly, not every problem needs to become our three-ring spectacle. In life’s grand circus, we often find ourselves...

Intellectual humility

“The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already, but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of...

The symphony of voices

Is it ever too late? Society says yes, but your heart whispers otherwise. Three voices compete for your attention: Your inner critic, pulling you back from the unknown. Naysayers, holding you down to keep you company in complacency. Gentle encouragers, believing in...

Siren song of your true north

External expectations, societal norms, and well-meaning advice bombard us daily. But what if the key to fulfillment lies in tuning out this noise and listening to our inner voice? Mary Oliver’s poem “The Journey” beautifully captures this struggle....