Psyche | on the human condition
WEBTwo gravity-defying performances play with the physics of life on Earth. A film by Bastien Dausse. Psyche is a digital magazine from Aeon Media that illuminates the human condition through psychology, philosophy and the arts.
How to perform well under pressure | Psyche Guides
WEBNov 17, 2021 · To perform well under pressure, you need several elements in place: an ability to distance yourself from destructive thoughts and self-talk; a way to cope with overwhelming feelings; the mental flexibility to respond in the most effective way; and, finally, to know what matters to you.
How to know what you really want | Psyche Guides
WEBDec 15, 2021 · Desire is a social process – it’s mimetic. As the social theorist René Girard observed, our desires don’t come from within; rather, we mimic what other people want. Identify the people or ‘models’ influencing what you want. To better control your desires, the first step is to identify the people influencing you.
The virtue of honesty requires more than just telling the truth
WEBDec 13, 2021 · Honesty is no exception. Telling the truth, even if one is reliable in doing so, won’t be an expression of the virtue of honesty if it is done just to make a good impression on others, or to avoid getting punished, or to secure rewards in the afterlife. Indeed, in my view, any self-interested motive isn’t going to count as a virtuous motive ...
How to overcome a fear of heights | Psyche Guides
WEBApr 14, 2024 · Key points – How to overcome a fear of heights. Recognise and understand the symptoms of anxiety. Understanding the body’s fight-or-flight response will help you recognise and tolerate the unpleasant bodily sensations you might experience when you’re up high, and prevent you from misinterpreting them as something dangerous.
When a tricky task makes your brain hurt, here’s what to do
WEBNov 9, 2021 · Running a marathon is unpleasant, racking your brain to find the perfect chess move could also be aversive, but in both cases the potential benefits of the effort could outweigh its costs. Thus, our decisions to do mental work appear to include a comparison of the costs of an action against the potential benefits resulting from it.
How to motivate yourself to change | Psyche Guides
WEBJan 21, 2024 · Use ‘evocation’ exercises to prioritise your concerns and reflect on how the changes you hope to make will help you live according to your values. Build confidence. Identify your strengths, past successes, and sources of hope and inspiration that might help you make the changes you seek to make. Make a plan.
How to make a difficult decision | Psyche Guides
WEBJan 5, 2022 · It can be tempting to kick a difficult decision down the road – but that itself is actually a decision, and probably the wrong one. Identify the parts of yourself that want different things. Be clear on which parts of you want what, and try to find a compromise between them. Create distance from the decision.
How to not fear your death | Psyche Guides
WEBAug 19, 2020 · Young Man and Skull (1896-98) by Paul Cézanne. Courtesy the Barnes Foundation. i. Guide. How to not fear your death. You exist, but one day you won’t. An Epicurean perspective can help you feel less afraid, and even grateful for life’s finitude. by Sam Dresser + BIO. Young Man and Skull (1896-98) by Paul Cézanne.
How to defuse catastrophic thoughts | Psyche Guides
WEBAug 23, 2023 · Key points – How to defuse catastrophic thoughts. The tendency to think the worst is common and manageable. You can learn to spot and defuse what therapists call catastrophising (assuming the worst-case scenario is happening or will happen), as well as awfulising (believing a possible event is absolutely awful or terrible). Both cause unnecessary distress.