First, if you are not familiar with oxytocin, in short, it is a chemical in the brain “believed to be involved in controlling fear, stress, social interactions, love, empathy, and the bonding with and acceptance of others.” It is a chemical that can strengthen good and positive feelings. Who wouldn’t want that? Last time I…
The question that I am asking is this – do kids prefer people or animals? In a universal ethical principles game developed by MIT researchers, some surprising results were revealed. When children were placed in a hypothetical situation that involved human versus animal life, they frequently chose to send a car careening into a person…
As we have looked at the faces of commitment in our last three times, we have examined the importance of following through on the things that we say we will do, remembering the big picture during times of conflict, and how we treat our mate when he or she is not present. In this final…
As we have looked at commitment in our last two times, we have examined the importance of following through on the things that we say we will do and remembering the big picture during times of conflict. Today I want to look at how we treat our mate when he or she is not present.…
Last time we began to explore commitment and what that might look like. In defining commitment we saw that it is both a dedication to someone but it also restricts our freedom. While restricting our freedom may at first seem like a negative, it really isn’t. I used the example of marrying my wife. When…
So, I wonder – how would you define commitment? If you ask five different people their definition of commitment, you are likely to get five different answers. For example, when I examined one source, it gave two somewhat opposite definitions. On one hand it stated that it is a state of being dedicated. Well, that…
Your first thoughts may be, “Of course I’m not good enough. Most people are way more accomplished than I am.” And with that begins a journey of feeling inadequate, less than, and perhaps even a bit of a failure. Last time I wrote about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others on social media. This…
The answer may be – Yes. A study from 2021 found that for a vast number of individuals using Instagram, felt worse about themselves, which contributed to increased depression and anxiety. This was in part from people constantly comparing and evaluating themselves in relationship to others. The study found (this won’t sound too profound), that…
I continue to marvel on a daily basis that humans are even able to communicate. To take a thought in my head, that is wrapped in my context and experiences – put those thoughts into words – send them out into the air – you hear the words and funnel them through the filter of…
Life can be very full and very busy. We can be occupied with going to the gym, raising kids, working in our kid’s classroom, cleaning the house, working a full-time job, and the list goes on and on. It is easy to be so focused on all of the demands of the day and striving…