Consoling Through Comparison: A Case Against the Phrase ‘It Could Be Worse’

Consolation generally means the comfort that someone receives after a loss or disappointment, or while experiencing misery, distress, or anxiety. To console someone is to try to offer support, encouragement, relief, and a more cheerful attitude. Interestingly, consolation is not a uniquely human behaviour. Scientists have discovered that a range of non-human animals have the…

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How Neoliberalism Has Shaped the Pursuit of Knowledge

In his highly influential book Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? (2009), the late Mark Fisher expounded the concept of ‘capitalist realism’, which refers to “the widespread sense that not only is capitalism the only viable political and economic system, but also that it is now impossible even to imagine a coherent alternative to it.”…

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Using Kaizen to Turn Meditation Into a Daily Habit

If it were as easy to develop a good habit as a bad one, then we would long have completely replaced our wrong habits with the right ones. However, in reality, we have to test the strength of our willpower every time we want to start doing something new. What is more, almost everyone is…

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Is DMT an Effective Antidepressant?

Many anecdotal reports suggest that DMT can have antidepressant effects, both in terms of microdosing the substance and by means of larger doses, which result in mystical experiences. While we have seen a flourishing of research into the antidepressant potential of psilocybin (the active ingredient in ‘magic mushrooms’), little research has been carried out into…

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The Myth of the ‘Dream Job’: How to Be Realistic When Looking for a Fulfilling Career

There is no shortage of career advice articles telling you to just chase your dream career and actualise your true potential. If I allow myself to be snarky, I can dismiss these motivational pieces as saccharine and as relying on platitudes that are of no practical value. On the other hand, my optimistic and anti-cynical…

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