George Santayana's well-known aphorism is as follows: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. It is intuitive. From our everyday lives to nation-states to civilizations, from every perspective, we all agree that it should be one of the best lessons we must remember and practice to improve our lives and seek … Continue reading History On Earth
The Lost Sheep
In busy train stations or shopping malls, countless people pass through from one place to another. In traffic jams, commuters are busy with their upcoming working hours. In tourist spots, folks are happy with their families and friends. In cafeterias, bookstores, and libraries, we enjoy the relaxing moment with companions or books (devices) at hand. … Continue reading The Lost Sheep
A Good Gardener
One of my favorite metaphors to describe our minds is the garden. Our minds are like gardens. James Allen starts his work, As Man Thinketh, as follows: A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, … Continue reading A Good Gardener
Fear Not
Sunflowers symbolize unwavering faith. An iceberg image is to describe our mental model. We can be aware of the tip of the enormous iceberg, while there should be a vast hidden, unknown area beneath the surface. The tip part represents consciousness, and the other area is unconsciousness. It is a metaphor to describe our human … Continue reading Fear Not
We are our Brothers’ Keepers
What is peace? What is war? Whatever the circumstances, if the condition is under the balanced homeostatic harmony, we could call this situation peace. Once, however, the things get unbalanced, causing movements to increase the entropy, we could call it war. This phenomenon is universal for any domains from material to biological to societal to … Continue reading We are our Brothers’ Keepers
Slow-Motion Therapy
To get energized, you should move faster by setting a timer. This way, your brain perceives that you are in a fight-flight situation, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline. The effort can be a strategy to make us productive. When you feel lazy in the middle of working hours, you should intentionally move faster by setting … Continue reading Slow-Motion Therapy
Slower, Weaker, and Lower
We tend to think the faster, the better. In athletic competitions, performance should be faster, stronger, and higher. Our civilization values these measurements as if these are for the survival of the fittest. Our human history has been with a series of bloody conflicts for this survival race, from individuals to tribes to the nation-state. … Continue reading Slower, Weaker, and Lower