Reciprocity is both a blessing and a curse, as it fosters relationships, but also exposes us to manipulation — Reciprocity is our innate drive to repay a favor, often without us even realizing it. Here are 3 simple steps to disarm manipulative reciprocity. 1. Know Your Enemy: The True Face of a Favor We don’t see it. But every time someone pays special attention to us, we build them a little office in the socialization corner of our brain…

Apologies have become nothing more than empty platitudes, a symptom of the times we live in — People evade responsibility by making excuses. And often. They suffer the consequences without realizing it. There are right and wrong ways to say apologies. Let’s review 3 common mistakes and workarounds. 1. Poor Apologies Destroy Trust Rather Than Rebuilding It It was a year ago. I really liked this girl. But she completely shattered my trust with her inability…

Family dinners are the best example of this. — When people of different generations, backgrounds, and beliefs come together, it can be a ticking time bomb of conflict. Whether you’re with your family or at work, think twice before tackling a sensitive subject. Debate is not a sign of courage, honor, or a way to have a good time…

It’s undoubtedly the deadliest enemy of mental health — Bad people reign supreme in the political game, which is itself a circus of lies and deceit fueled by power, and the world’s n°1 producer of conflicts. Living a happy life is impossible if politicized. Here’s why. 1. Politics is nothing but a game of manipulation Politicians control public opinion, often by distorting reality. You felt tricked and deceived…

Why modesty impedes your ambitions and how to replace it with honest humility. — My Story I’ve always had a secret garden. Having my own safe space allowed me to nurture my creativity and let my imagination run rampant. I thought I was happy like this, but not really. I recall the day I first talked about my blog. To my surprise, my friends were…

Maybe you’re not happy and don’t get what you want because you’re in the wrong mindset. — Kids love Christmas so much. It is their annual chance to fulfill their wishes. They write down a list of toys a month before, and boom, through their sole willingness to want, they get. I was an impatient boy. The day I decided I wanted this radio-controlled boat was…

Dominate your present worries by drawing on past greatness. — To the hedonists, If it’s the search for pleasure and the avoidance of the suffering you seek, perhaps you might like this. The day we unravel the mysteries of our brain. When we know how to modulate neurotransmitters and stimulate narrow populations of neurons with precision to make you feel…

Two ways to get out of naivety, improve critical thinking and develop a clear vision of the challenges ahead. — I was watching this archive documentary about how young people perceived the year 2000. It was in France in 1962, and each interviewed man and woman, boy and girl, talked about what they predicted for the future. What struck me wasn’t the quality of the video or what weird things…

How large was the biggest snowball you ever made? I may have beaten you on that one. It is rare enough to mention it, but It snowed last year where I live. I remember going to an empty field covered in pristine snow with a friend. …