Us vs Them - And Why We Need Both

Explicit enemy groups implicitly form a symbiosis: life needs both.

be open, readErik StoutApril 12, 2025enemies, paradox, unityComment

What I Wish I Knew Before I Had A Walkman

How seemingly harmless technology can divide and alienate.

be self-wise, readErik StoutApril 5, 2025self inquiry, music, earbuds, headphones, alienationComment

The Seven Kingdoms (8)

Who is this visitor that Andy needs to meet? And will he be able to give Andy what he desires? Find out in part eight of The Seven Kingdoms.

be magical, readErik StoutMarch 23, 2025self inquiry, fairy tale, meaning, guideComment

What It Means To Be Free

The creation of our personal prison, and ways to escape!

be open, readErik StoutMarch 6, 2025freedom, self inquiry, mind-body, innate talentsComment

Fun With Stress 2.8

Effects of chronic stress on the formation and maintenance of our memory, learning, energy restoration, sense of security, and our humanity.

be curious, readErik StoutFebruary 13, 2025stress physiology, chronic stress, sleep, memory, learning, self-knowledgeComment

A New Challenge (17)

Falling down 1000 times, getting back up 1001 times.

learning, readErik StoutFebruary 3, 2025self-knowledge, self inquiry, making mistakes, mindfulness, meditation, buddhismComment

16 Questions That Can Change Your Life

A method to take control of your life through observing all aspects of it, and determining whether they are conducive or detrimental to health, emotional development, and spiritual growth.

be joyous, read, selfreflectiontoolErik StoutJanuary 14, 2025self inquiry, awareness, emotional maturityComment

The Seven Kingdoms (7)

One cannot derive lasting meaning from goodies. From what then? Andy makes a shocking discovery in part seven of The Seven Kingdoms.

be magical, readErik StoutJanuary 4, 2025meaninginlove, fairy tale, self inquiry, spiritualityComment

Jolly Holidays!

We ring out the year with a Christmas poem by Roald Dahl.

be open, readErik StoutDecember 24, 2024Christmas, holiday season, Santa Claus, Roald DahlComment

Fun With Stress 2.7

In this chapter we will discuss the function of pain, how pain is produced, what factors influence our pain experience, when pain becomes a problem, how chronic stress can turn into chronic pain, and the loneliness of chronic pain – and how to counter it.

be curious, readErik StoutDecember 21, 2024pain, chronic stress, chronic pain, stress, stress physiology, health, mental healthComment

Anger Management by Aldous Huxley

Repressing anger only exacerbates it. Aldous Huxley provides a feasible method to effectively process anger, and offers valuable ideas on how to live in love and peace with each other and the planet.

be self-wise, readErik StoutDecember 14, 2024Aldous Huxley, Island, angry, anger management, education, inclusiveComment

A New Challenge (16)

How do we discover the talents and predispositions we are born with? And where can we find clues that will help us on our way? While reflecting on my process, we will provide answers to these questions in this article.

learning, read, selfreflectiontoolErik StoutDecember 7, 2024self inquiry, self-knowledge, playing Comments

Finding Joy In Conflict

In this article we will discuss how some seemingly insurmountable conflicts actually harbour the seeds of joy, and why, ultimately, every conflict turns out to be a conflict within ourselves.

be open, readErik StoutNovember 30, 2024joy, conflict, journey, heroComment

The Seven Kingdoms (6)

The desire to return to his seemingly predictable existence, eventually landed Andy in a mental asylum. Will he ever get out? Find out in part 6 of The Seven Kingdoms.

be magical, readErik StoutNovember 23, 2024chakras, fairy tale, spiritualityComment

No One Is Not Talented

How denying our innate talents guarantees a life of suffering, and two possible methods to (re)connect with them.

be joyous, readErik StoutNovember 16, 2024innate talents, intrinsic motivation, finding your wayComment

Fun With Stress 2.6

Our immune system is broadly made up of a border patrol and police, and detectives and snipers. The former can become overworked by chronic stress, the latter can wither away because of it. Part 2 Chapter 6:The Effects Of Chronic Stress On Our Immune System explores how this works.

be curious, readErik StoutNovember 9, 2024chronic stress, stress physiology, immune systemComment

Everyone Is A Magician

One extraordinary feature about our mind is that we can determine how we feel. This article describes a Tibetan Buddhist method to transform pain and suffering into joy, bliss, and freedom.

be self-wise, readErik StoutNovember 2, 2024magic, psychology, physiology, tibetan buddhismComment

A New Challenge (15)

Growth and development inevitably go hand in hand with growing pains and spasms. This article describes how I was again generously and empirically reminded of that natural fact.

learning, readErik StoutOctober 26, 2024identification, fear for rejection, slow and steadyComment

The Seven Kingdoms (5)

Feeling that he had been sentenced into another lonely job, Andy let himself be taken to the Museum of Fine Arts, which turned out to be quite different from what he had expected. Find out how in part five of The Seven Kingdoms.

be magical, readErik StoutOctober 19, 2024chakras, fairy tale, spiritualityComment

Fun With Stress 2.5

Any physical or psychological imbalance which results in stiff or painful skeletal muscles, can be brought back into balance by physical activity. Find out how that works in Part 2 Chapter 5: Muscles Under Stress.

be curious, readErik StoutOctober 12, 2024stress, muscles, chronic stressComment