We sat at the same table that once held Thanksgiving turkeys and Birthday cakes and homework and science projects Where we each learned to read and do long division and bake cookies and color Easter eggs Who knew then that there were last times that we would do each of…

How individuals at each level are motivated (or not) to learn — Motivation refers to “the process of instigating and sustaining goal-directed activities,” while motivated learning refers more specifically to the motivation “to acquire new knowledge, skills and strategies rather than merely to complete activities” (Schunk, 2004, p. 484). As such, these concepts represent explanatory models which seek to understand why individuals…

Why the Soaps Hook Us — Soap operas, also known as daytime dramas, have been a staple of popular culture television programming for decades. These ongoing serial dramas have captivated audiences with their complex and intertwined storylines, relatable characters, and dramatic plot twists. But what is it about soap operas that makes them so addictive and…

When your day is long And the night, the night is yours alone — R.E.M. — “Everybody Hurts” is a powerful ballad written by R.E.M. and released in 1992. The song speaks to the existential pain that is inherent in the human condition and highlights the shared struggle of all individuals. …

Learned helplessness is a psychological phenomenon in which a person experiences a sense of powerlessness and a belief that they are unable to control events affecting their life. This can occur after repeated exposure to aversive events which they perceive as uncontrollable, leading them to feel hopeless and passive in…

When all hope is gone, you know sad songs say so much. — Elton John — Sad songs have long been a staple in music, with many people turning to them in times of despondency or heartbreak. But why do we find solace in listening to songs that make us feel worse? …

The problem is that you think you have time — Buddah — In today’s fast-paced society, being busy has become a badge of honor. We boast about our packed schedules, countless meetings, and the never-ending list of tasks we need to complete. But what happens when our obsession with productivity becomes a tyranny? …

Don’t Just Be Busy, Be Productive — In the fast-paced world of today, where productivity and efficiency are highly valued, it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race and feel like you’re constantly on the go. But what if there was a word that described those moments when you’re busy but not actually getting anything…

“I believe that words are strong, that they can overwhelm what we fear when fear seems more awful than life is good.” — Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression — Cognitive therapy for depression is an active, structured, problem-focused, and time-limited approach to treatment which is based on the premise that depression is maintained by negatively biased information processing and dysfunctional beliefs in which both the dysfunctional thinking patterns and the subsequent symptoms serve to exacerbate the depressed mood and…