Lessons, Inclinations, Faculties, and Energies - LIFE's Journal

Since autumn 2025, I have maintained a philosophical journal to document my daily reflections. This practice brings insights from books, podcasts, travel, and striking quotations with actionable daily habits. Below are key excerpts from my journal, focusing on practical frameworks to reverse negative psychological spirals and cultivate sustained peace. Understanding the Negative Downward Spiral In Hindu philosophy, the "six non-virtues"—known as the Arishadvargas or Shadripus (Sanskrit: षड्रिपु )—are the six internal enemies of the mind. [1] These modes of attachment trigger a cascade of negative emotions ( kleshas or trivisha ) [2] : Ignorance ( avidya ) Obsessive attachment ( raga ) Aversion/Disgust ( dvesha ) Left unchecked, these root elements drag us down into distressing psychological states: envy and resentment ( irshya ), fear and terror ( bhaya ), sorrow and grief ( shoka ), anxiety and worry ( chintaya ), and mental fatigue ( glani ). ...

You can feel the tunes penetrate every inch of your being, stress melting away, the moment a tiny tot belts out “ Let It Go .” It is empowering and freeing. I remember weeping with joy while listening to the little girl confidently build up to that climactic finish without skipping a beat. Like me, many parents of teenagers likely find themselves scrolling through old home videos or watching young toddlers on social media as the reality of becoming empty nesters approaches. Over the years, I have witnessed the evolution of my Gen-Z girl from birth to her teenage years. This seventeen-year journey has been a profound transformation, unfolding from the pure, raw innocence of a believing toddler into a somewhat insolent and cynical teenager. Yet, I remain optimistic that her ongoing journey into young adulthood will shape her into a deeply responsible human being. Some songs, like “Let It Go,” are timeless, all-pervading, and eternally memorable. It takes me back to 2014, Sachika’...

Didn’t Mary T. Lathrap write the famous poem "Walk a Mile in My Shoes"? It is one thing to walk a mile in another person’s shoes, but cohabiting with a partner for decades brings about truly drastic changes to your mind and personality. It is like walking a thousand miles, only to look down and realize your entire gait has shifted. My mother used to tell me that a couple’s auras commingle when they regularly share a bed. I have also heard that couples start to look alike after many years together, or that they begin to think and behave like one another. After spending over 25 years of my adult life with Shashi, I can vouch for most of these statements—except for the part where I wish my body were as athletic as his. Image: AI Generated image of husband and wife sleeping with their auras comingling Here is how our minds and personalities have crossed over during a quarter-century of marriage. Insomnia vs. Sound Sleep A restless mind used to be Shashi’s domain. I used to ...

Each day, I try to wake up to a new dawn, counting my blessings. Yet, it is becoming impossible to ignore the glum reality gripping parts of our world. Humanity feels like it is diminishing. Authoritarianism is rising, and a blatant disregard for basic human rights is growing commonplace. The recent tragedy of Kawthar Bashar al-Husayjawi lays this reality bare. Her own family brutally murdered the innocent fifteen-year-old Iraqi girl for refusing to marry an overage cousin who was also a criminal. Kawthar was younger than my own seventeen-year-old daughter. She was merely trying to assert herself; she wanted to live a life of learning, dignity, and freedom. Access the Guardian Story here   Photo: Beautiful and innocent Kawthar Bashar al-Husayjawi Living in a safe and secure part of the world, I am deeply grateful that my daughter enjoys a premium education and the fundamental freedoms we so often take for granted. But we cannot remain comfortable in our bubbles. We cannot unsee t...