Sometimes you can’t overcome grief — you can only hope to live with it. — Grief manifests in many different ways. It can overwhelm you in the aftermath of a tragedy, fester beneath the surface long after, or even ambush you just when you think it has finally abated. It’s enervating, unpredictable, and unrelenting. Trying to stamp it out is like trying to eradicate your…

Greatness is not achieved — it’s extorted. — In an ideal world, hard work would always pay off. Those who dedicate themselves to their chosen pursuits with the most diligence and perseverance would achieve their goals through sheer force of will, and those too unambitious or weak-willed would fall by the wayside. …

Classism moves people to treat others based on their perceived economic value. — In any large, modernized social order such as that of the United States, some people will inevitably be dependent on the benevolence of the government. Also, many of those same individuals will offer little to no value to their nation’s economy. …

Powerlessness can drive people to act out in radical ways. — There are few more emasculating feelings than political impotence. Witnessing unchecked injustice on a daily basis can drive people mad. What’s more, being told to trust scheming, self-interested politicians to solve the issues that plague your community can come off as patronizing and deceptive. So, what happens when someone’s pent-up…

Neoliberalism will co-opt your very self if you allow it. — America is typically heralded as the land of opportunity, an economic utopia where self-determination rules. Conventional wisdom dictates that your lack of ambition is the only obstacle standing in the way of your self-realization. And while achieving lofty goals is certainly feasible, proponents of the American Dream often overlook or…

You don’t need confirmation of an afterlife to fulfill your purpose. — The only prospect more distressing than dying is dying alone. In your final hour, regardless of who else is in the room, it’s impossible to know what awaits you on the other side of your existence. And, in all likelihood, humanity will never determine what occurs after death. But why…

Suburban life is fatal. — Today, over half of all Americans live in suburban neighborhoods. On the surface, the benefits of a suburban life — safety, tranquility, predictability — seem self-evident. But what if the suburbs aren’t the utopia they’re billed to be? …

Divine plans are pernicious myths. — It’s far easier to believe everything happens for a reason than to accept the chaotic nature of existence. As humans, it’s intellectually convenient and emotionally palliating to attribute meaning to the events of our lives rather than subject them to the scrutiny necessary to unveil their inherent meaninglessness. Organized religions…

Attachments are the source of all of Man’s pain. — Why does the prospect of death instill fear and anxiety in so many? Does the physical experience of dying actually involve intense pain? Or do people reflexively recoil at the thought of death for another reason? Jacob’s Ladder, the 1990 psychological thriller written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by…