Author: Ness Gale

Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Gratitude is an important part of the human journey, a shared emotion that strengthens relationships and enhances overall happiness. An acknowledgment of gratitude can have significant benefits both for the giver and the receiver in today’s tense and negative society. What are some effective ways to express thankfulness? These are some thoughtful approaches you can consider.

1. Verbal Recognition

A verbal acknowledgment is one of the easiest and most direct ways of showing gratitude. A simple “thank you” can mean the world for a minor kindness or someone’s assistance during difficult times. Make it a habit to express your appreciation in everyday situations, whether by thanking a cashier for their services or acknowledging a colleague. By being specific, you can make your words more impactful. Instead of applying a generic “thank you,” you might say, “I appreciate you putting in extra hours to help with that report.”

2. Handwritten Messages

In today’s digitally focused-world, it is important to send handwritten messages. When you take the time to write a thank-you note, it shows you are invested in the relationship and appreciate the effort others have made for you. Your small gesture can make an impression, especially since it will provide a lasting reminder of your gratitude for the recipient. For special occasions such as anniversaries or milestones, or just to thank someone for their ongoing presence, consider writing a note.

3. Kind Gestures

The message conveyed by actions is often more profound than words alone. By displaying gratitude through kind gestures, you can make an impression on your recipient. A simple act of kindness could be as simple as returning a favor or doing something nice for someone who has helped you. For example, if your friend helped you with a challenging task, consider cooking a meal for them or inviting them for an outing. Taking these actions not only shows your appreciation, but also strengthens your relationship.

4. Public Acknowledgment

Taking the time to acknowledge someone’s efforts in public can increase the impact of your gratitude. You could do this by shouting out someone on social media or praising someone in a group meeting. It is important to recognize their contributions so that other people will recognize the positive actions occurring around them. Public recognition fosters a culture of gratitude, inspiring others to express gratitude as well.

5. Contributing to the Community

In some cases, giving back to the community can be an effective way to convey gratitude. The act of volunteering or doing kind things for others can be a powerful way of honoring the people who have supported you along the way. Whether you volunteer at a local charity or donate to a meaningful cause, your actions can have a ripple effect, prompting others to reciprocate.

6. Quality Time Together

The most effective way to show appreciation to loved ones is to spend time with them. By having heartfelt conversations, sharing a meal, or engaging in a joint activity, you can express your gratitude profoundly. Spend time listening to and valuing the person, making an effort to truly hear what they have to say. In this way, you reinforce your relationship with them and increase their importance in your life.

7. Meaningful Gifts

The act of giving thoughtful gifts can be regarded as a heartfelt expression of gratitude. Keep in mind that these do not have to be expensive or extravagant; the key is to find something that resonates with the recipient’s tastes or sentiments. Giving a small token of appreciation, such as a favorite book, homemade dessert or something that signifies a shared experience are examples of effective expressions of gratitude.

8. Mindfulness Practices

The practice of mindfulness is an effective way to cultivate appreciation for what we have. Taking a moment to reflect on the positive aspects of your life can enhance your gratitude routine. By writing in a gratitude journal or acknowledging someone’s influence in your life, you can strengthen your relationship with them. When you express gratitude, you will be more likely to express gratitude in the future, because you will have shifted your focus to positivity.

9. Gratitude Challenges

By incorporating gratitude into your routine, you can reap cumulative benefits. Set up a gratitude challenge with friends or family, in which everyone commits to expressing gratitude every day for seven days or a month. Through this initiative, a habit of appreciation can be cultivated and enriching discussions about gratitude can be inspired.

Gratitude plays an important role in both enhancing our own emotional well-being and nurturing happier relationships; it is more than just something we do to make others feel valued. A variety of ways can be used to express appreciation, whether through verbal recognition, handwritten messages, kind gestures or spending meaningful time together. By integrating these practices into our daily lives, we uplift others and create a more positive and supportive atmosphere for ourselves as well. When you act with thankfulness, you will transform lives with heartfelt acknowledgment at a time where the world often overlooks the smaller joys.

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Let me start off by saying that there isn’t a single word in the English vocabulary that can truly describe the amount of love and admiration that I have for animals. 

I have always had a pet at home since a very young age. Cats, dogs, a bird, fish, a hamster, a mouse, et cetera. I currently have three pets. I have a dog named Zoey who is a Siberian Husky/Akita Inu mix, a dog named Marley who is a Shih Tzu/Corgi/Mini Poodle mix and a cat named Deena who is a tabby. I love them dearly and they keep me very busy . . . but they also give me purpose and teach me life lessons each and every day.

I’ve tended to some other animals such as horses, alpacas, llamas and so on. I’ve also been around and held reptiles too! But I have to say that horses are very in tune with a person’s body language and their emotions. They sense when you’re afraid, in pain, sad or mad, and so much more. They’re true miracle workers, especially with those suffering terribly with anxiety and clinical depression. There’s something so serene about being around horses—five minutes spent with a horse is equivalent to a five hour therapy session in my opinion. It amazes me how much a horse can understand a human and how much they really show you their love and affection. They might be big and mighty, but they’re so gentle and docile. They are truly beautiful, inside and out.

I get emotional thinking of all these beautiful creatures because my heart is so grateful and thankful that we’re lucky enough to have them walking on common ground with us. They are our entire world and beyond, just as much as we are theirs. Animals are too good for us and we’re undeserving of them. Honestly, their existence is so enriching. I couldn’t possibly imagine my life without them. If I could save all the animals, I would in a heartbeat and without any hesitation. Their hearts are so pure and they see beauty in everyone and everything.

Animals have shown me what real beauty looks like—it lives in the heart and the mind, not on the face or the body. They’ve taught me patience, kindness, selflessness and so many other things. They’ve shown me what a real friend is and they’ve taught my vulnerable heart to trust again. They make life seem so perfect because they’re youthful, playful, kind, silly and unapologetic about their bubbly personalities. They put their owners up on a pedestal and think of us as royalty. They’re the greatest companions and they’re incredibly loyal.

Animals have taught me to live humbly but abundantly. They have taught me how rewarding it is to love and care for those who need it the most . . . sometimes it’s better to distract yourself and do good for others when you’re not feeling your best, because it reminds you that others may have it worse. 

Animals have taught me that it’s okay to be slower at times or to take your time if you’re not feeling 100%. They’ve shown me that determination comes in different forms, and they’ve reassured me that it’s okay to lounge around and relax, or to rest and take naps when needed. It’s normal to have to recharge your batteries. 

They’re extremely resilient and they’ve taught me to become more resilient over the years as well. They make us see that it’s okay to be hurting or to be in pain because life won’t always treat us very kindly. In order for us to heal, we have to treat life the way we’d want to be treated, despite the trials and tribulations or the curveballs being thrown our way. Life is testing us to see how much we’re willing to fight back, and life does the same with our beloved animals too. 

I’ve overcome many things in life because my pets are constantly challenging themselves—they’re always defying the odds.

They’ve shown me that as you age, you become more fragile and sensitive, but you should also remain in good spirits in your golden years. 

They’ve taught me to seize the day, as tomorrow is never promised . . . to stress less, have fun, be present, to love and be loved, to maximize my potential, and leave a lasting legacy.

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Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.

Nasly Roa Noriega (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Today I learned a lesson from my son. I did not know how to start writing to talk about the important topics of closing cycles, dealing with regrets and moving forward, and you know what I learned? That sometimes moments are enjoyed, sometimes you win or lose, sometimes we laugh or cry. We get frustrated, we deny, we rejoice, and everything happens in an instant.

Seeing my son lose in his soccer game finals and seeing him crying in his sadness, lying on the cold grass, it broke my heart. It crumpled it so hard because I felt that his sadness was my sadness, that his frustration was united with mine. I ran out to hug him and tell him with my silent presence that whether we lose or win I will always be there for him. I don’t know if he understood because his head was tucked toward his chest and I couldn’t look into his fragile eyes because they were covered with tears.

Even though I talked to him about the importance of taking on challenges and accepting our defeats to make us stronger, I didn’t know if, in those moments, those words echoed in his heart. 

Seeing him surrounded by his best friends, who gave him more motivational strength, made my heart grow bigger. My soul smiled to see that, even if life hits us for an instant, there will always be people who are there for us, giving us the support we need to keep going.

I watched as he stood up and told me, “Don’t worry Ma, I’m fine.”

Even if he was not, he understood that we all have to experience that emotional mourning, that cross of cold and wet feelings that suffocate our chest for a few moments.

With a smile, a soft punch in the chest and a thumbs up I told him, “Son, you gave everything on the field, keep it up.”

I watched him walk away with his team, all in silence, hugging each other in emotional mourning. They were going to their classrooms to continue with their classes and responsibilities. That’s where I learned a lesson that has always been hard for me: life goes on, even when we are beaten for a few moments.

When I got home, I remembered how many times I have felt sorry for not doing things, how many times I have started, left or postponed my dreams and my ideals, how many times I have felt frustrated for not moving forward and staying there in the attempt. But when I heard my son’s classmates saying that they did not regret anything because they enjoyed the moment and played with all their strength, and that they felt like winners, that gave me encouragement to move forward and stop regretting the things I did, or that I failed to do.

Life is an instant, a blink of an eye: there is no time for regret. 

I have heard that silence is more eloquent than words, and this applies when we feel dejected, since silence allows us to listen to ourselves and draw our own conclusions.

There are several types of regrets: moral regret is that feeling that makes us feel bad for having acted wrongly towards another person, indecision regret is the negative feeling that appears when we let good opportunities pass us by, and performance regret happens when we feel bad for not having done better or given 100%.

For any type of regret, there will always be a discomfort, a strange sensation in the body.  Silence is usually a great companion for this sensation because it allows us to enter into a trance to explore possible solutions, but also opens space for us to listen to the opinions of those who want the best for each of us.

Fear tends to block us in many circumstances. When it takes over our thoughts, it becomes an enemy that takes away decisions and leads us to emotional paralysis, keeping us from moving forward. Although I do not define it as a bad feeling, it should be handled with care, because many times giving free rein to that feeling leads us to regret and frustration.

For that reason dear readers, my son unwittingly gave me a great lesson: one must play in life without fear, without regrets and with courage. Because even if the results are not as expected, life goes on and the moments must be enjoyed in that instant before they forever remain memories.  

When my son returned home after his arduous sports and school activities, his face seemed to have forgotten that bitter experience on the field. His greeting was the same as always and his words were, “Ma, for next year, we will win the Champions Cup!”

What happened between that morning, when it pained me to leave him sad about his game, and noon when he came back with a smile of victory? What made him change his emotion? I don’t know. Maybe in his sweet child soul there is no room for regrets, and he decided to move on.

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Hello, my name is Nasly Roa. I am Colombian. I was born in a beautiful coastal city called Santa Marta, with a beautiful frosted beach, a soft scent of sea foam, sunsets, and a night sky that is witness to my inspiration for letters. I love writing, and this passion has taken me further than I ever thought I could go. I know that there are no barriers that prevent me from flying.

Neha Kaushik, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

There’s a certain weight that comes with realizing that an era has come to an end. For me as a millennial, that moment feels especially poignant now. The world that shaped my generation is no longer the world I inhabit. I am slowly, sometimes painfully, stepping away from the culture, technology and ideals that defined me, and into a future that no longer feels entirely mine. As the millennial era draws to a close, there’s a sense of both loss and transformation in the air—an unmistakable end to the chapter I once called my own.

This isn’t about a particular story. This is about countless stories I and my fellow millennials lived coming to an end because time doesn’t stop. We come from the time of Myspace and hours spent on Yahoo Messenger, speaking to people all over the world who were found in a mutual feeling of being lost. None of us are the same anymore. Perhaps it was when we started noticing how younger generations spoke, their slang foreign to our ears, or how they seem to embrace new platforms and trends without a second thought. Or maybe it was simply the creeping realization that the world, as we knew it, had moved on—and we were left standing at the crossroads.

Millennials are often described as the generation that straddled two worlds. We grew up with VHS tapes and dial-up internet, but we also witnessed the birth of smartphones and social media. We experienced the excitement of a rapidly evolving digital landscape and, simultaneously, felt the ground shift beneath our feet as the economic realities of adulthood hit us hard. We were the dreamers and the doers, but also the generation that, in many ways, felt betrayed by a world that didn’t quite deliver on its promises.

Now, as the last vestiges of our youth slip away, there’s a certain melancholy in acknowledging that the millennial era is no longer the defining cultural force. We’re watching as Gen Z takes center stage, with their bold ideas, their unfiltered online presence and their unabashed embrace of individuality. It’s their time now, and in many ways, they are shaping the world in ways we could never have imagined. But as we step aside, there’s a deep, unspoken grief that comes with it—a sense that something we once held dear is gone.

The end of the millennial era isn’t just about age or the passing of time. It’s about the closing of a cultural chapter, one that was filled with a unique blend of hope and hardship. We were the generation that believed in the power of the internet to change the world, the ones who clung to the belief that creativity and innovation could overcome the systems that seemed stacked against us. But we were also the generation that saw those dreams tempered by reality—by economic crashes, mounting student debt and a job market that didn’t quite live up to its potential.

For many of us, there’s a sense of unfinished business. We thought we’d have more time, that our era would stretch on a little longer. But time has a way of slipping through your fingers when you’re not looking. One day, you wake up and realize that the culture that once felt like home has shifted and you’re no longer part of the conversation in the same way. You scroll through social media and see younger voices dominating the narrative, their concerns and interests taking precedence, while your own experiences feel like relics of a not-so-distant past.

This ending however, marks the beginning of a new chapter—one where we step into roles of guidance, mentorship and, yes, even reflection. We’ve faced challenges that have shaped us, but we’ve also built a resilience that will carry us forward into whatever comes next.

It’s important to remember that endings, while often painful, are also opportunities for growth. The end of our cultural dominance doesn’t erase the impact we’ve had or the experiences we’ve shared. It simply means that our role is shifting. We’re moving from the center of the stage to a more supportive position, but that doesn’t make our contributions any less meaningful. If anything, it allows us to take a step back and see the bigger picture, to understand how we fit into the broader tapestry of generations that have come before and will come after. Maybe it’s just us trying to be positive, or maybe we really do feel the optimism of this change in our bones. Perspective will define how we look at it.

We’ve left our mark, in both small and significant ways. The world may be moving on, but it’s moving forward on a path that we helped carve. So, as we stand on the threshold of change, let’s honor the end of this stage in our lives. Let’s acknowledge the complexity of our feelings—both the grief for what’s ending and the anticipation for what lies ahead. And most of all, let’s remember that, while one chapter is closing, the next one is waiting to be written.

I would be lying if I said I know how to make sense of this transformation. What matters is that we are still here and we are evolving.

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Anum Faizan, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, many individuals willingly subject themselves to intense experiences that push their physical, mental and emotional limits. This phenomenon, often encapsulated by the phrase “no pain, no gain,” challenges the intuitive notion that we should avoid suffering at all costs. However, a deeper examination reveals a complex interplay between suffering and resilience, where the very act of confronting and overcoming adversity can foster personal growth and contentment.

The paradox of voluntarily engaging in activities that inflict pain or hardship is rooted in the human capacity for resilience. Resilience, the ability to recover from adversity and emerge stronger, is central to this dynamic. When individuals willingly push their limits, they are essentially training their resilience, each challenge providing an opportunity to develop coping mechanisms, problem-solving skills and emotional fortitude. This process of growth through adversity is not limited to physical endurance tests, such as marathons or ultra-endurance races; it also extends to demanding work projects, academic challenges and even personal relationships. By confronting and overcoming these difficulties, individuals can cultivate a deeper understanding of their own capabilities, heighten their emotional awareness and gain a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation for the transformative power of these experiences.

Research suggests that individuals who overcome challenging experiences often develop greater adaptability, optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. The idea of being in a “flow state,” as psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls it, also helps explain why people enjoy taking on demanding activities. Flow, or being “in the zone,” is characterized by deep absorption, challenge and a sense of accomplishment that induces a profound sense of enjoyment and contentment, even in the face of significant hardship. This immersive experience, where an individual is fully engaged in an activity within their capabilities, can motivate them to seek out and embrace challenging experiences that push their limits. The sense of achievement and personal growth accompanying these flow-inducing activities can be deeply rewarding, inspiring a desire to continuously seek new challenges and opportunities for self-improvement. Studies have shown that people who regularly engage in challenging activities that induce flow states tend to report higher levels of overall life satisfaction, as the sense of mastery and personal growth derived from these experiences can foster a greater sense of purpose, resilience and well-being. Furthermore, the pursuit of flow-inducing activities can help individuals develop a greater tolerance for discomfort and uncertainty, equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of life with increased composure and adaptability.

The paradox of willingly engaging in suffering-inducing activities is further compounded by the role of resilience in shaping individual differences. Research has shown that individuals who possess a high degree of “grit,” defined as passion and perseverance towards long-term goals, tend to achieve greater success in various domains, including academic achievement, career advancement and overall life satisfaction. This suggests that the ability to persist in the face of obstacles and setbacks, rather than succumbing to them, is a crucial factor that can significantly influence one’s capacity to thrive and find fulfillment in life. Individuals with high levels of grit are more likely to embrace challenges, view setbacks as opportunities for growth and maintain a steadfast commitment to their objectives, even in the face of difficulties. This resilience-driven mindset allows them to push through pain, discomfort and temporary failures, ultimately leading to the realization of their long-term aspirations and a deeper sense of personal accomplishment and well-being.

In conclusion, the paradoxical idea of “no pain, no gain” illuminates the intricate connection between suffering and resilience. By willingly immersing ourselves in demanding experiences that push our boundaries, we not only test our physical and mental fortitude, but also nurture the very resilience that can transform adversity into personal growth and fulfillment. This process of self-discovery and the pursuit of flow-inducing activities underscores the human capacity for self-determination, adaptability and the unwavering drive to overcome obstacles and find meaning even in the most daunting of circumstances. The willingness to confront and overcome challenges, whether physical, mental or emotional, is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to transcend its limitations and emerge stronger, more resilient and more fulfilled. By embracing the paradox of “no pain, no gain,” individuals can unlock their full potential, cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and ultimately achieve a greater sense of purpose and contentment in their lives.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran

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Shawn MacPhee, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

For over ten years now, I have suffered from depression, PTSD, and severe ADHD. Despite all of the obstacles and situations in my life that I’ve overcome or just plainly gotten through, there have been so many days when I barely managed to get out of bed. Of all the things I needed to do or hoped to accomplish on any given day, sometimes it was all I could do to just make it through. There have even been times when it was all I could do to get out of bed without accomplishing anything else. However, for all of the days I have overcome and the rest that I have barely survived, I have always asked myself: is this enough?

For those managing mental health struggles, including myself, getting through each day can feel like a monumental achievement. Nevertheless, is merely “getting by” sufficient? Is being able to do the bare minimum of what is expected of you acceptable? It’s time to delve into this question and consider new possibilities.

The first thing we have to take into account is that the bare minimum for anyone suffering from mental illness comes from a place of “survival mode.” Being in such a mindset, for whatever reason, makes it necessary for your peace of mind to give enough energy, only to meet the bare minimum. 

This state can be just as detrimental as merely surviving in the first place. Although merely surviving may be all one can do, doing it for long enough can cause things in your life to start to spiral, compounding the effects of a cycle. Staying in survival mode long enough can also lead to health issues. Over time, this cycle can result in poor or nonexistent hygiene and can lead to increased cortisol levels from stress, affecting your appetite, sleep, and a host of other things—perpetuating a downward spiral that can feel all but impossible to escape.

To escape, we must find a way out. For me, the first step I took was prioritizing self-care. One of the hardest things for anyone with mental health issues is to ensure that they are a priority. You become so engrossed in your own thoughts and your lack of ability to deal with everything around you that it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. For me, the first step was focusing on my hygiene. Daily showers, teeth brushing, and grooming are easier to neglect than you might think. Next, take time for yourself. While on the way back, you need to prioritize your own peace. Whether you need time alone, a walk in nature, or a good old video game, doing things that make you happy is key to moving beyond how you feel now.

The next big step that has worked for both me and others I know is setting small goals. It’s all too easy to see the “big picture” and become overwhelmed by all the steps you think you need to take to get there. Instead, make the first step your main goal. If you want to lose 30 pounds, it can become intimidating when you think of the whole process. Instead, why not try just going for a walk and see how long you can keep that up? Once you’ve gotten into a routine with that, then move on to the next step as your next goal. The same idea applies to mental health: “Today, I am going to get up and go outside.” One small step can lead to many eventually.

The last step I’ve found helpful, both personally and for others, is practicing mindfulness. Even when it feels like all is lost in your life or situation, take a look around at what you already have. Are you where you want to be? No. But I bet there are people who would give anything to have or do something you do. There is always something to be grateful for. For me, my children have been a source of strength. Even in my darkest times, they pulled me through more than I can count.

All in all, just surviving day to day is sometimes all you can do, and that’s okay! But at some point, you have to get on with it and find your way back to the version of yourself that you deserve. There are many reasons in life one might find themselves in a mentally unhealthy state. But you deserve more. You are more than the sum of your situation or thoughts. So while you may need to take today and just make it through by doing the bare minimum to get to the next day, at some point, you have to shake yourself off and realize that you are worth more and have more to offer than you give yourself credit for. Take these small steps and go get your life back. You deserve better; you deserve to be happy.

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Treasure Oludaisi, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Anxiety in and of itself can be debilitating, but what happens when the sole cause of it is a fundamental part of your chosen career path? Academia is an essential part of most people’s day-to-day lives and can leave many with the unsettling feeling of intense nerves. Academic anxiety is a performance anxiety related to educational settings that can be a cumulation of many sources; whether that may be social, trauma, or just feeling the pressures of overachieving, it can create a hindrance on your potential and overall success, which could inevitably lead to further anxiety and other mental health struggles. Such anxieties are common amongst students at various educational levels.

What Causes Academic Anxiety?

Pressure to perform seemingly high-stakes testing, coupled with the academic workload, makes for the perfect anxiety cocktail. Inevitably, students start to subconsciously or consciously associate these feelings with the academic institutions and or the accompanying degree/program. This leads to social effects, such as students feeling the pressure of their fears, negative judgment and competitive environments that often create learning difficulties aggravated by anxiety. This establishes quite a negative cycle, especially in a young impressionable mind. Such feelings can be incredibly daunting and can cause isolation. 

How Can It Show Up?

Anxiety is personalized. It shows up differently in everyone, depending on their age, gender identification and ethnicity. In most cases, alongside its mental attributes, anxiety presents itself physically as difficulty concentrating, irritability, nausea and shaking to name a few. Oftentimes it appears when dealing with things that cause great stress. Many with academic backgrounds can attest to the stress of situations like a presentation or an exam. Naturally, such situations cause difficulties concentrating and memory problems, which may lead to avoidance of academic tasks and decreased participation. All of this can cause long-term effects that impact academic performance and eventually self-esteem.

Moving Forward

It is important we prioritize our career and academic goals, especially regarding things we are passionate about, but it is easy to place our success in those areas as the be all and end all of our lives, subsequently basing our inherent value on what we can academically achieve. This creates a burden, a cap in a sense, on when and how we are able to learn. You cannot learn without failure. Academic anxiety causes an enormous dread of that failure and an inclination to avoid it. This usually leads to a cycle of stress, anxiety and depression. Such a reality begs the question of what to do next. Thoughts like “I need to do well to get into this program” and “I have expectations I have to meet,” give power to the anxiety. It is imperative you understand your self-worth is not tied to your academic achievements, regardless of what you may have been led to believe. Do not allow this anxiety to break you. Every new day is a blessing to keep pushing forward and trying again.

Unfortunately, professional assistance, such as counselling and therapy, are often not easily accessible for everyone. With that, it is essential when dealing with any form of anxiety to find a system that works for you.

When noticing these attributes and/or characteristics in someone that you know, it is important to encourage them to take time outside their academic pursuits to find passion in things that excite them. Remind them that the person they are and qualities they possess hold value outside of the academic and professional workspace.

Conclusion

Academic anxiety, like most mental health issues, is a prevalent and layered issue that affects students at various educational levels, driven by pressures to perform and the heavy academic workload. This kind of anxiety can display itself through physical and mental symptoms, creating a vicious cycle that dampens academic performance and self-esteem. Separating your self-worth from academic success can help ease some of the pressures that contribute to this anxiety. Encouraging students to engage in activities they are passionate about outside of academics can also help mitigate it. Although professional assistance like counselling and therapy may not be accessible to everyone, finding a personal coping mechanism is essential. By understanding that failure is a part of learning and that academic performance does not determine one’s human value, students can begin to break the cycle of anxiety and move forward with a healthier mindset. 

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Treasure Oludaisi is currently studying Law full-time, in her free time she utilizes her academic background in English Literature and passion for art to write poetry and short stories.

Eri Ikezawa (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Due to my introversion and general shyness when I was younger, I have always admired charismatic, gregarious individuals who billow a self-confident aura. It’s both strange and fascinating to me when people can say whatever is on their mind, exuding a cocksure certainty that I could never even hope to emulate. I have always been just a touch too hesitant, always toeing the line but too scared of overstepping, too worried about the consequences of letting my mouth run loose. 

And quite frankly, I just don’t think I can pull it off with the same charm as these types of exuberant people. 

But whenever I feel despondent about my conservative approach to conversations, I always remind myself that there are always pros and cons to any personality type. 

And perhaps it’s the linguistics major in me, in conjunction with my general propensity with language, but I am proud of my tendency to place importance in choosing the proper words, given any situation—and more importantly, I think that this way of approaching conversation better suits me. 

I attribute my care and attention to how I respond to any given situation to the fact that I was extremely sensitive in my childhood. And though I am keenly aware that there are people who will disagree with me, thinking people are too soft or sensitive nowadays, I have always been that way—and I do appreciate the effort in modern day time to be kinder, gentler, and more empathetic towards people and their experiences. 

I remember how anything and everything would so easily injure my feelings, no matter what the intention of the other interlocutor may have been. Of course, as I became older, I have acclimated to my surroundings and recognized the unproductivity of being hurt by everything remotely snide—not to mention the fact that my self-esteem has significantly improved. 

But despite how much more self-assured I am now, I still recall how the age-old adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” just didn’t seem to apply to me. And while I certainly think that it is helpful to mitigate one’s sensitivity to an extent where one can function in society, I don’t necessarily want to contribute to harming anyone else, even if I feel that being emotionally equipped to handle callous, spiteful people is in anyone’s best interest. 

Aside from the fact that being fastidious with how one phrases something can ensure people’s feelings don’t get hurt, I also place high importance on careful diction during high-emotion, terse conversations as well—such as during confrontations. 

Although it took a great deal of time for me to feel comfortable during difficult conversations with my loved ones, I now fully recognize that confrontation can only become a healthy line of communication if everyone involved approaches it in a diplomatic, civilized fashion with the express purpose of conflict resolution. 

Too many times, whether it is through media or even in real life spats, I have witnessed people uncontrollably spewing hurtful words they cannot take back in a moment of anger or sadness. And so, through experiencing the distress of confrontation, whether indirectly or directly, I began to avoid it like it was a social reaper—an uncomfortable, grim and unwelcome presence—and claim that I was not a confrontational person. 

Of course, even now, I still prefer to maintain peace over avoidable conflict. But I was wisely informed that confrontation doesn’t need to be defined by loud outbursts of anger or sharp, cutting words—instead, it is better to perceive it as a method by which an issue can be communicated and then resolved. 

And once I rectified my mental definition of the word, I began to realize that, as someone who has a gift for formulating words into something softer and gentler—whilst having a discernibly difficult time being inauthentic to how I truly feel—I could still confront people and express what needs to be said without being cruel. 

At the end of the day, as with most concepts in society, existing in polarities doesn’t tend to bode well. It can certainly be advantageous, especially in Western society, to be an affable, social person, quick-witted with one’s words. That being said, if people become indifferent to how they present in highly emotional situations and their word choice in those situations, it can become an obstacle to resolving them as well. 

On the other hand, it’s also worth noting that we shouldn’t feel obliged to walk on linguistic eggshells when we speak with people whom we love. While being judicious with our word choices can be incredibly beneficial in the mission to better understand one another, if it becomes a situation where tailoring whatever you say is necessary to keep the peace, that is a red flag as well. 

Anytime I begin to feel morose about not being naturally boisterous and better regarded as a mincer of words, I always remind myself that there are absolutely benefits that come with being more restrained. I always give myself ample time to think and reflect before I speak, which in turn lends me the luxury of phrasing my feelings and needs in a clearer way. 

I do want to stress that by no means do I think either personality type is better or worse. I truly believe the world is brightened by people who are able to speak freely and with great confidence—and as I mentioned, I do find myself wistfully wishing I had those traits (especially in large social gatherings or when I am with people whom I’ve never met before). All the same, I think the world equally needs introspective people who are more selective with their words to settle the dust and offer their own nuggets of wisdom. 

—

My name is Eri Ikezawa and I have an extended minor in psychology and a major in linguistics. I’m still on the path to quelling questions about myself and the direction I want to head in, but in the meantime, I have always wanted to find a way to help others and contribute to a community dedicated to personal development and self-love.    

Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Confidence is not ‘they will like me.’ Confidence instead is . . . ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t.’” – Christina Grimmie

Confidence is often considered as a key ingredient for success and happiness. But what does it truly mean to carry confidence as a part of your personality? Imagine walking into a room and feeling at ease, believing in your abilities and inspiring that same sense of assurance in others. This is the essence of carrying confidence.

In this article, we will explore what it means to build confidence and practical steps you can take to carry confidence into your daily life and incorporate it into your personality.

Understanding Confidence

Confidence is a state of mind. It’s a belief in one’s abilities, qualities and judgment. It’s not about being arrogant, but having a quiet assurance that you can handle whatever comes your way.

When you carry confidence, you

* Trust your decisions and abilities.

* Have the capacity to face challenges.

* Display fearlessness and self-respect.

The Importance of Confidence

Confidence is critical in every aspect of life. It impacts your personal relationships, career and mental health. Studies have shown that individuals with higher levels of self-confidence tend to perform better at work, have healthier relationships and experience less anxiety and stress.

Different Types of Confidence

Confidence isn’t one-size-fits-all. Understanding its various forms can help you identify areas to improve:

*Social Confidence: Comfort in interpersonal and community situations.

*Physical Confidence: Conviction in your body and appearance.

*Intellectual Confidence: Faith in your knowledge and skills.

*Emotional Confidence: Assurance in managing feelings and relationships.

Boosting Your Confidence

Knowing your strengths is the foundation of confidence. Take time to reflect on the skills, achievements and qualities that make you unique.

How to Identify Your Strengths

*Self-reflection: Regularly journal about your successes and things you did well.

*Feedback: Ask friends, family or colleagues what they see as your strengths.

Practice Self-Care

Taking care of your physical and mental health plays a vital role in boosting confidence. When you feel good, you look good and exude confidence.

Tips for Self-Care

*Exercise Regularly: Physical activity uplifts mood and energy levels.

*Eat Healthy: Nourish your body with balanced meals.

*Sleep Well: Ensure you get seven-to-eight hours of quality sleep.

*Mindfulness: Engage in meditation or mindfulness practices to stay grounded.

Setting and Achieving Goals

Setting achievable goals and working toward them builds self-efficient and confidence.

Steps for Effective Goal Setting

1. Define Clear Goals: Be specific about what you want to achieve.
2. Break It Down: Divide your goal into smaller, manageable tasks.
3. Stay Consistent: Work on your goal step-by-step each day.
4. Celebrate Milestones: Reward yourself for each small victory.

Positive Self-Talk

The way you talk to yourself can significantly impact your confidence. Cultivating a habit of positive self-talk can alter your mindset and enhance self-belief.

Examples of Positive Affirmations

* “I am capable and strong.”

* “I trust myself to make the right decisions.”

* “I am worthy of all the good things that come my way.”

Building a Confident Presence

Non-verbal cues play a big part in how others perceive you. Confident body language can boost your inner confidence:

*Stand Tall: Keep a straight posture.

*Eye Contact: Maintain eye contact in conversations.

*Smile: A genuine smile can be very engaging.

*Firm Handshake: A firm handshake conveys assurance.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is a landmark of a confident person. Being able to convey your thoughts clearly and listen actively enhances your confidence.

Communication Tips

*Be Clear and Concise: Avoid dragging the topic; get to the point.

*Listen Actively: Give full attention when others speak.

*Ask Questions: Show interest in others’ perspectives.

Dressing the Part

How you present yourself can influence how confident you feel. Dressing in a way that makes you feel good can boost your self-esteem:

*Dress for the Occasion: Whether casual or formal, dress appropriately.

*Personal Style: Wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident.

*Grooming: Maintaining good personal hygiene and grooming can uplift your spirits.

Carrying confidence as a personality trait is about more than just faking it until you make it. It’s about genuinely believing in yourself, knowing your strengths and continuously working on your self-improvement. By understanding different types of confidence, practicing self-care, setting goals and engaging in positive self-talk, you can transform your confidence levels and overall quality of life.

Conclusion

Invite confidence into your life and watch how it opens doors and creates opportunities you never thought possible. Confidence doesn’t come overnight. It’s a journey of self-discovery, embracing your unique qualities and constantly pushing yourself to grow. Start today with small steps and, over time, you’ll find that confidence has become a natural part of who you are.

—

Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care and building genuine emotional connections with her readers to inspire them to improve their mental resilience.

Jayne Seagrave {she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I find it wonderful when someone presents research findings on a topic I can immediately identify with. While the effects of climate change on an infant’s intelligence or the rise of alcoholism in middle aged women or the demise of the Amazon rainforests are clearly relevant subjects that justify in-depth, funded research and should be a priority for our politicians and leaders, my overriding interest lies elsewhere. Which is why I am delighted to learn there are academics who have decided to devote their time to a subject that intrigues me—namely the study of happiness, and why some of us are happy, and many of us are not. 

I like happy people. I am drawn to the woman in my exercise class with the wide grin, adore the giggling six-year-old I encounter on the sidewalk who is running rings, literally, around his stressed father, or the cyclist singing loudly, oblivious to pedestrians and who nearly runs me over. In this respect I do not think I am that different to many others. But what makes some people happy and others not? And if you are unhappy, what is the way this can be addressed?

The World Happiness Report is the world’s foremost publication on global well-being. The subject has gained international recognition, with the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66/281 proclaiming March 20th be observed annually as International Day of Happiness.

One of the contributors to the 2023 Happiness Report is psychologist Corey Keyes, who has developed the concept of “languishing” and published a book entitled Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down. I loved his idea of languishing and immediately identified with it, and saw it in so many people I know, or have known. 

Keyes knows me. He understands how I think, how I feel, what excites and interests me, and more importantly, can offer an insight into my persona. Goosebumps appeared as I read the words of this man who seems to have gained access to my inner self. It is as if he had laid me down on the psychologist’s couch, asked me to remove my shoes and spoken to me in a softly measured, sensitive style, to help me understand the complicated state of being me. In so doing, he helped me understand there were times in my life when I was languishing. There were times in my life when I was languishing for weeks and never even knew I was doing it.

In defining this concept, Keyes suggests that people who are languishing feel little. There is nothing positive happening in their lives, and few things of importance—no meaningful relationships, a dullness, a nothing, a state of existence but little else, aimlessness. It is not necessarily a period of sadness, just an overall numbness. Interestingly, languishing is different to depression. Depression has negative symptoms, such as over-eating or disturbed sleep patterns, or at its extreme, suicidal thoughts. Languishing is an absence of positivity. You just feel blaaah—sound familiar? 

Languishing is normal, and a state we all feel at some point in our lives. The danger is that languishing may lead to depression if we remain there too long. Human beings are meant to change and grow and develop—languishing is a state that prohibits this. Like not exercising or over-eating or laying in bed reading bad literature or watching TV for hours, it is okay to languish for a while, but not for the long term.

Fortunately, Keyes not only defines the concept, but offers advice on how to foster greater positive emotions in five components:

1. Find a purpose in life. This could be as simple as greeting a stranger in the coffee bar, or volunteering time to support a charity on a regular basis. I find purpose in writing. The first draft of this article is being written in a cafe, where I am avoiding languishing. My purpose is to explain the concept of languishing to others through the written word so readers can avoid it as well. 
2. Learn a new skill. This could be gardening, cooking, knitting, painting, synchronised swimming, bee keeping—anything that involves progressing and developing. A few years ago, I read that learning another language is good for cognitive health. Now, every year I spend two weeks in France for intensive language tuition. The radio in my kitchen is tuned to Radio France, and as I type these words, I am listening to French rock songs. I watch Netflix with French subtitles. I am hoping this will be enough to prevent languishing.
3. Have fun and play. For me, this is playing with words as I write, singing loudly to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger when driving, attending Zumba classes, walking zig-zag down the middle of the street, giggling on my way home late at night after drinking more than I should . . . I could go on. There is a lot of play in my life. 
4. Adopt a spiritual or religious practice, or a philosophy. Foster a mechanism to help understand the world. I adore my time alone, which can be as brief as a two-hour walk in the forest, or as long as a two-week road trip alone across British Columbia, both giving me time to order and reflect.
5. Socialise. Create a community, and then give and receive from that group. Building reliable, stable connections is where trust and affection is created. This is the most important element. I work hard to retain and grow the bonds of friendship, never taking them for granted.

In the recent past, and significantly since the pandemic, there have been studies showing depression has increased, especially amongst the young. The 2023 World Happiness Report documented evidence of this. Are our adolescents depressed or languishing? While external factors beyond our control can lead to languishing, I believe these five steps provide a base from which this malady can be addressed. There were times when I thought I was depressed, when I was reaching for medication that awarded me an excessive amount of energy and a dream-like, hazy and contented, but detached state, when I may have in fact not been depressed, but just languishing. 

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Jayne Seagrave is a BC bestselling author. The ninth edition of her book Camping British Columbia, the Rockies and the Yukon was published by Heritage House in April 2023. Over 60,000 of her camping books have been sold. She also writes fiction, non-fiction and freelance articles, and occasionally teaches writing and publishing courses.

Tomas McGrath, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In this article, I’ll be talking to you about big decisions. Some decisions have a massive impact on you, the people around you and even possibly the world. Such decisions can be difficult to make, and if you felt you made the wrong decision, you’d be stuck with it. That’s why you might be nervous or uneasy during these big decisions. I’m going to give you a few ways to be sure of what you want to do.

1. Get opinions.

If you’re struggling with making a decision, get someone else’s input. The best input to get would be from someone who has experience making similar decisions and getting positive results from them.

1. Leave it to “chance.”

Of course, don’t actually leave the decision to chance. But at first, convince yourself you will. If you’re unsatisfied with the choice that has been made for you, you can decide otherwise! You might have an easier time deciding if you’re told to go one way and don’t like where you’ve been told to go. I do this sometimes. I flip a coin to pick something, and if I don’t like it, I go another way! It does work, at least for me, and you should try it next time you feel indecisive.

1. Focus on what has fewer cons, not more pros.

If you focus only on the bad parts, you can see what would end up worse for you. Consider risks and maintenance requirements. This way, you anticipate what could go wrong and can adjust and prepare for it, and your decision won’t depend entirely on the good side of things. Of course, know what the pros are, but focus on what has fewer cons.

1. Sleep on it.

Taking a night or two, or even a longer time like weeks, months or years to think over the decision, will allow for ample time to process every bit of information you have on the decision, and provide you with time to mull over the possibilities of each choice’s effects.

Those are just a few of the possible ways to bypass indecision, but I’m sure at least one of them will be of some use to you, dear reader. Big decisions can be tough, but they don’t have to be impossible.

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Leave your thoughts for Tomas in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Lauren Long (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Blog Writer 

As you read this, you’re probably asking yourself, “What is The Empowered Pole Dance Project?” “How is it empowering?” “How is pole dance empowering?” Well, I’m going to answer all of those questions. This is the story of The Empowered Pole Dance Project, and how it brought a purpose to my life I didn’t know I was looking for. 

I first had the idea for The Empowered Pole Dance Project in 2021 after watching Netflix’s documentary Strip Down, Rise Up, a visual masterpiece that demonstrates the many different ways pole dance can impact and change lives for the better. So many stories were told in 112 minutes, and this was where the idea for The Empowered Pole Dance Project was born. 

When the idea for this project was floating around in my head, I was thinking, “How many more people are out there who want to share their story?” This thought laid the groundwork for the mission and focus of the project, and once that was in place, it was time to start finding people who wanted to share their stories and be heard. 

A way that I look at it is that I became an investigative journalist for pole dancers. I would, and continue to, use Instagram to find and reach out to pole dancers to ask if they were interested in joining the project. 

On February 11, 2022, I had the first video call for The Empowered Pole Dance Project with three of the dancers I’d reached out to. They were all enthusiastic about the project and promised to reach out to other dancers in the community that they thought would be interested. 

A few months later, I published the first article on May 4th. In the days leading up to the first publication, my body and brain felt alive with energy. Fear and hope in equal measure warred in my mind. The whole time I was getting ready to publish, I was thinking, “This is going to go one of two ways: it’s going to blow up and be successful, or it’s going to have a few stories and then die out.” 

Well, I’m pleased to tell you, the first happened. Within 24 hours of publishing that first article, I received an email from someone who had read it and wanted to work with me to share their story. Two years later, I have collaborated with 20 dancers on their stories and reached out to more. 

I’ve never been a person to assume a leadership position, so this project has pushed me out of my comfort zone in that regard. I was terrified with the first couple of stories, but with every one I published, I was encouraged to keep going when I saw how people were responding to it. Because of this project, I’ve had the chance to meet and connect with (virtually) some of the biggest names in the pole dancing world, like Anastasia Sokolova, who became world-famous when she competed on Ukraine’s Got Talent, and Johanna Sapakie, who was Jennifer Lopez’s coach for the 2019 film Hustlers and took part in Jennifer and Shakira’s legendary 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

If I had to pick one word to describe The Empowered Pole Dance Project, it would be camaraderie. I’ve met so many great people doing this project that I wouldn’t have, had I not taken a leap of faith and typed out that first message. 

I’ve heard so many stories of how pole dance has changed people’s lives for the better physically, mentally and emotionally. How it’s transformed their relationships with their bodies, themselves and those around them. I’ve heard how it has saved people’s lives because it’s given them a safe space from whatever is happening outside the pole studio. How it’s set them free from shame and fear from past events. 

I started this project because I wanted to make a difference in how the world sees us. I want to break down the stigma and prejudice around pole dancing once and for all, and see all pole dancers, pole athletes and strippers alike be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. This project brought purpose to my life, because every story I tell, I receive gratitude from the dancers I’ve interviewed. So many of them have thanked me for giving them the chance to tell their stories in a space where they won’t be judged. 

If anyone out there has a project they want to pursue, do it. Take that leap of faith and see where it takes you. You might be surprised at what you discover along the way. 

—

Born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lauren Long is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being, as well as being a major Swiftie and a role model for positive body image. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the pole, on the training mats or curled up with a good book.

Olivia Alberton (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Being in your twenties is hard. I thought it was supposed to be a time of thriving, fun and wonder—feeling like you’re making it in the world. Interestingly enough, these moments are not as prominent as I had expected. Rather, there are many “I got this” to “What am I doing with my life?” moments in your twenties. You feel as though you are stuck in this weird place where you’re not a child anymore, but don’t quite feel like an adult. The roaring twenties are not so roaring, so to speak. However, I think I should mention that this quarter-life crisis moment is not how everyone feels, and if you are having a great time in your twenties, I am happy for you. This is for those in their twenties who are feeling the most lost they have ever felt and are having a hard time. 

I think a large portion of people in their twenties start to feel lost when they graduate from post-secondary. School has encompassed so much of our lives and our identity that when you cross that stage to receive your diploma, it feels surreal. There are no more papers to write and no more exams to study for. Now is the time where you “enter the real world,” as some people say, as if you haven’t been in it yet. Your diploma almost manifests the pressure to find a full-time job in your field. You have your degree, and the next “step” in becoming an adult is to attain that career job. Figuring out what you want to do with your life is daunting, scary and unrealistic. However, when you are fresh out of school, that is all you can think about. It is what you worked so hard for, so it “needs” to happen. However, what if it is not coming to fruition? You graduated, and yet that career job isn’t around the corner, like you thought it would be. You feel that your degree is wasting away and that you are wasting your potential. Panic ensues, and moments of splendor are non-existent. You look on Indeed, LinkedIn and city job postings and try to apply, all to no avail. You start to feel discouraged and disappointed. If your job search continues for months with no success, that feeling of dread amplifies.  

It also makes you feel more lost and disappointed in yourself when you start to compare yourself to your peers. You see their posts on social media documenting their success in their careers, and this pit forms in your stomach. You start to think to yourself, “We’re the same age and they’re doing this, and I’m still here.” A downward spiral of negative thoughts ensues—“What’s wrong with me?”“Are things going to change?”“What do I even want to do?”—it becomes overwhelming. It is true that social media is a highlight reel where people only post the good and fun that people think your twenties are about. But we have no idea about the challenges, struggles or even luck that played a part in that person’s story. We don’t even know if that individual is truly happy, so why are we comparing? Rationally, we know we shouldn’t compare, but emotionally we can’t help it. And to be fair, humans are very emotional creatures, and sometimes the rational escapes us. 

In addition, in our society, “what we do” and how “well” we are doing in life somehow equates to our worth. You dread running into your peers, fearing they will ask, “What are you doing now?” because you feel behind. Your twenties can feel like a race in which you are constantly behind, out of breath trying to make it closer to the finish line, whatever that finish line may look like. 

Your twenties are also so hard because they are times where navigating friendships becomes complex. Sometimes, you start to grow apart from your closest friends. The realization is sad because you’ve been friends for ages, and yet somehow you both have nothing to talk about. You’re growing and changing in your twenties, and sometimes you have to let people go. With this, your circle can become smaller, and you might feel lonely. You understand that being alone and enjoying your own company is important, but sometimes you need a friend. You are reminded of how difficult it is to connect with true, genuine people in the world. In this process, you yourself start to really think about what you want out of life. 

Yes, you want a good job that pays the bills and allows you to take a vacation once in awhile—beyond that though, I think in navigating your twenties you come to realize that what you want most is to be happy. It sounds simplistic and cliché, but honestly, I think during this time, where everything is up in the air and you have so much doubt, fear, and confusion, all you want is to be happy—to know that you will be okay. So, to anyone in their twenties who is feeling lost and scared, you are not alone. I wish there was a magical solution or something to say to make one feel better. The best I can think of may sound simplistic and unsatisfactory, but it is to take it one day at a time and to try to find joy or wins in the small things. 

— 

Olivia is a McMaster University graduate with a combined honours in English & cultural studies and history. She loves to read, write and, of course, drink coffee.

Tomas McGrath, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Drugs. One of humanity’s greatest double-edged swords. Drugs have helped and harmed so many, from those found in nature to those produced by human industry, to those produced even within the human body. Drugs in medical use are some of the most versatile tools we as a species have, from simple painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin, to antipathogenic medications such as penicillin or clarithromycin. But then again, humanity has found and produced drugs that can destroy the brain, body, families and possibly even society as a whole if left unchecked.

Take, for example, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. In Vancouver, stimulant and narcotic drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin are not only present and rampant, but legal. While it has led to better medical help for those who use them as opposed to the hand of the judicial system taking its toll, the streets of Vancouver are riddled with those affected by today’s menace: substance abuse and addiction.

Some of the worst things can be caused by drug addiction. Bankruptcy, permanent alteration and/or damage to the brain and other organs, destruction of relationships, and among the most terrible things, a national economic dependency on commonly abused substances. Some may deny it, some may agree and some might not even realize it, but the most silent killers in substance abuse are the foundations of our nation’s gross domestic product. Alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. Some of these aren’t fully destructive on their own, but rather delivery methods for some of them may be. Namely, nicotine. On its own, it is just another part of the tobacco plant. But in pre-made cigarettes, there are a massive amount of harmful chemicals and carcinogens that make smoking them lethal. Among these is tar, a chemical used as a water-repellent for ships throughout history (600 years at least) and also used for flavouring not just cigarettes, but alcoholic beverages and candy. Tar contains most of the carcinogenic chemicals inside of cigarettes, and apart from being able to increase the chance of malignant tumors, it can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are lung diseases such as bronchitis or emphysema.

Another terrible drug, and not overlooked like alcohol and nicotine, is opium. Opium is a comprehensive term for many drugs. Opium is the basis for a wide range of addictive and destructive drugs called “opioids” or “opiates” like morphine, oxycodone, heroin and fentanyl, among others. These are the worst of the worst, the most addictive and easiest to overdose on.

Enough about the direct medical details, however, as it’s time to talk about mental health effects. Substance abuse is harmful to the mind as well as the body. Unlike most motivation-draining conditions like being sick with the cold or flu, or perhaps exhaustion, substance abuse may reduce your motivation to work or socialize for longer than its direct effects, though for different reasons. This will lead to a downward spiral in which you slowly lose the ability to afford the drug as you spend more on it and use more, driving the user to more and more drastic acts to acquire money. Not working or socializing can lead to a sense of hopelessness or weakness and growing distance from family and friends, and could drive a wedge between the user and loved ones, thus making personally influential support much more difficult.

Apart from that, the physical changes in the brain’s structure caused by substance abuse may cause a variety of other mental health issues. This includes depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, OCD and PTSD among others. So not only is drug abuse a mental health issue itself, but it can also cause other mental health issues, scars on the mind that can bring down one’s life that won’t leave without time, treatment and trial.

However, there is hope for those affected by drug abuse, be it the user or someone affected by the user’s condition. The menace of drug abuse has multiple ways to be broken as if it were just another habit. Among these are stays at rehabilitation centers, slowly bringing down the usage until it is outright halted or halting usage in one steep drop (though these may cause the terrible symptoms of withdrawal), or hypnosis, which has lost credibility over time due to its use in entertainment, but is regaining ground among treatments to combat substance abuse.

To call substance abuse “just another habit,” though, is wrong of me. It’s not any habit, it’s one of the worst bad habits humanity has ever encountered. I think it’s well established that it can be destructive, and can be halted (though perhaps with some difficulty), but it’s about time to talk about how it can be caused. Substance abuse can spring up in a matter of days or slowly creep up on its victims over months or years. One of the massive causes of substance abuse is peer pressure at a social event like a party, where someone might feel obligated to drink alcohol or use drugs. Another cause could be other mental health disorders, which may result in a vicious cycle. Forbye, another cause could be a family history of drug abuse, as some genes may cause increased risks of addiction. Other causes might be things that require an escape from reality, like stress, past traumas in the form of abuse, or traumatic military experiences. Of course, to become addicted to a substance, you need to initially use it. Thus, the simple act of not trying a substance can reduce the likelihood of any addiction to absolute zero.

To conclude, substance abuse is among the worst mental health problems we face today. Not because of its effects on the body, no matter how terrible they are, but because they can cause an array of other problems to not just the user of the drug, but those around them. If there is one thing you take home with you from this article, I hope it is that the problem must be stopped before it starts. Avoid drugs like the plague, because they may just be the next one.

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Leave your thoughts for Tomas in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Nasly Roa Noriega (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I begin this story with a very common phrase in my city. If I am not mistaken, I have heard it since I was a child, and the older ladies repeated it constantly to their neighbors, their children, their grandchildren and anyone else they knew.

When I was a child, I would always see the matronas (elderly ladies) of the neighborhood sitting in front of their houses, well-dressed, perfumed and swinging a piece of cardboard that served as a fan, with a porcelain cup perfuming the atmosphere with that pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I heard them repeat in every dialogue: “Do you know who your brother is? The closest neighbor.”

At the time, I did not understand that beautiful expression that always echoed in my thoughts, generating questions that I could never answer at that time, but I always thought, in my innocence, that my family was very large, because in the neighborhood where I lived there were many neighbors, and according to that phrase, all of them were my brothers.

As time went by and maturity increased my capacity to reason, I began to realize the meaning of those phrases, and they validated themselves every time a mishap occurred in my family, because there they were, my neighbors, always doing their best to help us with whatever we needed, always there for us. 

How is it that a person with whom you do not share any blood ties can become so close and so fraternal? How does the hand of someone other than a family member come first to offer support? How does someone you meet for the first time treat you like a mother, father or brother?

The neighborhood where I enjoyed my childhood and adolescence has always been very fraternal. According to my grandparents’ stories, it was very common to see families and neighbors helping each other. My great-grandmother often gave food to the neighbor’s children when they had nothing to eat, and vice versa. 

The stories we were told as children always emphasized helping each other and how to support each other when problems arise. Even when there were differences or they got upset, neighbors never stopped helping each other, even if they didn’t talk to each other.

Brotherhood is a fundamental principle of life. Knowing that you will always have a helping hand that is there to help you is something valuable. That is why it is often said that friendship is a valuable treasure. It is invaluable, it is giving without expecting anything in return.

In life, we will never be alone. I believe that just around the corner there will always be a brother waiting for us to give us that unfailing support.

At this stage of my life, the moments of my childhood and the beautiful memories of my adolescence and youth have been stored in my trunk of memories, but the only thing that remains constantly echoing in my soul and my heart are the booming words of those wise women in their afternoon chat: “Who is your brother?” My closest neighbor! And you know why I have not forgotten it? Because it is what I say today to my children, to my husband, to my friends and, why not, to my new neighbors. We are social beings. We have always lived in community. We have differences and that makes us different, but we should never be inhuman. Life is uphill, and with each step we will always find a hand that gives us the strength to continue, or encouragement that feeds our life.

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Writing is the best medicine for the soul. To vent your thoughts drawing with letters the story of your life only requires that you want to do it, you only need the silence of your soul and to let your heart write for you, because we are all a book with endless pages and a story to tell.

Sasna Nawran (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer


Ever find yourself saying, “I’ll do it later,” only to find “later” never quite arrives? You’re not alone. 

How many times have you pushed aside tasks, only to feel the weight of unfinished business hanging over you like a dark cloud? Ever wondered why it’s so hard to just get started? 

Procrastination—the arch-nemesis of productivity—has a sneaky way of creeping into our lives and holding us back, but not anymore.

In this article, I’ll give you some effective strategies and tips to overcome procrastination. 

If you’re ready, let’s get started! 

What Exactly is Procrastination?

Many people confuse procrastination with laziness, but they are not the same. Laziness is wasting your time by doing nothing or doing something purely for pleasure.

Procrastination involves doing something with time but putting off the most important task. This means you wait until the last minute and work long periods to complete certain tasks.

Why Do People Procrastinate?

According to research, the main reasons for procrastination are negative emotions and moods such as stress, anxiety, social pressure, self-doubt, insecurity, boredom, frustration, etc . . .

Strategies to Overcome Procrastination

Procrastination increases the chances of making mistakes. When you leave tasks until the last minute, you work under immense pressure which increases the chances of making mistakes and things going wrong: for instance, you might become ill or face technical problems. 

Therefore, you must learn to overcome procrastination. I’ll give you some practical strategies to overcome procrastination with ease. 

Accept that You Are Procrastinating

The first step to overcoming any problem is awareness and self-knowledge. So, accept that you are procrastinating and find out why you are doing so.

Knowing the true reason for procrastination makes it easier to overcome it. Sit and think for a minute or two. Why do you put off certain tasks until the last minute? 

 

Manage Your Tasks Efficiently

Every day write a to-do list and arrange the tasks in the order of priority. This will prevent you from putting off difficult or unpleasant tasks. 

Eat the bigger frog first. This means completing the most difficult task first. If you don’t feel like starting a particular task, follow the five-minute rule. 

What’s the five-minute rule? You set a time of five minutes to do the particular task you’re avoiding. If after five minutes you feel bored or horrible, you are free to stop. 

Most people find that after five minutes they feel like working until the task is complete. It’s because setting the intention and starting is sometimes the hardest part. 

Split large projects into small chunks and give yourself deadlines. It’ll help you to keep track of your activities. 

Many apps are out there, where you can organize and manage your tasks effectively. Don’t forget to make use of them. 

Find Motivation to Engage in Tasks

Stay motivated by finding productive reasons to engage in tasks. 

Some people engage in tasks out of fear of failure, to show off to other people, or sometimes to avoid angering parents. These kinds of reasons invoke negative feelings. Hence, they are not productive.

Instead, find reasons that evoke positive feelings in yourself. Having a clear goal, a plan, and a method to track your progress toward your goal are positive ways to stay motivated. 

Set specific and realistic goals. Assess what exactly you procrastinate and why you do it.  For example, putting off studying a particular lesson as you feel it’s difficult. 

Figure out a technique to overcome the cause of the procrastination. Instead of trying to get through the task, find something interesting in it. 

Next, create an action plan to achieve your goal. Keep a goal tracker to track your progress. With time find out which techniques work well for you and which don’t and refine your action plan accordingly. 

Summary Tips for Overcoming Procrastination

• Break tasks into smaller steps: Big tasks can seem overwhelming, but breaking them down makes them easier to tackle.
• Set specific goals: Be clear about what you want to accomplish and set deadlines for yourself.
• Prioritize tasks: Focus on what’s most important and tackle those tasks first.
• Use timers: Set a timer for short bursts of work, like 25 minutes, followed by a short break. It helps maintain focus.
• Minimize distractions: Identify and eliminate things that pull you away from your work, like social media or TV.
• Reward yourself: Celebrate your progress with small rewards to keep yourself motivated.
• Practice self-compassion: Don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Learn from it and move forward.

Procrastination is putting off tasks until the last moment. It’s not the same as laziness. Procrastination causes you immense stress and increases the chance of making mistakes. Luckily, you can overcome procrastination with proper strategies. 

Remember that overcoming procrastination takes time and effort. Practice with patience and ultimately you’ll be able to develop better habits and get the tasks done on time. 

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Leave your thoughts for Sasna in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Starting over is the opportunity to come back better than before.” – Ryan Kahn

Taking a career break can often feel like a journey to nowhere. Yet, the concept isn’t as modern as we might think. The idea of stepping back from one’s career for personal growth or for personal reasons has been around for many years. Today, we’re going to get a clear picture on some common misconceptions about career breaks, and dive into why this could be just what you need for a fulfilling life and career comeback.

Firstly, a career break isn’t simply an extended vacation. It’s a deliberate pause in your professional life to focus on personal development, well-being, or to pursue passions and interests that you’re normally too busy to explore. Yes, there are misconceptions surrounding it—that it’s career suicide, a sign of professional indecision, or a luxury only the financially sound can afford. However, when planned and executed well, a career break can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.

In an age of constant connectivity, more people are recognizing the value of getting disconnected to find a meaning to their life’s direction. There are reasons why someone takes a break from their career.

 Self-Discovery and Reflection:

• Unplugging from Routine: Taking a step back from the daily chores gives you the space to breathe, think, and see the bigger picture. It’s about taking a break from the normal routine to gain new perspectives.
• Rediscovering Passions and Interests: With time on your hands, you can pursue interests and passions you’ve left untouched. Whether it’s travelling, writing, painting or walking trials, reliving these passions can be incredibly fulfilling.
• Evaluating Personal and Career Goals: A career break allows you to assess your professional journey. Are you on the path you want to be? What truly matters to you? This period can be transformative in setting a new beginning.

Health and Well-Being:

• Reducing Stress and Burnout: Continuous work without adequate breaks can lead to burnout. Time off helps you recharge, contributing to better mental and physical health.
• Adopting Healthier Lifestyle Choices: Without the restrictions of an 8-5 schedule, you have the opportunity to focus on your health, be it through regular exercise, better eating habits, or sufficient sleep.

 

• The Impact of Rest on Mental Health: Rest isn’t just physical. A career break can provide the mental rest needed to lessen stress, leading to improved overall well-being.

Setting Clear Objectives:

• Identifying What You Want to Achieve: Reflect on what you wish to gain from this break. Clear objectives will guide your activities and ensure you make the most of this time.
• Setting Realistic Goals and Timelines: Be realistic about what you can achieve within your break. Setting timelines will help you to use this break productively. 
• Preparing a Personal Development Plan: A structured plan can keep you on track. Include milestones to achieve, skills to learn, and experiences you wish to gain.

Navigating the Return to Work:

• Assessing Your Career Path: Upon return, it’s essential to evaluate the current career path and how your break supports your goals. This may mean a career shift or a reaffirmation of your chosen path.
• Marketing Your Career Break: Showcasing your narrative about your break is really important. Emphasize the skills acquired, experiences gained, and how these enhance your professional profile.
• Restore into the Workforce: Flexibility and patience are the keys. It might take time to readapt or find the right opportunity. Seek support, whether through mentors or professional networks, and embrace the changes with an open mind.

CONCLUSION

A career break, far from being a professional setback, can mark the beginning of a more fulfilling personal and professional journey. It’s an investment in yourself that can lead to enhanced creativity, renewed passion, and a clearer sense of direction. A career break is not a time-out, but a time for personal and professional growth, exploration, and setting the stage for future successes.

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Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care.

Olena Seredova, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I was trained for months to be able to drive, though in principle I could have remained a pedestrian or a lifelong Uber user. But no one prepared me to understand and acknowledge death, as if I might never face it.

Frankly, I wasn’t just “not prepared” to understand death—I have never been talked to about death, as if this topic were taboo, at least in the post-Soviet, Russian-speaking space.

At some point in my life, I realized that I feared everything. Something compelled me to reject everything just to avoid risking my illusionary comfort zone. Working with a trauma therapist, I discovered the primal source of my many fears—the fear of death. Therefore, I had to become more acquainted with this topic, and here I want to share my reflections.

The instinct of self-preservation manifests itself in two ways: fear and adaptation. The feeling of fear forces us to neutralize the threat—after all, a person is capable of almost anything to escape from danger.

But how? Each of us, at a fairly young age, is faced with an uncompromising, frightening awareness of our mortality. However, fear caused by the instinct of self-preservation cannot isolate us from death. 

You can’t avoid this danger and you can’t turn off the “alarm,” either. Consciousness cannot find a way out of this paradox; it becomes unbearable, and we often use the simplest defense tactics: suppression and denial.

After all, we need to live somehow, even when flying into the abyss of non-existence. And we study, get married, work and go about our lives. We voluntarily choose to not notice, ignore and avoid thinking about death—like in The Matrix, suppressing the unbearable but only true knowledge about ourselves.

The internal conflict, which has not disappeared, but has been driven into the subconscious, like radiation, emits endless anxiety and frustration. 

Let’s go back to the second way of actualizing the instinct for self-preservation—adaptation. For example, birds, adapting, fly south; frogs freeze for several months. But how can a person adapt to the horror of understanding that everything is temporary and can end at any moment?

I didn’t find the answer for a long time until I came across an astounding thought expressed by Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Becker. He argued that to dull internal anxiety and adapt to the thought of the inevitability of death, so-called “immortality projects” are created, both personal and social. And here is the main thing: all human activity helps conditionally overcome death, creating the illusion of the continuation of life.

Personal “immortality projects” are anything from masterpieces of art to the conquest of new lands, the accumulation of wealth and even a large family with an abundance of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Becker included culture, religion, art, mythology, philosophy, folklore, architecture and  statehood among social “immortality projects.” I marvelled at applying his theory to all known and understandable examples of creative, scientific and civil heritage, such as countries, nations, races, organizations and so on.

It is amazing that he considered all systems of meanings and identities created by humanity as social constructs that give hope for the “extension” of life, the existence after death. 

Let’s not dwell, however, on how great it is that humanity has leaped into the future, fueled by the fear of death. Yes, many gifts of civilization are good. But I invite you to think about how much energy is spent on adapting to the horror of death. Perhaps, if we used some part of these efforts for study, building awareness and coming to terms with death, we would achieve no less significant results?

For instance, many are familiar with the works of Irvin Yalom, an advocate of the existential approach and a popularizer of the idea of reconciling with death. 

As an avid proponent of existential methods, he urged the transformation of unconscious experiences into conscious ones. By simply acknowledging your fears, anxieties and despair, you are already mitigating a portion of their intensity.

And what is the current state of the social narrative regarding death that I witness in my daily life? 

Due to the fact that there are more deaths in the news, movies and games, I see signs of inflation, depreciation and habituation of death. Add here such factors as the post-COVID dulling of sympathy for the departed and those who suffered loss, and the word “war,” which has become commonplace.

Have you noticed the current peak in interest in the field of psychological well-being? It’s exhausting to enumerate the schools, tools and methods for regulating mental processes. But I’ve developed a sense that all this fervent activity is concentrated solely on issues that are symptomatic.

However, I have also discovered that the study and development of methods dedicated to overcoming the fear of death receive inexplicably little attention from the psychological community. 

I have a creeping suspicion that it is simply not profitable to solve this fundamental issue because psychological disorders are lucrative. Otherwise, it is hard for me to understand why we haven’t progressed beyond research from half a century ago.

But it is also as fascinating as it is frightening, just like death itself. It is intriguing to contemplate what I will do with these conclusions. At least I’ll name them, as Irvin would have wanted. After all, if our relationship with death defines our relationship with life, then I lethally crave to live.

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Leave your thoughts for Olena in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Grace Song (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

As the year goes by and we pursue more goals, I believe that it is natural to reflect on our aspirations and desires for the months ahead. Whether it is personal growth, career advancement or enhancing overall well-being, setting goals and being productive are fundamental steps towards success. Though it is true that not all goals are created equal, to truly maximize our potential and productivity, it is worthwhile to set SMART goals and explore the Goldilocks principle. 

SMART goals, are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. 

1. 1. Specificity—clarity is imperative.
      • Be specific about what you want to accomplish. Vague objectives are harder to pursue and easier to abandon.
      • Try to ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? Why is it important to me? How will I accomplish it?
      • Example: Instead of setting a goal to “exercise more,” try being more specific, like “I will go to the fitness centre three times per week for one-hour sessions on the treadmill.”
   2. Measurability—track your progress.
      • Measurability allows you to track your progress and stay motivated. 
      • Define tangible metrics.

• Example: If your goal is to be more financially literate, build a budget tracker and specify the exact amount you aim to spend and save each month. 

• Achievability—be realistic.

• While it is important to dream big, setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and demotivation.

• Break down larger goals into smaller tasks.

• Example: If you are striving for a career change, update your CV, network with professionals and acquire skillsets that may set you apart from others.

• Relevance—align your goals with your values.

• Ensure that your goals are relevant to your aspirations and values. 

• Consider how each goal contributes to your overall vision for growth.

• Eliminate any goals that do not align with your values. 

• Example: If one of your core values is environmental sustainability, consider setting a goal to reduce your carbon footprint by using other modes of transportation (e.g. walking, biking, busing) frequently.

• Time-bound—setting deadlines for accountability. 

• Without deadlines, goals can often linger indefinitely, losing their urgency.

• Set specific timeframes for achieving each goal, whether they be short, medium or long-term.

• Example: Instead of saying “I want to learn a new language,” specify it as “I will enroll in French classes and achieve conversational fluency in six months.”

Setting SMART goals is a powerful strategy for maximizing productivity and achieving success. By incorporating specificity, measurability, achievability, relevance and time-bound criteria into your goal-setting process, you can create a roadmap for personal and professional growth that is both actionable and motivating. 

Now, how does the Goldilocks participle play a role in goal setting? The Goldilocks principle, often referred to as the “just right” principle, is a concept derived from the “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” fairy tale. In the story, Goldilocks encounters three bowls of porridge, three chairs and three beds, each with varying degrees of temperature, size and comfort. She ultimately chooses the ones that are “just right.” The theory suggests that there is an ideal level of challenge or workload that maximizes performance/efficiency. Let us explore how this theory applies to productivity: 

1. Task difficulty
   • Tasks that are too simple may lead to complacency, resulting in decreased motivation.
   • Contrarily, tasks that are too difficult can lead to feeling overwhelmed, impairing productivity.
   • The “just right” level of task difficulty strikes a balance between being challenging enough to stimulate interest and skill development, but not so challenging as to be overwhelming.
2. Workload
   • A workload that is too light may lead to underutilization of skills, resulting in feelings of unfulfillment. 
   • Conversely, an excessively heavy workload can lead to burnout over time. 
   • The theory suggests that the optimal workload is one that is manageable, allowing individuals to maintain focus without feeling overwhelmed. 
3. Environment
   • Environmental factors (background noise, lighting, temperature) can impact productivity. 
   • An environment that is too noisy, bright or uncomfortable may hinder concentration. 
   • On the other hand, an environment that is too quiet or dull may lead to fatigue and decreased motivation.
   • The “just right” environment is one that is conducive to productivity, providing a comfortable and stimulating atmosphere.
4. Time management
   • Effective time management involves finding the right balance between work and self-care/leisure activities. 
   • Spending too much time on work without adequate breaks can lead to diminishing cognitive function and productivity.
   • Conversely, excessive leisure time or procrastination can lead to missed deadlines and increased stress.
   • Time management involves scheduling tasks and breaks in a strategic way that optimizes productivity and well-being, allowing for periods of focused work interspersed with rest.

The Goldilocks participle emphasizes optimal balance in various aspects of work and life to maximize performance, satisfaction and well-being. By striving for tasks, workloads, environments and time management strategies that are “just right,” we can cultivate a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to productivity. 

Knowing these two aspects of goal-setting and productivity, I hope that we can all have a fulfilling year ahead, whether you are in your studies, changing careers, raising children or working on personal growth.

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Leave your thoughts for Grace in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Don’t let the fear of failure keep you away from your destiny” – Jeanette Coron

Understanding Fear of Failure

Before we dive into overcoming the fear of failure, it’s important to understand what it is and why it happens.

How It Holds You Back and What to Do?

Fear of failure is a common obstacle that many of us face in our lives. It can hold us back from trying new things, stepping out of our comfort zones and reaching our true potential. But what if we could navigate through this fear and come out stronger on the other side? In this blog post, we will explore the fear of failure and share some tips on how to overcome it. So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s have a chat about breaking free from those tight chains of fear.

What is Fear of Failure?

At its core, the fear of failure is the worry that we might not succeed in our endeavors. It’s a common feeling that touches everyone at some point, whether it’s becoming anxious over an upcoming job interview or about a business venture, or even the nervousness before talking to someone new.

Why Do We Fear Failure?

There are a couple of reasons why the fear of failure might chain us so tightly:

1. Social Perception: Often, we’re concerned about how our failures might make us look in the eyes of others. Will they think less of us? This fear of judgment can be nerve-racking.
2. Personal Self-Worth: Sometimes, our self-esteem is so closely tied to our achievements that any failure feels like a direct hit to our self-worth.

Strategies to Overcome Fear of Failure:

Now, let’s talk about how we can navigate through this fear with a few strategic actions:

• Embracing the Learning Process: One way to overcome the fear of failure is by viewing each attempt, whether successful or not, as an opportunity to learn. Remember, every successful person you admire has faced failure at some point. The key is what they learned from it.
• Setting Realistic Expectations: It’s okay to aim high, but setting realistic expectations can help lessen the pressure of needing to succeed at all costs. Understand that setbacks are a part of the process, not the end of your journey.
• Building a Support System: Having people around who understand and support you can make a world of difference. Whether it’s friends, family or a mentor, a strong support system can help you feel less lost in your fears. 
• Personal Reflection: I once had a dream of starting my own blog. But the fear of failure nearly stopped me in my tracks. It wasn’t until I came to know about the Low Entropy Foundation that I realized that I can write blogs and overcome my fear of being judged. Here, I came to know about people with their struggles and hardships, and how they have achieved, step by step, what they wanted to achieve. I also realised that failure is a part of our trial. But without trying, you won’t reach anywhere, you won’t learn anything. Failure is a part of the process, but definitely not the end.

The Benefit of Facing Your Fears

Overcoming the fear of failure doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s a gradual process that unfolds as you take on new challenges. But the benefits are huge.

• Growth and Resilience: Each time you face your fear, you grow stronger and more resilient. It’s like exercising a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

• New Opportunities: Once you free yourself from the fear of failure, you’ll be more willing to take on new challenges and opportunities that you would have before stayed away from.

Taking the Leap

Fear of failure is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to define your story. By understanding it, implementing strategies to overcome it and leaning into personal growth and the support of others, you can navigate through your fears and toward your goals.

Remember, failing doesn’t make you a failure; it makes you human. Every successful person you look up to has failed more times than you can imagine. It’s all part of the journey. So, go ahead, take that leap, and know that you have the strength to rise, even if you stumble a bit along the way.

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Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife, and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care and building genuine emotional connections with her readers to inspire them to improve their mental resilience.