Tag: Gathering

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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Leave your thoughts for Shawn 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!

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.

Azra Adil Rizvi, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In the kaleidoscope of modern relationships, the concept of “no expectations” has emerged as both a captivating ideal and a buzzword of today. It paints a picture of love unbound by societal norms, where partners traverse their connection without the shackles of predefined roles or obligations. But amidst this romantic allure lies a labyrinth of complexities and challenges, shaping the very fabric of human connection. Let’s delve into the myth and reality of “no expectations” in relationships, exploring its impact on sustainability through the lens of diverse experiences.

At its core, the idea of a relationship without expectations promises liberation and authenticity, inviting individuals to embrace each other without the burden of preconceived notions. Take Sarah and Alex, for instance, two free spirits who embarked on a journey of love guided by the mantra of “no expectations.” Their bond was built on spontaneity and shared experiences, each moment unfurling with the unpredictable rhythm of life. For them, the absence of expectations was a gateway to uninhibited expression, a canvas upon which they painted their unique story of love.

Yet, as their relationship evolved, cracks began to appear beneath the surface. Without the scaffolding of expectations, they found themselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty, unsure of where their journey was leading. While they revelled in the freedom of the moment, they struggled to reconcile their individual desires with the collective needs of their partnership. What began as a liberating philosophy soon became a source of tension and discord, highlighting the complexities inherent in navigating a relationship without expectations.

Contrast Sarah and Alex’s story with that of Emily and Michael, a couple who embraced the principles of “no expectations” with a different perspective. For them, the absence of expectations was not a license for recklessness or indifference but a commitment to mutual respect and understanding. Their relationship was grounded in open communication and shared values, each partner honoring the autonomy and agency of the other. While they cherished spontaneity, they also recognized the importance of setting boundaries and clarifying their needs and desires.

In the midst of their journey, Emily and Michael faced challenges and conflicts like any other couple. Yet, their commitment to navigating these obstacles with grace and empathy strengthened the foundation of their bond. They understood that while “no expectations” offered freedom, it also required responsibility and accountability. Through their shared journey, they discovered that true liberation lay not in the absence of expectations, but in the willingness to navigate them with compassion and understanding.

The allure of “no expectations” extends beyond romantic relationships, permeating the fabric of friendships and familial bonds. Consider the story of Maya and Jenna, lifelong friends who embraced the philosophy of “no expectations” in their sisterhood. Their friendship was a tapestry of shared laughter and tears, each moment woven with the thread of unconditional love. For them, the absence of expectations was a testament to the depth of their connection, a sanctuary where they could be their authentic selves without fear of judgment or rejection.

Yet, even in the sanctuary of their friendship, Maya and Jenna confronted moments of tension and disagreement. Without the clarity of expectations, misunderstandings arose, threatening to unravel the fabric of their bond. However, through honest communication and a shared commitment to understanding, they emerged stronger than before, their friendship deepened by the trials they faced together.

In the landscape of modern relationships, the allure of “no expectations” persists as a beacon of freedom and authenticity. It invites individuals to embrace love without constraints, to forge connections guided by the rhythm of their hearts. Yet, beneath its romantic veneer lies a nuanced reality—one fraught with challenges and complexities. The sustainability of relationships built on “no expectations” hinges not on the absence of conflict, but on the willingness to confront it with courage and compassion.

Ultimately, whether navigating the terrain of romantic partnerships, friendships or familial bonds, the journey of “no expectations” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It invites us to embrace the uncertainties of love with open hearts and open minds, to cultivate connections grounded in mutual respect and understanding. In the dance of human connection, the myth and reality of “no expectations” converge, shaping the tapestry of our lives with its intricate weave of freedom and complexity.

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Leave your thoughts for Azra 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

Grieving the loss of a loved one is an inevitable aspect of the human experience. The journey through bereavement can be tumultuous, marked by overwhelming and all-encompassing emotions. I have recently had my first ever encounter with loss and grief. My initial experience with grief involved many tears blurring my vision. Hearing the news of the passing of a kind soul and attending the funeral service has been a journey to say the least—I cannot even begin to imagine how the family is currently coping. 

Coping with loss is an individual journey. There is no one way to manage grief or loss. However, there are five commonly denoted stages of grief to help provide individuals a structure for and understand one’s emotions and related actions. These are described in the book On Death and Dying by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages do not need to unfold linearly; emotions are known to ebb and flow, requiring a flexible and compassionate approach to self-care and understanding.

My approach has been a blend of introspection, support-seeking, and finding solace in beautiful memories. Acknowledging the pain and truly allowing myself to embrace raw emotions has been imperative in my healing journey. It is essential to recognize that healing is not synonymous with forgetting—as some of us often try to forget and deny reality. For me, journaling has served as a therapeutic outlet, providing a safe space to express all my emotions that accompany loss. Putting pen to paper has helped me to gain clarity on my path to healing. Support from caring family and friends has also played a pivotal role as they have kept my wandering thoughts grounded. Sharing memories and stories about the departed loved one with others fostered a healing connection and provided comfort in my shared experience of grief. I believe that celebrating the life lived, rather than solely mourning the loss, can also be a powerful way to channel grief into a positive force for personal growth. And that is exactly what I have been striving to do on the quotidian.

From my experience from discussing with professionals, I do sense that societal attitudes towards grief are evolving. Fostering open conversations about loss is important in breaking the stigma associated with mourning. Embracing vulnerability and providing a supportive environment for those grieving enables a more compassionate, sympathetic, and empathetic community. Sharing personal experiences of grief can contribute to a broad dialogue, fostering empathy and reducing isolation often felt by those grieving the loss of a loved one. 

If you are also on your healing journey through grief, there are resources that you may consider utilizing, particularly if you reside in B.C., and that may prove to be beneficial for you and your family. 

• B.C. Bereavement Helpline – a charity “committed to facilitating the provision of care and support to the bereaved, caregivers and service providers and to increase public understanding of grief as a life process through education, support, advocacy, networking and dissemination of information.”
• MyGrief.ca – a Canadian online resource “to help people move through their grief from the comfort of their own home, at their own pace.”
• Counseling services – professional counseling services are available to help individuals cope with emotional challenges of grief. B.C. Psychological Association may assist you in finding licensed therapists who specialize in grief counseling. 
• Hospice services – hospice organizations (e.g. Vancouver Hospice) offer comprehensive support for individuals facing the end-of-life and for their families. They often provide counseling, support groups, walking groups, and important resources to help cope. 
• Government resources – the government of B.C. recognizes the importance of mental health. The B.C. Mental Health and Substance Use Services website provides information on available resources and services. 

Grieving the loss of a loved one is an intricate and deeply personal process. Bereavement, with its complexities and challenges, has prompted profound reflections on the nature of life, love, and loss. In navigating this journey, I have come to realize that grief is not a hurdle to simply overcome but a lifelong companion, guiding me towards resilience, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the human experience. 

 

Works Cited

1.  https://bcbh.ca/about-us/
2.  https://www.mygrief.ca/local/pages/?id=3
3.  https://www.psychologists.bc.ca/home 
4.  https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health

 

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

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” – Fred DeVito

Movement is the essence of life. Our bodies are designed to move, and when we do, magical things happen. Fitness is not a new topic for anyone. In the last few years, the world has taken a big leap towards fitness. Fitness is not a hobby; it’s a lifestyle. 

Welcome to a world where every step, every lift and every stretch brings you closer to a healthier, happier you. Fitness isn’t just about hitting the gym or beginning to sweat; it’s about transforming lives. 

Solet’s dive into this journey together and explore the wonders of fitness that have changed countless lives around the globe.

Physical Transformation

There are many different ways you can choose how to start your fitness journey. Be it walking, swimming, cycling, etc . . . when you start doing any exercise, the first thing you will note is the physical change happening in you. You start losing weight. You start looking different. Regular exercise strengthens the heart, improving its efficiency in pumping blood throughout the body. Engaging in physical activity helps burn calories, making it easier to maintain or reach a healthy weight.

Fitness is a balance between exercise and healthy eating. They both run in parallel. Fitness not only helps in weight loss, you can even see the muscle build up in your body after destroying those unwanted fats that had piled up over the years. It helps you gain strength and stamina. Strength training workouts, I personally believe, are really important for women too. 

Mental and Emotional Benefits

Exercise is a natural mood lifter. Fitness brings a great change in your mental and emotional well-being. Staying fit helps you to think clearly and feel more confident. The way you carry yourself depends on how you feel emotionally and mentally. Your personality changes when you are more confident. Going out, meeting new people and having conversations without the thought of being judged by anyone depends on your state of mind. Opinions from others don’t matter; how you feel about yourself is all that matters. People change and so do their opinions. Whether they’re positive or negative, don’t take them too seriously. When you start doing things for yourself, that’s where change happens. Exercise reduces stress hormones and it’s a practice one should incorporate in their daily routine for a better mental health.

Cognitive Improvements

Fitness brings sharper focus, creativity and concentration. Science shows that physical activities improve brain health. Our ability to think, problem-solve and make decisions in life gets more clarity. It sharpens our memory too. 

Practicality is key. A fitness plan will become successful when you have a method of following it. Fitness is feasible to anyone. It just needs to be kept as a priority.

Longevity and Quality of Life

Staying fit adds years to your life. Studies link fitness with longer life spans. Fitness should become a habit, only then it can be sustained. Even making minor adjustments in your daily activities can promote longevity. Fitness routines also help to improve balance, flexibility and mobility in your body, thus enhancing quality of life. 

Summary

Fitness has the power to transform not just our bodies, but our lives. Whether it’s discovering a love for a new sport or finding joy in outdoor adventures, fitness opens up a world of possibilities. It encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and experience life in new and exciting ways. Fitness is a journey with no finish line, a path that continuously rewards us with better health, stronger relationships and a deeper appreciation for life. Taking a big leap in your journey is not the point here. Taking those small steps to reach your health goal is what matters. If I can do it, so can you!                                 

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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.

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

“There is a hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.’’- John Green

What is Mental Health ?

Mental health, fundamentally, refers to our psychological, emotional and social well-being. It influences how we think, feel and act. Moreover, it also contributes to how we handle stress, relate to others and make life’s choices. Mental health is essential at every stage of life, from childhood to adolescence and through adulthood. While mental illnesses are common, the subject is often misunderstood. 

Understanding the Basic Needs of the Mind

A balanced life calls for giving requisite care and attention to our mental health, just like our physical selves. Understanding our mind involves knowing the different factors influencing our mental health. These could include biological factors like brain chemistry and genes, or life experiences, such as trauma or abuse. Recognizing indicative signs like undue worry, feeling excessively low or drastic changes in eating habits can be crucial in promptly addressing mental health issues.

• Embracing Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment, acknowledging the thoughts, feelings, sensations and environment around us at any given moment. Embracing mindfulness can enhance your mental well-being as it allows you to appreciate life as it unfolds, reduces stress and can stop you from becoming overwhelmed.

Bringing mindfulness into your everyday life could be as simple as focusing on your breathing or giving complete attention to the act you’re involved in, be it making your morning coffee or driving to work, or even setting aside a dedicated mindfulness practice like meditating.

Meditation comes in many forms, with a common goal to calm the mind and induce a state of relaxation, promoted by focusing the mind and eliminating scattered thoughts. Techniques like breathing exercises, yoga, guided imagery or simply sitting quietly can significantly contribute to enhancing mental health.

• Cultivating Healthy Lifestyle Habits

A healthy lifestyle goes a long way towards maintaining good mental health. Eating nutritious meals, getting regular exercise and ensuring a sound sleep are really important aspects in building up mental well-being.

A well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains can positively influence brain health. Regular physical activity helps with better sleep and reduces stress. Additionally, getting quality sleep each night can improve mental health as our brain uses this rest time for vital tasks like memory consolidation and cleansing toxins. Establishing a regular sleep schedule and maintaining a sleep-supporting environment can significantly influence your mental well-being.

• Building Positive Relationships and Social Connections

We are social creatures by instinct, and that affects our mental health too. Surrounding ourselves with positive relationships and nurturing them actively contributes to increased feelings of well-being and decreased feelings of depression. Having people in your surroundings who have a positive vibe or energy can then have a positive effect on your mental health.

Identifying relationships that drain you or cause undue stress is essential, as they can undermine overall mental health. Cultivate a circle around you where you feel loved, cared for, validated and respected for who you are and the way you are.

• Learning Stress Management Techniques

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it doesn’t necessarily have to take a toll on your mental health. Recognizing stress triggers, taking steps to reduce stress and learning to get your stress under control can go a long way in protecting mental health.

Techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, workouts ,meditation, full-body stretching, or other mechanisms like listening to music or taking on a hobby can contribute significantly to stress management. Incorporating these into the daily routine can protect one’s mental health over time.

• Seeking Professional Help when Needed

There is no shame in reaching out for help when needed. If feelings of distress persist, or you have a continuous sense of detachment, seeking professional help can provide the necessary guidance and treatment to regain the balance of your mental health.

Several resources are available at the national, state and local levels, and these cover a wide range of treatment options, like if you want to get the treatment as an individual or as a family, and even group therapies are available. There are other treatments that are based on combinations of medications, too.

Synopsis 

Paying attention to your mental health is not a luxury, but a necessity. The strategies discussed here can help you to gain the power of mindful thinking, healthy lifestyle habits, positive social connections, stress management and professional assistance when needed. Your mental health needs to be taken care of by you, for you. You are the reason for your own happiness.                   

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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.

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

I have not been romantically involved with anyone, so the relationship I am going to tell you about is a friendship I have had since I was nine. The friendship between this person and myself was complicated when we were kids and teenagers because we ran in different social circles. We had some good experiences and some that were not so good. It wasn’t until we reached our mid-to late 20s that our relationship changed. It took a lot of work and open communication to get our relationship to be where it is now.

Where our relationships with people we have known since we were kids are concerned, it has been my experience that we often do not find out things about them until much later. After my friend and I cleared the air and laid all the cards on the table from the past, our relationship shifted in a big way. Because we were making a genuine effort at being more open with each other, I found out that she was going through many of the same things that I had gone through as a kid. I found out that my bullies in our class, who were the people she hung out with, were also bullying her.

At the beginning, I felt a lot of guilt because I did not know she was going through the same things I was; I thought that because she was popular, she was protected from that. Hearing her experiences made me realize that whether you are popular or not makes no difference when it comes to bullying. We’ve talked about our shared experiences a lot, and that’s how we’ve strengthened our friendship while also having our perspectives changed.

Looking back on it now, I can see how self-absorbed I was back then. I was so wrapped up in what was going on in my own life I was blind to the fact that other people were going through the same things I was. The bullying, the constant pressure to be someone I wasn’t, it never crossed my mind that there were other people going through that too, including my friend. 

Lady Gaga said in her Netflix documentary Five Foot Two, “I can bring my past with me, but I can never go back.” Well, I think that can be said for all of us. We always ask ourselves, “what if?” “What if I could go back in time and change this moment?” “What if I actually stood up for myself?” Throughout my many talks with my friend about our shared past experiences, I’ve often asked myself the question, “What would have happened if I had known this about her then? Would the outcome have been the same? Or would it have been something entirely different?” 

This is a conversation I’ve often had with my counsellor, about what I would do differently if I could go back and change certain things, but maybe my friend and I were meant to have these conversations later on in life all along. When you’re a pre-teen and a teenager, you don’t have the same emotional maturity that you have when you’re an adult in your late 20s, early 30s.

These conversations with my friend made me realize what I would not have been able to back when we were kids: just because someone hangs around with the pretty girls who always get the good-looking boys in the class doesn’t mean that they’re safe from the cruelty these girls show to those outside their social group. If anything, they can be the daily recipients of it.

Every relationship that we have in our lives impacts us in some way. It can be positive, negative, or a mix of the two. I’ve learned that people who first came into our lives as children can come back into them later as adults, and that occurs for a reason. Sometimes it’s to teach us something, other times it’s because fate or destiny, whatever you want to call it, can see that we need these people in our lives long before we can. 

I think the reason this friend came back into my life was because we needed to have the relationship we do now, but we both had to put in the work to get there. But also, I needed to learn that things are not as they appear on the surface. That beneath the two little girls who were doing what they needed to in order to survive the long school years, we were both hurt and lonely, and what we really needed was someone who could say, “I see you and you’re not alone.”

That’s something we all need. We all need someone to see us as we truly are, and we also need to learn not to judge before we know the full story, because once we do, everything changes. 

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Born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lauren Long is a strong advocate for mental health and overall 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.

Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Cerebral palsy, by its simplest definition, is a physical disability that is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the brain that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles. The type of CP I have is called spastic diplegia, which means that both sides of my body are affected by it, but my legs most especially. However, moving on from the pathology, I would say the most challenging part of this disability, aside from the physical toll on the body, would be the emotional implications. I went to physiotherapy every Saturday for 18 years to improve my condition, but I never took the time to consider what the strain on my body would do to my mental health. One had to take precedence over the other, so when I was finally freer to consider my feelings, the damage to my self-confidence and worth had already progressed exponentially. Thus, my teen years were so brutal that I didn’t think I’d make it to graduation.

Unfortunately, as pessimistic as it sounds, the world has shown me most cruelly that there are limits to my abilities. I should clarify to some who don’t believe my experience that they are not all self-imposed restrictions. My whole life, I have wanted something better for myself, and I also had two able-bodied siblings that I constantly compared myself to. The thought “Why me?” crossed my mind several times a day, and the question still pops up today, only a little bit less. As hard as I try not to let it affect me, it feels as if my life has been defined by one word since birth: disabled. As a child, I never knew I was different, and I genuinely believed I could do anything. Granted, all I had time to think about when I was young was what kind of hairstyle I wanted to have for school. Never once did I wonder why I was happy in the first place. I never asked my mom why I had to wear leg braces or why I had to go to physiotherapy once a week; it was just the norm. 

However, now that I’m older, the last thing I want to do is wear my leg braces again and do my exercises, even if they would help ease the pain. It has become more difficult to deny my insecurities; I constantly fear that someone will say hurtful things or compare how I walk to an emotionless robot. I know that my mentality is a little pessimistic. I also know some people might say that I am just feeling sorry for myself and that I should try harder to persevere through every obstacle, but what I think most people forget is that there is a distinction between “going through” something different than most people in the population and actually “being made” different. Every experience I ever have in this world will be more complex than someone who is able-bodied. That is a fact of life I cannot deny. But this is just my reality. So many other disabilities come with their own complications, so I am speaking for no one else’s experience but my own. 

Ultimately, all I can do is try my best and not let society dismiss my feelings and my story because it is valid, even though it can sometimes be maudlin. I don’t want to define myself by this, but it is a part of who I am, so I have to find a way to leave a positive mark on the world as a disabled woman, and that is why I try to advocate for disability awareness and our rights through my writing as much as I can. Therefore, I have learned that though things can seem bleak, there is still time to turn your greatest weakness into your greatest strength.

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My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I am an aspiring writer with something to say as I try to figure things out. More than anything, I want to be able to connect with people through my writing, and I want to be a constant advocate of disability and mental health awareness.

Glory Li (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Once my friend passionately chanted about the fashion and creativity of wearing mismatched socks. In response, I nodded to make her happy. Without even considering if I agreed with my friend’s opinion of a “groundbreaking trend,” the next day, it felt like my hands were listening to someone else as I mixed and flaunted one pink and one black sock on each foot. But seriously, thinking about it now, I’m not a fan of this idea. Sometimes, it isn’t a person’s eloquence that persuades us into believing the opposite end of the spectrum. Many compliance and consents are merely based on our fixed action pattern, which means exposure to certain triggers caused us to respond automatically while directly skipping the step of analyzing the presentation.

 

“Fixed action pattern” just means the triggers carved a mental shortcut so we can employ a simplified version of judgment dealing with many daily situations. These natural inclinations are called judgmental heuristics. Frequently, triggers that activate fixed behaviour patterns are specific features and parts of the rivalry that impact us more than other parts, causing involuntary actions and stereotypic decisions. For instance, the most classic heuristic that can be exhibited is the idea that “expensive = good.” Research shows that people who are uncertain about an object’s quality often resort to this streamline because human reaction evolves through the time when an item’s price truly reflects its value, so an increasing price is proportional to an improved quality. 

 

In the complicated modern days, there are profiteers who understand and use our mechanistic, unthinking manners to their own benefit. Our innate vulnerability makes us easy targets to buy low quality stuff with unreasonably high prices from unscrupulous businesses. Despite the fact that we may be very aware and take precautions to avoid those products with low quality but hefty prices, sometimes, other nefarious methods are used to raise an item’s price: for example, imagine a time when sales clerks deliberately doubled the price of an accessory by 50 percent and placed all the pretty, amethyst bracelets counterfeits on the central table to better exaggerate their rarity and purity. We are convinced by this tactic because there’s no way for us to determine the actual worthiness of the stone (unless connoisseurs are visiting the store), nor to compare if the item is outrageously expensive or not without constantly going to the same place. The only information we see for sure, or the two apparent triggers within the big picture of marketing tactics, is the good value and the sale’s emphasis on the bracelets, so unconsciously, our heuristics associate the two aspects and conclude that they must be of good quality.

 

It has been proven that fixed patterns of behaviour exist everywhere in a hierarchical pyramid, ranging from animals to humans. For instance, turkeys have gained a reputation for being caring, sweet mothers to newborn chicks; however, the maternal care comes at a condition, that of the healthy baby chicks producing the “click, click” sound. Otherwise, babies who can’t make this identical sound can be ignored, starved, and even consumed by the mother. In one experiment, researchers installed a voice recorder on a polecat — the primary predator of baby chicks that mutually loathe each other — and the recorder started emitting the click sounds. Even though the turkey knew polecats were enemies, she still accepted it under her wings and showed a decent amount of loving care. Although the turkey mother was fully aware the polecat didn’t resemble her offspring, her ingrained heuristics were so used to connecting that sound with the need of her chicks that she couldn’t resist the intuitive response. It wasn’t to show mother turkeys lack intelligence by falling into the man-made trap of protecting her predators; instead, both animals and humans displayed similar behaviours of this situational processing.  

 

In an experiment, social psychologist Ellen Langer conducted a social study that revealed that if we ask someone for help, the chance of success increases by providing a reason behind the request. A person asked a small favour to move to the front of a long queue waiting to use the Xerox machine; in the first trial, he said, “Excuse me, I have five pages, may I use the Xerox machine because I’m in a rush?” About 94% of the people complied. For the second trial, he provided no explanation of his actions and said, “Excuse me, I have five pages, may I use the Xerox machine?” Only 60% let him move forward. During the third trial, the explanation only repeated the appeal which doesn’t really justify the compliance, “Excuse me, I have five pages, may I use the Xerox machine because I have to make five copies?” In return, 93% agreed, which is basically the same probability compared to having a valid rationale. Thus, whether we realize it or not, it’s the insignificant word “because” that triggered us to feel the concurring urge even with the reason essentially nonsense.                           

 

It’s not just our insufficient life experience or our deliberate decision not to analyze the present situation: we have to realize the fixed action pattern in our brain is twisting the perspective on each circumstance so it’s much easier to decide our action among thousands of options. Most of the heuristics were and are still passed down generations because they have provided accurate simplifications similar to common sense or proverbs, which generally guide us to the right path. Even the current era exploited these proclivities for personal gains, it doesn’t render all the heuristics unreliable. Fixed action patterns save our minds from exploding to process a world of information and temptations, but it also shed light on why we ended up buying a pair of fake Nike shoes.

 

Works Cited 

 

[1]Nickerson, Charlotte. “Fixed Action Pattern: Definition and Examples.” Simply Psychology, 29 Sept. 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/fixed-action-pattern.html.

[2]MSEd, Kendra Cherry. “What Are Heuristics?” Verywell Mind, 8 Nov. 2022, www.verywellmind.com/what-is -a-heuristic-2795235.

[3]Wondra, Chris. How to Influence People With Persuasive Triggers | We Teach We Learn, www.weteach welearn.org/2012/12/how-to-influence-people-with-persuasive-triggers.

[4]Porter, Jeremy. “The Power of ‘Because.’” Jeremy Porter, 7 July 2014, www.jrmyprtr.com/power-of- because /#:~:text=The%20Xerox%20Study,I%20use%20the%20Xerox%20machine%3F%E2%80%9D.

[5]Cialdini, Robert B. Influence, New and Expanded. HarperCollins, 2021.

 

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Leave your thoughts for Glory 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

Loving what you do is the best attitude. Smiling at tiredness and lending a hand to those who need it is the best food for the soul. For my two little angels who are now taking care of me: my grandmother Gilma and my mother-in-law Amelia.

Caring is an act of dedication. It is synonymous with love and responsibility.  It is an important mission in a person’s life, regardless of the condition to which they have to dedicate their life.

Sometimes I think that we are a kind of protective being, because since childhood we are taught to take care of what we have or what we receive, to value things no matter how small they are.

Over time the word “care” takes a little more responsibility, and when we are parents that degree of responsibility becomes greater, since we must not only take care of ourselves, but also someone else who demands our attention. Although fatigue can break our strength, we will never stop caring, because as parents it is our life mission.

For me, caregiving is a beautiful mission: it is giving, without measure, a big part of your life to watch over someone’s every step. It is an unimaginable routine that for some is exhausting, but for others, as in my case, is a great job.

Taking care of someone, be they a child, parent, grandparent, partner or any other person, demands a lot from each one of us. It tends to exhaust us many times over, it tends to take away our appetite when they get sick and we do not know what to do. But we are there for them, exceeding our free time and our hours of rest, because no matter how many hours we dedicate, it will always be a great challenge, a job and a commitment that has rewards in many emotional aspects.

I have dedicated my life to care; to watch over the welfare of others; to smile every time fatigue embraces me tightly; to enjoy with emotion the first steps of my children, whom I still take care of in their adolescence;  to not let go of the hands of those who trust me; to enter into the silent gaze of those who have entered old age and only want a little company; to listen silently to the amazing stories of those with slow steps and ashen hair whom I have had to care for. Because caring should not be a prison, as some think. Perhaps they feel that they must enslave their life, their time and work to the care of someone.

When you care for someone, you must love what you do, and this should not be considered a prison, to be, day and night, watching their existence. You are not doing anything wrong. Maybe it feels that you have stagnated, that your priorities have moved to a secondary priority, where you have to accommodate your responsibility and your friendships have drifted away, or in the worst case, where you feel that loneliness is your greatest company. But it is not so. Destiny and time will show you what to do and how to do it, especially when you start to love what you do and realize that you enjoy doing it, when you feel that time flies by so quickly that you do not even notice it. Everything is focused on loving, that is the key to not giving up.

It should be love and passion for what we do that makes us get up every morning to take care of ourselves and others. When we have to take someone by the hand, we should do it with such firmness that we transmit tranquility and security, every time we look into the eyes of someone we care for we should make them feel self-confident.

Let us avoid letting the feelings of frustration, tiredness and sadness be reflected in our faces and attitudes, because they can transmit to that people we care for, who, although seemingly silent, still with distant looks know the depths of our hearts. This can make them feel awkward, sad and overwhelmed by having to be cared for.

For nine years I watched my husband take care of his ailing mother with such dedication and devotion that I never heard a complaint and never saw his exhausted face. He was always there for her and for us, and she was always smiling and so full of life until her last day in our lives. He never felt imprisoned by her illness, never let go of her hand and never stopped loving her.

We are all born with a mission, with a destiny, with a duty. Not everyone is born with the gift of caring, but when you start this work, every day you learn to love what you do.

There are special people who need to be cared for, who need to be listened to, who need to laugh again, who need a hug or a firm hand to reassure them, and we must be there with the willingness and desire to do so.

Caring is the work of those brave-hearted people who decide to create in their lives an unbounded dedication to make the lives of others a special gift.

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My name is Nasly Roa Noriega. I am a quiet person and I find peace of mind through silence. Every day of my life is a thanksgiving to God and every awakening is a day of celebration.

Nathan Yan (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

If you’ve ever worked in fast food, retail or customer service, then you’ve encountered plenty of frustrating people. There are plenty of traits or actions that could make people frustrating to deal with. These people could be staunchly opposed to everything you say and act with a sense of self-righteousness as if they are right all the time, they could simply be ignorant to facts, or they could refuse to change obviously harmful habits and behaviours. Throughout one’s life, there will be plenty  of encounters with these frustrating situations or people, and a common response to these situations is to confront the person directly. However, this strategy is often ineffective, and only works to exacerbate the conflict. The more effective strategy is the inverse, which is to not engage and try to cultivate patience.

One way to cultivate patience is to try and keep an open mind. Only some frustrating people are trying to be frustrating. In the majority of cases, situations that are frustrating are the result of a misunderstanding. For example, an argument that you find particularly frustrating because the other person doesn’t acknowledge what you say could be the result of that person simply forgetting a previous point you made. If you view the frustrating person as malicious, you are more likely to perceive their behaviour as a direct attack against you. You would see annoying behaviour as an intentional attempt to make you upset, or you may interpret certain language as directly assaulting you. As a result, you may tend to become angry, which makes it much more difficult to stay patient and not escalate the confrontation.

Another way to make cultivating patience easier with a frustrating person is to not engage with a frustrating person while upset or annoyed. While in either of these states, you are more likely to lash out, make logical mistakes or misunderstand others. Not only will these issues make you feel worse later on, they will also exacerbate the argument or confrontation you may be having with the frustrating person. As an example, if your boss is being frustrating and forcing you into an obviously uncomfortable situation, even if you have a strong urge to complain, you shouldn’t. If you try to complain while annoyed, you might make a comment in the heat of the moment that could be seen as aggressive, such as implying your boss is dumb for making that decision. These criticisms should still be made, but they should be made when you are more clear-minded and can calmly think about your next actions. Furthermore, if you try to complain while annoyed, your boss’s response might be misinterpreted by you and you could perceive the situation as even more frustrating. Either of these effects would escalate the situation and make it much more difficult to handle. So if you want to make it easier to maintain patience, you need to keep the situation manageable by not taking action immediately and by calming down.

One more way to cultivate patience during a conflict with a frustrating person is to understand that you may have to concede. In a conflict with a frustrating person, if you try to “win” the conflict by having the frustrating person completely stop the behaviour that is frustrating, you will likely become more frustrated, as people often don’t back down in a disagreement. The backfire effect is a principle that explains this. It states that, when presented with information that disproves a person’s idea, people tend to affirm their original idea. This shows that instead of trying to get a frustrated person to agree with your opinion, it is better to compromise. An example of this is trying to disprove misinformation online. In these situations, it may be strategically sound to concede to some of the arguments presented by the other side, just to avoid a more frustrating position. This way, it is much easier to resolve conflict and maintain patience instead of risking an outburst.

Confrontations with frustrating people are a common part of life that everyone will have to deal with eventually. In these situations, it is essential to maintain patience so as to not risk escalating the situation, and the best way to accomplish this is to not engage directly. One could take time away from the frustrating person, try to understand their view or even partially agree with them to lessen the conflict. Despite how frustrated you might be, you must always remember to be patient.

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Hi my name is Nathan Yan, I am a student at David Thompson Secondary School. I enjoy activities like debate, computer science and chess, and my favourite subject is math.

Glory Li (she/her), Volunteer Writer 

 

Genetic outcomes can result in a natural, inherent tendency to respond in a certain personality, but that doesn’t mean we will always react or present ourselves in the same demeanour in any situation. Even if two people both carry an equally optimistic gene, it’s probable to feel more energetic if one grew up in a healthy family dynamic in contrast to another labouring for housework and homework at the same time, making it harder to be optimistic. This article will outline discovered genes governing our level of optimism and prove there’s an ongoing interaction between our genes and the environment.

 

Two well-known genes that controlled optimism level:

 

1. Dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4),[1] is a gene that encodes the level of dopamine in our brain. Elevated moods have been associated with the efficiency of our brain’s dopamine production and degradation. A tiny change — known as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNAP) — in the normal DNA sequence of this receptor gene will lead to either an increased or decreased desire to engage in pleasurable activities like eating chocolates or heavy consumption of alcohol. By being engaged in recreations that bring us joy will create a positive emotional response and divert our attention from pessimistic thoughts. 

 

1. Serotonin transporter gene,[2] moderate the level of serotonin in the brain by producing transporter proteins to eliminate excess serotonin byproducts from the brain. There are two major genetic variations of the gene: the LL version can absorb and recycle serotonin quickly and the SL version is a slow-paced gene, giving the carrier a weakness for depression that only appears if their environment turned out for the worst. As pessimism is frequently the result of fear and anxiety, people with the SL version experience increased activation of their amygdala or the fear-control centre. They were quicker to locate the position of dangerous objects or scary scenes, at the same time the fastest to locate positive things when events turned favourable. Again, the risk or benefit derived from the very same genes oscillates depending on whether the environment goes right or wrong for an individual.

                   

How Was Optimism Mutually Affected by Genes and Environment?

 

Having the exact codes encoding a positive pattern of thinking doesn’t mean the optimistic trait will be expressed as the gene can always be silenced[3] in response to abrupt environmental changes or chronic exposure to an unfavourable environment. For instance, Professor Ian Weaver[4] studied the gene expression of infants with cold or caring mothers and the impact on their offspring’s ability in handling anxieties. Anxiety and stress has been largely linked to pessimism and depression, so babies receiving poor maternal care have less stress-regulating receptors in the brain meaning that it takes them a longer time to get over the experienced trauma.   

 

The argument goes that having a good environment before puberty will likely exert the strongest effect on instinctive behaviours like having a positive mindset. However, research found an adoptee shared more similarities with their adoptive parents than their biological, genetically-related parents while they were still underaged, but that the parental influence decreased as the child grows up which means that despite living in either a nourishing or an indifferent environment, it would not turn a child into a genius nor a criminal[5]. This analysis indicates that despite environmental influences having authority over gene expression, our optimism is not completely dependent on our backgrounds and the people surrounding us.          

 

This paradox of whether environmental or genetic influences play a greater role in optimism is a “chicken or the egg” question because it varies depending on the individual and the two factors correlate in a complicated relationship. The optimism we experience is evenly divided between our genes and the environment, but if only these unshared environments are considered uncontrollable, we can choose how we face the environment since our decisions in these environments would also change our situational disposition and our genetic expressions down to the core. 

 

Work Cited 

[1]Ptáček, Radek, et al. “Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene DRD4 and Its Association With Psychiatric Disorders.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 Sept. 2011, https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.881925.

[2]Houwing, Danielle J., et al. “The Serotonin Transporter and Early Life Stress: Translational Perspectives.” Frontiers, 7 Apr. 2017, https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2017.00117.

[3]“Silence Therapeutics – Patients – Gene Silencing Explained – Gene Silencing: The Basics.” Silence Therapeutics – Patients – Gene Silencing Explained – Gene Silencing: The Basics, silence-therapeutics.com/ patients/gene-silencing-explained/gene-silencing-the-basics/default.aspx.

[4]Fox, Elaine. Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain: How to Retrain Your Brain to Overcome Pessimism and Achieve a More Positive Outlook. 2012.

[5]Stangor, Charles, and Jennifer Walinga. “12.3 Is Personality More Nature Or More Nurture? Behavioural and Molecular Genetics – Introduction To Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition.” 12.3 Is Personality More Nature Or More Nurture? Behavioural and Molecular Genetics – Introduction To Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition, opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/11-3-is-personality-more-nature-or-more- Nurture-behavioural-and-molecular-genetics.

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

I practice meditation daily because it teaches me to be mindful of my surroundings, but it also shows me that I am powerful enough to be able to shift my energy over to whoever and whatever I desire. 

Meditation has allowed me to immerse myself in different experiences. I often find myself travelling through all these dimensions simply by sitting down comfortably, breathing deeply and thinking intuitively.

I have seen many bright lights, but I have also seen many dark shadows and each and every time I see one or the other, I am reminded that with meditation, you not only see with your eyes, but you also see with many other parts of you. You see with your heart because you’re feeling something in that meditative state. You see with your ears because you hear your heart racing, which then turns into a slower, more soothing pace — a peaceful pulse. You see with your nose because you can smell the calm, clean air being filtered through your lungs every time you take a deep breath. 

Without realizing it, the entire world has been meditating since the beginning of time. How? Because when we are in a panic, we are guided with a soft “take a moment to breathe . . . inhale and exhale.” In those moments, we are so hyper-focused and fixated on our breath work that, naturally, we are in a state of total relaxation, which is essentially what meditating is. At least, it’s a big part of it. How about when you’re all worked up about something, whether positive or negative? Then what happens? Usually, you’ll hear people saying “Calm down.” Depending on the situation, that may either trigger you or help you. If you’re excited about meeting your favourite author or actor, chances are the whole “Calm down” thing wouldn’t really be necessary, because that’s just a burst of energy you have from excitement. However, if you just got into a heated argument with a spouse, parent, sibling, etc . . . then “Calm down” is the last thing you’ll want to hear. But that’s where meditating would definitely come in handy. When you’re angry or upset, breathing is quite literally the easiest and smartest thing to do in order to calm your nerves. Oftentimes, we seem to forget how precious breath work really is. Breathing is effortless — our body automatically does it for us. 

We don’t realize that by practicing meditation daily, we become more self-aware. We are more likely to feel happier, simply because we are paying close attention to our body’s wants and needs. The easier you breathe, the less strain you’re putting on your lungs. Your body does all the work for you between pumping blood, healing itself from bruises or scrapes, or alerting you when you’re feeling tired or overwhelmed. The least you can do is thank your body by helping it recover from everything it does for you. Hold your hand over your heart and breathe deeply . . . inhale, exhale, take a break and start over. 

When people think of meditating, they often assume (at least in my experience) that you absolutely must be sitting down with your eyes closed and your legs crossed, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I say this because you have the total freedom to meditate however, whenever and wherever you feel most comfortable. It’s so liberating! You can sit, stand, lay down or even move freely in the forest or a walking trail if you so choose. It costs nothing to meditate, yet you feel incredibly rich after doing so. There’s something so reassuring and comforting in just breathing in the freshest air and releasing all of your worries out into the free world.

Meditation is boundless. Meditation knows no race, colour, age, gender, or anything else under the warm sun or starry night sky, because meditation is not prejudiced and does not discriminate. It is known universally to humankind.

Meditation knows no hate and will never harm. Instead, it’s like having a halo hovering over you to heal you. It will keep you grounded, but help you grow in abundance ever so gracefully. Meditation is not a congregation; it is not based on religious beliefs or spirituality, because no matter where we were born, where we are living, or what we practice, one sure thing that we all have in common is that we have all mastered the art of breathing, just by being alive and going about our day.

Meditation is such a powerful thing, and as much as we are breathing to stay alive, we are also keeping ourselves alive longer by understanding the importance of each breath we take. Life is too precious to miss out on any of these beautiful moments. Let your breathing break you free of any past regression or hardships. Our goal as the general population of this world should be to keep meditation meaningful for generations to come. 

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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.

Nathan Yan (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I’m sure you’ve experienced stress before. After a long day of work, you collapse from exhaustion and just want to take a break but can’t. There’s always another assignment, another task, another job. People often try to brave through the stress and ignore the negative consequences, and this is how burnout happens.

When stress is ignored for long periods, burnout happens. Burnout is a state of extreme exhaustion that comes from prolonged exposure to stress, and the excess cortisol in your system it comes with can create physical fatigue. It can cause headaches, fatigue, stomachaches and changes in your appetite, and it can make you more susceptible to illnesses. When you are burnt out, you will likely feel extremely physically weak.

Furthermore, you will also experience emotional fatigue, which can impact your relationships with others as you are too tired to interact meaningfully. These effects can take a heavy toll on your body and mind, so it’s important to address the issue and recover. But how long does it take for someone to recover?

In response to burnout, many people take time off away from what they are burned out from. This includes indulging in hobbies and doing relaxing activities like snacking or drawing warm baths. After this bit of relaxation, people say they feel refreshed and can return to whatever task burnt them out in the first place. However, they soon start to experience burnout again and wonder if they took enough time.

You must recover from both emotional stress and physical stress to fully recover from burnout. This means, at the very least, you must take a minimum amount of time to recover from stress on your body. At the very least it will take a few days to stop headaches or stomach aches, and in the worst case when you catch a cold or flu, it might take a few more days. However, this time does not include how long it takes to recover from emotional fatigue.

The issue is that burnout is often perceived as a simple issue. It is assumed that it will go away after taking some time to recover, like a cold. Unfortunately, burnout is the accumulation of many different factors and not just a singular event or effect. If one doesn’t recover correctly, then the factors are much more likely to return and cause a relapse of burnout and exacerbate the fatigue.

Imagine a student who’s struggling to focus in class because of burnout. They are taking eight different courses every day and are overloaded with homework. If they start to experience burnout, they are likely to take a day off to recover and relax. Even if the student finishes their work, as soon as they return to school, their eight classes will give eight more loads of homework and they will begin to feel overwhelmed again.

Recovering from burnout does not just require time off or relaxation. Recovering from burnout requires lifestyle changes. To properly recover from burnout, you need to find ways to adjust the factors that caused the burnout. Otherwise, the same factors will stack up and the burnout will return as soon as you stop resting. Like an illness, recovering could take months, depending on the case. If you are overworked, burnout might only go away once you learn to manage or adjust your workload. If you become emotionally distant because of burnout, it might go away once you begin to feel joy in your relationships again, or once you develop a stable support system.

The point is that recovering from burnout takes time. It’s not something you can get rid of because you took a quick break. According to online sources, it takes three months to a year to recover from burnout. During this time, you have to focus on the factors that caused your burnout and slowly learn to live and deal with them in your daily life so you can avoid a relapse of burnout. It is important to remember that burnout is a serious issue that is not an easy thing to recover from and will require effort and time.

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Hi my name is Nathan Yan, I am a student at David Thompson Secondary School. I enjoy activities like debate, computer science and chess, and my favourite subject is math.

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

All my life I have heard my father’s remix on Jim Rohn’s notion that we become the average of the five people with whom we spend the most time. A motivational speaker my dad is not, but he certainly was well-intentioned when he told me as a teenager to try and surround myself with people who would inspire me to better myself. 

Now to clarify, Rohn’s idea was conceptualized in connection with the law of averages — which in mathematics stipulates that the sum of a set of numbers is then divided by the amount of numbers in the set. The result will be the central value. Similarly, the people with whom we are most closely intertwined will contribute to the sort of person we are likely to be. 

Obviously as a teenager, when one is wading through thorny thickets, staggering over scorching coals and suffocating while swallowing stones for a sense of identity, I did not take too kindly to my father’s stab at guidance. In my clichéd adolescent angst, anything my father said was taken with a grain of salt. Headstrong as a foal trying to find its footing after birth when I was a child, stubborn as a mule when I was a teenager. 

But as I grow older, I have begun to see the sagacity in his words. As I figuratively shed disguises that didn’t suit me and molted traits that did not serve me, I really began to prioritize people that incited positive change within me. I began to sincerely value those who did not enable my poor decisions and recalcitrant behaviors. And as these amazing people humbled me by ensuring I took accountability and responsibility for my wrongdoings, my true growth as a person commenced. 

All this being said, I do think there is also a certain truth to the idea that birds of a feather flock together. After all, my relationships with the people closest to me embarked once we established superficial commonalities — shared hobbies, recreational interests and so forth. But that being said, the driving force that bonds me to my most precious people are the values we hold. For example, how do we treat people around us? Are we flexible in our worldviews? Do we strive to better ourselves as people? Do we take culpability for our mistakes? 

Once I recognized that it was the fundamental principles that we held that I treasured most in the people around me, it also came to my notice that if people really care to listen and cherish those around them, they don’t always have to share common interests with those people. I don’t necessarily share the same music taste with, well, almost any of my friends. Some of my friends are avid sports-loving athletes — I am most certainly not. Others enjoy gaming and I, again, do not. But these differences feel so minimal in the grand scheme of things. 

I still want to hear and listen to them speak passionately about the things that they enjoy, because it brings me inherent happiness to see them zealously excited over something. It takes so little to show interest in other people, and it makes me so elated to be invited into an intimate soiree of their joy. 

As for me, it’s become integral to distance myself from sources that catalyze sentiments of uncertainty and self-doubt in me.  When people find themselves around people who cause them to waver, like little rippling flags in the wind where the shapes on the fabric become perverted distortions, it’s hard not to question who you really are. You begin to wonder why you are content with people who don’t hold the same values as you. You begin to question what kind of person you are if you can be complacent against injustice. Is my love for this person enough that I can discount and be silent against the values they willingly represent and advocate for? 

But maybe I’m just speaking from my own personal experiences. 

As I get older, as much as I want to be surrounded by people who challenge me to be better, who inspire humility in me, I do not want to be a person who can stand idly by when people are being selfish, cruel or judgmental. I don’t ever want to be a person who is tolerant of intolerance, or silent in the face of oppression or injustice. 

I also find I become drained, a puttering engine on its last legs of life and luster, when people exude an aura of negativity and toxicity, insidious and noxious in the way they infect you from the inside out. I used to attempt to bear it under the veil of compassion and empathy, running circles to explain why they needed someone to be in their corner to hopefully incite positive change, but once I recognized the toll it was taking on me, it just wasn’t worth it. 

It is funny, isn’t it, how many of us struggle with our parents’ interventions and wisdom when we are angsty teenagers — how the battle for our identity clashes with what now seems like basic common sense and clichés. While my parents and I may operate differently in some ways as the products of our generations and times, so many of our values and perspectives also do align at the same time. 

And so now, while writing this, I can’t help but wryly smile at how fervently I argued against my father’s point. It’s possible, when we are teenagers, that we lack the foresight and acumen to make sound social decisions, so perhaps what I believed was true — at that period in my life. But now, I truly subscribe to the belief my father pedalled so hard to pass on, and now I actively promote it myself. At this point in my life, it is quality over quantity. 

I just want to be around people who make me feel good — and encourage me to be better.

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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.

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

“So, what now?” This was one of the many confusing and consuming questions circulating in my head after I graduated in June 2022. After four years of hard work, dedication, stress and tears, I crossed that stage and obtained my university degree. The feeling was surreal. It was hard to process how, just like that, I was done. What was harder to process was that I did not have a plan for what was next. In my first year of university, I assumed that, by the time I graduated, I would either know what I would do or have an internship. Alas, I did not. What should have been a time of celebration and happiness turned into a time of feeling lost and helpless. The “what now” question was a big rain cloud over my head that just would not go away. 

Upon graduating, there was this pressure I felt that I needed to find a full-time job because that was what was “supposed” to happen. I also felt the pressure from others. People were asking me “What’s next?”, “What kind of jobs are you applying for?”, “What do you want to do with your degree?” and “What kind of job can you get with your degree?” So many questions plagued me that all I wanted to do was bury my head in the sand. I felt stupid because I did not know the answer to those questions, and I felt like I should. In addition, I think there is a narrative etched into society that children in school need to know exactly what they want to do. Society poses this question to teens and expects them to have answers. My guidance counsellor in high school was not helpful and I did not know what I wanted to do. Feeling lost, I took a gap year and thought about what I wanted to learn and what I was passionate about. After weighing my options, I went to McMaster University and obtained a double major in English & cultural studies and history. I love my degree and I do not regret it. However, it does not erase the pressure I face to find a job so I can put my degree to use. At times I feel like I am stuck in my part-time job and my degree is wasting away. All the hard work I put into obtaining that degree was for nothing so far. The rational part of my brain knows that is not the case, however, the irrational part of me cannot help but think that at times.

The pressure one faces after they graduate is something that I do not think is discussed enough. We are in school for so many years that, when that chapter closes and we are told to “go into the real world,” it is a shock. Being a student comprises so much of one’s identity and is always a source of consistency. Therefore, when the chapter of being a student closed for me, I felt this anxiety and pressure I never had to face before. I never had to think about what was next, because there was always school come September. Not this time though. It was up to me to write the next chapter, and I had writer’s block. 

It has been a year now since I graduated, and the pressure has not dissipated. It is still there, some days more apparent than others. I am still facing the “what now” question. The raincloud that would not leave the months following graduating comes and goes, it just depends on the day. I am trying not to let the post-grad pressure get to me because that is not how I want to live. Rather, I am trying to stay positive and remember that the idea that we are supposed to have it all figured out is a lie. Not knowing what you are doing with your life is not bad, it is just life. Life, especially in these times, is hard, complex and confusing. To place the expectation that we must have “it” figured out is both stress-inducing and wrong. So even though I am still facing that “what now” question, all I can do is stay hopeful that everything will be okay and trust in the process. Although it is uncomfortable and the unknown can be scary, I think that is the only way we can grow, to move forward with hope. To those who are also dealing with the post-grad pressure, I hope you know that you are not alone, and when things seem daunting or hopeless, just think about how far you have come. Your younger self would be so proud. Keep going, be gentle with yourself and try not to let the post-grad pressure get to you.   

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

Danyal Hakakzargar, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Legal careers promote effective communication and attention to detail, by providing the opportunity for critical thinking, collaboration, information analysis and research.

• Attention to Detail

A successful legal career demands accuracy, consistency and attention to detail. Non-professional or incorrect words can alter the meaning of a phrase or contract, and clients may stop doing business with the firm as a result of receiving emails, letters, or papers that are misspelled or poorly written. Employers look for spelling, punctuation, and grammar issues while reviewing applications for jobs or training contracts. A recruiter could wonder what a potential customer would think of the letter of advice if the cover letter is unclear, excessively long, or filled with spelling errors. To enhance attention to detail, interns can regularly review and proofread documents and note professional and legal words used in case briefs, contracts and notices.

• Information Analysis and Research

Any profession in law involves reading a lot of material, taking in facts and numbers, analyzing it, and condensing it into comprehensible material. The key is being able to identify the pertinent information from a sea of data and convey it to clients in a clear, succinct manner. The daily duties of a lawyer also involve a significant amount of research when conducting background research for a case, producing legal documents, and counseling clients on complex topics. Students can master this skill by building a network of connections and becoming familiar with online and library resources during university. Industry ties can prove to be a valuable source of assistance for a newly qualified solicitor or barrister.

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Contrary to popular belief, there are many opportunities for creative expression in the legal field. The wisest line of action is not always the simplest or most obvious, as knowledgeable attorneys will attest. Critical thinking and creative problem-solving will be put to use virtually daily to outsmart the opposition and secure the best result for clients. Participating in student competitions, such as mooting, becoming a student representative, or obtaining a position in the students’ union are effective ways to build these skills.

• Organization and Filing

The job of a solicitor or barrister is one giant juggling act from researching legal issues to drafting legal documents and contracts to managing case files, meeting clients, attending court, and networking with other legal professionals. Organizational skills are crucial for prioritizing tasks and effectively simultaneously working on multiple tasks. To avoid confusion and save time, attorneys and interns must file documents, cases, and contracts consistently. Additionally, all papers must be stored per legal requirements to maintain the confidentiality of customer information and communications and to grant only authorized employees access.

• Clear and Efficient Communication

Without excellent oral and written communication abilities, it will be difficult for solicitors to perform their duties. When working with clients, it is crucial to have excellent listening skills to establish connections and inspire confidence. A lawyer must remain confident when arguing a case in court, negotiating a settlement, or educating clients on complex topics. Interns must also write in an effective, concise, and clear manner to reduce confusion. Students can participate in debate teams or mooting competitions as well as serve as a spokesman to master this skill before working as a barrister. Writing proficiency is crucial when writing letters and legal papers, as lawyers must understand and be able to communicate in both technical and legal terminology. University law societies offer a great opportunity to enhance written communication abilities by composing newsletters, drafting emails and recording meeting minutes.

• Commercial Awareness

Lawyers and interns need to be well-versed in current events in local, national, and international business, particularly those that affect a law firm’s clients. Firms anticipate that employees will promote their services to potential clients and build rapport with current clientele. As law firms are ultimately businesses, attorneys must understand the necessity of keeping costs reasonable, meeting deadlines, and treating client information with confidentiality. Clients also demand that attorneys have a thorough understanding of their industry as well as any broader social, political, and economic concerns that may have an impact. Aside from understanding the immediate, moderate, and long-term effects of their client’s business plan, lawyers may also need to consider the organization’s strategic possibilities and threats as well as its strengths and weaknesses. This gives the attorney the best opportunity to offer practical, business-oriented legal guidance.

• Teamwork and Leadership

In addition to communicating with clients, lawyers must work together with partners and other professionals to win cases. Barristers frequently collaborate on high-profile cases with other barristers and must have a close working relationship with their clerks. Individuals at all levels of the legal system master teamwork from interns and lawyers to judges. Clients must also have confidence in their legal counsel, therefore lawyers must be personable, persuasive, and courteous. The simplest approach to improving people skills is joining a team including arts, sports and science teams and activities involving collaboration. In addition, lawyers must have the initiative and fortitude to act independently and successfully collaborate in teams. Finally, barristers and solicitors must manage their time well under pressure to produce high-quality results that benefit their customers while managing demanding workloads and deadlines.

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Danyal is a fourth-year criminology and business student at Simon Fraser University with a keen approach to business lawyering, authoring articles about various topics including self-development, education and conflicts.

Halimah Ajibade, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Childbirth comes with changes, both visible and invisible. During pregnancy, the most visible change is the protruding stomach. However, during childbirth, most changes occur internally and in the brain. 

While the changes in a mother’s brain are not visible, they are significant. Studies have shown that the size and structure of certain brain regions change after childbirth. For example, the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions, becomes more active and better connected to other parts of the brain. The prefrontal cortex, one of the areas responsible for decision-making, planning and social behaviour, also appears, in animal tests, to undergo changes that help mothers be more attuned to their children’s needs.

During motherhood, the brain seems conditioned to send signals to other parts of the body to care more, love more and pay more attention, making the mother more responsible.

The existence of a whole being lies in a mother’s care. When my sister had her first child, I remember being at home with her. She was very tired, and I offered to help her watch her child while she slept. But soon, I fell asleep too, oblivious to the baby’s cries. My sister woke up, despite her exhaustion, to care for the baby. What made the difference? How did she hear the cries while I didn’t? An animal study published in Nature in 2015 suggests that this level of recognition might be due to oxytocin, a hormone that manages key aspects of human reproductive systems, including labour and delivery, lactation, and aspects of human behaviour. During childbirth, oxytocin creates a connection between the mother and child, possibly helping the mother understand the baby’s needs and distinguish their cries from those of other babies. This might be why my sister woke up to the first cry of her baby while I lay unmoved until the baby slept again.

Oxytocin also appears to play a role in managing emotions like depression and anxiety, with some studies showing a possible correlation between postpartum depression and lower oxytocin levels. As a new mother, it’s easy to become anxious or depressed, based on the child’s behaviour. In a small study in 2010, Yale researchers found that, after childbirth, the brain areas responsible for memory, emotions, reasoning, motivation and sensory perception increase in volume. These changes may be related to a mother’s increased ability to recognize and respond to her baby’s needs and her heightened emotional attachment to her child.

Emotional attachment is not the only change that happens to a new mother. Other changes include “mommy brain,” where mothers tend to forget things because they are so obsessed with their child. Hormonal changes also occur, including a sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone levels after delivery, which can lead to mood swings and irritability. Prolactin, which is responsible for milk production, increases, leading to lactation and potentially impacting mood as well.

Changes in women differ based on genetics, environment, diet, etc . . . These changes also last for different durations, some for up to two years. Although some changes may seem small, they are significant and have long-term effects. For example, studies have shown that mothers who breastfeed their children may have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

During this stage, women need a lot of support because it’s tough to get used to these changes. Besides adjusting to these changes, they need support while they take care of the child because it’s easy to forget oneself while focusing on the child’s needs. As painful as childbirth is, the joy that comes with motherhood is inexplicable.

It’s essential to remember that when we talk about childbirth and its aftereffects, that it’s not just women who are affected. Fathers also experience slight changes in their brains, as oxytocin is released in them too, helping them create a bond with their children.

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Leave your thoughts for Halimah 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!

Simar Kaur, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

For some, places are a representation of rich history and architecture. For some, it is a representation of authentic food. And for some, places just represent people and their stories. I would say places are nothing but a concoction of bittersweet memories, memories that sway you from time to time. But a few places are so close to your heart that their essence flows through your blood like a gentle breeze. Imagine revisiting one such place after a long gap of four years! Yes! Gives you butterflies in the stomach.  

I had that feeling when I was revisiting the most prominent place in my life after four years — my home, the place where I grew up physically, emotionally and spiritually. People say that you can leave home, but your home will never leave you. Well! I certainly felt it after living away from home for so long. Each wall at our place was a display of my artistic self. You would always be welcomed home with the aroma of spices, topped with Mumma’s love. Her kitchen garden was her passion project and her money plant never withered. The living room always echoed with grandpa’s laughter and grandma’s stories. The freezer was always overflowing with my favorite flavor of ice cream that my dad would bring in after a long day at work.  

On the flight, I was picturing how my home would feel the same as I had remembered — like a bright sunny day. Home was where I had always belonged after fighting the battles of life. Home always felt like warmth in Mumma’s arms. But this time when I went home, I somehow felt that I did not belong there. I was not welcomed by my grandpa’s laughter this time. He was eagerly waiting for me to return and meet him, but succumbed to God’s plan before I made it home. My grandpa was a jovial and compassionate man. His smile was contagious, and all my stress would melt in front of him. But this time I was welcomed with his picture hanging on the wall with a garland around it. Without him, home felt like nothing but four walls. For the first time in my life, it felt like home was pushing me away instead of hugging me tight.  

Grandma had lost her charm after losing grandpa. She looked pale and weak. I was taken back to the times when I would lay on her lap and listen to the stories and experiences of her life. But this time her stories did not echo in the room. The only thing that accompanied us was terrifying silence. Everything felt out of place and order. People I loved had changed — some left their bodies, and some had grown old. Mom and dad now had grey hair and were not as energetic as before. Dad could not play badminton for the long durations he would before because of his back ache. Mom did not shout at my brother to get ready for school. And my younger brother had now turned into a full-grown man and did not fight with me like he would in the past. There used to be a lot of calmness in the chaos at home. It resembled the chaos in my life, and that is how I felt a sense of belongingness at home. But now my favorite place felt so lifeless. 

Not only had people at home changed, but also the things around the house. Walls were now painted in bright white, and all my wall sketches had disappeared forever. My mom’s money plant had now withered. She no longer felt passionate about maintaining her kitchen garden. I remembered sitting amidst her plants and listening to music for hours. I could no longer do that. What hurt me the most was that my mom had slowly given up on her passions.

I did not have a closet to myself anymore and my books looked like they were abandoned in dust. My brother had revamped the room, inspired by his favorite movie character. My pink fairyland now looked like a Marvel movie setup. These little changes made me feel as though I was not a part of the family anymore. I felt guilty of missing out on so much that it made me feel as if I had never belonged to this place I called “home.” But something that never changed was the love my family had for me in their eyes, and photos of my childhood in our living room that mom adored every day.

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Danyal Hakakzargar, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

Despite its challenges, teaching promotes self-development by providing the opportunity to develop critical thinking, negotiation, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills.

• Critical Thinking

Teaching is a great way to develop several abilities, including critical thinking. Before making a decision, people can critically evaluate and analyze situations, offer solutions and consider the ramifications of those solutions. Although they can range in complexity, most scenarios involving students demand substantial thinking and consideration because they are also learning from their teachers and mentors as examples in addition to the course material. For instance, students at all academic levels frequently request last-minute alterations and deadline extensions, which could interfere with the meticulous planning and schedule. Teachers must evaluate the time remaining before and after prospective modifications and their impact on other parts of the course to prevent mismanagement.

• Effective Decision-Making

People in senior roles often have more difficulty making decisions in complex situations since those decisions frequently have a lasting impact on many or all of the members. Before making an informed decision, it is essential to use critical thinking and weigh available options. Nonetheless, certain decisions necessitate careful consideration, review, and approval from faculty members to guarantee compliance with institutional standards. For instance, during the pandemic, institutions offered teachers significant autonomy over how the curriculum was implemented; many of these professors eliminated certain concepts or switched them to an online learning format. While these modifications were overseen by the faculty, several courses including seminars, exams, or presentations had to be significantly changed as a result of the pandemic, even having some sections of the course removed. 

• Negotiation

One of the most difficult aspects of teaching is grading, where many students are either dissatisfied with the grading or are not aware of the grading criteria. While some teachers remain confident and can defend their grading, many fail to offer sufficient justification for awarding students a low grade. Teachers must maintain consistency in grading, and employ factual and logical mark distribution even though grading can frequently be a major challenge. Although negotiating and changing the criterium might seem effortless and basic, doing so can be just as difficult as developing the exam questions or grading criteria in the first place. Thus, negotiation must include constructive criticism, justification for the grade, and suggestions for how students can develop and learn.

• Leadership and Planning

Teachers must show effective leadership by setting exemplary standards and behaviour, while some teachers falsely behave more like bosses than leaders due to the power and authority bestowed upon them. This fear-inducing behaviour deprives students of the excitement and educational opportunities that learning should be providing. Although certain courses may contain more difficult concepts, professors should act as mentors and provide material in a way that is both reviewable and comprehensible, giving students the chance to seek assistance. Teachers should also use planning as a technique to develop a realistic schedule sufficient for finishing each task and covering any measurable contingencies for change, due to the rushed nature of post-secondary semester length. 

• Conflict-Resolution

Another difficulty that teachers frequently encounter is conflict resolution. This conflict may involve staff, students, or other members of the institution. Teachers must employ conflict resolution strategies to discover a workable settlement that is advantageous to all parties, rather than trying to convince the parties of who is right and who is wrong. Effective strategies include identifying the challenge, the current obstacles, and the barriers that lie beyond the conflict, as well as developing a common goal and exploring how it might be achieved. For instance, teachers frequently deal with instances where group members refuse to continue working together because they are dissatisfied with one another’s work. Teachers must hear the perspectives of both or all sides and explain the project’s or group’s common goal before coming up with an agreement, with the resolution being the primary goal.

• Collaboration and Social Competence

Collaboration and social competence are other vital skills necessary for teachers to understand and empathize with students while maintaining confidence and respect in their position. Teachers must create a healthy learning space with respect and dignity, where all students are welcomed and feel comfortable reaching out to teachers or assistants. This collaborative environment helps teachers identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses and accordingly help them improve, encouraging participation in office hours or exam preps, which are also helpful in their future careers.

 

– 

Danyal is a fourth-year criminology and business student at Simon Fraser University with a keen approach to business lawyering, authoring articles about various topics including self-development, education and conflicts.

Danyal Hakakzargar, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

• Inclusion and Equality

Professional sports can range from solo events with no teammates, like swimming and golf, to team sports with many teammates, like baseball and soccer. Being inclusive and providing each member with an equal chance to grow and succeed is crucial. Due to the lack of respect or perceived equal value among teammates, sports teams frequently fail to prevent and manage internal problems. Teams benefit from a cohesive mentality since they frequently include players of all skill levels, from amateurs with limited experience to professionals with extensive experience. The leading sports teams can anticipate conflicts and resolve them before they become heated or disruptive to the team.  

• Teamwork

Professional sports are competitive team activities where athletes must cooperate with coaches, trainers, and other team members. Athletes learn unity, productivity, and teamwork in a setting that also calls for passion and loyalty, whether they compete individually or as a team. For instance, to defeat other teams, soccer players must work with all team members, whereas weakly unified teams frequently succumb to pressure. Each athlete brings experience and values which play an essential role in achieving the team’s objective. Teamwork can be applied to collaboration and problem-solving, similar to leadership and discipline.

• Leadership and Discipline

Sports also help to develop leadership qualities by teaching athletes respect, constructive criticism, and discipline in addition to teamwork and collaboration. A strong leader is aware of the advantages and weaknesses of their team members and encourages them to strengthen their areas of weakness while remaining open to self-improvement and constructive criticism. While some team captains have commanding and domineering personalities, the most effective ones exhibit tenacity and comprehension of both their players and the game. Importantly, leaders often initiate and uphold professionalism, respect, and discipline within the team. Leadership skills and discipline can be commonly used for logical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving.

• Healthy Living and Consistency

Professional sports promote a healthy lifestyle that emphasizes consistency, balance, and agility in addition to individual and team skills. A healthy lifestyle, albeit subjectively defined, typically entails a consistent routine of sports or activities to maintain fitness, a balance of time spent on work, school, people, and other activities for mental and emotional health, and flexibility in adjusting to life’s changes. Staying fit not only improves one’s physical and mental well-being but also helps one concentrate and reduces stress. Generally, about 150 minutes of moderate-intense physical activity a week can reduce the risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, many types of cancer, depression, anxiety, and dementia.

• Sportsmanship and Respect

Professional sports promote competition, passion and loyalty which can often diminish respect and dignity between team members and opponents, which harms its beneficial implications. Professional and sagacious mentally train to maintain sportsmanship and respect even in the most heated moments of the competition. While competition is the key factor in creating excitement and thrill, constructive competition can often take matters out of hand, resulting in players suffering critical physical or psychological injuries. Thus, athletes must de-escalate matters and try their best to help their opponents, such as marathon runners carrying injured runners to the finish line. These skills can be used to manage and prevent conflicts as well as boost unity within teams.

Professional sports can foster rivalry, fervour, and loyalty, which can impair their positive effects by eroding respect and dignity amongst teammates and rivals. Even in the most heated parts of the competition, wise and professional athletes psychologically train to retain sportsmanship and respect. While competition is the primary driver of thrill and excitement, healthy competition can frequently spiral out of control and cause serious bodily or psychological harm to players. As a result, athletes must diffuse the situation and make every effort to assist their rivals, such as when marathon runners carry injured competitors to the finish line. These abilities can be used to handle and avoid disputes as well as increase team cohesion.

• Analytical Skills

Athletes heavily practice analytical skills and require the rapid ability to collect, thoroughly analyze and remember information. Professional sports demand athletes to consistently train their visual, processing and problem-solving skills based on the information collected in almost immediate sequences depending on the speed of the sport. For example, tennis players commonly target their opponent’s backhand or forehand more often as they have analyzed their weaknesses and can use them as an advantage. The efficient analysis also allows athletes to recognize and adjust to changes using previous training and immediate judgment in addition to critical thinking. Analytical skills can be used for brainstorming, creative thinking and problem-solving.

• Critical Thinking and Conflict Management

Professional sports put athletes under a lot of stress, but they also help develop their critical thinking and conflict management skills. In addition to internal conflicts, obstacles, and risks, critical thinking can be applied to sports and competitions. For instance, to avoid serious injuries, athletes must be aware of their limitations and alert their coaches of any mental or physical issues they may be having. To avoid harm to the athlete and team, coaches must similarly consider the athlete’s condition and make appropriate choices. These decisions are often immediate yet crucial, underscoring the value of intelligence and skill development.

Professional sports importantly give athletes the chance to work as and lead a team while honing their inclusivity, sportsmanship, and analytical and critical thinking skills.

–

Danyal is a fourth-year criminology and business student at Simon Fraser University with a keen approach to business lawyering, authoring articles about various topics including self-development, education and conflicts.

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

Close your eyes. 

Imagine you can feel the soft pulses of your heartbeat beneath your ribcage, the rhythmic rise and fall of your chest, air trickling out of your nose as you exhale. The intricate mechanisms of your body keeping you alive behind the scenes as you shuttle around the daily activities of your life. 

Now, add an intangible pressure thrumming low and subdued in the background. It snuffles like a tickled murmur in your ear at first, before its momentum accelerates and the pressure incrementally begins to make itself known to you. 

At best, you simply try ignoring it — and at worst, you try to swat at it irritably, like a pesky mosquito coming to make a quick feast of you. 

But you missed the target and you’re left with the pulsating itch beneath your skin, the insidious salvia of the insect causing a bodily reaction, the residual bump already raised and large. 

Peer pressure, to me, feels like a similar experience. 

When I have experienced it at its absolute worst — when I was surrounded by the wrong friends and people — I recall it feeling like a heavy burden, a pressure so immense it completely crystallized my free will. It had felt like it had temporarily inhibited my ability to act with sovereignty. 

And for me, the nadir was the lingering feeling of having abandoned my own values or morals to appease someone else, or to “fit in” seamlessly, frightened of whatever level of ostracization I would face for exposing my own raw thoughts. 

Now — to haul you back to the present-day version of myself — I have come to the realization that peer pressure is much easier to combat as one gets older, after gathering more wisdom and becoming more selective with the company you keep. As long as you are surrounded with positive people who respect you and your boundaries, peer pressure can become a thing of the past in your immediate inner circle. 

But at the end of the day, it is impossible to completely eradicate the presence of peer pressure in one’s life. Whether it is in the professional or personal arena, there will inevitably be someone who will push at the barrier of your boundaries to test how safe and sound it is, attempting to manipulate your navigational sense to suit their own agenda. 

Practically speaking, it isn’t easy to withstand such pressure — and it would be unfair to understate the arduousness of staying resilient, especially when you aren’t just facing one pesky individual who doesn’t respect your boundaries, but a group of them with hive mentality. 

What it then becomes is a question of how to manage the stress, discomfort and pressure that ensues — whilst still maintaining your position, sticking to your guns under the baleful gaze of a pushy lobbyist. 

There is no one way to accomplish a 100% success rate, especially if you possess people-pleasing tendencies (as I do), but it becomes a matter of practice and experience. I recall much of my youth, especially as a teenager and early twenties, being an incessant internal battle of priorities between my own needs and wants versus someone else’s happiness. 

Back then, my perspective was that in order to be a good person I had to make sacrifices to make other people happy. Now, I am still a proponent of this notion and so that creed hasn’t changed that much — that is, I still believe that you do need to make sacrifices to make people happy. But I realized over time that there have to be stipulations to that; I cannot place other people’s needs over mine without some level of partiality. 

So now, I have modified that idea too: I voluntarily choose to make sacrifices for people whom I love and care for, those who will willingly reciprocate my efforts in kind, whenever I can and have the capacity to do so. And if I have a remaining reserve of energy, then be kind and do what I can, whenever I am able to, for other people as well. 

This all stems from the core, ensuring that I am maintaining and nourishing my emotional stock and wellness in order to then make more space for other people; I am choosing to make decisions that personally benefit me, without maliciously harming others, and it is not wrong or inherently selfish. And oftentimes, I really don’t mind going out of my way for other people, so it makes me feel better that I am not being stingy with generosity.

When I got to a point where I truly understood the weight of those words, truly entrenching and drenching myself in those concepts, it became easier to shed the burden of peer pressure. Rather than intensely sensing the malignant pressure of other people’s expectations and desires, I felt as though it glided right off my skin, a slick slide of tough scales protecting me from becoming malleable for the sake of ingratiating myself to other people. 

But as I mentioned earlier, just because it has gotten easier, it is always a matter of practice to ensure that I continue to advocate for myself, my values, and for people who may still struggle with speaking up for themselves. I don’t always succeed, but for each year, I know that my ability to endorse for myself is getting stronger and better. And so I take each “failure” as a lesson in hopes that, if a similar situation arises, I will be able to rise to the occasion next time. 

I try to remind myself, at the end of the day, that pleasing someone else by bending and moulding myself to suit their needs resolves the unsatisfying sensation of displeasing them temporarily. But if I compromise my own values or desires that are valid for someone else, the cognitive dissonance of letting myself do so will most likely have a lasting value. 

And I want to be proud of myself for making the right choices for a better tomorrow. 

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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.

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

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, feeling my chest pounding fast as I am overwhelmed by so many questions swirling around in my head. What am I doing with my life? I take a slow breath, get out of bed and look up at the starry horizon overlooking my bedroom and ask myself with a clear mind: Am I doing enough for this world that barely knows me?

To wake up every day is a great achievement for human existence, it is to know that you have the opportunity to take advantage of a new day, it is the greatest challenge to wake up and have a path that takes you somewhere. Whether or not you are doing something for others, knowing what you are going to leave to those who come after you should be something to which you should turn your mind.

When I was a child I thought everything was so easy and thought of the ease of a better future. That’s why I wanted to grow up fast, because I thought I could reach the sky just by closing and opening my eyes. But I grew up. I do not know from what moment everything became so difficult but, today seems so uncertain, because it is not in my hands to change the world or do enough to leave that piece of heaven to those who come after me.

And I realize that I must survive many prejudices that hinder the realization of my dreams if I want to achieve that peace of mind that allows me to go further than I could have imagined as a child, and that my existence is indispensable in this complex world.

Years have passed and I still have things to do, but time is ticking and the clock of life is running so fast that it barely gives me room to breathe. In such a complex world, the most important thing is to face the fear that can block your mind, the fear that silences your voice when you want to be heard, the fear that paralyzes you when you want to take firm steps. This is what I do day by day: face that fear that makes us weak, look at the world without fear and involve others in my decision to make a better world, where we can live without fear of making mistakes and think like children, eagerly desiring that future and learning to live with fear, but not letting it defeat us.

In this world, a large part of the population does not know that I exist, much less what I am doing for the world. I do not know what the rest of the world does to improve it, but what I do know is that I wake up every day knowing that my voice can be encouragement to others who have lost the strength to continue fighting. I wake up with the firm strength that my children will continue doing their best to take care of their world, and to guide those who have lost their way.

One day I woke up and made the wise decision to volunteer at Low Entropy, and though I had never heard of this organization, something told me that they could allow me to reach other people whom I did not know, but whom I could encourage and guide through my words to continue making the world a shared one where, despite the distances between us, we feel closer every day and there are no differences, a world where we can give a lot without expecting anything in return. Then I understood that there are no distances and no barriers keeping us from doing enough for the world in which we live, that language will not limit me to reach more people and tell them, “Here I am! I exist for you.” I understood that I could reach more voices and we could form echoes that resonate in every corner, because every wise word I contributed could encourage someone, and subtle gestures could allow me to generate smiles from people who had lost hope. Living and thinking about other people keeps the Earth spinning, and every time someone wakes up they have the same ability that I do to wake up each day and give the best of themselves.

Thanks to Low Entropy, I understood that we can join more people to change the world, helping others to believe in themselves and go far, crossing distances and remembering our motto that I repeat every day: “Change yourself, Change the world.” The world turns according to the way you turn it, the steps flow in the way you decide to move forward and your attitude is what generates positive or negative changes in your life. Accepting that we are different, but that we can make a difference, is the first step in moving forward. Knowing that many people have dreams, longings and hopes keeps the Earth breathing.

Am I doing enough for the world? I am. Are you?

—

Nasly is an economist living in Colombia, in a very nice coastal city called Santa Marta. She has been writing since she was a child, and has always thought that writing is the fastest way to speak without fear of expressing what we feel. Being a volunteer is a very rewarding job in Nasly’s life, as she believes there is nothing more important than helping without expecting anything in return.

Danyal Hakakzargar, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

• Critical Thinking

To reach more effective decisions, committees have a deliberative assembly that broadens the topic under consideration for committee members to investigate. Every committee member must use critical thinking as a tool to find, evaluate, and compare issues that frequently involve a variety of stakeholders and to come to wise judgements. If the problem at hand is viewed from a variety of angles, complex scenarios may result, forcing the committee to order its priorities according to perceived value. For instance, external and lobbying university committee members must understand the perceived value of a “tuition freeze” campaign for all stakeholders, including students, employees, and the institution. Hence, without critical thinking and considering the interests of stakeholders, the committee would not be able to reach a decision that is both beneficial and hedonistic. 

• Decision-Making

Decision-making is arguably the most challenging task of committees, especially if the assembly consists of diverse internal viewpoints. Depending on the complexity, topics are evaluated over an extended period after thorough stakeholder analysis, rational decisions, and voting privileges granted to the committee. Hence, an efficient comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of each decision is necessary, followed by precedent decisions on related topics, and a thorough analysis of how the decision will affect future policies and regulations. For instance, members of the university health and safety committee must thoroughly review all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal health regulations before choosing between the primary and alternate action plans.

• Individualism

Being a committee member requires one to practice working in groups and develop independence and self-reliance. Each member must independently do in-depth research, acquire data, and then share their conclusions with the other members while the subject is presented to the assembly as a whole. While not the most effective approach, it guarantees that each committee member is contributing to the overall goal of the group and is aware of the problem at hand. For instance, a university accessibility committee will frequently urge its members to go back to personal experiences where the university did not meet their accessibility needs, and then they will negotiate to change the rules to reflect these 

• Teamwork

Committee members learn collaborative ethics, which are useful in real-world circumstances, in addition to individualistic skills. Members of this group must respect and acknowledge the different points of view held by other members while also challenging one another’s arguments. Maintaining clear and succinct communication while being open to criticism and willing to learn are requirements for teamwork. Clarifying tasks and responsibilities within the group eliminates confusion, prevents mismanagement, and internal conflicts, all of which are essential components of cooperation. For example,  university committees frequently assign one member to chair meetings (president), one to handle negotiations (vice president), four to five members at large to address student communications, and one to two members to manage budgeting and paperwork.

• Leadership

As many events emerge and demand members of the committee to act immediately and control crises, leadership is a crucial ability needed as a committee member. Leadership is frequently thought of as having charisma and a rigid mentality, but it requires the ability to handle time and conflicts to keep the committee on track. While addressing the matter at hand, leaders must exhibit early recognition and awareness, integrity, and accountability, particularly in external communications between the committee and the university or other bodies. These abilities were frequently demonstrated during the pandemic, when schools cancelled classes and temporarily closed several buildings, limiting students’ access to resources and study areas. In these situations, members must take the initiative to plan meetings to examine the matter, obtain staff and student comments, and make reference to prior choices made in analogous situations.

• Networking

Assemblies that meet and communicate with other entities about diverse topics make up committees. Being a committee member has many advantages, including the opportunity to network with other committee members or representatives of other organizations, which can create positive impressions and connections. Thus, committee members must take advantage of the opportunity to attend meetings, voice their thoughts, and get to know one another. When meeting with governmental or community representatives as well as other university committees, they should also inquire about career opportunities. For instance, university external and community affairs committees frequently host lobbying workshops and meet with government and community representatives to introduce their members to senior professionals with vast experience in a variety of fields.

Although committees have a wide range of missions and values, it is undeniable that they expose members to a variety of subjects and activities where fundamental life skills like critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, and networking are acquired. 

–

Danyal is a fourth-year criminology and business student at Simon Fraser University with a keen approach to business lawyering, authoring articles about various topics including self-development, education and conflicts.

Lauren O’Malley (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

When I pictured my future relationships as a single person, I never thought I would be in a long-distance relationship. As it turned out, I have had multiple periods of being away from my partner. The furthest distance I have been away from my partner was from Canada to Central America. During the pandemic, I was working as a registered nurse in COVID-19 intensive care units. My partner had gone down to build our vacation home in Nicaragua. I would have liked to have visited, but it was best to stay put in Toronto, as there was such a need for ICU nurses at that critical time. Initially, the time apart was supposed to be three months, but our time apart ended up being five months. Almost half a year! This time apart had challenging moments, but allowed us to grow as a couple in a way we would have never done before. We learned many lessons, but the top three things we learned the most were being patient when communicating, trusting each other and actively listening to each other. 

In long-distance relationships, you need to put more effort forward when communicating. However you’re communicating, via phone, video or texting, the action must be equal to be productive. When you are apart from someone, you are living your separate lives, so making the time to communicate takes a lot more patience. Sometimes one of us wanted to speak with the other, but the other couldn’t. Emotions sometimes took over in these moments. It would be frustrating when you needed to talk and they weren’t available. We learned how to be more patient with one another and not let our emotions spill into how we set the tone of our conversations. If we introduce a conversation with specific tones, that can become the focus, versus the actual conversation. When you’re not in the physical presence of someone, you can’t read their body language or always understand the scenario they are in. Having patience until we found the time to talk helped us have productive conversations when we were apart. 

As much as we needed patience in specific times when we could not communicate, trust was equally as important. Life can be unpredictable. Sometimes our days don’t always go as planned. My partner’s days had many more hiccups than mine. Power outages are much more common in Nicaragua, and they disrupt wifi connections. If he was unavailable for a FaceTime date, I had to trust that something came up or there was a good reason for him not answering. We can’t always be in the same place as our partners, even in regular relationships. Trust always has to be present for relationships to work. But with long-distance, your trust in another has to be strong, because you are not seeing them at the end of your days and getting that physical connection and validation. You have to have trust and have confidence that the other person has your best interests in mind, even when you can’t see it or hear it.

Actively listening was another big lesson that we learned when we were apart. I sometimes struggled to listen actively to my partner when we communicated our experiences. I was in winter lockdowns, with vaccine mandates, while he was in a hot, third-world country where the pandemic looked utterly different. It was quite a time to be apart in such different worlds. We learned to actively listen to each other to understand each other’s separate lives. When either of us made assumptions or interrupted, the other felt frustrated, as we felt misunderstood. In relationships, we need our partners to understand us, not to necessarily agree, but to have our points of view acknowledged. We learned to make an effort to listen actively, which helped us understand each other’s daily life better, allowing us to be supportive of one another even when we were so far away. 

Being in a long-distance relationship forced my partner and I to learn to communicate better than before. We had a decent communication foundation, but our time apart revealed what needed work. We learned how to fine-tune our skills to support each other daily. The distance would have been much more difficult if we were unwilling to put the effort in. Understanding how to support each other through listening, patience, and trust was the critical foundation to keeping the relationship strong when apart. The distance taught us much about each other and gave us the tools for stronger communication today, when apart and when together. 

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Lauren O’Malley was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, and moved to Toronto in her mid-twenties, where she works as a critical care registered nurse. Lauren loves her RN job, but aspires to educate and help people in other ways. Writing is one of them. Lauren values time with her family and friends, and loves to chase sunsets.

Nour Nazmi, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Long-distance relationships can be a rollercoaster of difficult-to-understand emotions—from the misunderstandings that happen because of the tools you use to communicate to the loneliness of missing your partner. But don’t let the challenges overwhelm you—you can make your long-distance relationship thrive with the right strategies and mindset. 

 

In this article, we’ll discuss three tips to help you navigate the ups and downs of a long-distance relationship so you can build a healthy and lasting bond with your partner without worrying about whether your story will be like all those unsuccessful love stories. 

 

Tip #1: Communication is Key

 

Communication is the foundation of any successful relationship—and it’s even more vital in long-distance relationships, where the lack of physical proximity can lead to feelings of loneliness and misunderstanding. Here are a few suggestions to help you become a better communicator: 

• Practice active listening: Active listening involves paying attention to what the other person says and responding to show you understand and care by avoiding distractions, asking thoughtful questions, and summarizing what you’ve heard to ensure you’ve understood it correctly. 

 

• Be clear and concise: Instead of complex language that often leads to confusion and misunderstandings, use simple language, avoid jargon or technical terms, and get to the point quickly.

 

• Show empathy: Empathy involves putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and understanding their perspective. It’s a well-known aspect of emotional intelligence that allows you to connect on deeper levels and navigate conflicts more effectively.

 

• Use non-verbal cues: Non-verbal cues, such as body language, facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, can convey information about how you’re feeling and what you’re trying to communicate. These cues not only help to clarify or reinforce the meaning of spoken words but also help to regulate the flow of the conversation. 

 

Tip #2: Set Expectations and Boundaries

 

Setting expectations and boundaries early on in a long-distance relationship can be the difference between a failed relationship and a successful one. Here are a few suggestions to help you navigate this area: 

• Establish communication expectations: Establishing communication expectations often involves discussing how often you will communicate, what methods of communication you will use, and how you will handle miscommunications or conflicts. Setting clear communication expectations will help you and your partner feel connected and supported despite the distance.

• Ask insightful and revealing questions: Asking questions helps couples stay connected and build intimacy and trust. These questions may include the following: What are your values? What are your future plans? What’s your communication style and level of commitment? What are you not willing to compromise on? What are you comfortable giving? What do you hope to gain? 

• Discuss personal space and time boundaries: In any relationship, setting boundaries around personal space and time is crucial, but it’s especially essential in a long-distance one. One effective way to do this is to set aside designated times for alone time or self-care, during which both partners agree not to contact each other. By respecting each other’s boundaries, you can reduce stress, foster trust and mutual respect, and ensure you and your partner feel valued and supported. 

 

Tip # 3 Be Creative and Stay Positive

 

By staying creative and positive, you can keep the relationship fresh and help build a strong foundation for your future together. Here are three ways to stay creative and positive when your partner lives miles away:

• Pursue individual hobbies or interests: Just because you’re in a long-distance relationship doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold. Pursue your own hobbies and interests, and encourage your partner to do the same. When you learn something new from these activities, you can use your new insights to keep your conversations meaningful and full of life. 

• Practice gratitude and positive thinking: It’s easy to get bogged down in negative thoughts when you’re in a long-distance relationship—but practicing gratitude and positive thinking can help you stay optimistic and focused on the good things in your life. Take time each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for, reframe negative thoughts into positive ones, practice positive self-talk, and surround yourself with positive people. The beauty of gratitude and positive thinking is that they don’t cost a thing, and you can expect to see positive results in no time.

• Volunteer or give back: Helping others can be a great way to cultivate a sense of gratitude and positivity. Consider volunteering your time or resources to a cause you care about, or do something kind for someone else. By giving back, you can shift your focus away from negative thoughts and towards the positive impact you can have on others.

 

Resources for Long-Distance Relationships

 

If you’re struggling with your long-distance relationship, you don’t need to struggle alone. There are many resources out there that can help you gain more clarity. Here are some free online support groups and services you can access:

 

Loving from a Distance: A website dedicated to helping people in long-distance relationships. They offer advice, tips, and a supportive community of fellow people who are in a long-distance relationship.

LDR Magazine: They offer free e-books with ideas for fun webcam dates, conversation starters.
 

The Distance: A podcast dedicated to sharing stories from couples who have successfully navigated long-distance relationships. The host offers practical advice and inspiration to help you keep moving forward. 

 

Whether you’re just starting a long-distance relationship or you’ve been in one for a while, these tips can help you stay connected with your romantic partner. Remember to prioritize communication, trust, and support—and don’t forget to have fun along the way. 

 

We’d love to hear your thoughts and additional tips! Share your experiences and insights in the comments below to help others in similar situations. Let’s support each other in building strong, healthy long distance relationships!

—

Nour Nazmi is a Toronto-based writer, editor and purpose-driven communications professional. When she is not at work or volunteering, she’s either on LinkedIn Learning or creating new products for DM Tees Designs, her eco-friendly business on Etsy.

Danyal Hakakzargar, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Debates can be used in a variety of settings, such as discussions, disputes or everyday situations, while debating is a useful skill mastered throughout life. There is always room for development regardless of the exposure, even while some law students, like myself, learn to debate through applications and experience in case studies, legal themes, or research. 

• Contrasting Viewpoints

All debates require opposing points of view, and the first step in developing your argument is realizing that at least one, if not many, of the other participants, will disagree with it. As the key problem is rephrasing your arguments utilizing other arguments offered, debaters should never underestimate their opponents or put their arguments in a winning position before the debate.

• Strong, Well-Defined Arguments

The most difficult aspect of the debate is often introducing your perspective because an ambiguous perspective will damage your case from the start and perhaps put you on the defensive. By adopting a defensive posture, you offer your opponents a significant advantage in the discussion and make it difficult to objectively evaluate their arguments, let alone persuade the audience.

• Perspectives Over Opponents

In a discussion, all participants are presented with the same information and issues; as a result, it is critical to recognize and minimize personal prejudice, including bias toward your opponents. It is crucial to understand that you can only refute the opponent’s argument, including its generalizability and validity. Debaters must be aware of the limited amount of control they have during the debate, therefore they must make the most use of the resources at their disposal.

• Active Listening and Elucidation

One of the primary components of debates is rebuttals, and active listening is the most crucial ability. Strong debaters isolate the key aspects of the arguments and respond with logic and facts, demonstrating tenacity, knowledge, and recognition. Therefore, rebutting your opponents based on a wrongful assumption undermines your argument and questions your active listening skills.

• Data and Research

Debaters should use statistics and research to back up their claims, and they should also push for supporting evidence from the other side. Debaters must prepare findings, analysis, and supporting evidence for every debate, and they should plan to have the accuracy, generalizability, and credibility of their data verified.

• Rephrase with Reason

While it is easy to give in to the pressure of arguments made by the opposition, strong debaters rephrase or restructure their arguments using the reasoning put forward while remaining steadfast in their perspective.

• Rebuttal Through Critical Thinking

Debaters frequently lose debates while having outstanding research and material available because they base their arguments on emotions and interpretations, thus placing themselves in the position of criticism. Debaters must remain on topic and exercise critical thinking to create compelling and well-defined rebuttals, reducing the possibility of having their arguments factually challenged.

• Confidence and Charisma

One should have faith in their capabilities and continually strive to acquire new skills, maintaining confidence in personal development. Debaters get the ability to retain their composure under pressure and persuade opposing debaters of their persistence. Although logical arguments are frequently the most convincing, a confident debater inspires trust, conviction, and charisma in the audience, increasing the likelihood of support.

• Learning and Productivity

Debaters should learn from each other’s arguments and knowledge of the topic during the debate. While competition can be exciting and thrilling, it is important to value learning and having a good time while engaging in productive and healthy debates.

• Room for Improvement

Debates are fantastic opportunities for growth, similar to practically any situation in life, and their primary goal is to introduce debaters to a difficult topic where they can develop logical arguments. By taking notes and keeping in mind the key elements of other successful debaters, you can challenge yourself to learn and grow every day. 

While debate in a work or academic setting is slightly different from situations in daily life, it offers beneficial opportunities for personal growth. My experience debating has inspired skills including confidence, active listening, critical thinking, and being open to development. These skills can be employed in a variety of real-world situations, such as presentations, interviews, and contract negotiations.

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Danyal is a fourth-year criminology and business student at Simon Fraser University with a keen approach to business lawyering, authoring articles about various topics including self-development, education and conflicts.

Ignacia Riquelme, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In our world, suffering is normalized, like it’s something that everyone should live and face. The negative actions of human beings become something mediatic. They become the main thing we hear during our day thanks to the media, and this can make us lose faith. As a result, living a positive life is sometimes seen as false because it does not seem possible for a human being to live in peace and be genuinely happy with the horrors mentioned daily.

This is why, when it becomes unbearable to keep living in these negative conditions and you choose to begin your healing journey by changing the way that you see your reality, some days you are probably going to feel worse than before, and your world is not always going to feel safe anymore.

The things that trigger you will be more present in your life. They are probably going to be waiting for you around the corner because now you need to face them. This is why we need to understand that, when we begin this journey, it is going to have different ups and downs. The process to heal and connect with your inner peace isn’t a straight line. The human being is a being of habit, and as soon as its brain notices something different from what they are used to (even when it is positive for the person), it sends signals to the rest of the body to keep it alert.

If there is one thing we can all agree on, it is that healing is uncomfortable and can often feel more exhausting than the lifestyle we led before. And this is where self-sabotage can come in. For example, if you are someone who uses meditation to heal, your mind may have wandered in the beginning, or you may have even noticed strange sensations in your body. It’s ok, it’s normal, the body is not used to new changes, and when it feels uncomfortable, it wants to go back to its comfort zone. I lived that too. When I started my journey, my body and my mind had forgotten what it felt like to be tired. The first time I felt myself yawning during the day it scared me. I thought there was something wrong with me, but the truth is that there wasn’t. Over time, I had to teach my body and mind that it was normal to feel tired, that it was healthy to rest, and that you don’t need to be on your toes 24 hours a day. Getting used to a new version of yourself takes time, but it’s worth it.

At the end of the day, healing isn’t just letting go of the old habits and patterns that led us to the life we lived, and it’s not just getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things, it’s building the life you truly deserve to live. It’s creating the circumstances that you think are right for the best version of your being to come out and shine in the world. And no matter how much turbulence you have to face, at the end of the day, you know that everything will work out because you have yourself, and there is nothing more comforting than that.

There’s good in saying goodbye.

There’s good in giving yourself the time to find peace. 

There’s good in letting go and being yourself.

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Leave your thoughts for Ignacia 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!

Atakan Eligüzel  (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Many of us fear that something out of our control could happen and ruin our day. When we decide to take a walk, we might fear that it might start raining. We might want to avoid working in groups, thinking a team member will ruin our project. The frustration and the feeling of “I knew what was going to happen” can reinforce these thoughts. Here are several points to consider when you have doubts about the future of your plans and life.

Understand the decision-making process

In childhood, parents or caregivers make decisions for us. We generally have little to no impact on when and how much we eat or sleep, other than crying. As we grow up, people usually expect us to take on more responsibilities. On the other hand, they may want to assure our well-being, and involve themselves in our decision-making process. Poor communication might result in conflicts, reinforcing uncollaborative behavior. I remember the first time I became overweight and the resentment I felt toward my grandma, whom I blame for constantly pushing me to eat more.

In our careers, we often have to collaborate with others to complete tasks. We might see others trying to push their responsibilities onto us while they give little to no effort at all. We could learn from this that trusting others can result in sketchy results and frustration. We internalize that factors not in our control can ruin our best efforts.

We make a lot of decisions throughout our lives. Sometimes, we might rely on emotions rather than logic. We might have difficulties understanding how our emotions influence our decisions, which might make it hard to comprehend how we make some of them.

In these situations, take a step back and think about the initial problem. It is usually better to take constructive steps instead of blaming others or yourself. Even if your solution doesn’t work, you will at least know the root cause and be able to take further action if needed.

You are not the best predictor when it comes to the future

We tend to overlook things when we try to predict what is going to happen. If we have recently experienced negative emotions, we tend to be pessimistic about the future. We tend to consider the opinions and experiences of others more than we would like to admit, especially those of close relatives and friends. Just because your uncle could not learn Spanish doesn’t mean you cannot. When evaluating evidence, I suggest you investigate further into specific cases. Did your uncle really pay attention in his Spanish classes? How much time and effort did he actually invest in it, and how much are you willing to? Answering these questions can help you understand the process behind your decision.

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst

There is a very good reason why many cultures of the world praise being vigilant while staying hopeful in ambiguous situations. When we are hopeful, our expectations rise higher and higher. If we fail to meet our expectations, we often feel more frustrated and hopeless. Our false hope and expectations amplify our pain, but we still feel like we need to be hopeful. Our motivation comes from the desire to obtain a positive result at the end, which is often not in our control.

When we plan to go out on a date with someone, we often expect to go into a relationship further. But when we realize that the other party is not interested, things might start to crumble around us. We might feel like we are not enough and resentful. But if we acknowledge that a negative outcome is possible, we would find it easier to accept negative results.

Let people show their skills

Collaborating with others can be trickier than many would like to admit. There are specific challenges to teamwork. Firstly, we need to stay coordinated and in contact with other members. We also need to accept that our ideas might not shape the end product, and we need to be open to working in accordance with the ideas of others. This can be hard, as the final work might not look as we’d hoped .

Especially when we doubt our group members’ skills, we might try to control everything they do. I remember when I had to write an article in a group of four people. I felt uncomfortable with my group members’ pieces, so I rewrote a big chunk of their texts and added new parts. After they saw that I had rewritten their pieces, they stopped working on the project, and I ended up doing most of the work.

We need to give space to our team members to let them show their skills. Just because we might have had disappointing experiences working in groups doesn’t mean every group will be the same. Almost all people have something valuable to give to a project, and letting them take the initiative is a perfect way to discover how they can help.

Conclusion

Accepting that we are not in control of everything and that negative results can occur outside our control is key to success. People like to work with those who accept that they cannot control every aspect of their lives and adjust themselves accordingly.

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Atakan Eligüzel is a writer who enjoys sharing his opinions and perspectives on various subjects and issues. He was born and has spent most of his life in Istanbul, and enjoys the privilege of knowing people from different backgrounds, who often have diverse perspectives.