Self-esteem can be understood as existing on two related but distinct levels: rational self-esteem and emotive self-esteem. The former, evidence-based and logical. The latter, rooted in early experiences and unconscious emotions. Both contribute to our overall sense of self worth, but the emotive is often harder to navigate, but even more important to do so given its capacity to unknowingly contribute to psychological distress.

The Default Mode Network (DMN) is the part of your brain that’s active when you’re not focussed on a specific task – think how your mind wanders as you’re brushing your teeth or walking your commute. Its generally involved in daydreaming, self-reflection, envision the future, or understanding other people. Activity in the DMN is related to various neurological conditions, like Alzheimer’s, depression, and anxiety. Meditation, or the conscious, non-judgemental engagement with present-moment awareness, has a particularly interesting relationship with the DMN.

Sometimes the capacity to express oneself is inhibited by the constraints of language. Schadenfreude, Ikigai, Saudade are all words in other languages that capture feelings or experiences for which English has no equivalent. Тоска, however, might be my favourite.

Existential Psychotherapy is a branch of psychoanalysis that utilises the ideas of the existentialist movement of the mid-20th century to guide psychological treatment. In a nutshell, an existential psychotherapist acts as guide and companion on a client’s journey of self-discovery through engagement with the most profound aspects of the human condition, such as meaning, mortality, freedom, or authenticity.

Is everything conscious? This is (sort of) what panpsychists believe. This school of thought argues that consciousness is not a uniquely human manifestation of our advanced cognitive evolution, but a ubiquitous and fundamental component of all things in the universe.

Lawrence Kohlberg (1927 – 1987) proposed that morality develops in six stages.

According to him, only 10-15% of people reach the final stage.