In Ivan Krylov’s 1814 tale “The Inquisitive Man,” we read about a man quite struck by the wide array of tiny creatures he encountered on a museum visit, even as he failed to notice the enormous elephant displayed amongst them. The phrase “the elephant in the room” has become a common metaphor for something that is noticed but not named or discussed. We can allow ourselves to wonder...

Bandaids are harmful when an underlying wound needs attention and I'm simply using the bandaid to avoid dealing with it, but that specific scenario doesn't indicate that bandaids are never helpful. When it comes to psychological well-being, the most safe and manageable approach may include applying a bandaid for a period of time...

There’s a certain amount of self-discipline that can be really helpful in making life as a good as it can be, but life changes. We change. What’s good for us today may not necessarily make sense for us tomorrow...