Vinter Metanoia

We've all heard people willing to motivate us say things like, "do whatever it is that makes you the happiest" or, "find happiness in everything you do." In the world where simple sorrows and hardships are glamorised to be taken way too seriously than how they need to be taken, is it implying that all of us must aim towards the ultimate goal of reaching happiness? Is this the ultimate goal? What is happiness? There have been many philosophies trying to define this word, and all agree it is way more than meets the pages.  Psychology Today , "Happiness is an electrifying and elusive state. Philosophers, theologians, psychologists, and even economists have long sought to define it. And since the 1990s, a whole branch of psychology—positive  psychology—has been dedicated to pinning it down." Positive Psychology ,   "Happiness is often known by another name in positive psychology research: subjective well-being, or SWB. Some believe happiness is one of...

Homo sapiens  have the privilege of bearing the weight of the most developed brain in all of evolution's story. But we keep using this perk of ours in ways that are anti-intelligent. Here's what humans have done as an effect of nurturing the myth that they are the most important things ever. 1. Environmental destruction.  The most pressing problem today is climate change. But are we going anywhere near solving this problem? It's one of those problems whose solutions are out there in the open but we've closed our minds into believing that it's impossible to find a cure just because the cure requires us to redesign huge parts of our lifestyle. 2. Speciesism. Not many practically are willing to accept that humans are also animals. The only time they do, they probably are in a conversation with scientific grounds. Just because humans have the most evolved brain does not mean we are less animal. With the same logic, it can be said that blue whales are the largest animals...

Humans have done so much with the motive of "leaving behind their marks on Earth." One of them is the introduction and application of the concept of "countries" and therefore, borders . I remember those few moments of silence while the term "CAA" was mentioned. Not the guilty silence, but the silence fuelled with ignorance.  What is a country ? According to Wikipedia, " The term  country  refers to a political state or nation or its territory." Why countries? - Humans have evolved as tribes with self-sufficient, complacent, and competitive lifestyles. This instinct holds true even now despite many being disconnected from this system. -Humans have used their most evolved brains to tie themselves to labels depending on race, religion, creed, and whatever else that has no basis to be factors of separation. Why I feel the concept of "countries" is facing its worst now (administrative units are better). Hatred. Stereotypes. Insensitivity. Wa...

Religion is equivalent to a moral compass for many. For some, it's an identity. But there are some toxic parts of present religious institutions that could pull oneself or a community down while maintaining the illusion of "enlightenment." Many religious people know what to take from the religion of their choice and use it as a guidebook. But sometimes most people only take the concrete part of religion and follow practices that almost no moral guide would recommend.  Here are the reasons why I think that present religious institutions could make you a worse person than what you might think you are becoming . 1. Be good as it benefits you. Religions preach moral values and the society would benefit if everyone lived with empathy. But most religions place a reward for doing good deeds. It could be an afterlife or a next life. Being good only because you want to enjoy the serene fields of heaven or not end up resurrecting as a cockroach in your next life just makes empty pa...