The World & the Collective ✨
Where inner work meets the outer world
How do we navigate our complex world with awareness and integrity? This is my space for exploring the bigger picture—our culture, our global challenges, and the collective energies that shape our lives.
Instead of simple answers, you’ll find thoughtful questions. Instead of doom or hype, you’ll find a rational optimism. My approach is to be a thoughtful devil’s advocate, offering a culturally-aware perspective on the forces that shape our world, always with an eye toward the power of individual, conscious action.
From the reading room: a soulful lens on the collective
What I Learned When the Lights Went Out
A few days ago, the lights went out around me. I wasn’t the only one affected. Around 100,000 homes and businesses were plunged into darkness. The power outage lasted for many hours....Continue reading→
A Powerful Lesson About Equality From “Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World”
In "Sand Talk," Tyson Yunkaporta describes the "better than/less than"-fallacy. Find out why it's so toxic and what to replace it with.Continue reading→
Lessons From “A Separate Peace”: Are You a Lighthouse or a Battleship?
John Knowles taught me that there are 2 types of people: lighthouses (who create a separate peace) and battleships. Which one are you?Continue reading→
I Went to Wayan Nuriasih, the Famous Healer From “Eat Pray Love.” It Was Bizarre.
Meeting Wayan Nuriasih, the world-famous healer from "Eat Pray Love," was different than I expected it to be. Here's what happened...Continue reading→
Here Are the Overlooked Characteristics of Responsible Adults
People don't magically become adults when they reach a certain age. Can you guess what the characteristics of responsible adults are?Continue reading→
What Made the “I Have a Dream” Speech So Special?
Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech has a surprising backstory. Find out more about what made the speech so special!Continue reading→
Effective Altruism: How Small Donations Can Change Someone’s Life
Want to do some good in the world by donating money to a cause? Your donations might be unhelpful— here’s what you need to consider.Continue reading→
Is Compassion for Others the Superpower of Influential People?
A series of losses has led me to reflect on the importance of having compassion for others (and oneself!). Here's what I learned from this challenging time.Continue reading→
The Last Jedi Can Teach You to Love Complexity
Many challenges we're dealing with can be attributed to the complexity of modern life. Here's how "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" can help you get more comfortable with it!Continue reading→
From the archive: musings on culture & global events
Over the years, I've written about a wide range of topics that spark my curiosity. The following articles are part of that journey. While they may not all directly relate to my core work, I keep them here as part of my personal and public archive.
There Has (Probably) Never Been a Safer Time to Be a Woman
By making women more afraid than they need to be, people unintentionally limit women's freedom. Please don't be overly afraid. Continue reading→
Britney Spears Is Becoming the Kurt Cobain / Greta of Millennials
As Millennials face the darkness (like Gen X) and become a rebel with a cause (like Gen Z), Britney Spears becomes their figurehead and cause. Continue reading→
Jesus Has a PR Problem: “Christians”
When I met a CINO (Christian in Name Only), her unkind actions spoke so loud I couldn't hear her (supposedly Christian) words. Continue reading→
Characteristics of a Hero: From Beowulf to Sir Gawain
What are the characteristics of a hero? The answer, my friend, may be stranger than fiction. Come along, secrets await amidst the mists...Continue reading→
Is Marriage Outdated Now or Can It Be Redeemed?
Is marriage outdated? Let's explore the history of an unromantic and unequal institution... and what Marriage 2.0 looks like! Continue reading→
How to unlock Both/And Thinking: it’s not Either/Or
Most of life is best approached from both/and thinking. Discover what that can look like... and what we can learn from Einstein.Continue reading→
The Strange World of “The Dispossessed”: Should You Move There?
Find out what Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" has to do with punk rock, Shakespeare... and if you should move to Anarres, the ambigous utopia.Continue reading→
“If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going.” Here’s How.
Let's talk about the best quote Winston Churchill never said: "If you're going through hell, keep going." Here's how to apply it to your life! Continue reading→
Systemic Racism: I Played a Black Character in a Game; This Is What Happened to Him
I didn't think that a DnD game would descend into an exploration of systemic racism. Here's what happened and what we can learn from it. Continue reading→
Women Proposing: Here’s Why You Should Get Down on One Knee
Women proposing is still the exception but here's why you shouldn't let that stop you. Includes inspirational examples of women who proposed.Continue reading→
We’re Failing Male Victims of Sexual Assault; Here’s What You Need to Know
When it comes to sexual violence against men, we’ve failed as a society. Find out how you can be a part of the solution instead.Continue reading→
Godwin’s Law or: How to Be Less Wrong When You Call Someone a Nazi
Godwin's Law is one of the foundational principle of the web. A German (yours truly!) shares why Nazi comparisons are so problematic and what to do instead.Continue reading→
5 Powerful Lessons From Two Everyday Heroes & Muhammad Ali
What does it mean to be a hero? Here are 5 powerful lessons from two everyday heroes and Muhammad Ali that show that anyone can be a hero. Continue reading→
How to Breathe in a World Gone Mad
As a child, I once fell down on an iron railing I had been balancing on. When my ribs connected with the iron railing, the air was crushed out of...Continue reading→
Dear America, Here’s What This Alien Wants You to Know
In 2016, I suddenly found myself in the midst of a civil war. This was surprising to me. After all, I hadn’t time-traveled to the Earth’s past. All I had done was move to the United States from my native habitat.Continue reading→
A Legal Analysis of the Statement That “Blue Lives Matter”
From a human rights perspective, there are important differences between "Black Lives Matter" and "Blue Lives Matter." A lawyer (yours truly!) explains them in 2 minutes.Continue reading→
Black Lives Matter: This Is About Human Rights, Not Politics
There is nothing that should be controversial about a statement such as “Black Lives Matter.” Here's a summary of the human rights situation in 6 sentences. Continue reading→
7 Powerful Ways to Understanding Other Cultures Better
Here's what I have learned about understanding other cultures after having lived in 7 different countries by myself from the age of 15 on. Continue reading→
Mattie Stepanek: Finding Inspiration in the Unlikeliest Places
A while ago, I accidentally discovered and found inspiration in the words of a beautiful soul, Mattie Stepanek. Here's how it happened...Continue reading→
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