Wisdom in fragments

Grief is perhaps the most universal human experience—live long enough, and you will grieve. When I see grief in another, whether a friend or a perceived adversary, what do I choose to do? In moments of shared grief, we find ourselves reflecting each other; your grief mirrors mine.

Author of "From Scratch" memoir and television producer

People often talk about life hacks, but for me, the real 'hack' is simply to remain curious and willing. It's about living in a space between willingness and curiosity—willing to embrace discomfort as you pursue questions, without a clear idea of the answers.

Author of "From Scratch" memoir and television producer

Much of our learning, expansion, and deepening as humans occur within the realm of connectivity, particularly through the conversations we dare to have when we are most vulnerable and authentic. Simply by engaging in genuine, open dialogue, something transformative happens.

Author of "From Scratch" memoir and television producer

Caregiving taught me about the dual nature of love—it's both an internal and external commitment. As a caregiver, I realised the importance of self-care, not just for my own well-being, but so that I could be there for him. This created a symbiotic and reciprocal relationship; in giving, I received abundantly, and we both were uplifted.

Author of "From Scratch" memoir and television producer

Becoming more optimistic involves meticulously noting down your problems and then systematically reinterpreting them to find the most positive alternative explanation. I describe this process as becoming your own advocate—stepping outside yourself, scrutinizing your initial interpretations, and challenging them with counterarguments.

Psychologist known for research on child development and magical thinking in children

I don't label it as a self-care or self-help book; I describe it as a self-destruct book. The reason for this unconventional title stems from the inherent problem with self-care: we are often our own worst caregivers. Left to our own devices, we tend to blow things out of proportion and expect the world to change to make us happy.

Psychologist known for research on child development and magical thinking in children

While people may have more connections than ever, these connections often lack depth; they are rarely reciprocal and seldom provide emotional sustenance. The pain of loneliness is something else entirely—stemming from being deliberately excluded, ostracized, or bullied. This type of isolation is literally painful, as it activates the pain centers in the brain.

Psychologist known for research on child development and magical thinking in children

The 'compare and despair' generation is constantly bombarded with unrealistic portrayals of success, leading everyone to feel inadequate, regardless of their achievements. We all have flaws and recognize our weaknesses, and there will always be someone who seems better in some way. Thus, no one is ever fully satisfied.

Psychologist known for research on child development and magical thinking in children

I believe happiness is a consequence, not a goal. If you engage in the right activities that bring contentment, happiness will naturally follow. Viewing happiness as a goal makes it elusive; it's like chasing an illusory concept. Once you grasp it, it tends to dissipate—such is the nature of emotions.

Psychologist known for research on child development and magical thinking in children

Dreaming introduces noise into our system. There's a compelling hypothesis in machine learning called 'overfitting,' where systems become so tuned to recognizing patterns that they falter when faced with new, unexpected scenarios. Some computer scientists are exploring ways to inject noise into computational models to keep them adaptable.

When discussing consciousness with my three sons, I describe it as an emergent phenomenon. Imagine 80,000 people in a stadium, each one representing a neuron. The collective roar you hear when you approach the stadium might be likened to consciousness.

The experiences you have in dreams, measured by brain activity and glucose consumption, are remarkably similar to those you would have while awake. Whether you're running the London Marathon in reality or dreaming about it, your brain's electrical and metabolic patterns are nearly identical.

This leads me to a bold assertion—though it's my opinion, not a scientific measurement—that we sleep because we must dream. Yes, sleep has metabolic benefits, but a crucial aspect seems to be that our neurons need to dream to maintain their capabilities.

I believe it's more fundamental: similar to the 'use it or lose it' principle that applies to muscles, our brains engage in a nightly routine that stimulates thoughts and ideas not typically relied upon during the day. This built-in process keeps our thinking adaptive and nimble, fostering divergent thoughts and offering an evolutionary advantage.

Even if you're eating right, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep, dysfunctional breathing can still hold you back. If it's dysfunctional, your body will eventually make you pay the price in terms of health and focus.

Author of "Breath" & Investigative Journalist on Respiratory Science

People have been told that asthma is an incurable condition, that they'll need to stay indoors and rely on a bronchodilator every few hours for life. But that's just not true. The way you breathe is deeply connected to asthma symptoms, a message that asthmatics rarely hear from anyone.

Author of "Breath" & Investigative Journalist on Respiratory Science