Imagine the following: A mother laments her relationship with her adult son. “I am constantly thinking of my son. I cook and bring over food. I gave him the down payment for his first mortgage. I babysit my grand daughter. But my son speaks to me with disdain. He doesn’t call.” Her voice quivers and […]
Stuck in the Right: The Curse of Being Correct Read More »
Through his analysis of personality and psychic development, honed over many years of practice, Alfred Adler proposed the notion of the fictive final goal as the organizing principle at the core of personhood. The fictive final goal is a vision of completion, the ultimate end that holds the aim of all striving; it is the
Meditation and the Fictive Final Goal Read More »
Inhale acrid smoke flying embers the bodies of trees particles of charred soil manic flames bourne of greed hazy blindness swirling confusion madness driven mad anguish multiplying anguish without beginning without end this searing pain. Exhale great vow immense oceans cool dharma rain showers of beneficence soothing balm poured from brokenness given from poverty unremitting
Fire-Breathing (For Wildfires) Read More »
On my way to work one morning in late April, I noticed that my surroundings were tinged in amber. The sky was a chalky gray and the sunlight was diffuse and faint, a hue that reminded me of previous summers when smoke blotted out the sun and shrouded Vancouver, where I have lived for over
The End of Summer: How the Climate Crisis Upends the Cheery Season Read More »
The premise of classic utilitarian philosophy rests on the fundamental status of pleasure and pain, each denoted as the countervailing opposites of experience. Pain is inherently bad and pleasure inherently good; the course of moral conduct aims to maximize pleasure and minimize pain for the greatest number of sentient subjects. Modern proponents of act utilitarianism
The Proximity of Pain: The Role of Pleasure in Suffering Read More »
The Guardian recently reported that Moderna, one of the leading firms that developed the mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, is well on track to developing treatments for cancer, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. With research and manufacturing capacities accelerated by the pandemic, Moderna stated that vaccines will soon treat many diseases beyond infectious viruses. In the
The Curse of Longevity Read More »
“I am human, and therefore nothing human can be foreign to me.” This quote from Terence, ancient Roman poet and playwright, crystalizes the unity of human experience. In a world of diversity and intersectionality, to ponder universality is to tread on dangerous ground. One cannot easily generalize personal experience, and there are many lived
When I Practice, I Practice for All Read More »
Aristotle once made a distinction between five forms of knowing: Phronesis (practical knowledge), episteme(knowledge), sophia (wisdom), techne (skill), and logos (reason). Phronesis is expertise forged by experience, the authority of a subject earned through practice. Episteme, on the other hand, is declarative knowledge generated through research and study. The challenge of shaping a life lies
The Hardest Part of Practice: Practicing! Read More »
The mindfulness movement has gained significant momentum in recent decades. There is now widespread interest in mindfulness techniques and practices in the promotion of mental health. Many educators and health-care professionals see mindfulness—a suite of techniques that harness attention and awareness—as a way to manage stress and anxiety. The utilization of this technique as a
Three Analogies for Mindfulness Read More »
Is Critical Mindedness Good for Mental Health? Being a curmudgeon is more than a matter of disposition: it is a practiced art. Every social gathering bound by pleasantries and blandishments can do with a spicy dose of disruption. Is this the menacing habit of self-appointed contrarians, who cannot feel their own weight and
Is Critical-Mindedness Good for Mental Health? Read More »
David Chang Counselling is gratefully located on the territories of the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. David supports and celebrates diversity in race, gender, sexual orientation, language, culture, and neurological composition.
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