According to psychology, the urge to immediately fix a partner’s or friend’s distress instead of just sitting with them in it isn't empathy; it is your own low frustration tolerance. When someone you love is hurting, and you instantly jump into problem-solving mode, offering unsolicited advice or trying to find a silver lining, you are often trying to soothe your own secondary anxiety. You aren't rescuing them from their pain; you are rescuing yourself from the discomfort of witnessing a vulnerability you don't know how to hold.
Witches call it magic. Religious people call it prayer. Spiritualists call it manifestation. Atheists call it the placebo effect. Scientists call it quantum physics. Everyone debates its name, but no one denies its existence.
I watched @tsarrast podcast with @EWassPoker and it was 10/10. Best poker podcast I’ve listened to. If you’re a young gun trying to find your way I’d strongly recommend to listen. Wass just gets it. Rast amazing and Laak asks great questions that people at home want to know
Laughter is anti-inflammatory. Crying is regulating. Hugging is immunoprotective. Singing is vagal toning. Dancing is neurogenic.
Joy is a biological necessity.
person of interest, the mentalist, sherlock, dexter, castle, burn notice, 24, fringe, monk, supernatural, white collar, suits, psych, chuck, lie to me, leverage, elementary, blindspot, the blacklist, prison break, lost, the americans, justified, banshee, nikita, hannibal, the shield, alias, bones, the wire, true detective.
Modern life has tricked us into thinking travel is good.
It's kind of barbaric for the body.
Last time I went to Asia we measured my biomarkers.
The data was bad…
+ 9 days for blood glucose stability
+ 9 days to re-entrain my circadian rhythm
+ 18 days for sleep architecture recovery
The research:
+ people who travel constantly for work (3+ wks a month) have measurably more anxiety, depression, and drinking problems than people who don’t
+ repeated jet lag is linked to memory-region shrinkage in flight crews
+ your immune system takes a hit. Dry cabin air dries out mucous membranes that block infection which can leave you more exposed to getting sick
This is intuitive because the body runs on a clock. Biological processes kicked off by another, with sleep + sun running the show.
Cabin altitude is ~7,000 ft. Hypoxia alone disrupts cortisol and suppresses nocturnal melatonin for hours after you land. Cabin humidity drops as low as 5% (drier than the Sahara).
If you’re budgeting your international trips: I’d suggest no more than once every 3 months. Evidence shows you need ~1 day per time zone to re-entrain, and east is worse than west.
Once Kate gets back she’s starting the female protocol. This also means she can’t travel internationally for at least a few months while we collect baseline measurement.
The body understands time zone changes as trauma.
I hope that this is my last international trip for a very long time.