Women in a Patriarchal Society: Dr. Shefali on Female Identity

A woman who lacks confidence listening to her male supervisor at work illustrates women in a patriarchal society

What happens when women try to meet society’s impossible standards? How does living in a male-dominated world affect women’s authentic identity and mental health? Women in a patriarchal society face unique pressures that shape their behavior, appearance, and life choices from childhood. From an early age, girls learn that their worth depends on meeting strict social expectations—expectations that only grow more demanding as they age. Keep reading to discover how these societal pressures impact women’s wellbeing

Shameless Behavior Is an Attempt to Rid Ourselves of Shame

A man with curly brown hair and glasses talking loudly in a restaurant illustrates shameless behavior

Why do people who feel deep shame often act shamelessly? What drives someone to develop behaviors that seem to contradict their inner feelings? Understanding shameless behavior helps unlock the complex relationship between shame and our coping mechanisms. When we feel ashamed, we might develop strategies to either fix perceived flaws or shift our uncomfortable feelings onto others. Keep reading to discover how perfectionism, power-seeking, and blame-shifting all connect to our deeper struggles with shame.

Who Is Tarana Burke? The Activist’s Childhood, Explained

Activist Tarana Burke giving a speech in front of a black background

Who is Tarana Burke? What was Burke’s childhood like? Burke’s involvement in anti-sexual violence activism is rooted in her own experience of childhood sexual abuse. In her book Unbound, she briefly describes how her victimization and other experiences inspired a deep-seated sense of shame. Let’s look at the experiences that encouraged her to start the “me too” movement.

Mental Shortcuts: 3 Common Ways the Brain Synthesizes Data

A cartoon of a walking brain on a path in the woods illustrates mental shortcuts

What happens when your brain processes constant input from your environment? How do mental shortcuts influence the way you perceive reality? Mental shortcuts help your brain manage the nonstop flow of complex information from your surroundings. Three of these automatic processes—simplifying, filtering, and modifying—shape how you interpret experiences and make decisions, often without your awareness. Keep reading to discover three common mental shortcuts and how they impact your daily life.

Dr. Shefali: Motherhood Myths Based on Tradition Harm Women

A mother holding her baby, who is looking at her, illustrates motherhood myths

What myths about motherhood might be shaping your perspective as a woman? How can these societal expectations affect your relationship with yourself and others? According to Dr. Shefali, motherhood myths that arise from traditional beliefs are only hurting women. Her insights reveal how patriarchal expectations can impact women’s identities, relationships, and overall well-being—whether they have children or not. Read more to explore Dr. Shefali’s ideas that could transform your understanding of motherhood and womanhood.

How Our Sensory Modalities & Their Nuances Shape Us

A woman smiling and smelling fresh-baked bread as she takes it out of the oven illustrates sensory modalities

What role do your senses play in shaping your thoughts and emotions? How do sensory experiences influence your behavioral choices and responses to different situations? When you think about past experiences or imagine future scenarios, your brain processes information through various sensory channels. Understanding how these sensory modalities work can help you recognize their impact on your emotional responses and decision-making patterns. Keep reading to discover how your brain constructs meaning from sensory experiences and learn why changing established thought patterns can be challenging.

The Effects of Shame: What Happens When You Give It Control

A road sign that says "SHAME" along a highway in the desert illustrates the effects of shame

What happens in your brain when shame becomes part of who you are? How does toxic shame alter your behavior and relationships? When shame takes root in your identity, it creates a complex web of defense mechanisms, false personas, and destructive behaviors. Toxic shame can transform your thoughts, emotions, and actions in ways that may go unnoticed but significantly impact your daily life. Keep reading to discover three effects of shame, as explained by John Bradshaw in his book Healing the Shame That Binds You.

Being an Entrepreneur Is Hard: Slogging Through the Middle Years

An exhausted man sitting at a desk in an office with his head in his hands illustrates that being an entrepreneur is hard

What does it really take to build a successful business from the ground up? Why do so many entrepreneurs gloss over the challenging middle years between startup and success? Being an entrepreneur is hard, and the journey from concept to success involves far more than just the exciting moments of launching and achieving your goals. The path includes uncertainty, setbacks, and countless challenges that many business leaders prefer not to discuss. Keep reading to explore the real struggles of entrepreneurship and discover how successful leaders navigate the tough times that shape their ultimate success.

Tarana Burke’s Traumatic Sources of Childhood Shame

A young girl with shame feeling childhood shame

What caused Tarana Burke to feel shame in her childhood? How can people’s comments on a child’s appearance affect their self-esteem? Burke explains that in addition to the sexual abuse she suffered as a child, two other major forces influenced her strong sense of shame. Strangers’ comments on her appearance and her mother’s humiliating punishments severely impacted how Burke thought of herself when she was young. Continue reading to learn more about these causes of childhood shame in Burke’s life.

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker: Book Overview

A woman reading a book and sitting on a couch at home

Is your gut trying to tell you something? How can you better protect yourself from potential dangers? Understanding violence and trusting your intuition are key to personal safety. The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker explores these topics, offering potentially life-saving insights on predicting and preventing various forms of violence. Read more to learn de Becker’s methods for recognizing warning signs, assessing threats, and responding to different types of violent situations.