A good book

Reading is both a relaxing and stimulating activity. In fact, reading can create alpha waves in the brain, which have frequencies that can lead to feelings of relaxation.

Throughout the day, use positive affirmations about sleep and rest. Techniques like neurolinguistic programming, the Silva method and the INTEGRA methodcan help to modify your beliefs and change negative sleep patterns.

According to David Edwards, director of the reflexology center YeloSpa in New York, sleeping for 20 minutes after eating helps us sleep much better at night () It helps us to relax and be more alert during the day and, as a result, feel less anxious at night.

Although you might not believe it, having a coffee in the afternoon or evening might be the reason you wake up while resting or why you cannot relax at night. Its best to avoid it or only drink it early in the day.

The best time to exercise is in the morning since your mood will noticeably improve and it will relieve stress, while exercising at night will make it more difficult to sleep.

Melatonin is the hormone produced by the brain that controls the sleep-wake cycles. Include foods in your diet that contain it. It can be found in fruits, grains, fish, meat and vegetables.

Yoga is a way of life that comes from Vedic culture. It consists of looking inwards with poses (asanas) and into our consciousness by breathing. Some exercises may be simple, but they will create deep states of relaxation, calm your nervous system, and relieve stress.

Sleeping isnt just about pleasure or survival; it is a critical function. So,if you have problems sleeping, experience insomnia or feel that you dont rest at night, you should address the issue immediately because sleeping poorly will affect your physical state and your emotional and mental health. Ready to start sleeping betterand have a happier life?

Go here to see the original:
11 tips to sleep well and wake up radiant and happy - HOLA USA

If you started running during lockdown, you might have occasionally heard a little voice in your head telling you to stop. But for an ever-increasing number of people, that naysayer is being drowned out by someone else. Hes called Beefy.

Beefy or Cory Wharton-Malcolm, as hes also known is a real live running coach who lives in Sydenham, south-east London, but hes also a disembodied voice, travelling with millions of people at once, telling more times than the talking clock. This version of Beefy lives in your phone, and as you plod your way up that hill and think fondly of the sofa, he says things like thank you and run easy and, for some reason, you keep going.

Wharton-Malcolm, 41, is one of a myriad of pre-recorded coaches who have become a staple of lockdown exercise for adherents all over the planet. Fitness apps were huge business before solitary exercise became our only hope of leaving the house but now they are bigger still, one of the winners of the pandemic, and the super-enthusiastic voice in your ear is the breakout star of the genre.

The thinking behind the apps is simple enough. You pick a distance or a time, from a few minutes to a marathon. When you hit certain waypoints, the music fades, and up pops Beefy, or one of his colleagues or competitors, to tell you how wonderful you are.

Its amazing how many people have found the app, and then found my voice and connected with it, said the real Wharton-Malcolm, on the phone shortly after his digital analogue in the Nike Run Club app ignored my complaints and drove me through some particularly brutal interval runs.

He estimates hes getting about three times as many messages from listeners each day as he did before the pandemic struck. This week he signed up with a talent management agency, and there has been talk of a book.

People say they didnt touch running with a bargepole prior to the pandemic, but because theyve been locked inside, theyre up for it, he said. They say since finding your voice and a little bit of calm, theyve started to enjoy it. I think people are in search of human connection.

Mobile data and analytics provider App Annie says downloads in April and May of health and fitness apps have rocketed to 64.5m a week, a rise of 65% worldwide compared with January and February. In the UK, users are spending about 70% more time with their virtual coaches each week.

The Nike app has risen from 41st most popular to fourth in the UK. There are also substantial rises for rivals such as Fitbit Coach and Peloton.

We saw a lot of fitness apps spike early on, said Lexi Sydow, enior insights manager at App Annie. Its one of the standout categories people maybe being optimistic about their quarantine period. And these apps that do have a coaching element, they are ranking highly.

Unsurprisingly, the combination of relentless compliments, self-improvement, and a real-world version of the AI played by Scarlett Johannson in the film Her leads to some disproportionate levels of enthusiasm. @Bitbeefy you are a frikkin legend! Laura wrote on Instagram. Such a great run thanks for being with me! Shelly Mittal told his colleague, Nikes guru-like global head coach, Chris Bennett. And @Eleniid summarised what a lot of people seem to feel: I VERY MUCH NEED COACH CORY TO TELL ME JOB WELL DONE IN HIS HOT ACCENT FOR ME TO CONTINUE RUNNING!!!

Wharton-Malcolm, who describes himself as a recovering fat kid, is amused, but bashful. I definitely have received some expressions of love, he said. I am definitely flattered by it. But I have a missus.

So familiar have his honeyed tones become to devotees that he gets recognised and, presumably, fancied on the basis of his voice alone. I was stopped in Victoria station and this person was like I know that voice! he said. And in Amsterdam, I was coaching a group of runners, and I said, Come on, lets go, the kind of thing I say in the app and someone said, Wait, its coach Cory! That was weird.

Since the death of George Floyd, Wharton-Malcolm has used his substantial social media following to promote Black Lives Matter, posting videos such as a guided run through his neighbourhood talking about local businesses run by black people. More broadly, he sees a profound social benefit to exercise and coaching in an era of isolation.

Some people are just doing it for performance, yes, he said. But theres a search for camaraderie, for partnership. Were part of a community. And we all want someone to talk to. Or listen to, at least.

See the original post here:
'People found my voice and connected with it': the rise of in-app running coaches - The Guardian

Batman has been portrayed on screen in a number of different ways. Each one has a unique personality that fits on the MBTI.

Along with Superman, Batman is the most popular superhero in Hollywood and has had way too many actors and iterations that each and every one of them have become completely different from the other. Some Batmen are more logical and cold while others are more altruistic and impulsive.

RELATED:10 Reasons Why Batman: Knightfall Should Join DC's Animated Movie Universe

These different Batmen all have different personality types, for that matter, and approach and interact with their worlds differently. There is no "ultimate" Batman at the moment but certain personality types that each of Batman's actors have given everyone a clear picture of what the Dark Knight should be. Here's how different yet similar each Batman is based on MBTI.

Will Friedle's Batman might not be the original, but his is just as worthy. He voices Terry McGinnis, the DCAU successor for Bruce Wayne's Batman inBatman Beyond. Terry, however, lacks the original DCAU Batman's sophistication and sharpness.

In fact, he's closer in behavior to one of the Robins. terry is brash, more careless, and a lot less calculating than Bruce Wayne. He prefers short-term tactics to long-term strategies in combat. There's also the fact that he's the adventurous type-- taking up the Batman mantle without much fuss. That very well makes him an ISFP.

Batman: The Brave and the Boldis one of the lesser serious and lighter takes on the Caped Crusader's misadventures and focuses on Batman's World's Greatest Detective side. He's voiced by Diedrich Bader here and he's a lot less brooding.

RELATED:Batman: 5 X-Men Villains He'd Beat In A Fight (& 5 He'd Lose To)

Well, at least compared to the other Batmen. He's also more extroverted here and takes on the leadership role often, especially with other superheroes in tow. Hence, this Batman easily passes off as an ENFJ personality type or someone who embodies the "protagonist" archetype, this Batman can give Superman a run for his money when it comes to being a role model.

Will Arnett is one of the latest voice actors to give us a compellingBatman performance inThe Lego Batman Movie.It's more of a parodical version of the Dark Knight where his superiority complex and brooding is cranked up to 11 hilariously.

Those behaviors are all hallmarks of an INTJ one of the rarest strategic thinker personality types to exist in MBTI-- something that fits Batman really well. One of the negative qualities of a stereotypical INTJ is also being socially inept and edgy and Will Arnett's Batman has no qualms on letting this side of the character loose.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, one wouldn't dare call Batman "The Dark Knight" given how campy and seemingly harmless he was. It was all thanks to Adam West's classical portrayal of the character in the oldBatmantelevision show.

RELATED:Batman: 5 Underrated Villains We Want To See In Live-Action On The Big Screen (& 5 We Don't Need To See)

It was more of a comedy than action where Batman and Robin are more like father and son bonding by choosing to fight crime. Adam West's Batman is peculiar as far as Batmen go as he's an ISFJ or the stereotypical defender-- someone who's both analytical and sensitive at the same time.

George Clooney's Batman, for lack of a better word, is the leastacceptable in live action. Not only was he not brooding but he was also quite extroverted. In fact, one probably can't discern between Bruce Wayne and Batman in1997's Batman & Robinas possess the same level of energy.

Clooney's Batman is the kind who would say"hi, Freeze. I'm Batman," in case people forgot who he actually was. The amount of jokes he cracks and how much he accepts socialization from Batgirl and Robin makes him an extroverted ESFJ, someone extremely popular and enjoys attention but is also always eager to help.

Val Kilmer is one of the more decent live-action Batmen around considering he had big shoes to fill after Michael Keaton's eccentric performance. He's introverted enough and secretive-- even when it comes to Robin (though not to a certain woman, it seems).

RELATED:Batman: The Adventures Continue: 10 Things Fans Are Looking Forward To

Kilmer's Batman, which appeared in 1995'sBatman Forever, embodies the caped crusader well-- taking in Robin and advocating his own brand of justice while appearing to enjoy it. That very well makes him an INFJ, quiet, mystical, but an unrelenting idealist.

Being the second Batman to appear successfully in film, Michael Keaton redefined the Dark Knight and made him a darker and more tortured version of himself. Part of the success in his iteration of Batman is thanks to Tim Burton's vision.

As for what kind of Batman he is, it's a tough call but seeing as he likes for people to take notice of his work but still likes to do it alone, Keaton's Caped Crusader can be an ISFJ. This is the "defender" stereotype, one who won't say no to work and is a true altruist.

When talking about Ben Affleck's Batman, it's best to refer to theBatman V Supermanversion as Joss Whedon seems to have butchered the character inJustice League.Now, that Batman is the darkest in all of cinema history so far. He has no qualms on being overkill with violence nor killing people, Superman included.

RELATED:10 Things About The Batman Arkham Series You Only Learn In The Comics

He's also incredibly antisocial and does his work best alone, even managing to defeat Superman by being as strategic and tactical as he can be. These are clear indications of an INTJ or the "mastermind" or "architect" personality type. Some of this carries over to hisJustice Leagueversion, thankfully.

Out of all the live-actionBatmanfilms, none has showcased Batman's use of gadgetry and technology than theDark Knighttrilogy. We have Christopher Nolan to thank for that and for making Christian Bale's Batman a master mechanic-- making a safer Batcave and even tinkering with an experimental Hummer for his Batmobile.

These are all clear traits of an ISTP or the "craftsman" or "virtuoso" personality. It's not just through inventions that Bale's Batman demonstrates this personality but also in his upbringing where he was easily able to learn from any immediate environment he's in, be it Gotham or Hongkong. This is a strong quality for an ISTP.

Finally, we arrive what a lot of fans consider as the most definitive Batman ever-- Kevin Conroy's. He provided the voice and the pitch for theBatman: The Animated Seriesbut Conroy has been doing Batman for so long that he has his own idea of what the Dark Knight should sound like.

To him, Batman is cold, calculating, extremely introverted, dislikes rules, focuses on self-improvement, and has unlimited contingency plans and willpower-- all famed attributes of an INTJ. Thanks to Kevin Conroy's Batman, it's to reimagine a more interesting or definitive take on the Dark Knight.

NEXT:Batman: 5 Mysteries That Paid Off Well (& 5 That Didn't)

Next MCU: 10 Scenes Iron Man Roasted Captain America

More:
MBTI Of Every Batman In Film & Television | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Written by Maria Cohut Ph.D. on June 21, 2020 Fact checked by Gianna D'Emilio

Surveys from around the world show that men everywhere find it difficult to open up about mental health, though they are significantly more at risk of attempting suicide than women. In this Special Feature, we look at why this may be and how to address this issue.

In high-income countries, three times as many men as women die by suicide, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2018.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also cite 2018 data, noting that in that year alone, Men died by suicide 3.56 [times] more often than women in the United States.

And Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit, reference data suggesting that more than 6 million men in the U.S. experience symptoms of depression each year, and more than 3 million experience an anxiety disorder.

Despite these staggering figures, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) report that men are less likely than women to have received formal mental health support in the past year.

Why is this the case? Recent research offers some explanations and proposes ways of remedying the situation.

In their 2018 report, the WHO emphasize that cultural stigma surrounding mental health is one of the chief obstacles to people admitting that they are struggling and seeking help.

And this stigmatization is particularly pronounced in men.

Described in various media as a silent epidemic and a sleeper issue that has crept into the minds of millions, with chilling statistics, mental illness among men is a public health concern that begs attention.

Thus begins a study from The University of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver, Canada, published in 2016 in Canadian Family Physician.

Its authors explain that prescriptive, ages-old ideas about gender are likely both part of the cause behind the development of mental health issues in men and the reason why men are put off from seeking professional help.

Another study from Canada published in Community Mental Health Journal in 2016 found that, in a national survey of English-speaking Canadians, among 541 respondents with no direct experience of suicidal ideation or depression, more than one-third admitted to holding stigmatizing beliefs about mental health issues in men.

And among this group, male respondents were more likely than females to hold views such as: I would not vote for a male politician if I knew he had been depressed, Men with depression are dangerous, and Men with depression could snap out of it if they wanted.

Among 360 respondents with direct experience of depression or suicidal ideation, more male than female respondents said that they would feel embarrassed about seeking formal treatment for depression.

One contributor who spoke to Medical News Today also pointed out that it is not easy for men to be open with their peers about mental health struggles.

Talking about mental health isnt something that tends to come up readily in particular social environments, such as when playing football, he told us.

Often, the relationships there are tied into the game and little else away from the pitch, which is a real shame, he added.

Men of color and men of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds face additional challenges when it comes to looking after their mental health.

According to Prof. Norman Bruce Anderson, former CEO of the American Psychological Association in the U.S., Black and Latino men are six times more likely to be murdered than their white peers.

Prof. Anderson also notes that American Indian men are the demographic most likely to attempt suicide and that Black men are most likely to experience incarceration.

According to Dr. Octavio Martinez Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, the effect of these disparities on the mental health of people of color and of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds is a double whammy.

Add the stigmatization of help-seeking behavior by men of all races to the unique stressors faced by men and boys of color, and its no wonder men and boys of color are at higher risk for isolation and mental health problems. These challenges can manifest as substance use or acting out through violence and aggression which can lead to more stigma and a continuation of the cycle.

On top of this, the authors of a study published in 2015 in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved point out that Medical experimentation on African Americans during slavery laid a foundation of mistrust toward healthcare providers.

All of these issues taken together lay a further barrier to people of color seeking and accessing care for mental health when they need it.

Specialists also point out that men and women can experience different symptoms of the same mental health issues. This, they say, may be partly a side effect of divergent views of mental health.

For instance, NIMH specialists explain that Some men with depression hide their emotions and may seem to be angry, irritable, or aggressive, while many women seem sad or express sadness.

They also note that some symptoms of depression are physiological, such as a racing heart, digestive issues, or headaches, and men are more likely to see their doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms, according to the NIMH.

The organization also note that self-medicating with alcohol and other substances is a common symptom of depression among men and that this can exacerbate mental health problems and increase the risk of developing other health conditions.

So what can mental health professionals and policymakers do to ensure that men feel confident and comfortable seeking support and that they receive the appropriate care?

The first step in addressing these issues, researchers argue, is enhancing education about mental health.

In the Canadian Family Physician study, the researchers emphasize the importance of disrupting how men traditionally think about depression and suicide by breaking down the stigma that surrounds these topics through nationwide campaigns.

They also explain that it is important to help men change the idea of receiving support from a mark of weakness to a necessary step in maintaining one aspect of health that is as important as any other.

Anecdotal evidence supports these suggestions. One MNT respondent, for instance, told us that:

[One] area I feel needs improvement is education. [] I had spells of bad mental health in my childhood. It wasnt until my teenage years, when I became aware of my mothers and grandfathers history of mental health problems, that I realised what was going on with me. As a child, feeling anxious and/or depressed for no apparent reason was terrifying and only made my symptoms worse.

Also, not knowing what was going on made me embarrassed, and I usually wouldnt tell anyone what was going on with me, this contributor went on to say.

I dont know for sure, but if there had been education about mental health in my childhood, I reckon my symptoms wouldnt have scared me as much, and I would have been more open about talking about it with my parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, etc.

Another step in providing better support for men, the UBC researchers say, is changing the landscape of care for mental health by offering community-based programs that help counter risk factors for mental health problems, such as a sense of isolation among older people.

But no intervention is complete until it accounts for the groups that face systematic marginalization, such as men of color and those of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Specialists have found that Black men in the U.S. are more likely to seek support in informal settings, such as places of worship. Based on this, they have suggested community-based participatory research as an important first step.

This approach will require researchers to gain trust and seek collaboration from Black Americans in finding out what needs to change to make formal support more accessible.

Dr. Martinez, referring to a report from 2014, also emphasizes the importance of community-based approaches.

He promotes interventions aimed to encourage men and boys of color and of diverse backgrounds to connect on a personal level. Stigma fades when men and boys see resilience and mental health self-care modeled by their fathers, brothers, teachers, faith leaders, and friends, he says.

Seek ways to demonstrate the connection between individual mental health and popular traditions of mentorship, cultural pride, self-emancipation and community action among men.

Read the original here:
Men's mental health: 'Man up' is not the answer - Medical News Today

Filmmaker, scriptwriter and producer KR Sachidanandan, fondly known as Sachy, passed away recently. His untimely demise has come as a major shock to the members of the film industry. Many from the industry have paid tribute to the director. Amala Paul too shared some fond memories of the director. She said that director Sachy gave her one of the biggest hits of her career and that he was the one who introduced her to the mystic Osho. In a heartfelt post, Amala wrote, A shocker after a shocker! Ace screenwriter, director and a good friend ~ Sachy is no more. Sachy gave me one of my biggest hits in the Malayalam movie industry with Run Baby Run. The character Renuka lives on in everyone's heart! Sachy knew everything about everything, he was the one who introduced me to Osho and we spent a lot of time talking about life beyond the movies during Run Baby Run. ce=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Amala Paul (@amalapaul) on Jun 19, 2020 at 2:35am PDT

Just when I wanted to rekindle my friendship with him, he's left the mortal world!He entered this world, mastered his art and moved on to another dimension.With fond memories of our times together, I wish you farewell my dear friend. Goodbye, until we meet again.

More:
Sachy introduced me to Osho: Amala Paul - Times of India

Do you live each day as if its your first or last? Either way you should probably have a diaper on!

Ellen DeGeneres

The irrationality of a thing is no argument against its existence, rather a condition of it.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Be as you wish to seem.

Socrates

Whatever deceives men seems to produce a magical enchantment.

Plato

Nobody likes me. Pesty Thats not true, everybody hasnt met you yet! Mort

Ones philosophy of life is defined from many sources. In college philosophy courses, I studied the writings and thoughts of such great thinkers as Nietzsche, Socrates and Plato. I wasnt aware of their wisdom and philosophy until my college-aged years. When I was in my prepubescent years, I formed much of my early deep thought from the cartoons in my bubble gum.

Bazooka Joe gum always came replete with a cartoon comic wrapped around every piece. In those cartoons I found a magic world of characters that commented on a life that I was just discovering. For a couple of pennies, I anxiously awaited the wisecracking and for a boy of tender age hilarious situations and responses.

Among my early influences was Pesty, who according to Wikipedia might have been Bazooka Joes brother, although it was never quite defined as a fact. His usual sidekick was Mort, described as a gangly boy who always wore a turtleneck sweater pulled up over his mouth. I always likened Mort to the Jughead character in the Archie comics.

Hungry Herman was Joes rotund friend. Jane was Joes girlfriend. Toughie was a tough guy street character who always wore a sailor suit. There was also a neighborhood mutt named Walkie Talkie.

Adding in Joe they were collectively referred to as Bazooka Joe and his Gang.

The gang was conceived sometime between 1952 and 1954 by a couple of guys who worked in product development at Topps. Cartoonist Wesely Morse was hired to create the gang. A contest was held to name the character.

This back story eventually led to one of the staples of my early childhood. I spent many pennies of my hard-earned money collecting pop bottles and turning them into money to purchase my own little bags of treasure from Lawlers General Store located on Allison Lane.

Unwrapping the newly purchased gum to which the gum was standard fare, I couldnt wait to read the next installment of Bazooka Joe comics. For me, it was kind of a cartoon soap opera into their lives. In my young mind, the travails and perils of the gang were very real and I kind of considered them as my imaginary friends.

In analyzing my sense of humor, I would probably list them among my many influences of humor that was at a level that even a young child could comprehend and appreciate. I am sure I often repeated some of the set-ups and punch lines as if they were my very own.

Bazooka Joe comics with my gum would have been as big a treasure as my next gift hidden inside a box of Cracker jacks. Marketing gimmickry was a staple of many of the products that made kids request products, including cereal boxes. It certainly worked on me.

Unbeknownst to me until my research for the column, Topps had bombed with its original cartoon characters in the gum with a cartoon called, Bazooka, the Atom Bubble Boy. Topps didnt hit the pay dirt with Bazooka Joe and His Gang until around 1954.

Collectors of such childhood memorabilia as cartoon bubble gum comics would be hard-pressed to collect all the Bazooka Joe cartoons, as the number I could verify is that there are at least 1,535 of them. Over the years characters were added and redesigned and the cartoons, themselves, were smaller in size. Obviously, the subject matter was changed to keep up with the times.

As I reviewed some of the old comics, I had a trip down memory lane and still smiled at the philosophy, er, albeit humor from my youngest days. A couple examples of the sophisticated humor from those days of innocence gone by:

(Groan) We lost another game. Joe to Herman. Yeah, that makes 14 in a row. Herman. Mort: You cant win them all!

Mort: I think I am going to flunk my history test today on account of sickness. Joe: Youre sick? Mort: No, but the fellow I copy from is home with a cold!

Teacher: Pesty can you name all of the Presidents? Pesty: Err-no. Teacher: Why when I was your age, I could name them all. Pesty: But when you were my age there were only 3 or 4 Presidents!

Simple things for simple minds! Hey, remember when I was laughing hysterically at them, I was like 8 years old!

See the article here:
DODD COLUMN: Bubble gum came with laughs | Opinion - Evening News and Tribune

Nietzsche said that the nineteenth century was not distinguished by the victory of science but by the victory of the scientific method. His point was that once a claim could be dressed up as the result of a scientific procedure, it became culturally incontestable. Were Nietzsche writing today, he would need to modify the statement a little.

Take, for example, this intriguing 2016 article from Quartz, which was reposted last week. The writer, Thomas Page McBee, is a transgender person who claims to have experienced the workplace first as a woman and later, after transitioning, as a man. This modern-day Teiresias confirms what we have come to expectthat men are at a significant advantage in the workplace, at least according to the criteria she uses. More interesting than the predictable conclusions she draws, however, are the cultural pathologies she reflects.

The politics of contemporary social science now has an iron grip on what are deemed legitimate perceptions of reality. This is explicitly clear in what the article says and implicitly clear in what it doesn't say. The article presents the assumption that workplaces are best explicated by gender specialists as a simple matter of fact. And its lack of any reflection upon the Promethean philosophical presumptions of transgenderism indicates that the culture is at such a point on this issue that the writer feels absolutely no need to do so.

Whether McBee has reflected on the philosophical foundations that make transgenderism plausible is not clear, but her last two paragraphs are replete with what should be contentious metaphysical assumptions. Here she transitions from Teiresias to Aristophanes, proposing that there is a male and female version of ourselves inside each of usa tale worthy of an after-dinner speech at Agathons place. Then there is the fascinating comment in the final paragraph that most of us have the bodies we occupy because of luck of the draw. This is revealing because it makes clear that the distinction between sex and gender, now presented as an incontestable truth, rests upon an even more radical distinction: that between a persons identity and their body. What is fascinating is that none of this comes in the form of argument. It is presented as obvious, something only possible because of its conformity to the spirit of our age.

Yet there is no I behind or before the body. There is no us that exists (logically, let alone chronologically) independently of our flesh and that is then randomly assigned to the bodies we have. Our bodies are an integral part of who we are. And I do not occupy my body as I might occupy a house or a space suit or a deck chair at the beach. On the contrary, it is an integral part of me, inseparable from who I am. It is perhaps the foundational piece of evidence that, were I to claim that I am, for example, Attila the Hun or Nancy Pelosi, I would be talking nonsense, with my body as Exhibit A in the case for the prosecution. It is not simply instrumental to my identity; my identity is inseparable from it. To downgrade it to a mere incidental, or to set the real me in opposition to it, is a recipe for chaos. Even Christian theology, with its body-soul distinction, is clear on this: I am not my soul or my body. That is why Christianity teaches that we do not just leave our bodies and go to heaven. We are actually resurrected.

The articles implicit assumption, foundational to gender theory, is that gender is a performance, not a matter of biological sex, and therefore rooted in the ways in which power putatively works within any given society. Butto play the critical theorist cardgender is not the only category by which societies exert power and control. Age also plays such a role. And age, like gender, also has a culturally specific performative aspect as reflected in social practices, law codes, and cultural expectations.

To give a trivial example, I remember as a teenager lying about my age in order to see Monty Pythons The Meaning of Life at a local cinema. I was sixteen but pretended to be eighteen. I performed the role: I provided the wrong birthdate when asked, and generally tried to look as cool and confident as I thought eighteen-year-olds didand, amazing to tell, the girl at the ticket booth did not treat me as the sixteen-year-old I really was. She sold me a ticket and let me see the movie. The pretense made a difference and confirmed what I already knew: Adults are treated differently than children. But it did not make me eighteen. I was merely a sixteen-year-old pretending to be an adult. And even if I had been utterly convinced that I was eighteen and deeply hurt by anyone who said otherwise, I would still not have been eighteen.

What is striking about the transgender debate, therefore, is that something so counter-intuitive and rooted in such untenable philosophical positions is actually not a matter of debate at all at any significant level. Naysayers are simply dismissed as ignorant or bigots or both. The advent of the derogatory term TERF points to this, as does the social media fury that descends upon anyone who dares question the idea. The furor surrounding J. K. Rowling is just the latest example. And behind it all lie the highly contentious assumptions of gender theory marketed under the label of social science. But social science as it manifests itself in the work of Judith Butler and her progeny is really no more scientific than Marxs scientific socialism. And it serves the same purpose as it did for Marx: It creates an appearance of objectivity and thereby enables a highly contentious way of looking at the world to delegitimize any and all dissenting voices. It will not allow its hypotheses to be contestedindeed, even to think about contesting them is to show how benightedly reactionary one is. Yet make no mistake: It is merely ideology hiding itself under the fig leaf of scientific rhetoric.

In a 1979 article, Alasdair MacIntyre pointed out how social science methodology had become a fundamental tool of power in managerial bureaucracy. Forty years later, it is no longer merely managerial bureaucracy over which it holds sway. The cultural disenfranchising of anyone who wishes to question transgenderisms assumptions indicates that the same thing is now far advanced in society at large. To update Nietzsche, the twenty-first century looks set to witness not so much the triumph of social science as the triumph of the social scientific method.

Carl R. Truemanis professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College and senior fellow at the Institute for Faith and Freedom.His forthcoming book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, is due to be published in November.

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The Triumph of the Social Scientific Method | Carl R. Trueman - First Things

We are all in such a hurry these days that we do not have the time to stop, admire or contemplate the beauty and surroundings in front and around us. We concentrate so much on one thing that we end up missing a number of things which would have otherwise been good and better for us. So on World Sauntering Day 2020, which is marked yearly on June 19, we take a look at some of the quotes that could help us enjoy life just a little bit more. Also Read - World Sauntering Day 2020: All About The Most Chilled Out Day Ever Created

World Sauntering Day is a holiday that began in 1979 to remind people to slow down and enjoy life and not rush through it. Sauntering here means to walk in a slow and relaxed manner, like you have all the time in the world. But if you do not have the time to walk slowly, at least check out the quotes below that will encourage you as well as put a smile on your face.

1. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. Shes ninety-seven now, and we dont know where the heck she is. (Ellen DeGeneres)

2. The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk. (Jacqueline Schiff)

3. Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. (Steven Wright)

4. All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking. (Friedrich Nietzsche)

5. But the beauty is in the walking we are betrayed by destinations. (Gwyn Thomas)

6. Meandering leads to perfection. (Lao Tzu)

7. Nothing like a nighttime stroll to give you ideas. (JK Rowling)

8. Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility. (Gary Snyder)

9. After a days walk everything has twice its usual value. (George Macauley Trevelyan)

10. Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. (Soren Kierkegaard)

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World Sauntering Day 2020: These 10 Quotes Will Remind You to Slow Down And Enjoy Life - India.com

Citys mental health professionals on dealing with people with suicidal thoughts, how to identify signs and help them

By Anushree Vijaya Harshan It seemed apt to quote Friedrich Nietzsche here. This above quote was shared by the late Sushant Singh Rajput on the birth anniversary of the German philosopher few months ago. On Sunday, the actor seemed to have lost the why, when he decided to end his life by suicide.

Rajputs death was probably the most unanticipated one. After all, who could have expected a person, whom we saw talk his reel son out of suicidal thoughts in his last film (Chhichhore), to commit suicide in real life?

As reports on the actors battle with clinical depression started doing the rounds, people didnt hesitate to link his death to depression, also linking his cover picture on Twitter of Vincent van Goghs popular work The Starry Night, which the artist had painted in an asylum.

He had committed suicide the next year. As speculations became rife, Mirror spoke to mental health professionals to get a clearer picture on suicide and its link with depression.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Vishwamohan Thakur believes there are multiple reasons which could lead to one taking the extreme step. He says, Depression is not the only reason. For instance, people facing deep financial woes take their life for respite from their sorrows. There are also those who fear getting exposed or ones who feel they are not being understood and do not have enough support.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how

- Friedrich Nietzsche

They feel it is their only way to end the pain. A solution is not they are looking for, they just want to end it all, instead of seeking help. Decoding pathological grief

Another aspect brought to notice was the late actors last social media post, a heartfelt note to his mother whom he lost when he was just 16, in 2002. The actor has often spoken about his great loss. Hadnt he come to terms with it? Dr Thakur explains, If a person is bereaved for more than six months, we call it pathological grief, the signs of which are obvious. It is really unlikely for such a person to become so successful as they are usually dysfunctional.

One should not confuse remembrance with grief. The actor didnt show signs of pathological grief, so I dont think that acted as a trigger.

Varghese, on the other hand, believes grief is a very difficult emotion to cope with, especially if you arent putting conscious efforts to come out of it. So, it can stay in your unconscious mind and later trigger suicidal thoughts. But it might not be the case here.

Voices

But then there are also people who dont share their feelings. Varghese says, Everyone has their way of coping, and some do it by wearing facades. They dont want sympathy and wish to deal with things on their own. This could sometimes prove unhealthy. They might not talk about it, but if you observe well, their body language would reveal their loneliness. Check up on them often and dont make statements like It is all in your head, There is nothing wrong with you, You do not look anxious or depressed, etc. Talk to them, and more importantly, listen to what they are saying. Though professional help is always the best, in Ahmedabad, sadly, people are not quite open about mental health. In that case, one should reach out to friends if not family.

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Listen to them & understand them' - Ahmedabad Mirror

With the start of the new academic year in July just around the corner, educators and policymakers just have to be prepared for the new normal for the 44 plus million students across the country.

In light of the joint ministerial decree by the education minister, religious affairs minister, home minister and health ministerannounced on June 15, 2020 regarding the school reopening during the pandemic, schooling practices need to be reimagined and reshaped to prevent a possible second outbreak.

Lessons learned during the current school disruption should drive educators to change their perspectives and practices. Reshaping schooling perspectives and practices should deliberate on the why, who, what and how of education.

It is true that the current pandemic and concern over a potential second outbreak have disrupted traditional schooling practices, but the why of creating the new normal should go beyond the current pandemic and delve deeper than fear of illness.

Reimagining anew forms of education may open doors for more equitable quality education for all young Indonesians. Despite all the COVID-19 maladies, the pandemic disruption has brought awareness to new possibilities in reviving our education system and in ushering young Indonesians into the future on a more level playing field.

The impetus for capitalizing on the demographic bonus toward the Indonesia 2045 Vision has collided with the reality of economic and geographical disparities. The current school disruption has amplified education inequities across social economic classes and regions. This prevailing concern can hopefully give rise to renewed initiatives by education stakeholders to transform schooling practices and create equal learning opportunities for all.

First things first, the who of education are entities that need to transform themselves. The learning-from-home mode has abruptly changed the roles of teachers, students and parents. The need for autonomous learning requires that teachers shift to be designers and facilitators of learning instead of the sage on the stage.

Lessons learned from the sudden disappearance of the traditional classroom stage and the isolation of each learner in his or her own space should drive teachers to unlearn old habits and acquire new skills of online learning engagement. Thanks to the pandemic disruption, the online learning execution no matter how disorderly and inequitable the practices are across the country has forced teachers to realize that they have to reach out to each student in isolation and examine the effectiveness of their teaching.

Our ongoing research reveals that teachers fear of technology has given way to an emerging sense of obligation to master technology and explore ways to integrate it into their pedagogy in order to maintain their professional duties (Anita Lie et al., 2020). This awakened desire can hopefully snowball into concerted efforts to restore the teaching profession.

By the same token, students need to build up a character of interdependence, discipline and responsibility. Along the same lines, the current learning-from-home practices should gear parents to be a beacon of these character values instead of extended academic tutors for their children.

Education experts and researchers have long lamented that one-size-fits-all curriculum does not work for all learners. Unfortunately, this discourse within scholarly forums does not seep through the classroom walls and fails to influence the what of the education system.

In the name of efficiency and system for the masses, the education enterprise found it impossible to meet such diversified needs of the learners. Small-scale initiatives have emerged to customize learning in the forms of homeschooling, elitist schools and alternative schools. While their success stories should be applauded, scaling up the best practices intended for the privileged few to serve the 44 plus million is a utopian endeavor.

The school disruption has compelled all education stakeholders to accept the fact that what matters is not the completion of the written curriculum coverage but the recognition of students diverse needs and the discovery of possibilities to meet those needs through resources other than the teachers themselves.

The teachers primary task is now to guide students to seek those possibilities. This new normal will hopefully drive education authorities to design a sustainable framework for a needs-based curriculum and provide a repertoire of learning modules. Multiple types of literacy and modalities required to survive and contribute to the 21st century should be included in this curriculum.

With a renewed understanding of the why, who and what of education, the how is a matter of technicality. As Friedrich Nietzsche said: If you understand the why, you can endure any how. The learning-from-home isolation cannot continue forever. Children and youths need physical interaction with their peers as part of their learning processes. After all that teachers and students have gone through during this disruption, the new normal should be blended learning.

Even if there is no postponement of the start of the academic year in the green zones, rotation models of blended learning can be a way to maintain social distancing in school, especially when classrooms are too cramped.

Despite its promises, Clayton Christensen (2008) warns that effective technology integration requires a focus on pedagogy and practice, rather than an emphasis on technology and tools. He found that, although teachers integrated technology into their classrooms, the technology did not necessarily lead to student-centered learning processes.

One caveat in this new normal is that teachers often use technology to perpetuate existing teacher-centered pedagogy rather than using technology to shift themselves and their teaching to student-centered pedagogy.

Therefore, professional development is a continuing need for teachers not only to learn the skills but also to integrate the newly acquired skills into sound pedagogy.

________________

Professor of Education at Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.

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The new normal in education - The Jakarta Post - Jakarta Post