There is a reason why we constantly bend our brains in front of ourselves, which experts call “cognitive dissonance”, and it describes the awful feeling that our own actions somehow cannot be reconciled with our own convictions.Actually, cognitive dissonance can also be described like this:I see the world - widdewidde the way I want to.

Cognitive dissonance

We feel some outlandish stuff all the time, and some of it is based on a stupid mistake or misinterpreted.The tendency towards balance has returned to the conviction that neither the exclusive favoring of feelings nor of reason is the way, but that it takes the cooperation of clown and mind to get through life reasonably healthy.The fact that we decide with our feelings and not with our intellect explains why most advice books don't work: They don't change how you feel.There is no all-balancing justice in the world and the clown is just trying to solve a cute cognitive dissonance.

Ratio and Clown

The time together so far has been an attempt to find out how and whether things should continue. With your partner, but also with friends. Because messing up the future just because the past was also bad makes no sense at all.Maybe you have or had a partner who wanted to keep you down, who didn't want you to move on for fear that you would leave them behind if you reached for the top.Maybe the authority you submit to sits in your own head and maybe it's been there for a very long time, whispering big bullshit to you. Listen carefully and see if you recognize the voice of the clown somewhere.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

No does not mean stop, it's just a detour sign on your way to achieving your dream. Don't let others control what you want to achieve. Trust your intuition, it's quick and objective. Unlike imagination, it's not accompanied by strong feelings of fear and anxiety. It's a spontaneous knowing, a clear direction pulling you towards your dream.

Taking Control of Your Dreams

Many people go through traumatic experiences in their lifetime, causing short-term or long-term effects that can be dramatic.However, research shows that up to 90% of individuals experience personal growth after facing a trauma, becoming resilient and stronger versions of themselves.You don't just revert back to your old self after a traumatic event. You undergo a transformation that strengthens and elevates you.

Transforming Trauma into Growth

Don't underestimate the influence of your thoughts! The placebo and nocebo effects show how our mind can make an impact on our body, whether it's for the better or worse.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Our brain tends to create connections even when there are none.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The placebo effect is the healing effect of treatments based on the context of a treatment.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The nocebo effect results in negative physical reactions based on the context.</li></ul>

The Power of Belief: Understanding the Placebo and Nocebo Effect

Media reports can have a major influence on our well-being. If you consider that the media does not feel bound by the scientific facts of a topic, and even bends them for the most sensational effect possible, then the media has a much greater influence on the well-being of the general public than previously assumed: They can cause people to become sick.Often something seems so obvious and logical to us that we attach more importance to an explanation that may not be entirely scientific, but fits in well with our world view, than it perhaps deserves.

We should treat ourselves the way we want to be treated. The words "love yourself" are nice, but our actions define our self-image and shape our lives.Imagine if we had to keep every promise we made to ourselves, and follow through with everything we set out to do. No more excuses. Our good intentions would align with our true desires. Every "Actually, I should..." would be evaluated to determine if we truly want to do it. If the answer is "yes", we should act accordingly because we made a promise to ourselves and we should not bullshit ourselves.

Self-Love and Self-Image

After all, it is not selfish to look after yourself, it is vital - who else would do it?

We often hold each other back by staying confined to fixed roles. But the key to achieving true happiness lies in ourselves: only when we take control of our lives, we can experience the freedom of being the ruler of our world.Many think that someone else is the answer to our unhappiness, but in reality, they are just pseudo-saviors. They exist because humans tend to seek a savior, someone else to redeem them. This temptation shifts the responsibility away from ourselves, creating a dependency on others for our own happiness.

You are in charge of your own happiness

Just as liberating as the knowledge that you are responsible for your own happiness is the realization that you are not responsible for the happiness of others.

The opposite of happiness is hopelessness. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, as long as we still have hope, we are not finished yet.You can get it if you really want - the biggest bullshit of all time and the source of eternal dissatisfaction.There are limits, and we must accept them.Everything we want to change and create must be within these limits, otherwise self-help becomes pure self-destruction.The better we know these limits, the better we can deal with them instead of constantly being annoyed that they exist.

The Opposite of Happiness is Hopelessness

You may know exactly what (or who) in your past has caused you to act in this way and not otherwise - but this won't do you any good. The hard part is yet to come, because knowledge does not make problematic behavior disappear.But you can't influence how you feel, it only depends on what you do with these feelings!The fact that I relate the actions of others to myself as if I were the hub of the universe is not because I actually think I am: It's completely normal. We constantly overestimate the attention that the world gives us. It's called the spotlight effect, and we all fall for it.

The Spotlight Effect

The truth is relieving and almost insulting: as a rule, the world is not the least bit interested in you.

Admitting weaknesses makes you strong, not only in front of yourself, but also in front of others. After all, it takes courage and when you overcome yourself and do something courageous, you feel good. Authentic.

Be authentic

When we overcome something negative, we always come out of it stronger; you don't get that by pushing it away, keeping it quiet or pretending it's nothing. Covering up mistakes is a mistake, not admitting fear creates even more fear, and avoiding suffering is a form of suffering. What makes us greater as human beings comes from overcoming negative experiences, i.e. courageously moving forward and right through them.

Overcoming Negativity

Don't Believe Everything You Think: How to Expose the Errors in Your Thinking and Finally Make Free Choices

Alexandra Reinwarth trifft ihre Entscheidungen rational. Also einigermaßen. Das dachte sie zumindest, bis sie sich intensiver mit der Frage beschäftigte, ob das 17. Paar schwarze Schuhe im Schrank wirklich nötig war. Jetzt weiß sie: Der Verstand hat nichts zu melden. Regelmäßig wird man von anerzogenen Denkfehlern in die Irre geführt. Scharfsinnig und witzig zeigt Alexandra Reinwarth, wie man diesen Fehlern auf die Spur kommt und endlich kluge Entscheidungen trifft. Eine unerlässliche Hilfe für alle, die sich wundern, warum sie gute Vorsätze nie einhalten, tolle Ideen nicht umsetzen und dauernd Dinge kaufen, die sie niemals brauchen werden.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

mindfulness

Mindfulness

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Motivation & Inspiration

mentalhealth

Mental Health

books

Books

Alexandra Reinwarth

Glaub nicht alles, was du denkst

Don't Believe Everything You Think (Glaub nicht alles, was du denkst)

I am a King, bound to none but my God.I am a mountain that stands unshaken, not a boulder easily swayed.

Every facet of my being was sculpted through unyielding effort, ice-cold discipline, and unwavering vision while been tempered in AbyssA mere mortal dare to control me?

This identity wasn't gifted-but was forged in War, in Mind, Blood and Flesh

I’ve honed myself into a weapon through endless battles. How dare a mere mortal imagine they could force my submission?

My path is one of ascent, to realms few can even dream of — a transformation into something greater.

How could a mere mortal fathom the weight of my vision or the scope of my ambition?

It is beyond their reach, as it was never meant for them to comprehend; it remains incomprehensible.

If the heavens deny me, I will plunge into the Abyss.No realm can escape my rule; wherever I tread, I reign supreme."

Abyss- The Realm Of Monsters.

productivity

Productivity

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

writing

Reading & Writing

A King: Ruler of the Abyss

Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy…the FEAR to attack.

Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (known simply and more commonly as Dr. Strangelove) is a 1964 political satire black comedy film co-written, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Peter Sellers in three roles, including the title character.

This clip is from "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1964. 

I wish to use this video under the doctrine of fair use; I will be embedding and commenting on it in my scholarly research blog.

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Strategy

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Movies & Shows

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Politics

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Videos

liberalartist6

Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine

He begins by exploring the concept of religious feeling, particularly the “oceanic feeling” described by one of his friends, which refers to a sense of boundless connection with the universe.Freud admits that he does not experience this feeling and suggests that it might be a remnant of the infant's early perception of the world. Despite his lack of personal religiosity, Freud acknowledges that religion plays a significant role in shaping societal structures, offering a moral framework that guides human behavior even as traditional religious beliefs lose their grip on modern society.

The Religious Feeling and Civilization

Against all the evidence of his senses, a man who is in love declares that ‘I’ and ‘you’ are one, and is prepared to behave as if it were a fact.

He delves into the inherent conflict between individual desires and the demands of society. Civilization, he argues, requires individuals to curb their natural instincts—especially those related to aggression and sexuality—to ensure social harmony.This creates a perpetual struggle within each person between id (the source of prima instinctual drives) superego (the internalized societal norms and moral standards). And ego, which mediates these two forces, is tasked with balancing the desires of id with the restrictive demands of superego while also navigating the reality of the external world.

The Conflict

In the next part, he explains how civilization has developed mechanisms to control and channel human instincts, primarily through laws, a collective sense of guilt, and cultural ideals. He introduces the concepts of the “death drive” (Thanatos) and the “life drive” (Eros), suggesting that humans are driven not only by the desire to create and connect (Eros) but also by an unconscious wish for destruction and death (Thanatos).

Role of Guilt and the Evolution of Civilization

This duality is evident in the structures of society, where the forces of love and aggression are in constant interaction. Freud argues that as civilization progresses, the repression of these instincts intensifies, leading to an increase in collective guilt and, paradoxically, greater discontent and neurosis among individuals.

A key argument in Freud's essay is that while civilization aims to increase human happiness through progress, it paradoxically exacerbates human suffering by imposing ever-stricter controls on natural instincts. The repression of these instincts leads to individual neuroses and, on a larger scale, widespread discontent within society.Freud discusses how guilt plays a central role in this process, as individuals internalize societal rules and develop a sense of guilt for even their unexpressed desires, further contributing to their unhappiness.

Civilization's Progress and the Paradox of Increasing Discontent

Towards the end of the essay, Freud reflects on the political climate of the 1930s, particularly the rise of authoritarian regimes such as communism and fascism. He views these developments as manifestations of the collective discontent within society, driven by the unresolved tension between individual desires and societal demands. Freud questions whether civilization, in its efforts to regulate human behavior, might be undermining itself, potentially leading to its own destruction.

On the Political Climate and Civilization’s Potential Downfall

He concludes by contemplating whether civilization, like an individual, can become neurotic, overwhelmed by its own contradictions and the unresolvable tensions between the individual and the collective.

Summary of Civilization and Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud

The struggle between the urgencies of instinct and the restrictions of civilization is addressed throughout the works of Sigmund Freud, and in Civilization and Its Discontents the theme is developed with particular richness and depth. This famous study explores the guilt that arises when personal desires clash with social norms, and it examines attempts to reconcile the conflict. In a sense, such guilt is among civilization's building blocks, keeping aggressive and selfish instincts within bounds. But it can also be a source of great frustration, and Freud examines at length many ways of dealing with guilt, from artistic and scientific pursuits to abuse of drink and drugs. The great psychologist offers revealing insights into the motivation behind human behavior as well as the evolution of many social institutions. This seminal study reveals the struggles to resolve conflicts and cast off guilt as spurs to the growth of civilization and culture.

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Philosophy

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Religion & Spirituality

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History

Sigmund Freud

Civilization and Its Discontents

Anything that causes the audience to be grateful for entertainment means they are most likely to pass it on.

1.	Understanding Viral Marketing	2.	The Power of Network Effects	3.	Viral Loops Defined	4.	The Psychology of Sharing	5.	Building for Scalability	6.	User Incentives	7.	The Role of Technology	8.	The Importance of Trust	9.	Harnessing Social Proof	10.	Case Studies of Viral Success	11.	The Metrics that Matter	12.	Managing Growth and Expectations	13.	Platforms and Viral Growth	14.	The Role of Mobile and Social Media	15.	Virality Pitfalls to Avoid	16.	How to Sustain Long-Term Growth

Topics Explained For You

Viral marketing is when a product’s growth is driven by its users, rather than through traditional advertising. It leverages word of mouth, exponentially increasing its reach. 	“Viral marketing takes on a life of its own, spreading from person to person like a contagion.”

Understanding Viral Marketing

Network effects occur when the value of a product increases as more people use it. Products like Facebook and LinkedIn thrive because their usefulness grows with each new user. 	“A product with network effects becomes more valuable to everyone as the user base grows.”

Power of Network Effects

A viral loop is the process by which a user spreads the product to others, who in turn continue the cycle. The faster and smoother this process, the more viral the product. 	“A viral loop is when users themselves are the driving force behind a product’s growth.”

Viral Loops Defined

For virality to work, understanding why people share is key. People share because it brings them social currency, a sense of belonging, or emotional satisfaction. 	“Humans are wired to share stories, ideas, and experiences that make them look good or feel connected.”

Psychology of Sharing

Scalability is crucial for a viral product. It means the product and infrastructure must be ready to handle exponential growth without breaking. 	“Scalability isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity when building a product with viral potential.”

Building for Scalability

Incentives like referral bonuses, discounts, or perks can dramatically boost virality. The best viral products create a win-win for the inviter and the invitee. 	“Incentives grease the wheels of virality, encouraging users to share and spread the word.”

User Incentives

Technology plays a crucial role in enabling viral growth. From email to social media, it provides the channels through which viral loops operate. 	“Without the right technology, even the best viral idea will stall before it takes off.”

Role of Technology

Trust is a fundamental component of viral success. If users don’t trust a product or service, they won’t share it with others, no matter how incentivized they are. 	“Trust is the currency of the viral economy—without it, virality falls flat.”

Importance of Trust

People are more likely to engage with a product if they see others doing the same. Reviews, testimonials, and visible numbers of users create trust and drive new sign-ups. 	“When users see others engaging with a product, they feel more confident in joining.”

Harnessing Social Proof

From Hotmail to Dropbox, several companies have successfully implemented viral strategies that turned them into household names. Their stories offer valuable lessons. 	“The best viral stories show us how simple, repeatable loops can fuel extraordinary growth.”

Case Studies of Viral Success

Tracking the right metrics is essential for viral growth. These include the viral coefficient, time to reach critical mass, and the retention rate of new users. 	“You can’t optimize what you don’t measure—virality requires careful tracking of key metrics.”

Metrics that Metrics

Viral growth can be both a blessing and a curse. Managing rapid growth requires a fine balance between expanding quickly and maintaining product quality. 	“Viral growth is exhilarating, but managing it is the true challenge.”

Managing Growth & Expectations

Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter offer perfect environments for viral products, providing ready-made networks of users who can easily share content. 	“Viral products thrive on platforms that have built-in sharing mechanisms and large user bases.”

Platforms & Viral Growth

Mobile and social media have revolutionized viral marketing, offering instant, worldwide sharing at the tap of a button. They allow virality to spread faster than ever before. 	“Mobile and social media are the accelerants that can turn a small spark of virality into a wildfire.”

Role of Mobile & Social Media

Not every product is suited to virality, and some attempts can backfire. Common pitfalls include over-incentivizing users or creating a product that only temporarily excites. 	“Virality can’t be forced—it must be organic, authentic, and aligned with the product’s value.”

Virality Pitfalls to Avoid

Virality often causes initial spikes in growth, but sustaining that growth requires continuous innovation, improving the product, and keeping users engaged over time. 	“Virality may get you through the door, but long-term success hinges on keeping users happy.”

How to Sustain Long-term Growth

1.	Viral marketing leverages user-driven growth.	2.	Network effects boost product value with more users.	3.	Viral loops drive exponential user acquisition.	4.	People share for social status or emotional reasons.	5.	Scalability is essential for viral success.	6.	User incentives fuel the viral engine.	7.	Trust is key for encouraging sharing.	8.	Social proof attracts new users.

9.	Case studies offer valuable viral insights.	10.	Track key viral metrics for optimization.	11.	Managing rapid growth is a complex challenge.	12.	Platforms and social media accelerate virality.	13.	Mobile makes sharing fast and easy.	14.	Beware of viral marketing pitfalls.	15.	Sustain growth through innovation and user retention.

Discover how viral marketing fuels growth, driven by user-sharing and exponential networks.

Here's something you may not know about today's Internet. Simply by designing your product the right way, you can build a flourishing business from scratch. No advertising or marketing budget, no need for a sales force, and venture capitalists will flock to throw money at you. Many of the most successful Web 2.0 companies, including MySpace, YouTube, eBay, and rising stars like Twitter and Flickr, are prime examples of what journalist Adam L. Penenberg calls a "viral loop" -- to use it, you have to spread it. After all, what's the sense of being on Facebook if none of your friends are The result: Never before has there been the potential to create wealth this fast, on this scale, and starting with so little. In this game-changing must-read, Penenberg tells the fascinating story of the entrepreneurs who first harnessed the unprecedented potential of viral loops to create the successful online businesses -- some worth billions of dollars -- that we have all grown to rely on. The trick is that they created something people really want, so much so that their customers happily spread the word about their product for them. All kinds of businesses -- from the smallest start-ups to nonprofit organizations to the biggest multinational corporations -- can use the paradigm-busting power of viral loops to enable their business through technology. Viral Loop is a must-read for any entrepreneur or business interested in uncorking viral loops to benefit their bottom line.

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Marketing & Sales

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Startups

product

Product & Design

Adam L. Penenberg

Viral Loop

1. Change can inspire lasting change within us, expanding our capabilities, values, and self-identity.

2. Question 1: "How might this change change what you're capable of?" - Example: Christine Ha's journey from vision loss to becoming a MasterChef winner.

3. Question 2: "How might this change change what you value?" - Example: Florence Williams' shifted perspective from solutions to discovery after a marriage breakdown.

4. Question 3: "How might this change change how you define yourself?" - Transition from specific pursuits to a love of human connection.

5. Acceptance of uncertainty and loss expands our capacity for joy and discovery.

6. Personal resilience involves redefining self-identity beyond rigid roles.

7. Embrace the possibility within unexpected changes for personal growth.

Insights on coping with unexpected change

Unexpected change like an accident, an illness or a relationship that suddenly ends is inevitable -- and disorienting. With a heartfelt and optimistic take on life's curveballs, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares how these challenging moments can inspire transformation, offering three questions to ask when facing uncertainty, so you can let go of rigidity and embrace change.

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Watch more: https://go.ted.com/mayashankar

https://youtu.be/Tt0arZN6EBM

TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com

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Corporate Culture

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Science & Nature

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com

Why Change Is So Scary — and How to Unlock Its Potential | Maya Shankar | TED

Emotions can influence your decisions and actions, so it is important to be aware of them and manage them effectively.

Learn To Control Your Emotions

Boundaries are the limits you set for yourself and others to protect your well-being and values. They can help you avoid situations that trigger your impulses and temptations.

Set Boundaries

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself and your abilities. You can boost your self-esteem by acknowledging your strengths, celebrating your achievements, and accepting your flaws.

A positive attitude can help you overcome challenges and setbacks, and focus on the benefits of changing your behavior. You can use affirmations, visualization, or other techniques to reinforce your positive mindset.

Keep A Positive Attitude

Assertiveness is the ability to express your needs, opinions, and feelings in a respectful and confident way. Being assertive can help you stand up for yourself and your goals, and avoid being influenced by peer pressure or social norms.

Be Assertive

Accountability is the responsibility you take for your actions and their consequences. Being accountable can help you monitor your progress and evaluate your results.

Be Accountable

Getting out of your comfort zone can help you challenge yourself and grow your self-control. You can do this by trying new things, learning new skills, or facing your fears.

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Setting long-term and achievable goals can help you plan your actions and stay focused on your purpose.

Set Long-term And Achievable Goals

Meditation is a practice that involves focusing your attention on a single object, such as your breath, a word, or a sound. Meditating can help you improve your concentration, awareness, and self-regulation. You can meditate for a few minutes a day, or whenever you feel stressed or distracted.

Meditate

I have this idea, to bring together a group of people, probably students like me to see if we could become something more.I want to make a social group where we can help each other, where we can use whatever skills we have for a greater collective good.If you are interested in this or have some suggestions you can reach out to me on purwarmanas@gmail.comThankyou for reading ✨<a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/manas.purwar">Click here to support me</a> 📚

Idea💡

9 Tips to Master Self Control

Humans have an endless amount of curiosity. Do not let the external make you oblivious.

The more one is confident in their own skills, the more they will despair upon sensing the difference in power.

I have never once thought of looking down on them or anything, because whether others succeed or fail have nothing to do with me.

The majority of people have a secret side to them.

Let bygones be bygones.

Do not reply immediatly, think.

Gossip is something every human voices universally.

Hiding the ugly truth and playing the saint is also human nature

It all just depends on how we think about it

The passage of time would feel different depending on how much you were enjoying yourself.

The more capable the person, the more humble they are. The less capable the person, the more arrogant they are.

In society, people who are hindrances are fired in order to protect the group as a whole.

If I do not see what is under the mask, I do not know anything

It is very difficult to build trust, but extremely easy to lose it.

There is no rule that the person standing in front has to be someone who does not show any weakness to others.

After all, there is only going forward.

Men are complicated and problematic creatures, because they cannot easily shed tears in front of other people.

Even if we cannot erase the past, we can use it to reflect on our actions in the future.

People grew from constant failure.

If you merely look at the results before reprimanding someone, then you could not be a leader.

Psychology quotes about human nature, growth, leadership.

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Leadership & Management

Psychology quotes - Reflections

Find 100+ Psychology Facts about Human Behaviour, Mind or Nature - Curated from Videos, Podcasts, Books & Articles - Genuine Insights from Other People

Don't Believe Everything You Think (Glaub nicht alles, was du denkst)

A King: Ruler of the Abyss

Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine

Civilization and Its Discontents

Viral Loop

Why Change Is So Scary — and How to Unlock Its Potential | Maya Shankar | TED

9 Tips to Master Self Control

Psychology quotes - Reflections

Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide

Dopamine Nation

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

Don't Believe Everything You Think (Glaub nicht alles, was du denkst)

A King: Ruler of the Abyss

Doctor Strangelove - Doomsday Machine

Civilization and Its Discontents

Viral Loop

Why Change Is So Scary — and How to Unlock Its Potential | Maya Shankar | TED

9 Tips to Master Self Control

Psychology quotes - Reflections

Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide

Dopamine Nation

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.