This is about regulating and influencing emotions. Many individuals naturally regulate their emotions in ways that are useful and sufficient. If you look at the news any day of the week it can be apparent that many individuals use poor decision making that is at least partly attributable to emotional states. Influencing and regulating one’s emotions can help one to make fewer poor decisions. Regulating emotions can help one to think more clearly. That is what this somewhat free form piece is about.
Utilizing emotional regulation strategies can be useful. Engaging in emotional regulation strategies can be a good way to influence one’s emotions on the short term. Problem solving is a good way to regulate emotions on the long term. Distress tolerance is basically being able to sit with distressing emotions without doing anything to make life problems worse. Not engaging in behaviors that will make problems worse can be a good way to help regulate emotions over the long term.
Acceptance is a good strategy that can both help one to engage in distress tolerance and emotional regulation. Emotions can be difficult to influence. However, in almost all circumstances it is possible to influence one’s own emotions. Thinking can influence one’s emotions. Behaviors can also influence one’s emotions.
Engaging in potentially enjoyable activities can be a good way to influence and regulate emotions. Engaging in activities that are distracting (from problems or distressing thoughts) can be a way to influence emotions.
Persistently engaging in activities that have a potential of solving problems in life can be a good way to regulate emotions. There are many ways to potentially regulate emotions. Hopefully all humans on Earth will be able to successfully regulate and influence their own emotions to a significantly useful and functional degree.
Being social can be a way of feeling good. Helping others can be a good way of feeling good. Exercising neither too much nor too little can help one to regulate emotions. Eating a diet that is healthy and balanced can probably also help one to regulate emotions.
Money can contribute to happiness and it can be useful when solving problems. Earning some money at least, to a certain point, can be useful when trying to develop tools, tactics and strategies for regulating and influencing emotions. There may be more peace on Earth once more individuals are able to take on more personal responsibility for regulating and controlling their own emotions.
Experiencing happiness a majority of the time is probably possible for most all humans. I state this because I believe that regulating and influencing feelings and emotions is a skill that can be developed. Just like playing guitar can take years to master, regulating and influencing emotions can take some time to become decent at once the right strategies and tactics for doing so are employed consistently and repetitively.
Monday, January 25, 2016
How You Can Help to Defeat Aging
There are many ways that you can help to defeat aging. Aging is the largest humanitarian crisis in existence, at least in the sense of the sheer number of humans that die from it. Many individuals are either totally unaware that science and bio-medical technologies may be able to be used to reverse and defeat human aging. Other individuals are stuck in the pro-aging trance, something that Aubrey de Grey and Michael Rae talk about in the book Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime.
Currently SENS Research Foundation (SENS.org) is running a fund raising campaign in which for every dollar donated, it will be matched by another two dollars from a grant. This is being matched for up to fifty thousand dollars donated, so the total amount raised for SENS research through this fundraiser can be up to 150,000 dollars.
Additionally, you can go to Smile.Amazon.com. Amazon Smile is a program through Amazon.com for which one half of one percent on purchases on many items will be donated to the charity of your choosing. If you go to Smile.Amazon.com and log in then you will be prompted to choose which organization you would like your Amazon Smile donations to go towards. You can then select SENS Foundation. One half of one percent might not seem like a lot; however, it can potentially become a lot of money if many individuals choose to donate to SENS Research Foundation through this program.
Of course you can follow SENS Research Foundation on Twitter (@senstweet). You can follow their page on Facebook (Facebook.com/sensf). You can follow other organizations like Human Longevity Inc. (HumanLongevity.com) on Twitter (@humanlongevity). You can also follow Human Longevity Inc. on Facebook (Facebook.com/humanlongevity).
Donating to SENS Research Foundation is not the only way to help defeat aging. If you are passionate about helping to defeat this humanitarian crisis killing tens of thousands of human each day, then you can also simply help raise awareness amount individuals that you know. You can gift the book Ending Aging to others. If you haven’t already, you can purchase Ending Aging for yourself.
If you are a young adult or teen (or anyone for that matter) just entering a university or college (or going back to school), then you can choose to study topics that may enable you to one day conduct research that may help to defeat human aging. If you are not sure what to study you can contact SENS Research Foundation on their website to inquire about what might be most fruitful and productive to study.
If you are already someone with the right set of skills you can look into employment with an organization like Human Longevity Inc. or SENS Research Foundation. If you have the right types of knowledge, then you can potentially even start your own organization that is attempting to stop, reverse and defeat human aging.
Some question if it is true if it is good or desirable to try to defeat aging. For those who question if defeating aging is desirable, I offer the following. For those who suggest aging is natural and that we should not try to intervene, I reply; are all disease not natural? And if all diseases are natural and natural thing should not be tampered with, then should we not just stop trying to treat any diseases at all? However, this post is not meant to be about why we should defeat aging. That is the subject for another time. This is about how we can defeat aging. So donate to SENS Research Foundation, either directly or by utilizing Amazon Smile. Help to bring awareness to this cause and encourage others to help defeat aging; or work directly to conduct research that may one day help to defeat human aging. All of this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of how you can help. There are certainly other ways that one can help to stop, reverse and defeating aging.
Currently SENS Research Foundation (SENS.org) is running a fund raising campaign in which for every dollar donated, it will be matched by another two dollars from a grant. This is being matched for up to fifty thousand dollars donated, so the total amount raised for SENS research through this fundraiser can be up to 150,000 dollars.
Additionally, you can go to Smile.Amazon.com. Amazon Smile is a program through Amazon.com for which one half of one percent on purchases on many items will be donated to the charity of your choosing. If you go to Smile.Amazon.com and log in then you will be prompted to choose which organization you would like your Amazon Smile donations to go towards. You can then select SENS Foundation. One half of one percent might not seem like a lot; however, it can potentially become a lot of money if many individuals choose to donate to SENS Research Foundation through this program.
Of course you can follow SENS Research Foundation on Twitter (@senstweet). You can follow their page on Facebook (Facebook.com/sensf). You can follow other organizations like Human Longevity Inc. (HumanLongevity.com) on Twitter (@humanlongevity). You can also follow Human Longevity Inc. on Facebook (Facebook.com/humanlongevity).
Donating to SENS Research Foundation is not the only way to help defeat aging. If you are passionate about helping to defeat this humanitarian crisis killing tens of thousands of human each day, then you can also simply help raise awareness amount individuals that you know. You can gift the book Ending Aging to others. If you haven’t already, you can purchase Ending Aging for yourself.
If you are a young adult or teen (or anyone for that matter) just entering a university or college (or going back to school), then you can choose to study topics that may enable you to one day conduct research that may help to defeat human aging. If you are not sure what to study you can contact SENS Research Foundation on their website to inquire about what might be most fruitful and productive to study.
If you are already someone with the right set of skills you can look into employment with an organization like Human Longevity Inc. or SENS Research Foundation. If you have the right types of knowledge, then you can potentially even start your own organization that is attempting to stop, reverse and defeat human aging.
Some question if it is true if it is good or desirable to try to defeat aging. For those who question if defeating aging is desirable, I offer the following. For those who suggest aging is natural and that we should not try to intervene, I reply; are all disease not natural? And if all diseases are natural and natural thing should not be tampered with, then should we not just stop trying to treat any diseases at all? However, this post is not meant to be about why we should defeat aging. That is the subject for another time. This is about how we can defeat aging. So donate to SENS Research Foundation, either directly or by utilizing Amazon Smile. Help to bring awareness to this cause and encourage others to help defeat aging; or work directly to conduct research that may one day help to defeat human aging. All of this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of how you can help. There are certainly other ways that one can help to stop, reverse and defeating aging.
SENS and Suicide
This is about SENS research and suicide. I will start by noting that I hope that all suicides stop happening. I also support SENS research. SENS is an acronym that stands for strategies for negligible engineered senescence.
I learned about SENS from the book Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime. Regarding libertarian principles as they can be applied to psychology, the writings of psychiatrist Thomas Szasz have influenced me significantly.
In theory, SENS may be able to defeat aging. There are other efforts like Human Longevity Inc. that may lead to the same or similar outcome. SENS Research Foundation which was founded or co-founded by one of the authors of Ending Aging, Aubrey de Grey is the primary force behind SENS.
I am writing this here to express the idea that rather than what currently exists, I would rather live on an Earth where adult humans do not die of old age, but also, they are free to leave Earth at the time of their choosing. This is the alternative to the current situation in which humans do die of old age if something else does not take them out first, and also where currently adults can be locked up in psychiatric wards who decide that they do want to die and will engage in suicide and are found out. The current situation is one in which adult humans die of old age and are potentially subject to psychiatric oppression.
Earth can be a wonderful place to live. For many though, living on Earth is filled with traumas and is not a wonderful place to live. To use anything other than kindness, persuasion and reason on adults who wish to check out and leave Earth is ethically wrong and morally deficient. Currently, psychiatric powers have the legal authorization to use force, coercion and confinement on adults who plan to die. I do support defeating aging. I also support outlawing psychiatric oppression. I think that if those who champion the cause of defeating aging also advocate for outlawing psychiatric oppression, then the mere notion of defeating aging may be more palatable for some who are still stuck in a pro aging mindset.
I learned about SENS from the book Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime. Regarding libertarian principles as they can be applied to psychology, the writings of psychiatrist Thomas Szasz have influenced me significantly.
In theory, SENS may be able to defeat aging. There are other efforts like Human Longevity Inc. that may lead to the same or similar outcome. SENS Research Foundation which was founded or co-founded by one of the authors of Ending Aging, Aubrey de Grey is the primary force behind SENS.
I am writing this here to express the idea that rather than what currently exists, I would rather live on an Earth where adult humans do not die of old age, but also, they are free to leave Earth at the time of their choosing. This is the alternative to the current situation in which humans do die of old age if something else does not take them out first, and also where currently adults can be locked up in psychiatric wards who decide that they do want to die and will engage in suicide and are found out. The current situation is one in which adult humans die of old age and are potentially subject to psychiatric oppression.
Earth can be a wonderful place to live. For many though, living on Earth is filled with traumas and is not a wonderful place to live. To use anything other than kindness, persuasion and reason on adults who wish to check out and leave Earth is ethically wrong and morally deficient. Currently, psychiatric powers have the legal authorization to use force, coercion and confinement on adults who plan to die. I do support defeating aging. I also support outlawing psychiatric oppression. I think that if those who champion the cause of defeating aging also advocate for outlawing psychiatric oppression, then the mere notion of defeating aging may be more palatable for some who are still stuck in a pro aging mindset.
Ethical Ways of Earning Money Through Psychology
There are ethical ways of earning money through psychology. There are also unethical ways of earning money through psychology that are legal.
It is currently legal for some psychological professionals to literally lock law abiding adults up in psychiatric hospital wards. Suicide is not illegal. However, suicide is effectively illegal. The penalty for a law abiding adult trying and failing to successfully engage in suicide is frequently being locked up inside of a psychiatric hospital ward. There are multiple reasons for this. Humans have only had written history for about maybe twenty-five hundred years roughly. Prohibitions against suicide are often rooted in theological grounds. However, in a secular society, we medicalize prohibitions against suicide and frequently ignore the theological roots of the prohibitions against suicide or pretend that they do not exist.
It is authentically unethical to earn money by using psychology or psychiatry as a justification for coercing or locking up law or law abiding adults against their expressed desires.
I do not currently offer counseling services. I did enjoy and appreciate being able to engage in counseling. I might offering counseling services again in the future. It was a privilege to work with those who authentically wanted to receive counseling services.
If one offers psychological services that are truly voluntary and are not a potential vehicle for being effectively jailed (in a locked psychiatric ward), coerced, forced or oppressed, then this can be an ethical way of earning money through psychology.
I have a masters degree in psychological, and I might as well use the knowledge that I possess. For now, I hope to help individuals experience more happiness and emotional well being through the dissemination of general psychological principles through written publishing. I like this approach because it can be truly voluntary. That is, I will force no one to read what I write or publish. It will all be completely voluntary. The information will be available for those who wish to voluntary read, watch or listen to it. I truly believe that this is authentically ethical.
Hopefully all psychological professionals will stop earning money from using force, coercion, confinement and oppression on law abiding adults. Hopefully only voluntary contractual psychological and psychiatric services will be offered to adults and none will ever be forced upon them. Voluntary products and services are the only ethical ways of earning money through psychology.
It is currently legal for some psychological professionals to literally lock law abiding adults up in psychiatric hospital wards. Suicide is not illegal. However, suicide is effectively illegal. The penalty for a law abiding adult trying and failing to successfully engage in suicide is frequently being locked up inside of a psychiatric hospital ward. There are multiple reasons for this. Humans have only had written history for about maybe twenty-five hundred years roughly. Prohibitions against suicide are often rooted in theological grounds. However, in a secular society, we medicalize prohibitions against suicide and frequently ignore the theological roots of the prohibitions against suicide or pretend that they do not exist.
It is authentically unethical to earn money by using psychology or psychiatry as a justification for coercing or locking up law or law abiding adults against their expressed desires.
I do not currently offer counseling services. I did enjoy and appreciate being able to engage in counseling. I might offering counseling services again in the future. It was a privilege to work with those who authentically wanted to receive counseling services.
If one offers psychological services that are truly voluntary and are not a potential vehicle for being effectively jailed (in a locked psychiatric ward), coerced, forced or oppressed, then this can be an ethical way of earning money through psychology.
I have a masters degree in psychological, and I might as well use the knowledge that I possess. For now, I hope to help individuals experience more happiness and emotional well being through the dissemination of general psychological principles through written publishing. I like this approach because it can be truly voluntary. That is, I will force no one to read what I write or publish. It will all be completely voluntary. The information will be available for those who wish to voluntary read, watch or listen to it. I truly believe that this is authentically ethical.
Hopefully all psychological professionals will stop earning money from using force, coercion, confinement and oppression on law abiding adults. Hopefully only voluntary contractual psychological and psychiatric services will be offered to adults and none will ever be forced upon them. Voluntary products and services are the only ethical ways of earning money through psychology.
Crazy and Insane
For years if not decades, terms like “insane”, “crazy”, “lunatic” and so forth are commonly used in songs, movies, television and more. Insanity is ingrained in our culture. Terms like “gun nut” are used in society. Are these terms really useful? Probably not. They actually harm the potential for a significantly more authentically peaceful and harmonious society.
Most individuals have a great deal of unquestioned faith in the reality of insanity. Insanity is generally thought of as being a state of mind in which there is no logic or reason for the behaviors that one engages in. Additionally, one is thought to be insane or crazy is often not thought to be responsible for their behavior. Even worse, insanity is popularly thought of as being the result of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders are popular thought of as being types of brain disorders. These supposed quasi neurological disorders are not objectively diagnosable.
How useful are terms like insane, crazy and lunatic? Are they any more useful than racial slurs? Probably not. Terms like “insane”, “crazy” and “lunatic” are used to dehumanize and invalidate person-hood and responsibility. Humans are moral agents and to label someone as being a lunatic or insane is to invalidate and remove their moral agency.
Insanity is not something that can be objectively proved. Insanity is a judgment based on personal experience and subjective criteria. It is not a useful judgment. These aforementioned terms are quasi medical terms which are pervasive in secular popular culture. This has significant unintended consequences that are not good nor desirable.
In his book Insanity: The Idea and Its Consequences, psychiatrist Thomas Szasz wrote in detail about how insanity is not a useful idea nor term. He goes so far as to lambaste the insanity defense and call for its abolishment. He is right.
Hopefully more individuals will start thinking critically and more clearly about the language related to insanity and lunacy. Hopefully more individuals will question the usefulness of these ideas and terms. Hopefully more individuals will start to realize the resultant unintended consequences of having ideas about insanity, craziness and lunacy so ingrained in popular culture and in the criminal justice system.
Most individuals have a great deal of unquestioned faith in the reality of insanity. Insanity is generally thought of as being a state of mind in which there is no logic or reason for the behaviors that one engages in. Additionally, one is thought to be insane or crazy is often not thought to be responsible for their behavior. Even worse, insanity is popularly thought of as being the result of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders are popular thought of as being types of brain disorders. These supposed quasi neurological disorders are not objectively diagnosable.
How useful are terms like insane, crazy and lunatic? Are they any more useful than racial slurs? Probably not. Terms like “insane”, “crazy” and “lunatic” are used to dehumanize and invalidate person-hood and responsibility. Humans are moral agents and to label someone as being a lunatic or insane is to invalidate and remove their moral agency.
Insanity is not something that can be objectively proved. Insanity is a judgment based on personal experience and subjective criteria. It is not a useful judgment. These aforementioned terms are quasi medical terms which are pervasive in secular popular culture. This has significant unintended consequences that are not good nor desirable.
In his book Insanity: The Idea and Its Consequences, psychiatrist Thomas Szasz wrote in detail about how insanity is not a useful idea nor term. He goes so far as to lambaste the insanity defense and call for its abolishment. He is right.
Hopefully more individuals will start thinking critically and more clearly about the language related to insanity and lunacy. Hopefully more individuals will question the usefulness of these ideas and terms. Hopefully more individuals will start to realize the resultant unintended consequences of having ideas about insanity, craziness and lunacy so ingrained in popular culture and in the criminal justice system.