On May 9, the Dutch entry for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest did not make the finals. Before, there was lots of gloating. Several languages have sayings, like Schadenfreude (German), “The misfortune of others tastes like honey” (Japan), joie maligne (French), or geen beter vermaak dan leedvermaak (Dutch). So, why do we experience pleasure at the misfortune of...
Psychology
If you can’t win the game, change the rules
28 Mar, 2023
I suppose my blog title is an ancient saying but I can't find any evidence. There is, however, a related quote by "Peter Diamandis, Founder of X Prize Foundation & Cofounder of Singularity University: If you can't win, change the rules. If you can't change the rules, ignore them." The rule in any competition (eg, business, sports) is to win. Wiki:...
How to deal with a liar
21 Mar, 2023
Over the years, my solution how to deal with liars has changed. When is was young(er), I confronted and engaged with them. That approach rarely brings results, apart from denial and more lies. Today, I avoid liars. Sometimes, avoidance is difficult (eg, family). Hence, this blog: how to deal with a liar. My former approach was emotional (ie, confronting, engaging)....
Does inspiration have an expiration date?
2 Jan, 2023
The above question has been bugging for several weeks. The reason for my question is simple: it seems that I’m having more difficulty in finding inspiration. I have been active since late April 2014 and published 3,164 blogs, including this one. What happens when has all been said and done?? Actually, I'm a little afraid of that day. Writing has become my meaning...
Sorrow never comes too late and happiness too swiftly flies
8 Dec, 2022
My title is borrowed from the 1768 poem Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College by Thomas Gray (1716-1771). I suppose those words express what I've been feeling for some time. I've been entering the doubt-fear phase of our (eternal) cycle of Doubt, Fear, Hope & Love. This poem is famous for its last two lines of its final verse. I have added the third-last...
Compensation
21 Jul, 2022
Last Friday, someone dared me to analyze him. I told him that he is an introvert compensating with extravert behaviour. He was very surprised by my analysis because no one had ever dared to describe him like that. He disliked the word "compensation" though. I told him that we all compensate. "In psychology, compensation is a strategy whereby one...
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