Prof Dr Rubaiul Murshed

Feeling helpless is like ‘pearls are of no value in a desert’ . Trying to hide pain increases powerlessness. Helplessness can sometimes feel psychologically paralysing. It creates a sense of being unable to act or react to a negative situation. It may be associated with anxiety, phobias, and loneliness. It  is easier to say, ‘My head is spinning’ than to say, ‘My heart is broken.’  People often feel helpless.

Leonardo da Vinci loved animals so much that he used to buy caged animals at the market just to set them free.

The book ‘Dopamine Detox’ has become popular. A chemical messenger, dopamine,  is produced in the brain. It plays a role in our body movement, memory, and motivation. Dopamine levels are associated with neurological diseases.

Once, Buddha said, ‘it is not love that is blind, but jealousy.’ Today social scientists agree that jealousy is a difficult human emotion that can hold us back from attaining happiness and wellbeing. But, some may think jealousy is a normal human emotion like tasty but unhealthy sauce in food which under certain circumstances can be life-threatening.

‘Money, money, money’, difficult to forget ABBA’s classic that was sung from both a practical and philosophical perspective. According to researchers, money is only one part of psychological wealth. Money’s impact on happiness is not as large as we might contemplate.

Those who are aware of “Pineal Gland’ – some of them call it a mysterious body. It has been recognised as significant since the ancient Greek scholars. But, this gland would not be fully understood until the 20th century.

Once a wise person said, “The problem with the Rat Race is that even if you win, you are still a rat.” Rat race is a pain for today’s lifestyle. It is usually defined as ‘a way of life in which people are caught up in a fiercely competitive struggle for wealth and/or power’.

Too often we misjudge the power of balancing our mindsets and emotions. If we do not have control over reactions including our mouth and counter wildly, we will not have control over our future, and we will let others control us.

“Beauty is Truth, Truth is beauty.” The beauty of humanity shows the real truth of nature. And this truth bears a vital factor named ‘Kindness’ - that takes one to tranquility. It is a tree with many branches; like, forgiveness, gratitude, humbleness and ‘culture of giving’. Among these good-deeds, ‘Culture of Giving’ carries a substantial meaning that brings completeness in one’s life. Some of us think ‘giving’ means ‘giving money’. But, it means giving more than just money.

There was a cover story on ‘The Power of Touch’ in a recent National Geographic issue. There have been studies in the medical field that are finding healthful benefits for patients in the form of nonverbal communication such as a pat on the hand or a gentle form of skin-to-skin contact.

It is interesting that it is hard to find a proper Bangla word that goes with the term ‘Narcissistic’, while it is such a vital topic in the world of ‘personality’. This is a personality disorder that involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behaviour, a lack of kindness and consideration for others. They are self-centered and envy others, or believe others envy them. They believe that they are special and demand excessive admiration.

Have you ever felt good after accompanying a sick neighbour to the hospital in the middle of the night? Then there was the time when you left food and essentials in front of your friend’s door regularly at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can luxury make one happy? Or how valid is the concept of the ‘Luxury Trap’? Are higher-priced goods of higher quality? Are brand items that much needed? Everyone says it doesn’t, but a whole lot of people spend their lives pursuing it.

Have you heard the famous quote, ‘90% of the friction of life is caused by the wrong tone of voice!’ Yes, the psychological effects of being yelled at in a relationship are numerous.

Global unrest has increased since the millennium, risking social unrest. Health promotion and wellness activities are popular now. Science and culture affect “social ethos,” especially morality and lifestyle. We were not taught to help the poor in school. The education system undervalues moral education.

Backbiting is “mean-spirited gossip about someone absent.” Backbiting spreads like a disease. Many do not care this social disease. We recognise arrogance, egotism, and jealousy as immoral, but we often overlook how harmful toxic talk can be. Backbiting can create a negative mindset.

According to a study, ‘sad feelings’ can alter stress-related brain tasks and increase blood levels of inflammatory proteins linked to heart disease, stroke, and metabolic syndrome. Mind and mindset are crucial to one’s nature. Our nature or behaviour is controlled by the ‘brain,’ a mysterious 3-pound soft structure responsible for solving problems, planning actions, and controlling emotions. These executive functions control our’ body and mind.

Success requires a positive mindset. True success brings mental and physical health, natural achievements, and happiness. A growth mindset is more important than money, hard work, and effort.

Today’s life is easier “with a lot of gadgets,” but behind our familiarity are many unexplainable illnesses. Modern life is full of stress. Stress is a foundational illness. People today feel more stress than they did 30/35 years ago, and those 45 to 64 feel it the most.

We are all familiar with the term ‘psychology’ in our day-to-day life. Psychology is generally considered a sub-discipline of behavioural sciences, and the two areas experience some overlap in coursework and career paths.