Category Archives: Mental Health

Beyond Egocentrism to Wholesome Character

Mature character demands we outgrow our natural egocentrism. But an entitled, egocentric, narcissistic culture holds many of us back.

Codependency Versus Emotional Dependency

True codependency is widely misunderstood, and often mistaken for emotional dependency, a significant risk factor for abuse and exploitation in relationships.

Making Amends Reveals Character

Making amends for harm done is a duty, to be sure. But the spirit with which one does this noble work of repair testifies to one’s character.

Culture Influences Character and Vice-Versa

How Culture Influences Character Culture influences character development in many ways. Various values, norms, and traditions largely define a culture. And cultures invariably promote these things and their embrace by constituents. (Cultures also tend to punish failures to embrace these things!) Consequently, culture has a lot to do with the attitudes folks form and the … Continue reading Culture Influences Character and Vice-Versa

Laws Can’t Fix What Only Character Can

What Laws Can’t Fix Laws never permanently fix social problems. And perhaps the proof lies in the numbers. There are millions of laws on the books. Conscientious folks don’t behave themselves merely because of them. And the bad actors among us have always either ignored them or found a way around them. (See: Another Aggressive Personality … Continue reading Laws Can’t Fix What Only Character Can

Narcissistic Abuse and the Gaslighting Effect

Narcissistic abusers bind and trap their victims in many ways. Years of gaslighting leave survivors full of fear and doubt.

How a Sound Ego Operates

A Sound Ego A sound ego is strong one. But it’s also an ego in proper balance. We need our egos to operate in this world. But big problems occur when our egos are unhealthy. So, we need an ego that is strong, balanced, and rightly-purposed. Ego-inflation lies at the heart of most narcissism. Some … Continue reading How a Sound Ego Operates