Hacking life through psychology

I recently rewatched Puss in Boots: The Last Wish , expecting a light, entertaining sequel with great animation and a few laughs. What I didn’t expect was an emotional gut-punch… and a quiet invitation to look deeper. Somewhere between the wolf’s chilling whistles and Perrito’s tender optimism, it hit me: this movie might just be a subtle allegory for the five soul wounds described by Lise Bourbeau—rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal, and injustice. Now, I know the creators haven’t said anything about this connection. But once the idea took root, I couldn’t unsee it. Each main character seems to embody one of these wounds—not just as a backstory device, but as the emotional engine behind their behavior, choices, and transformations. Let me walk you through what I saw. Maybe you’ll see it too. 🐱 Puss in Boots — Rejection The legendary, fearless Puss is down to his last life. For the first time, he’s not just running from danger—he’s running from himself . Underneath all...

Advertisements surround us every day, vying for our attention, wallets, and loyalty. Ever wondered why certain social media ads have an almost hypnotic power over your scrolling thumb? What makes you pause, double-tap, or swipe up when faced with a sponsored post? How do these digital promotions know just what you want to see? In today's world of social media, where your every click—and even eye movement—is monitored, the psychology behind online advertising is more relevant than ever. So, let's peek behind the advertising curtain. 1. The power of emotions: Ads often tap into our emotions because they know feelings drive decisions. Whether it's that heartwarming puppy commercial or the adrenaline-pumping sports car ad, emotions play a starring role. Research shows that emotionally charged ads are not only more memorable but also more persuasive. Marketers use colors, music, and stories to evoke specific emotions, connecting their product with the feelings they want you to...

Mirror neurons are our brain's empathy engine. They're the reason you wince when you see someone stub their toe or feel a warm glow when witnessing a loving hug. These neurons help us simulate and understand the experiences of others, allowing us to emotionally resonate with those around us and forming the basis of our social bonds. They've also been pivotal in our ability as humans to understand others' actions and learn by imitation. These specialized cells in our brains fire not only when we perform a particular action but also when we observe someone else performing that same action—a neurophysiological mechanism first discovered in the 1990s by Italian neuroscientists Rizzolatti and Craighero. They observed that certain neurons in the macaque monkey's brain fired both when the monkey grasped an object and when it watched a human perform the same action. This unexpected discovery opened the door to a profound understanding of human social interaction. The scie...

Admittedly, the word “hacking” has become one of those we throw every now and then in conversations—and super cool blog names too—perhaps because it conveys a long‑standing desire of us humans. I could think of many different ways to name this deep desire of ours: to solve problems, to tackle situations, feel in control, feel powerful, proud of our smarts and skills... I guess you can relate to some of these and even come up with more of your own. I remember an interesting experience I had with the “h” word back when I was fresh in the working world. I had a couple of acquaintances who were in IT and one of them told me about how he and his friend enjoyed assigning each other hacking challenges. Things like “I bet you can’t hack this or that...” Anyways, I chose to forget the details (sure hope it wasn’t anything too illegal). But the one thing I wanted to tell you about this experience is that it was pretty clear they were far more interested in the process of hacking than the act...

So this article is a bit different from my other content, but I guess such a peculiar situation merits a peculiar reflection. As we approach the end of 2020 and prepare to receive a new year, I have felt inspired to share my own personal metaphor for the virus pandemic. This year my heart has been touched and moved in new, interesting ways. I am humbled to see so many acts of love and honest concern for our neighbors. For our loved ones, for strangers, for our most vulnerable, and for the world as a whole. I know most of us are really hoping for a vaccine to be available as soon as possible (make some noise if you resonate with that). And most of us have become truly more aware of how we are all connected. And, of course, this is something we already knew, but the numbers and data on contact tracing and statistics have really given us a clearer picture of how we are all  really  connected. As we interact with the world, moving around, touching things, simply existing, we a...

The fact that placebos are actually effective in treating the symptoms of a disease and are a necessary part of clinical trials when testing an experimental drug says a lot about our brain’s ability to heal our own body. According to Professor Ted Kaptchuk, a researcher on the placebo effect at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, “The placebo effect is more than positive thinking (...) It’s about creating a stronger connection between the brain and body and how they work together.” While placebos cannot directly cure a disease, they have shown to be effective in managing some symptoms such as pain, stress, fatigue, or nausea. The study of such evidence has led experts to conclude that the fact that our bodies react to a placebo is simply proof that non-pharmacological mechanisms are present in the resolution of certain symptoms. Such non-pharmacological mechanisms involve a series of complex neurobiological reactions, including the increase in neurotransmitte...