Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is a celestial force of expansion, optimism, and opportunity. In astrology, it governs luck, philosophy, personal growth, and faith, shaping the way individuals perceive life and approach challenges. This planet encourages exploration, inspires positivity, and amplifies personal potential. Understanding Jupiter’s influence in a birth chart provides a window into where abundance and guidance flow naturally. What Jupiter Represents in Astrology Jupiter embodies ideals, aspirations, and the quest for meaning. It highlights areas where faith, hope, and philosophy can shape experiences, guiding individuals toward personal growth. Its energy magnifies positivity, humor, curiosity, and light-hearted self-discovery. However, Jupiter’s influence also carries the potential for overconfidence, impractical optimism, or neglect of...
Time doesn’t always pass at the same pace. Under certain conditions, people experience what psychologists call “time expansion experiences” (TEEs)—moments when seconds feel like minutes. These instances are reported during emergencies, intense concentration, meditation, and even some sporting events. Recent research suggests that the perception of time is far more flexible than commonly assumed, and understanding this phenomenon sheds light on the extraordinary capabilities of the human mind. What Are Time Expansion Experiences? Time expansion experiences occur when the brain slows its perception of events, making moments feel extended. Psychologist Steve Taylor of Leeds Beckett University has spent over a decade investigating these experiences. His research indicates that TEEs are not limited to life-threatening situations. While...
The mind sometimes delivers experiences that feel uncanny—an intuition that something will occur, or a sudden certainty before events unfold. These flashes raise a possibility: perhaps what we call gut instinct is actually more. Evidence points to the idea that awareness may extend beyond linear time, offering fragments of the future. Today, neuroscience is probing these mysteries with rigor. Precognition, long relegated to folklore or chance, is being tested in lab settings. The research suggests consciousness could draw on information from events that have yet to happen, blurring the line between memory and foresight. Such findings challenge the conventional picture of time as a straight path. The Science Behind Precognition Precognition is considered a form of...
Unpredictability is life’s constant companion, and when the world feels especially unsettled—fractured politics, tense social climates, global challenges—it can spark questions about where meaning is rooted. That search often leads not to a grand, all-consuming mission, but to the daily decisions that nurture connection and purpose. Purpose isn’t about arriving at one perfect role or destination—it’s about living in a way that fuels clarity and energy, even when tomorrow is unclear. Small, intentional choices can recast uncertainty as an opening to feel grounded and more fully present. 1. Notice Purpose in Everyday Moments Purpose often grows from simple, daily actions rather than a single life-defining goal. Showing kindness to a neighbor, tending to a garden, volunteering...
"The Truman Show" isn’t just a standout '90s drama—it's a razor-sharp commentary on surveillance culture, media obsession, and the cost of living under constant scrutiny. Directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey in a rare dramatic role, the film tells a story that still hits hard today, especially in an age where personal privacy feels more optional than protected. Released in 1998, "The Truman Show" foresaw a world not unlike ours—where real life gets filtered through a lens for public consumption, and entertainment blurs the line between genuine and artificial. A World Built on Illusion Truman Burbank lives in the pristine town of Seahaven, a place that looks picture-perfect but is anything but real. From...
What does it really mean to live the good life? For decades, mental health research has zeroed in on what goes wrong—studying disorders, diagnoses, and treatments. But for Luke Kalb (PhD ’17, MHS ’08), an associate professor of Mental Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, there’s more to the story. His research pushes beyond managing illness and explores what helps people flourish. Instead of only asking how to fix mental distress, he’s asking what builds a life worth living for the majority of people who aren’t in crisis. Kalb's work focuses on an often-overlooked area of public health: positive mental well-being. “Roughly 20% of Americans will experience a psychiatric disorder in their lifetime,” he...
The Silent Power of Mundanity in Modern Culture
It’s not uncommon anymore to find someone rereading “The Stranger” on a crowded subway or quoting “The Trial” in a social post. Despite declining attention spans and the barrage of digital distractions, certain literary works are quietly resurfacing—those written by Camus, Kafka, Dostoevsky, and Orwell.
These aren’t just intellectual pursuits. They resonate because they reflect something many feel but can’t always articulate – a daily grind that feels both urgent and meaningless.
Why Mundanity Hits Harder Today
Freepil rorozoa| Modern readers seek meaning in quiet moments not in constant motion.
Modern life is fast, loud, and constantly changing. But beneath the surface lies a stillness—a sameness that many have come to recognize. Mundanity isn’t just about routine; it’s about the deeper sense of repetition and fatigue that can wear on one’s spirit.
– The typical 9-to-5 feels more like a loop than a ladder.
– Tasks often lack purpose beyond completion.
– People perform to meet invisible standards, not personal goals.
This isn’t laziness or pessimism. It’s a quiet questioning of what all the busyness is for.
Sisyphus in the Office
Albert Camus introduced the idea of Sisyphus—a man cursed to roll a boulder uphill forever, only to watch it roll back down. For many, that metaphor isn’t distant or dramatic. It’s the to-do list that fills up faster than it clears. It’s performance reviews based more on appearances than real impact.
Today’s work culture often favors staying in motion over making progress. People feel pressure to show they’re always “on,” even if the outcomes don’t change. This loop mirrors Camus’ absurd struggle, where meaning is unclear but the grind never ends.
Bureaucracy Without a Face
Franz Kafka’s writing, especially “The Trial,” outlines a world ruled by systems no one can fully understand. The main character, Joseph K., finds himself accused without explanation and caught in a web of silent rules.
It mirrors the frustration many face with job markets, applications, and social mobility. The idea of meritocracy—where hard work leads to success—feels increasingly out of reach. Jobs go to those with connections. Opportunities shrink while inflation rises. The system feels indifferent, even hostile. Like Kafka’s world, today’s processes often don’t explain themselves. They just expect compliance.
Alienation and Conformity
Another key theme in these literary works is alienation. Dostoevsky’s characters, especially the one in “Notes from Underground,” express deep self-awareness and defiance, but also an overwhelming sense of isolation.
That tension is visible today. People are aware of societal issues—inequality, injustice, manipulation—but feel powerless to change them. Resistance gets drowned out. Protest turns into quiet acceptance. The absurdity remains, but it no longer sparks revolution. It fosters fatigue.
Similarly, George Orwell’s “1984” introduces “doublethink”—holding two opposing beliefs at once and accepting both. It’s familiar now in the way people consume news: facts are distorted, contradictions ignored, and critical thinking is sidelined in favor of fitting in.
When Tragedy Becomes Routine
Freepik | dikushin | Modern media floods us with suffering, dulling empathy and prolonging numbness..
Camus’ “The Stranger” describes Meursault’s indifference to his mother’s death. It shocked readers then—but now, it’s oddly familiar. Today, tragedies are streamed 24/7. War, famine, violence—they’re all visible, all the time. And yet, people scroll past them with a shrug.
This numbness isn’t because people don’t care. It’s a defense against being overwhelmed. When horrors become headlines, emotional distance becomes a coping tool. But the cost is a culture less inclined to ask questions or feel deeply.
Seeing Through the Illusions
Still, not everyone buys into the show. Kafka’s Mr. K is a reminder that some can see the cracks in the system. These are the people who question roles, success, and what really matters. They aren’t louder than the rest. But they persist. Not because they think change is guaranteed—but because silence feels worse.
The core of mundanity today isn’t just repetition. It’s a collective tension between knowing something’s off and not knowing how to fix it. Whether it’s Camus’ existential struggle, Kafka’s invisible systems, or Orwell’s manipulated truths, these narratives remain relevant because they reflect what many feel beneath their daily routines.
Finding Meaning in the Everyday Struggles
Mundanity has always been part of life, but now it’s front and center. It shows up in tired routines, silent sacrifices, and the quiet weight of repetition. And that’s why these old works are still being read. They don’t just entertain. They hold up a mirror.
In a world where distractions are constant and everything seems urgent, taking time to reflect—really reflect—on why things feel the way they do might be the most valuable act of all. Sometimes the most ordinary parts of life carry the deepest meaning.
