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...
"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...
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 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...
5 Practical Ways to Rediscover Purpose in Uncertain Times
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 locally, or even journaling at the end of the day can create a sense of contribution. These moments add meaning to life, especially when things feel uncertain.
Pay attention to what sparks interest or makes time feel like it moves quickly. Those experiences often reveal what truly matters and where energy should be focused.
2. Follow What Energizes You
Freepik | Exciting activities, fueled by passion, provide purpose and stability in flux.
Passion often leads directly to a deeper sense of purpose. Activities that feel exciting—whether it’s travel, creative projects, or connecting with others—help anchor life during uncertain phases.
Ask questions like:
Which activities make time fly?
What conversations leave you feeling motivated?
Which hobbies or dreams keep returning to mind?
The answers often highlight areas that bring fulfillment and help clarify direction.
3. Reconnect With Core Values
When the world feels unstable, values become an anchor. They’re the inner coordinates that keep you from drifting too far off course—whether it’s integrity, compassion, curiosity, or perseverance. Holding onto these guiding principles simplifies decision-making and loosens the grip of outside opinions.
If your compass points toward growth, you might focus on learning something new during a difficult time. If it points toward connection, you’ll likely spend more energy nurturing relationships. In both cases, the anchor holds.
4. Create Purpose Rather Than Search for It
Purpose isn’t buried treasure—you don’t stumble on it fully formed. It’s something you craft over time, through actions that matter to you right now. Sometimes that means starting small: pulling a neglected guitar out of the closet, planting a few herbs on the balcony, or protecting your energy with better rest.
Pop culture occasionally slips this truth into its stories—James Gunn’s “Superman” isn’t about a caped hero saving the planet but about how ordinary acts of compassion can shape a meaningful life.
5. Learn From Challenges
Freepik | Use your growth from challenges to mentor others, creating purpose from pain.
Hardship is often the teacher we never wanted but secretly needed. It shapes perspective, clarifies what matters, and strengthens the will to keep going.
By reflecting on those lessons and taking even a small step to honor them—like offering guidance to someone in the same storm—you turn challenges into a source of purpose.
Living With Intention in Uncertain Times
Uncertainty doesn’t have to unravel you. It can be a season to root deeper into what matters and to show up in small but deliberate ways. Purpose isn’t a lightning strike—it’s a series of steps, choices, and moments lived on purpose.
Even in heavy times, seek out what sparks curiosity and lean into the values that bring calm. Over time, these choices stitch together a life that feels steady, connected, and worth inhabiting—no matter what’s happening outside of it.
