We look at the tension point between fear and freedom.
We explore the duality of trauma and triumph.

Dynamic Living is about what the dying have to teach us about living. In a world obsessed with experts, gaining more knowledge and wanting more, we think the dying are the safest leaders around.

The dance between the brain and the body—is the rhythm of sensing before thinking, feeling before explaining, and detaching from the need to turn every experience into a story.

Synchronizing two contrasting opposites becomes the rhythm. To navigate life not through force or struggle, but through attuning is the difference between fighting the current, and letting it carry you between effort and flow. When you are in sync with what is, rather than what you wish was, life itself synchronizes.

Learned helplessness is what happens when people (or animals) go through so many uncontrollable negative experiences that they start believing they have no power to change their situation—even when they actually do.

This idea first came from psychologists Martin Seligman and J. Bruce Overmier back in the 1960s. They ran experiments where dogs were given electric shocks they couldn’t escape. Later, when those same dogs had a way to avoid the shocks, they didn’t even try. They had learned that nothing they did made a difference, so they just gave up. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Since then, researchers have found that learned helplessness isn’t just about giving up—it affects motivation, learning, and emotions, too. People who repeatedly go through situations where they feel powerless can lose the drive to act, struggle to learn new things, and experience more stress and anxiety. This is a big deal when it comes to mental health, especially depression, where someone might feel stuck in a life they think they can’t change. (ppc.sas.upenn.edu)

Brain science backs this up, too. Studies show that when people (or animals) develop learned helplessness, there's increased serotonin activity in a part of the brain called the dorsal raphe nucleus. Other brain areas—like the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus—also get involved, making it clear that this isn’t just about attitude; it’s a real, biological response to stress. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

You can also see learned helplessness in schools. When kids repeatedly struggle with something and feel like no matter what they do, they’ll fail, they stop trying. That’s why things like growth mindset and giving students a sense of control over their learning can help reverse this pattern. (scholarworks.uni.edu)

Bottom line? Learned helplessness is real, and it affects way more than just behavior. It can change the way people think, feel, and even function on a biological level. The good news is that with the right strategies—whether in therapy, education, or everyday life—it can be unlearned.

Reflecting on life's final moments, many express common regrets that offer valuable lessons for the rest of us. Here's a look at these sentiments, backed by academic insights:

1. "I wish I had let myself be happy."

Often, individuals realize too late that happiness is a choice. They regret not embracing joy and allowing themselves to be content. The regret underscores the importance of prioritizing personal happiness and not postponing it for future circumstances. (pmncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

2. "I wish I had the courage to express my feelings."
Many people suppress their true emotions to keep peace with others. As a result, they settle for a mediocre existence and never become who they are truly capable of being. This regret highlights the significance of honest communication and expressing one's true feelings. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3. "I wish I had more time."

A common lament is the desire for more time to accomplish unfulfilled dreams or end with loved ones. This regret emphasizes the importance of making the most of the time we have and not postponing meaningful activities. ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govtps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3377309/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

4. "I wish I didn't work so hard."

Spending excessive time on work often leads to missing out on family events and personal pleasures. This regret serves as a reminder to balance professional ambitions with personal life, ensuring that work doesn't overshadow relationships and personal well-being. (pmc..nlm.nih.gov)

5. "I wish I had stayed in touch with friends.”

As life progresses, many let valuable friendships fade away. There's a deep regret in not giving friendships the time and effort they deserve. This highlights the importance of maintaining and nurturing personal relationships throughout life. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

The "loneliness paradox" refers to the phenomenon where individuals experience feelings of loneliness despite being surrounded by social connections or living in a highly connected society. This paradox highlights that loneliness is not merely about physical isolation but is deeply tied to subjective perceptions of social connectedness and satisfaction with one's relationships.

Key Aspects of the Loneliness Paradox:

1. Subjective Experience: Loneliness is a personal and subjective feeling of social disconnection, which can occur even when one has an extensive network of acquaintances or is frequently in social settings.

2. Impact of Social Media: Despite the rise of digital platforms designed to connect people, there is evidence suggesting that increased use of technology, particularly social media, can inadvertently exacerbate feelings of loneliness.

3. Perception vs. Reality: The paradox also encompasses the idea that societal messages warning about the dangers of being alone may be counterproductive, making individuals feel even worse in their solitude.

Academic References:

• Baek, E. C., Hyon, R., López, K., Du, M., Porter, M. A., & Parkinson, C. (2021). Lonely individuals process the world in idiosyncratic ways. arXiv preprint arXiv:2107.01312.
  
  

• Fontanari, J. F. (2021). A stochastic model for the influence of social distancing on loneliness. arXiv preprint arXiv:2103.15577.
  
  

• Kiritchenko, S., Hipson, W. E., Coplan, R. J., & Mohammad, S. M. (2020). SOLO: A corpus of tweets for examining the state of being alone. arXiv preprint arXiv:2006.03096.
  
  

• Qirtas, M. M., Zafeiridou, E., Pesch, D., & Bantry White, E. (2024). Unmasking the nuances of loneliness: Using digital biomarkers to understand social and emotional loneliness in college students. arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.01845.
  
  

These studies collectively illustrate that loneliness is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, deeply influenced by individual perceptions, societal narratives, and the quality of social interactions, rather than merely the quantity of social contacts.

The phenomenon where increased social media use correlates with heightened feelings of loneliness has been extensively studied. Here are several academic studies that explore this relationship:

Academic Research on the Loneliness Paradox and Social Media

1. Huang, C. (2017). Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(6), 346-354.
https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0758

2. Hunt, M. G., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No more FOMO: Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751-768.
https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751

3. Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79-93.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851

4. Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Whaite, E. O., Lin, L. Y., Rosen, D., Colditz, J. B., Radovic, A., & Miller, E. (2017). Social media use and perceived social isolation among young adults in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(1), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.010

5. Verduyn, P., Ybarra, O., Résibois, M., Jonides, J., & Kross, E. (2017). Do social network sites enhance or undermine subjective well-being? A critical review. Social Issues and Policy Review, 11(1), 274-302.
https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12033

6. Nowland, R., Necka, E. A., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2018). Loneliness and social internet use: Pathways to reconnection in a digital world? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(1), 70-87.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617713052

7. Orben, A., Dienlin, T., & Przybylski, A. K. (2019). Social media’s enduring effect on adolescent life satisfaction. PNAS, 116(21), 10226-10228.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1902058116