Emotional Granularity

The self is imagined to be a fluid, like a puddle of water, and external circumstances are thought of as something like a sponge, sucking the self into its matrix so that the two become as one.

Naughty is a word that adults use to warn children not to defy orders. Along the same lines, naughty is also a word that adults use to signal to each other that they’re in the mood to do something sexy or exciting.

Centrism is really its own form of righteousness, one that elevates the emotional agenda of everyone getting along regardless of their needs and feelings.

Time does not heal all wounds. It causes some wounds to fester and spread.

An expansive mood is one in which a person is able to think and feel broadly, envisioning new possibilities and encountering people with a generous spirit.

After a long winter, on the first warm day, you greet the sun with a nice cold beer.

Tenderness is pain and gentle response to pain.

When someone tells us that they’re talked out, there’s little that anyone can say in response.

There’s a special permission people give themselves when they share meals with family and friends. They put their work to the side, and pay attention to what’s happening in the moment.

When we are relieved, we move about with greater ease, enjoying the freedom that comes with the loss of our burdens.