What I’ve read:
“Psilocybin: A Journey Beyond the Fear of Death?” (interview with clinical pharmacologist Roland Griffiths, published in the Scientific American on on December 1, 2016)
Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins University is one of the pioneers in the field of psychedelic research. He is a clinical pharmacologist and an author of more than 300 studies on mood-altering substances from coffee to ketamine. He is not a new age guru who is saying that everyone should do psychedelics. I feel that’s important to say because, from what I’ve seen, psychedelics get a bad reputation because of those who take these mind-altering substances lightly and think that everyone should try and use them.
In this interview, Griffiths discusses the potential that psychedelics show for treating conditions ranging from addiction, depression, PTSD, and could even help terminally ill patients face death in a more peaceful way.
“There is something about the core of this experience that opens people up to the great mystery of what it is that we don’t know. It is not that everybody comes out of it and says, ‘Oh, now I believe in life after death.’ That needn’t be the case at all. But the psilocybin experience enables a sense of deeper meaning, and an understanding that in the largest frame everything is fine and that there is nothing to be fearful of. There is a buoyancy that comes of that which is quite remarkable. To see people who are so beaten down by this illness, and they start actually providing reassurance to the people who love them most, telling them ‘it is all okay and there is no need to worry’— when a dying person can provide that type of clarity for their caretakers, even we researchers are left with a sense of wonder.”
You can read the full article here.
Another thing to read: If you haven’t already, you can download my free ebook “The Lost Art of Reading” here.
What I’ve listened to:
Francis Ngannou on the Hotboxin' podcast with Mike Tyson
The scariest man alive sitting down to talk with arguably the scariest man to ever live.
Francis Ngannou is not just the UFC heavyweight champion. He is one of the most persistent individuals you will ever have the chance to hear speak.
As promised, with my podcast recommendations, I am always trying to give you the best conversations, not the most recent ones. And this podcast episode is a perfect example of that. I have listened to it multiple times and have even taken notes.
You don’t need to be a combat sports fan to enjoy this one.
You just need to be interested in hearing an inspiring life story of resilience and perseverance, paired with the advice of a man who’s experienced higher highs and lower lows than most people can even imagine.
What I’ve been thinking about:
I often receive messages from people who feel disappointed and defeated because they’ve made a mistake, even though they are working on themselves and actively trying to be better. The same thing happens to me, at least with the "making a mistake" part. But I’ve gotten a lot better at not thinking that I will never make mistakes because I’m on a path of self-development.
And there is a quote by Marcus Aurelius that comes to mind when thinking about this. Hopefully, you will find it as helpful as I do.
“Not to feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren't packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human - however imperfectly - and fully embrace the pursuit that you've embarked on.”
Thank you for reading.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
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