Depression is not generalized pessimism, but pessimism specific to the effects of one's own skilled action.

It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who can do the most acts of random kindness.

Stress is not a state of mind... it's measurable and dangerous, and humans can't seem to find their off-switch.

We are just another primate but a very confused, malleable one.

Give lab rats oxytocin and, according to that meme, they get better at talking about their feelings and sing like Joan Baez.

We live well enough to have the luxury to get ourselves sick with purely social, psychological stress.

An open mind is a prerequisite to an open heart.