Happiness in this World » fear

How To Admit You’re Wrong

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:48:41 +0000

Photo: Stephen Brace

This last summer, my wife and I had a fight. As with many fights between married couples, the surface issue was inconsequential but housed an important issue underneath. I’d accidentally burned the hamburgers I was grilling for our dinner (because we hadn’t cleaned our barbecue for some time, grease had [...]

If Not Now, When?

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 23:00:33 +0000

Photo: zoutedrop

A few years ago, a close friend of mine was struggling with his job. He worked in a large corporation he couldn’t stand: unethical business practices, employee backstabbing, and sexual harassment all seemed to occur on a regular basis. He wanted out. Not only that, for years he’d harbored a secret [...]

How Touching Saves Lives

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 22:00:31 +0000

Photo: Josep Ma. Rosell

When I was a fourth-year medical student, I once did a month-long rotation in the ER. One night a woman came in who we decided needed some lab work. When I let her know we needed to draw her blood, she began to tremble visibly. “I’m scared of needles,” [...]

How To Thwart Panic

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:05:51 +0000

Photo: oddsock

I’ve had one panic attack in my life. It happened when I was a first-year medical student and taking my first biochemistry mid-term exam. Everyone agreed that all our teacher’s lectures had been virtually incomprehensible. And unlike most of my classmates, who’d majored in biochemistry or biology in college, I’d majored [...]

Handling Transitions

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:00:46 +0000

When I was a child, I was afraid to go to summer camp. Most kids found the prospect exciting and the experience fun, but I dreaded it. What would the activities be like? Who would my counselors be? What other kids were going? Would I be made to swim if I didn’t want to?

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