6. Tigers 2024

Power of Perspective “Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it” as said by Irving Berlin . In other words, your perspective matters a great deal in most, if not all, aspects of your life. Perspective is defined as “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something” ( Oxford Languages ). Everyone has their own perspectives that likely differentiate from most people due to having various values, cultures, and personal experiences. However, our perspectives are one of the only things that we have control over regardless of any situation. By having power over our perspectives we can control our thoughts, feelings, and reactions to certain circumstances. For instance, if an individual applied for a job position that they did not receive, it does not always have to be a negative thing. In fact, it is a better idea to change perspectives and look at that situation in a positive light in hopes of something better coming. Having more positive outlooks can lead...

“ In an age of consumerism and materialism, I traffic in blue sky and colored air.” - James Turrell There is no doubt that modern society is in an age of consumerism, defined by cheap dopamine accessible to all with the click of a few buttons. Whether it's from junk food, mindless scrolling, or abusive drinking, cheap dopamine has overtaken modern society by storm due to its simple accessibility and seemingly instant benefits. Cheap dopamine comes from sources that provide momentary pleasure, such as drugs or alcohol, but lead to long-term pain, like addiction or distraction. This addiction damages an individual's power by ruining their mood, weakening their willpower, and preventing them from reaching their full potential. While some sources such as doing drugs, gambling, and excessive drinking are publicized as bad for you, sources such as junk food, mindless social media scrolling, and binge-watching have snuck past and integrated into American society. Image from LinkedIn ...

  The most dominant species on land is without question humans. But how is that possible? There are animals such as hippos that can weigh up to nearly 9,000 pounds; humans are clearly not the strongest. Neither do we have exceptional population or overall biomass, the estimated total biomass of ants ranges from 10 to 100 billion tons. Yet given the resources, a relatively small group of humans can drive hippos to extinction, as we have for other endangered animals such as elephants, rhinos, and lions. We can alter the surrounding landscape and ecosystems far more efficiently than the world’s ant population, as we have by decimating rainforests and tunneling through mountains, feats no animal has been able to replicate at our scale. There is almost nothing any other species can accomplish that cannot be done the same by humans. One of the biggest reasons for human dominance is our intelligence. Unlike other animals, we have the ability to think critically during moments requiring co...

  Blush. Concealer. Eyeliner. Fake eyelashes. Beauty blenders and brushes. These are all makeup items in front of me, each having a special significance. Blush to brighten my face, concealer to hide my dark circles, eyeliner to enhance my eye shape, and beauty blenders and brushes to evenly spread my makeup throughout my face—all making me feel pretty and better about myself. Makeup does not only transform the way you look but also the way you feel about yourself. While it can boost the confidence for a person, it can also make one's self-confidence feel low without it. For some individuals, makeup is just a fun hobby, but for others, it is something they rely on to feel like their best version of themselves. Makeup is powerful in many ways. It can give a person a sense of identity while also taking their original sense of identity away from them, but this varies from person to person.  For me, makeup is a valuable aspect of my life. Taking the extra 60 minutes every morning b...

Picture from google   What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is how “we value and perceive ourselves.”  Self-esteem is a necessary characteristic for an individual because of its effect on a person. The power of self-esteem is profound, influencing all aspects of an individual's life from their relationships to their success and overall well-being. When self-esteem is cultivated it will help individuals overcome any challenge and and pursue their goals with confidence. If you are feeling hopeless, self-esteem helps; if you are discouraging yourself, self-esteem helps. Every negative emotion we feel towards ourselves can be gone through self-esteem. Individuals with a sense of self-worth are confident, good communicators, happy, optimistic, etc. Most important they will never seek validation or worth from other people as they know their value. Their confidence in themselves enables them to overcome any challenge and obstacle ultimately helping them be successful.  Do you have se...

On New Year's Eve, we probably all come with some kind of resolution; "I'll work out four times a week" or "I'll read a book a week." But do we ever follow through with these notions; almost never.  Resolutions stem from a desire to improve oneself. According to Merriam-Webster , self-improvement is the act of improving oneself by one's own actions. It allows us to focus ourselves and almost always yields in positive change even though it takes time before any results are seen. It may take months or even years, and it requires individuals to focus on themselves above all else.  Some people may think that they do not have time to prioritize themselves due to other obligations like family or school. However, self-improvement can be as simple as meditating or waking up fifteen minutes earlier. Simple acts such as this can improve mental and physical health, relationships, and a person's overall quality of living.  image from Psychology Today Person...

Fear is a strong emotion that we have all felt before. It can cause strong physiological responses such as the familiar clammy hands and fast beating heart. Whether it was from that school presentation that you felt underprepared for or the horror movie you regretted watching, fear was there.  Fear was the evolutionary mechanism that allowed humans to maneuver through and survive dangerous situations. Nowadays, fear can manifest in many ways. Instead of from the threat of a dangerous animal, fear can be prompted from societal pressures like economic troubles, relationship problems, or even the philosophical woes of an existential crisis. Importantly, however, this fear is always directed towards something or someone. Why is this fact important?  Fear can also be used to garner a collective response. Through the use of tactics like propaganda and mass media, these methods can be used to direct this human emotion towards a tangible target. These powerful emotions and response ar...