. I grew up in a household where my mother was overwhelmed by her life circumstances. She had endured three difficult births and found herself married to a man who, emotionally speaking, had never truly chosen fatherhood. Becoming a husband and a provider was something that happened to him—more an obligation he accepted than a life he actively embraced. My father fulfilled what society expected of him. He worked, he provided, and he remained formally present. But emotionally, he was largely...

We are all creators. Not only painters, musicians, or poets — all of us. The mind itself is a creative force. Even in silence, it is busy shaping inner worlds: memories, possibilities, worries, judgments, and dreams. If you sit still for a moment and observe, you’ll notice this creative stream unfolding on its own. Neuroscientists call this activity the default mode network , a system in the brain that continues generating thoughts even when we are not consciously trying to think....

The holidays are approaching, and for many of us that means gathering with family and loved ones. Stores, advertisements, and the entire machinery of the season tell us this is a time of joy — of giving, receiving, sharing, and celebrating. And for many people, that is true. But there is another reality we don’t always acknowledge: for some of us, the holidays also stir up complicated emotions. We may look forward to seeing certain family members while simultaneously dreading old tensions,...