Thandie Newton Discusses Embracing Otherness

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I believe this is a very important video, in light of recent events: Ferguson, the death of Eric Gardner, the shooting of Malala Yousafzai, among others. Actress, Thandie Newton, took to the stage in 2011 to discuss the long journey she took to finally embrace herself. Take thirteen minutes out of your day to watch, you will be inspired!

"By the age of 5, I was aware I didn't fit. I was the black, atheist kid, in the all white Catholic school, run by nuns. I was an anomaly"

The Happy Secret To Better Work: A Video That Helped My Anxiety

This video at first sight might look like a drag. But it's far from that, it's about human nature.

I have gone through periods of really bad anxiety, only to go to the doctors and be given a leaflet. It's almost a comical representation of healthcare nowadays.

But when I watched this talk, I was captured by Shawn Achor's humour and couldn't help but feel positive. It's not until you give positivity a go, you realise the potential behind the theory. 

He talks about being a student, and I completely understand what he is saying about these young people and their struggles. Somehow, and I believe it's largely down to positive thinking, I've managed to open myself up to a whole range of experiences, just over two years ago I'd have gone into a crying, panic attack over. This includes going to University. 

There's various different people, gurus, organisations, you-name-it that promote this kind of thinking, but this is a great, concise video that introduces the practice of positive psychology. Give it a watch!

If Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Became Reality

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has earned it's place as one of the most heartbreaking movies of all time. And even that could be an understatement of how sad it is.

So imagine if it became a real life possibility? Well it might just. Steve Ramirez and Xu Liu talk about how they are producing a way to "turn off and on" memories with laser beams.

I'm not quite sure what to think about this, as you see the implications of such procedures in the movie. Plus memories are what make us human, form our personality and help us grow. As humans I believe we need a foundation before we can build the house and decorate (poetic analogy, eh?).

But perhaps this has some use, maybe it will help those who were abused in the past, or have struggled with mental illness, or even to rehabilitate criminals.

Who knows whether this can be transferred from mice to humans? Well, I don't think it'll be that long before we can tell.

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