4 . IT STARTS WITH PLAY: GET INTO WRITING

Meet me on the page. In this course, we’ll push ourselves creatively, freely playing with words and exploring new ideas. By the end, you will have writing works of at least five poems, three pieces of mini-fiction, or two short essays, as well as dozens of pages of free-writing and lists of ideas for future writing projects.

Designed for people new to creative writing, the course includes word play, experimentation of structure, and live-writing to develop thoughts that might later grow into poems or other styles of writing.

To do this, we’ll first learn from the Surrealists, who tried to inspire the imagination by focusing on process, as we apply intuition (直觉), chance, and surprise to our writing practice. Next, we’ll set about writing on the blank page based on John Keats’ concept of negative capability, by which we’ll be capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries (神秘), doubts without any hurriedly reaching after facts and reason. Then we’ll make creative use of other art forms, thus seeing how sight can lead to insight. In the fourth step, we’ll explore modes of imagery, including the bodily senses, and we’ll be encouraged to write across text types, create diverse works, and cooperate with each other.

Class discussions will center on the writing process, the writer’s life and how to best deal with the four stages of writing. In just a few weeks, you’ll develop from inexperienced beginner to a creative writer who knows how to command the blank page, as well as methods for finalizing works-in-progress.

Schedule: Beginning February 14th, we will meet every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern. The last time we meet will be on March 27th.

5 . Over the past few months, the Let Them Theory has been making waves online. It started when Mel Robbins, a popular motivational speaker, shared it on Instagram. In her video, Robbins talks about the importance of letting go of control in certain situations, advocating for a model shift in how we interact with others.

Robbins insists that too often, we waste time and energy trying to push others into meeting our expectations. Instead, she proposes a simpler, more liberating approach: “letting them” be themselves. “Let them be themselves because they are revealing who they are to you. Just let them. Then, you get to choose what you do next.” she said.

Dr. Sophie Mort, a clinical psychologist and mental health expert, offers deeper insights into the psychological foundation of this Theory. She said that our natural desire to control others often originates from a need to relieve our own anxieties and uncertainties. However, such attempts often result in disappointment and exhaustion as we realize the uselessness of our efforts. Basically, the theory emphasizes the acknowledgment that we cannot control the actions or decisions of others. It urges us to give up the burden of forcing our desires onto those closest to us and accept the mindset of acceptance.

While the theory may not be formally recognized in clinical settings, its principles connect with established concepts such as acceptance and mindfulness. It shows the essence of acceptance and commitment therapy, emphasizing the importance of accepting our thoughts and feelings without judgment. Meanwhile, marriage and family therapist Chapell Marsh further explains the resemblance between the theory and the psychological concept of “locus of control.”

The theory received a lot of positive responses. Many claim that adopting this approach has fostered harmony and minimized conflicts in their interactions. However, it’s urgent to recognize the limitations of the theory. While it promotes acceptance and nonjudgmental attitudes, it must not be employed in situations where safety is compromised or where necessary conversations are avoided. “Avoiding difficult conversations can lead to problems,” said Chapell Marsh.

7 . The first way we learn to communicate is through body language — our facial expressions, our gestures and, when we’re older, our postures. Even after we figure out how to speak, this non-verbal communication still exerts (施加) a powerful and often unconscious influence over our interactions, people’s first impressions of us and even our impressions of ourselves.     1    .

Change how you feel

To de-stress: Forcing a smile can make running easier and tough tasks less stressful. One 2012 experiment found that a grin makes holding your hand in ice water more bearable.

To feel more confident:     2    . Striking this so-called power pose shortly before an interview or athletic contest can be particularly powerful for women, who tend to sit and stand in a way that takes up less space.

To persevere:     3    . In a 2008 study, students who sat with their arms crossed kept working on an impossible problem nearly twice as long as those with their arms at their sides.

Change how others feel

    4    : Studies show that holding someone’s gaze may help people think you’re trustworthy and intelligent. According to body language expert Carol Kinsey Goman, it can also make people think you’re a good listener.

To foster connections: Mirroring the facial expressions and gestures of the person you’re talking to can help them feel more comfortable. One 2011 experiment found this is an effective sales skill.

To engage or disengage: If you want to let someone know you’re listening, sit facing them with your full body, knees and shoulders pointed at them.     5    .