(Image for my latest post on Psychology Today, 3 Building Blocks of Mental Health and Their Great Destroyer)

Hi all,

My last newsletter blast was October 12th, and I guess in some sense my post on Beethoven's Ode to Joy was prescient, as the Ode is all about human struggle and the hopes fulfilled when we let go of petty self- and faction-centeredness to bask in the reality of brother-, sister- and personhood.

Minoritized identities and the expansive collective that is warm to our diversity took a beating on November 5 - but barely. At this point, Trump has only a 1.5% point lead in the popular vote, though he had a sweep of swing states as his team seemingly campaigned on fear, division, and conspiracy as opposed to reality. I suppose they got the benefit of economic dissatisfactions, but their plans seem ridiculous. As we await their aggressions, and foresee their collapse, I hope we learn more about what makes us tick, and what might help us create a more economically, politically, and relationally inclusive framework, locally and nationally. 

I was given another taste of journalism's "obedience in advance" as Psychology Today declined this post, which I placed at East Wind eZine instead. I explain what happened in my preamble.

MOSF 19.20: Post-2024 Election: Preventing Psychopathy and Cruelty From Going Viral (Hate speech breaks brains, and can break society) (November 13, 2024)

A friend recently reminded me of Dunbar's number, the number of relationships we are supposedly capable of juggling. I've written about this before - it's supposedly 150. Unfortunately, for the once and future C-in-C, it's ONE. He seems barely capable of juggling a relationship with himself, much less anyone who disagrees with him. Everything boils down to his own self-interest, as I've written, and MANY others have noted. But that's why so many identify with him, I think. His "take no prisoners" and "tell 'em to eff off" fits the relational capacity of the lowest common denominator of the collective psyche - which is an idiot. 

In short, the American collective that he represents seems to have no interest in the process of self-reflection, insight, accountability, apology, and repair that are required for enduring power. The components of enduring power:

1. A Focus on others
2. Empathy
3. Sharing/Giving
4. Expressing Gratitude
5. Telling stories that unite
6. Self-reflection, insight, accountability, apology and repair - because we all can harm when we hold power.

My acronym for this: FESGUA. (Focus on others, empathy, sharing, gratitude, uniting stories, accountability).

Today, I'm celebrating the fall of al-Assad and the dictatorship begun by his father. It brings tears to my eyes to remember the white helmets, the chlorine bombs, and the doctors and health care professionals struggling to save lives in caves and tunnels while Assad bombed them. Here's a good thread on how that all happened, on Bluesky. (I'm on Bluesky now too.) Assad was an ophthalmologist, can you believe?

I'm also on Substack. If you subscribe, you can get more frequent updates on my writing, and could even consider becoming a paid or founding member to allow me more time to write from my angle as a socially-conscious psychiatrist interested in mass psychology.

On contemplation and empathy, here's a post from 2 years ago:

Action vs. Contemplation? Finding Answers in Empathy | Psychology Today (October 13, 2022)

Here are my posts since the last "monthly" newsletter. From my neurons to your neighborhoods, and from your neighborhoods to my neurons :)

At East Wind:

MOSF 19.18: Trump v. Harris: Catastrophizing the Electorate v. Reason, Growth, and Change (closing argument of a psychiatrist for Kamala Harris and the American People) (October 17, 2024)

Dr. Ravi Chandra gives a succinct summary of the mass psychology behind Trump’s rise to power, and a closing argument for the candidacy of Kamala Harris. Including a link to the 16-minute talk on YouTube.

MOSF 19.19: Taking Stock – Engaging Our Ongoing Psycho-Spiritual-Historical-Electoral Struggle with Joy and Clarity (October 29, 2024)

Rebecca Solnit wrote of “paradise built in hell” – how community forms in dystopic, tragic circumstances. Isn’t that what’s happening now? An uplifting message for the last week of the campaign.

Statement on Cognitive Concerns in the 2024 Presidential Election by Mental Health Experts  (November 3, 2024)

50 mental health experts have signed this Statement on Cognitive Concerns (about former President Trump) in the Presidential Election.

MOSF 19.20: Post-2024 Election: Preventing Psychopathy and Cruelty From Going Viral (Hate speech breaks brains, and can break society) (November 13, 2024)

Following President Trump’s election win, there has been an uptick in hate speech and violent rhetoric. Hate speech breaks brains and breaks societies. How can we stop it from going viral?

 

At Psychology Today

7 Neurological and Social Effects of Put-Down Humor and Hate (October 31, 2024)

Recent remarks about Puerto Rico at a political rally have stirred a prominent backlash. What are the neurological and social effects of punch-down humor and hate?

3 Building Blocks of Mental Health and Their Great Destroyer (December 3, 2024)

Personal Perspective: What building blocks of mental health and social well-being can we cultivate to help us In this turbulent time of political, social, economic, and cultural changes?

Thanks for doing all you do to keep life sane and loving!

Warmly,

Ravi