Sijin Yan, Ph.D. - Philosophical Solace

The Curiosity Trap: Why You’re Always Drained And What You Can Do About It

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Attention Economy, Burnout and Stress, Practicing Concentration November 1, 2024November 1, 2024Comments are Disabled

Curiosity, often seen as an absolute good, can easily turn into a compulsion that traps us in endless cycles of scrolling through social media, news, and notifications. In doing so, we believe we’re staying informed, but instead of feeling fulfilled, we’re often left drained and restless.
An alternative is to embrace wonder with a sense of restraint. Instead of constantly seeking more, we can find depth and fulfillment by slowing down and appreciating the beauty of what’s already around us.

Anatole Broyard on How to Face Terminal Illness and His Ideal Doctor

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Philosophical Counseling October 27, 2024October 27, 2024Comments are Disabled

Broyard saw style as a way to hold onto one’s identity and self-respect, even when his illness tries to take those things away.

Hannah Arendt, The Zone of Interest, and How Not to Be THAT Couple

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Film, Philosophical Counseling February 8, 2024May 23, 2024Comments are Disabled

The Zone of Interest provided a haunting visualization of the concept of the banality of evil, a term coined by philosopher Hannah Arendt to describe how ordinary people can commit heinous acts not out of deep-seated malice but through a thoughtless adherence to routine and authority.

The Silent Despair of the Achievement Society: Advices from a Philosophical Counselor

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Philosophical Counseling, Pursuing Dream January 20, 2024January 20, 2024Comments are Disabled

In this achievement society, we are constantly bombarded with the optimistic notion that we can achieve anything we desire through our own willpower and efforts. While this is an exhilarating idea, its darker side suggests that if you are not constantly on your way to improve and excel, you’re inadequate.

Why Self-Deprecation Can Be Morally Wrong | Philosophy of Kant

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Philosophical Counseling January 13, 2024January 14, 2024Comments are Disabled

According to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, self-deprecation, or the tendency to disparage oneself, is morally wrong. He believes that we all have a strict and absolute duty to respect ourselves and to act in a way that upholds our own dignity.

“Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom”: Philosophy of Kierkegaard and Sartre

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Philosophical Counseling January 12, 2024January 13, 2024Comments are Disabled

Søren Kierkegaard describes anxiety as ‘the dizziness of freedom,’ suggesting that our perpetual anxiety stems from our freedom. Jean-Paul Sartre further explored this concept of anxiety, exemplifying it with the scenario of standing on a cliff.

Why Do We Experience Existential Crises?

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Existential Crisis January 9, 2024January 9, 2024Comments are Disabled

Why Do We Experience Existential Crises? For a simplified explanation of why we experience existential crises, consider the metaphor of human existence as an empty cup at birth.

How To Finally Let Go Of Someone | Philosophy of Aristotle, Sartre, and Hume

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Relationship January 7, 2024October 4, 2024Comments are Disabled

The following is a transcript of this video. Hello everyone, today’s video is about how to let go of someone. The ability to let go is one of the most essential skills in life. A healthy relationship can be healing and help you realize your fullest potential. A dysfunctional relationship, on the other hand, can …

3 Ways to Practice Courage While Pursuing Your Dream

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Pursuing Dream December 28, 2023May 23, 2024Comments are Disabled

I’m a huge fan of the stand-up comedian Jimmy O. Yang. In his performance and recent memoir, he discusses the struggles he faced while pursuing his passion. This includes a scenario where he left a stable career in finance to pursue opportunities in comedy, and his father’s reaction to his decision. His father said, “Pursuing …

What Is Philosophical Counseling? An Example

by Sijin Yan, Ph.D.Philosophical Counseling July 26, 2023December 28, 2023Comments are Disabled

The idea of philosophical counseling may sound mysterious to those unfamiliar with its principles and practices. It may evoke images of philosophers sitting in old libraries, lost in deep thoughts about abstract ideas, far removed from the realities of everyday life. However, this perception couldn’t be further from the truth. To illustrate what philosophical counseling …