Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

Self-Image: The Psychology of Self-Perception

What exactly is self-image? Do you think your self-image accurately reflects who you are and what you are capable of? Your self-image is the mental image you hold about yourself. According to Maxwell Maltz, the author of Psycho-Cybernetics, your self-image is not an accurate reflection of who you are. It’s simply a construct of thoughts you chose to think about past experiences. In this article, we’ll look at the psychology of self-image: what influences it, and how it affects your ability to succeed and experience happiness.

Deductive vs. Inductive Thinking: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between deductive vs. inductive thinking? Which cultures tend to adopt either style of thinking? Deductive thinking moves from broad, overarching principles to specific observations. In contrast, inductive thinking moves from specific data points to overarching hypotheses or theories. According to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer, Latin Americans tend to be deductive thinkers, whereas North Americans and people from Anglo-Saxon countries tend towards inductive thinking. In this article, we’ll consider the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning in a cultural context.

The Key Characteristics of Hierarchical Cultures

What is a hierarchical culture? How do hierarchical cultures approach leadership? In a hierarchical culture, the power distance is high. In other words, your rank matters. In some hierarchical cultures (notably, Asian), respect is a two-way street. It is not just the subordinate’s duty to obey. Rather, the boss is responsible for the success and well-being of his employees. He is often viewed as a paternalistic figure. Keep reading to learn about the key characteristics of hierarchical cultures and how they develop.

Inauthentic Behavior: Why Are People so Fake?

6 Ways to Recognize Fake Empathy in the Workplace

Do you consider yourself an authentic person? How does modern culture encourage inauthentic behavior? Your environment (social circle and media) is constantly trying to shape you into something that you should be. The underlying message is that you should be, do, or have more to be “good enough.” If you’re sensitive to these opinions and focus more on satisfying the expectations of others than you do on figuring out what you need to feel inner fulfillment—this external focus inhibits you from acting authentically. In this article, we’ll take a look at the two ways modern culture encourages inauthentic behavior: 1)

Faith for Overcoming Obstacles: Believe and Prevail

What obstacles in life have you overcome with the help of faith? Do you believe that the simple act of faith can change one’s life outcomes? When you think about defeat, you tend to get defeated. Instead, adopt a mindset where you don’t believe in defeat. This mindset requires faith for overcoming obstacles. As one of the Bible passages holds “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). In this article, we’ll explore how the power of faith can help you overcome any obstacle in your way.

The Slight Edge: Principles of Success Over Time

What does it take to achieve success? More importantly, what does it take to sustain success over time? In his book The Sligh Edge, author Jeff Olson argues that success is built over time with small disciplines executed on a consistent basis. Further, he presents six core principles that, when adhered to, will create continual success in whatever it is you are striving for. In this article, we’ll explore the six The Slight Edge principles by Jeff Olson.

How to Live Authentically: The Case for Being Yourself

You can heal with love. Discover how the love you feel in your heart can improve your physical health and help you overcome illness.

What does it mean to live authentically? How can choosing authenticity help you better cope with life challenges and achieve your goals? The more authentic you are, the more successful you feel. Being authentic frees up energy to deal effectively and appropriately with your environment, respond to situations spontaneously, express yourself confidently, and choose and reach goals that satisfy you. Here is how authenticity can make you feel and become more successful plus some suggestions on how to live more authentically.

Maxwell Maltz: How Self-Image Predicts Success

What does your self-image have to do with your goal-achieving potential? Do you think your self-image (the way you see yourself) helps or hinders your success potential? According to Maxwell Maltz, your self-image plays a key role in your ability to align your behavior with your goals. You need to examine what type of self-image you have so you can figure out if it’s working with you or against you. To this end, Maltz argues, you need to examine how your self-image is expressed through your personality (is it positive or negative?). In this article, we’ll take a look at the

Erin Meyer: Understanding Cross-Cultural Differences

How do the world’s cultures differ in terms of communication? How have these differences come about? On a communication spectrum, cultures can be classified into high-context (where people communicate and interpret messages at face value) and low-context (where you have to read between the lines to get the message). According to Erin Meyer, a culture’s communication style is shaped by its language and history. In this article, we’ll look at the two factors that underlie cross-cultural differences in communication: language and history.

Giving Feedback Across Cultures: Tips & Strategies

What is the key to delivering clear yet considerate feedback? How does feedback differ across cultures? The ability to deliver feedback on someone’s performance in a way the receiver understands is essential to both your and the feedback receiver’s success. If you’re too indirect, the receiver might not understand its content and if you’re too direct, you may come across as cruel or incompetent. In this article, we’ll look at the two main ways cultures give feedback and present some strategies for giving feedback across cultures.