Meditation Essay -- Natural Healing, Meditation Therapy

Meditation is an age-old practice that has renewed itself in many different cultures and times. Despite its age, however, there remains a mystery and some ambiguity as to what it is, or even how one performs it. The practice and tradition of meditation dates back thousands of years having appeared in many eastern traditions. Meditation’s ancient roots cloud its origins from being attributed to a sole inventor or religion, though Bon, Hindu, Shinto, Dao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects. Western medicine has recently discovered the powerful affects of meditation, by allowing doctors to treat the body and the mind. In reality, the mind is a very misunderstood and unexplored region of the human existence. Modern science knows more about the composition of the earth than it does about the mechanics of the human brain. Yet, meditation thwarts all notions of modern medicine with its shocking ability to to take obscure visualizations and create physical responses in the body. Mahayana Buddhism, found mainly in the autonomous region of Tibet, has become the main reference and standard for meditation practices in the west. Tibetans have used meditation for centuries as treatment for illness, and now, modern medicine of the western world is just beginning to reap the benefits of this unique and unconventional treatment for a variety of physical and mental ailments. Once a practice reserved strictly for Buddhist monks, meditation has become a worldwide phenomenon. Simply enter â€Å"Buddhist meditation† into the any Inter... ...ay 2015. https://www.sbp-journal.com/index.php/sbp/article/view/390 Michalon, Max. â€Å"Selflessness in the Service of the Ego,† American Journal of Psychotherapy. Vol.55, No.2, 2001. Web. 21 May 2015. http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/4765470/selflessness-service-ego-contributions-limitations-dangers-buddhist-psychology-western-psychology Tacon, Anna. â€Å"Meditation as a Complementary Therapy in Cancer,† Family and Community Health. Vol. 26, Issue 1. pp63-73, January – March, 2003. Web. 18 May 2015. http://www.researchgate.net/publication/10712485_Meditation_as_a_complementary_therapy_in_cancer Terrence, Clifford. Diamo Healing: The Buddhist Medicine and Medical Psychiatry of Tibet. Motilal Banarsidass. 2003. Thera, Nyanaponika. Translated by Roberts, Peter. The Heart of Buddhist Meditation. Weiser Books; Revised edition, July 1, 2014.

Understand the Transmission of Infection

Unit 306/HSC 037: Promote and implement health and safety in health and social care Unit 306: Understand health and safety in social care settings Handout 3: Risk assessment 4222 Learning Outcome 2 Assessment Criteria 2. 1, 2. 2, 2. 3, 2. 4, 2. 5 4229 Learning Outcome 2 Assessment Criteria 2. 1, 2. 2, 2. 3, 2. 4, 2. 5 The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations require every employer to carry out risk assessment. Risk assessments should provide a picture of how an accident might happen, how likely it is to happen and how serious it could be.Risk assessments are carried out: †¢ when an individual is new to the service †¢ when using new equipment †¢ when working in hazardous environments †¢ during the planning stage for individuals’ activities, outings or holidays †¢ if an individual’s behaviour may put them or others at risk †¢ for individuals who are prone to falling †¢ for those who prefer to self-medicate †¢ when deali ng with hazardous substances (COSHH) †¢ for infection control when moving and handling activities need to be undertaken †¢ to identify if an individual is at risk from developing pressure sores †¢ if any form of restraint is to be used, for example bed rails. | | |Risk assessment is a key aspect of working safely. Assessments are likely to be carried out for a wide range of situations in your | |workplace. Prior to any work activities, you should carry out your own risk assessment. |Employers must: 1. assess the risks identify workplace hazards – consider what or how things could go wrong identify people who are at risk – who uses the equipment or is working in that area evaluate the risks – the likelihood of an accident, injury or damage to health. How serious this could be? 2. remove all the risks possible, for example, remove the hazard 3. reduce risks that cannot be removed by introducing control measures – for example, fit safety guar ds, provide training and personal protective clothing 4. record each process 5. review the risk.

The Cornerstone of Christian Faith the Resurrection of Jesus

The resurrection of Jesus Christ separates Christianity from all other religions. Christianity without the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is merely one religion among many. And if Christ is not risen, said the Apostle Paul, then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain†. (1 Corinthians 15:14) Furthermore, You are still in your sins!† Paul could not have chosen stronger language. (Mohler) Still, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been under persistent attacks since the Apostolic age. Why? Because it is the central confirmation of Jesus identity as the incarnate Son of God, and the ultimate sign of Christs completed work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. Those who oppose†¦show more content†¦For to this day the Manichees say that the resurrection of the Savior was phantom-wise, and not real. (Hanegraaff) Like the church fathers, the medieval church and the Reformation produced compelling confessions concerning the bodily resurrection. Thomas Aquinas condemns those who have not believed in the resurrection of the body, and have strained to twist the words of holy Scripture to mean a spiritual resurrection. the Westminster Confession assert: On the third day he rose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered; with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sittith at the right hand of the Father. (Hanegraaff) Finally, the characteristics of Christs body bear eloquent truth to his physical resurrection. Jesus invited the disciples to examine His resurrected His resurrected body so that they would know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was the exact same one that had been fatally tormented. He also ate food as proof of the nature of His resurrected body. Jesus provided the final exclamation mark for His physical resurrection by telling the disciples that His resurrected body was comprised of flesh and bones. Touch me and see; He says, a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have (Luke 24:39). Those who would attack the Church and reject its gospel must direct their arrows at the most crucial truth claim of the New TestamentShow MoreRelatedSignificance Of The Resurrection Of Jesus1511 Words   |  7 Pageswhat is the significance of the resurrection of Jesus? Student No. D Essay Title: What is the Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus? In this task, I will investigate a range of academic literature to answer the essay question ‘What is the Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus?’ and the influence it has on the Christian life. As Christians Easter Sunday is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Marcus, Borg and Wright (2009) discuss Jesus in terms of a pre-and post-EasterRead MoreThe Differences Between Judaism And Judaism888 Words   |  4 Pagesreligions: Christianity and Islam. While Judaism found its beginning through God’s covenant with Abraham, Christianity originated through the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as there are many similarities between the two religions, many differences stand as well. In regards to beliefs, both Jews and Christians believe in an almighty, transcendent God who is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and eternal. Both religions recognize their god, Jehovah, as a forgiving, mercifulRead MoreThe Resurrection Of Jesus Christ1325 Words   |  6 PagesThe resurrection of Jesus Christ, outside of the act of creation itself, is the single greatest event in history. On the first Easter Sunday when the tomb is empty the trajectory of history is forever change and a new creation has begun restoring the fallen old creation. The resurrection brings great hope because in the resurrection the future breaks forth into the present reality both as a celebration of present victory and anticipation of future glory. The resurrection is not a single historicalRead MoreDifferent Religions, Different Practices, And One Aim Of Righteousness846 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferences they also share some common ground. Christians believe in the Trinity, which means that God has 3 forms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. With Christianity having about 2.4 billion adherents known as Christians, it is the world’s largest religion. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who is fully divine and human, is the savior of humanity whose coming as Christ or the Messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament. In the Christian Bible, the Old Testament is written about in theRead MoreJesus Is The Cornerstone Of Christianity913 Words   |  4 PagesWhat Jesus did in His suffering, death, and resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity. Without it there is no good news or the Gospel. Jesus fulfilled the requirement for reconciliation back to God through His obedience. This reconciliation includes healing and salvation for spirit, soul, and body. However, the church embraces the salvation part but struggles with the physical healing. Without understanding the full Gospel, â€Å"Christian tradition s will forever struggle to understand why all healingRead MoreChristianity, And World View Of The World1568 Words   |  7 Pagesof the believer. Introduction How does Christianity influence people s view of the world? How for example does it differ from the pre-Christian world views of the Romans and the Greeks? Do Catholics and Protestants see the world in the same way? And what about the the many sects within Protestantism? The Greek Orthodox? The Coptics? The early Christians? The question is ultimately about how, and in what way does religion influence people ´s view of the world. An essay as short as this one cannotRead MoreThe Resurrection Of Christ Jesus1211 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Resurrection of Christ Jesus according to the Apostle Paul† The example in the Gospels can express many examples of resurrection which delivers a strong message In the New Testament. The term resurrection by Webster definition explains, â€Å"Life, raising from the dead.† The Greek defines it as, â€Å"A standing up again, recovery.† John 11:25 explain Jesus speaking to Martha concerning her Brother Lazarus’s death. He says, â€Å"I am the resurrection, (standing up again), and the life (breath),Read MorePersonal Statement : Eternal Life980 Words   |  4 PagesExplanation of the Thesis This paper will explain what a person needs to do to live eternally. Eternal life refers to a gift of God that comes only through Jesus (What is eternal life, 2016). The gift of eternal life is in contrast to death that is the natural result of sin (What is eternal life, 2016). This gift of comes to those who believe in Jesus (What is eternal life, 2016). The fact that this life is eternal indicates that it is perpetual life that goes on and on and on, with no end (What isRead MoreRomans 8:1-17 as a Summary of Pauls Thoughts1146 Words   |  5 Pagessummary of all of his main thoughts that he wants every Christian to live his or her life according to. Paul uses references of the Spirit and the Flesh to communicate his ideas. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:1-2). Paul believes if you are in Christ Jesus, then you will be saved. Because of Jesus selflessness, he has freed us from sin and deathRead MoreChristian Beliefs : The Way Of A Savior1386 Words   |  6 PagesChristian beliefs are rooted in the idea of a risen Savior. The fact that Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again on the third day is a cornerstone of the Christian faith. However, it is also a source of great debate. Many scholars believe that there is an abundance of evidence supporting an actual, physical resurrection. Still others believe evidence is found that refutes the idea of a bodily resurrection. For those, evidence of a more metaphorical or spiritual resurrection is present.

The Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1493 Words

Romantic period authors, like Nathaniel Hawthorne, a prevalent example of a Romantic author from the 19th century, believed that people were getting too reliant on on science. Romantics were literary rebels who wrote about strong emotions, the supernatural, and the power of nature. The writing style of the previous century was known as the Age of Reason, the authors thought emotion was unnecessary; they loved science and wrote a lot of non-fiction. The romantics wanted to remind people that there was nothing more powerful than human emotion and nothing more beautiful than nature. According to Jules Zanger, Hawthorne’s short story, â€Å"suggests his resistance to the expansive materialism of America s new technology as well as to the excessive spirituality of its philosophers.† The short story, â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne articulates the obsession with human perfection through symbols, characters’, and narrator. Aylmer, a man devoted entirely to his science, marries Georgiana, a beautiful young woman with a single â€Å"earthly imperfection† (291). This imperfection is in resemblance of a tiny â€Å"crimson hand† (292) and is clearly visible on the left cheek of Georgiana. The hand is often associated with the power and the strength of Divinity or God. In the Old Testament, in particular, the hand of the Lord represents â€Å"God in the wholeness of his power and instrumentality (Chevalier and Brant 466). Furthermore, the birthmark itself is both a symbol for the downfall ofShow MoreRelatedThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay1615 Words   |  7 PagesA birthmark as referred to in this short story is the â€Å"Differences of temperament†, the inborn traits someone can develop. In Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Birthmark there are many different themes such as, nature versus science, and perfection. We see Aylmer struggle with his own temperament. For him the birthmark becomes the symbol of Georgiana’s flawed humanity, which he tries to alternate. Throughout the story, we come across several observances of otherness revolving around â€Å"The Birthmark†. AylmerRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne873 Words   |  4 PagesThe Birthmark is a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne the carries vast amounts of symbolism in its pages. It’s a story that you can pretty much look at anything that is involved and see how it carries some type of underlying meaning that either helps the character development or means something entirely different. The basis of the story is similar to that of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which only came out about 20 years before The Birthmark. For the most part the story is about human imperfection andRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne1511 Words   |  7 PagesThe Birthmark Nathaniel Hawthorne like many other writers during the nineteenth century focused their writings on the darker aspects of life. â€Å"The Birthmark,† is set in New England and has a Puritan perspective. Aylmer, a well-known scientist, marries Georgiana who has a hand shaped birthmark upon her face. After some time during their marriage Aylmer and Georgiana decided to remove the mark through scientific means. Advancements in science and the ability to change nature were at the center ofRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne2570 Words   |  11 PagesRawan Jabr Professor Stafford English 102 November 9th 2014 Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Birthmark† â€Å"The Birthmark† is a short story authored by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1848. The story is about Aylmer, a brilliant scientist who is obsessed with science and is planning to use his experiments to remove a birthmark on the face of his wife Georgiana. Aylmer’s love for science made him yearn to obtain control of the entire divinity. His wife was among his victims of science that was strongerRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne1185 Words   |  5 PagesAli Qutab Honor American Literature â€Å"The Birthmark† : Essay #4 December 30th, 2015 The Effect of Nature on the Scientific Ego of Aylmer Throughout, â€Å"The Birthmarkâ€Å", by Nathaniel Hawthorne, symbolism and imagery are used to show that Aylmer s attempt to perfect something natural is the cause of Georgiana s death and that when man manipulates something as powerful as Nature, terrible things can occur. Aylmer is a scientist whose strives for perfection and is blinded by his love for science, resultingRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne1707 Words   |  7 PagesMany of Nathaniel Hawthorne s stories are based off of morality and is heavily influenced by religious beliefs and women. Hawthorne published The Birthmark, a parable, dark romanticism, at a time when people praised the scientific method and were starting to think science could make anything possible. He set his story about sixty years earlier in the 160-year-long wake of the Newtonian Revolution, in the Age of Enlightenment, when science was gaining recognition. His story argues that, despiteRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne923 Words   |  4 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne s â€Å"The Birthmark†, we find the tragic story of a woman named Georgiana who sacrificed her life for the sake of appeasing her husband, Aylmer. What did Georgiana do that it was more favorable for her to die than to continuing to displease her husband? Georgiana, who was otherwise hailed as incomparably beautiful, had a birthmark on her face. Aylmer desired this to remove this birthmark, which he considered the one thing keeping her from being â€Å"perfect†, from her face. In anRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne913 Words   |  4 Pagesstory The Birthmark, Nathaniel Hawthorne used Aylmer and his wife Georgiana to display that no person can be perfect. He does this by using Aylmer obsession with perfection and science. His wife Georgiana beauty is amazing and almost perfect, except for a crimson scar on her check that looks like a hand. Aylmer wants to remove the mark that symbolizes imperfection, sin, and mo rtality; though it could result in death. In the act, he is acting like God. Hawthorne’s argument in The Birthmark is our imperfectionsRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe Birthmark Criticism Analysis The short story â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1843 at the beginning of the largest feminist movement in the United States of America which occurred between the years 1840 and 1920 (National). Furthermore, during the 1830s and 1840s there were many women who spoke out about women’s rights. They argued for many changes with one of them being a social change in their duties to be subdominant to males. They rallied around the prohibition by fightingRead MoreThe Birthmark By Nathaniel Hawthorne1081 Words   |  5 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, â€Å"The Birthmark†, the narrator immediately reveals Aylmer’s unusual obsession to his wife’s, Georgiana, hand-like birthmark. Aylmer’s abnormal obsession is so extensive, the birthmark even consumes him in his sleep dreaming of an operation for the removal and cringing anytime he sees it. Georgiana is completely in love with Aylmer that she’ll do an ything to make him happy, even jeopardize her own life undergoing procedures to remove the birthmark. Within the narrative

Sublime Contemporary Works From The Collection - 1495 Words

Art Republic Sublime: Contemporary works from the Collection â€Å"An artwork is said to be Sublime if it has an awe-inspiring quality.† (M Slater, 29th September 2014) The Sublime: Contemporary works from the collection exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art evokes an intense emotional response from the viewer. Ellie Buttrose (Associate curator of International Contemporary Art) described the exhibition as â€Å"a presentation of the various ways that artists engage with the Sublime in contemporary art†. (E Buttrose, n.d.) The exhibition overwhelms the viewer’s senses; they begin to marvel in the enormity and grandeur of the culturally diverse artworks. This vast range displayed throughout the exhibition, according to the Head of†¦show more content†¦(Need to describe what this means and how it shows the demographic) The exhibition provides a variety of sculptures along with paintings by a variety of artists which widens the audience as the exhibition isn’t subjected to one particular style. The boundlessness and overwhelming quality that is the Sublime is represented throughout each artwork and provides the cohesion of the exhibition. However, each artwork represents different themes and concepts related to the specific cultural background that the artist has come from or is representing. Xu Bing’s engaging artwork; ‘A book from the Sky’ constructed on woodblock print represents the The grandeur in contrast to the detailed characters inscribed on each sheet within the artwork is a powerful statement that draws in the viewer and invites questions and clarification as to the significance. The thousands of characters which have been meticulously inscribed onto each sheet represent the ever imminent power of printed texts which have the ability and influence to not only manipulate but also construct societal views. In the current age of digital media text and touchscreen prints, the scale and precision of the handcrafted scribe is both beautiful and testament to cartographic skills long since used and a reminder that the craft is diminishing. Also displayed throughout the exhibition is world renowned English artist, Anish Kapoor’s, Void. Void, which was constructed out of fibreglass and pigment in

Triple Entente Alliances Balance

Question: Discuss about the Triple Entente Alliances Balance. Answer: The Triple Alliance also recognized asTriplice.It was a top secret agreement between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy and created on 20 May 1882 which modifies periodically till World War I. Italy required help against France shortly after the loss of North-African objectives to French. Each associate assured mutual support in the incident of a violence by any former grand power. According to the treaty, it was decided that Germany and Austria-Hungary will assist Italy if ever attacked by France. In return, Italy will also provide assistance Germany attacked by France or whenever needed. After 5 months of Triple Alliance was renewed on 1 November 1902, Italy finds a perceptive with France that each one must remain neutral in the occurrence of an attack on other. (Albertini, L. (1952) The two powerful countries, Germany and Austria-Hungary were already collaborated by 1879 while, expecting an intimidation from Russia, to escape from such future hazardous possibilities they formed the Dual Alliance. After that, in 1882 Italy joined the group. There was an apprehension and anxiety about a potential attack from France and hence the Alliance needed powerful associates to help and more importantly defend it. These three needful countries decided to assist one another whenever needed or when any of them should be attacked. Triple entente: The Triple Entente simply means agreement or understanding involving the French Third Republic, the Russian Empire, and the UK of Great Britain Ireland. The considerate between three powers, incremented by conformity with Portugal, Japan, and constituted an influential counterbalance to Triple Alliance. Perhaps historians still continue to debate about importance of the powerful alliance approach in ignite the Great War. In 1914, when the First World War started, all three Triple Entente components entered it as supporter of World War I against the Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Central Powers. (Tomaszewski, F. K. (2002) In 1890, Germany strictly refused to replenish its re-insurance treaty created with Russia. Russia in significance wanted a rapprochement with France. At that time, France face off with an all the time more powerful Germany and an aggressive Central European grouping. All this created a great need of a collaborator or supporter. And French civil servant began to build approach to the Russia for an agreement to compensate the Triple Alliance. French capital give support to the vital Russian projects, especially including the Trans-Siberian RR, and gracious ambassadorial visits were switch over or exchange. In 1891, there was a crystal-clear understanding between all the powers. Overall, this was strengthened by a military convention in 1893.By 1894, the Dual Alliance between France and Russia came into existence. Besides this, this treaty was publicly accredited in the year of 1895. This has something led to equalise the strength and co-corporation in the midst of Triple Alliance and Triple Entene Rothenburg, G. E. (1976). These are the two most influential and international incorporation of states that conquered extensively the political and circumspect history of Europe. It continued from 1882 until they came into divergence during World War I. Each nation showed great interest in helping itself and attaining power and province than it was in serving its allies. For instance, Austria-Hungary was a controlling looking country, but still it was constantly struggling to coagulate the multiple nationalities that fell beneath its domain. At that time, it was so demanding coping with its domestic complications that it eventually needed support from the Germany to meet its basic and necessary goal of capturing region in the Balkans. Germany knows exactly the feeble country; Austria-Hungary was absolutely willing to employ that fact to its benefit. It must help its partner acquire some Balkan territory and then, possibly, grab a bit for itself and it could maybe manage Austria-Hungary as well. Finally, Italy was escaped out to capture land in Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans, and it needed well-built allies to get it done. After much secret negotiation, in 1915 Italy combines with the Allies and afterward in preceding year Romania performs the same. The war accompanying in a fresh ambassadorial period, with new-fangled ambassadorial alignments, encapsulating both Triple Alliance along with Triple Entente move away into history. There is a balance of power witnessed among the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente which led to favour that there is an equal power distribution that would remarkable impression of both the power. References: Albertini, L. (1952) the Origins of the War of 1914, Vol. London, the Free Press. Rothenburg, G. E. (1976). The Army of Francis Joseph. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/austrian-history-yearbook/article/rothenberg-gunthere-the-army-of-francis-joseph-west-lafayette-ind-purdue-university-press-1976-pp-xiii-2981200/CCF8C7AF0333589606634ACF3AD8E4CB. Henig, R. B. (2002). The origins of the First World War, Psychology Press. Tomaszewski, F. K. (2002) a Great Russia: Russia and the Triple Entente, 1905-1914, Greenwood Publishing Group. Feuchtwanger, E. J. (2002). Bismarck, Psychology Press.

Worth It free essay sample

For the first 17 years, 1 month, and 14 days of my human existence, I led a largely pleasant and non-catastrophic life. That life, however, took a turn in the early hours of October 9, 2017, when, due to a local fire of then-unknown scale, my family and I were urgently evacuated from our home. Taking nothing but the barest essentials with us, we left our house, unknowingly for the last time, it being one of the thousands that were burned down in the wildfires that ravaged Northern California. Two months later, on December 14, we learned that in the early hours of that morning, my cousin Gabriel, just a year older than myself and one of my closest friends, had committed suicide. These two separate events, entirely different in scale and impact but both utterly devastating in their own right, forced me to reconsider the aspects of my life I had considered inherent or unchangeable: stability; the particular role of community; generosity; family; and myself as an individual, now navigating life with the added weights of hardship and heartbreak. We will write a custom essay sample on Worth It or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I have often wondered about the meaning of things, as I’m sure we all do. If one accepts—and I do—that each individual life, and frankly, the entire Earth, is but a single thread woven into a greater tapestry of the universe, galaxies, and space, then everything we do in our daily lives seems quite meaningless. Why worry over destroyed material goods, when even the most precious family artifact is only important to such an infinitesimal portion of the population? Why should members of the community go to such incredible extents to show their support for people going through unprecedented times? Why does a single death even matter in the grand scheme of things, and why should I pummel myself with questions of Why? How? and What could I have done? Living with only an appreciation of that meaninglessness, however, results in a listless and depressed life, devoid of anything that really makes it worth living. So, I have adopted a new personal philosophy: positive nihilism. Or, as I like to think of it, a pragmatic approach to optimism. I realize that there are a myriad of definitions of nihilism out there, from â€Å"total and absolute destructiveness, especially toward the world at large and including oneself† (dictionary.com) to â€Å"the belief that nothing in the world has a real existence† (Oxford Living Dictionaries). In fact, for full disclosure, no word that I know of exactly defines the idea I’m trying to express; nihilism simply comes closest. For this explanation, I define nihilism as the belief that nothing in the world as we know it is significant or relevant to existence as a whole. However, as we are all here, alive in this confusing and contradictory world, we might as well put ourselves to good use and try to better the lives of everyone around us. After all, the only thing each of us knows with absolute certainty is our own unique, individual experience of life. We have nothing else to go off of, so why not work to ensure health, happiness, and the best this human experience h as to offer for all? Thus, positive nihilism. With this idea, I can attempt to answer the questions I posed earlier. We grieve lost material goods because they grounded us to the lives we had built for ourselves. A community rises magnificently to meet a challenge because in doing so each individual gives something and receives something in return, and that exchange crosses boundaries and barriers, transcends selfishness and strife, and simply makes everyone happier. It does not matter whether or not a single death is significant to the world; that it is significant to me is enough, and if the added tally-mark to a terrible statistic results in lasting change, so much the better. The hardest questions, those most devastating and transforming, I cannot answer, nor do I think I ever will. Yet by accepting that there is not necessarily an answer to everything—or anything, for that matter—I can free myself to look for the good and the positive, simply for the sake of making the life that I and every citizen of the worl d have worth it all.