Insane Advice

"If I lacked motivation, I would simply have motivation."

Bazillions of confident people online offering their solutions for depression, weight loss, ADHD, anxiety, autism, etc.

Psychotherapy research shows that advice about psychological/emotional/behavioral issues almost never works1. This is true for advice from trained therapists, but is even more pointed with advice from other people, no matter how well-meaning. One reason for this is that the from the latter often comes from a deeply incorrect model of human , especially .

1 There is more nuance to this, but "advice rarely works" is still accurate.

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We'd like to extend our gratitude to Cape for becoming an organizational member of Privacy Guides Becoming a member is the best way to support our privacy advocacy work and protect privacy rights at a time when the wor

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How not to live your life

What Is The Greatest TV House Of All Time

How to be irresistible on dating apps, according to science

The Questions Worth Asking Before You Change Cars

Feeling frustrated because your music isn't blowing up It's okay. Keep pushing forward.

Radical Acceptance, Journals, and Waiting for the Tide to Turn

Daily writing prompt How do you deal with uncertainty

I dont deal with it well whatsoever.

The amount of pain Ive gone through, both self-inflicted and at the hands of many others, has left my identity with a very activated nervous system. Fireworks suspended by a rupture in spacetime. A dozen vipers sitting beneath some shadowy jungle ferns. A crescendo never ending from a phantom orchestra. A cursed locomotive always rattling across tracks during a forever midnight. All those frenetic and lurking images can describe my nervous system in one way or another.

Of course, having an severely triggered nervous system makes uncertainty absolutely awful to deal with, especially when having relationships with people, whether it is romantic, friends, or colleagues.

Therefore, Ive had to hack my own brain to deal with uncertainty. Ill gladly share what works for me. There is no magic bullet. No wondrous spear thrown by a demigod. One thing might work for a decade, but suddenly lose effectiveness. Life is dense, complicated, and elusive. Regardless, these are some things Im currently doing to deal with uncertainty.

Hack One: Radical acceptance. I learned this in my DBT skills class back in therapy. Practicing radical acceptance for a specific goal can be helpful. In this case, I look at uncertainty and I radically accept that I cannot control every little thing out there in life, or what will happen to me. I accept the chaos of existence. I dont argue about it. I dont try and reason with it. I just try to let it exist in parallel to me. Reality is a permanently unfinished painting. Nobody knows what itll fully look like.

Hack Two: Journals. I hate to say it, but journals are a great way to flex into uncertainty, and not react to things that might bring on more uncertainty after youve been trying to avoid it. Write down all the gross frustrations and garbage that other humans arent fit to hear. Lean into the ridiculous. Go full tinfoil hate crazy on those pages. Get it out of you. Go full Jackson Pollock from the soul. I try to journal once a day, usually in the morning when my cortisol levels are bonkers. Great way to capture uncertainty and radically accept it. Through a controlled form of expulsion and madness.

Hack Two (Part Two): Journals again. I just wanted to share how important it is to write down when youve gone through something challenging. Not to immortalize it or be masochistic, but to remember that you did it. You survived. You made it through. Write down that you went through a bad breakup, got cheated on, lost a job, got rejected, whatever the case. Write down that you got through it. Look back at these moments when uncertainty paralyzes you. This written reminder tells you that you survived it. You continued. You made it through whatever haunted tunnel life decided to throw at you, or you decided to travel down. Yes, that is direct reference to Spirited Away.

Hack Three: Waiting for the Tide to Turn. This is simply a glittering term for just waiting for your response to level. Uncertainty triggers an emotional wave inside of you. Before you react to any of it, you simply try to get some time to pass between and before you make any decisions that might be truly damaging or ruled by emotion. The journal is of course a method to delay it, but going for a walk, working out, playing a game, anything to sort of delay that panic that uncertainty provokes is in my mind helpful. Now, Im of course referring to situations that arent dangerous and dont require immediate life saving reactions. Please dont sit down and write in a journal if youre currently being held at gunpoint.

Thats all I got. Hopefully these hacks help you out. Sometimes a very specific type of uncertainty can trigger you, that you didnt know existed. It is unpredictable and borderline secretive. Having even a meager blueprint in how to deal with uncertainty I think is helpful.

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Its time to take back our streets Join the National Week of Action Against ALPRs from August 1622, 2026Find local camera maps, organize city council actions, or download our activism toolkit to start your own group

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Ask Carla: When I rule F1

Im gonna rule the gridThrow out rules like you know we shouldSoon at the Grands Prix, youll hear the roarV10 engines evermoreIm gonna change the gamePut the street circuits all to shameListen as the real fans sing:"Get rid of Miami! Old school is king!"Next minute, I'll slash the sizeTrim the cars before your eyesThe promotersll see Spa-FrancorchampsSaved from the clutches of evil corporate scamsWell hear those screaming V10s a-ringin'Graves of hybrid

Hey Baddie Beans!

If you're feeling excited then try this: plan a day out for the week and read a suspenseful thriller. Remember to slow down when things get overwhelming.

Shuhei Yoshida warned Sandfall Interactive not to market Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a "turn-based RPG" he thought players would overlook it because of genre stigma. They took his advice and promoted its reactive turn battles instead. The game has sold over five million copies since.

Hey Fedi friends:

Does anyone know of any good resources or communities for caring for a cat after a full dental extraction My big boy Benjen had his out a few weeks ago, and mostly it's going well, but I'm curious about things like recipes for nutritionally complete homemade soft food. I'm open to things like subreddits and Facebook groups too.

"Just talk to me. Hear me. Hold me. Make space for me."

This time last year, some on dealing with your friends' sad feelings.

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Want to dive deeperWe broke everything down in an easy to digest video, that goes into more detail about the topics in this Mastodon threadCheck it out and share it around! youtube/ZDZlmDtlnvo 6/6 NoAL

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has always played a role in & , & ancient is replete with . Maitreya Thakur (FCDO) discusses rhetorical in the & .

Isolation:

-being

Gen X and the Art of Not Giving a Shit
How do I deal with uncertainty Easy. Im Gen X. I dont. I just go with it. We grew up in a time when nobody was constantly checking in to make sure we were emotionally prepared for every possible outcome. You got told to go outside, shut the door, and come back when the streetlight

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Should you spend your money on retirement or give it to your kids

Another scammer from mastodon.social... hey, instance admins. You need to get on this too! Don't just leave it open registration and hope people on mastodon.social will figure it out. Invite them! Make a way for your members to provide invites! Then you don't have to be vulnerable to the scammers, the way open reg. instances are.

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If you drive in America, youre being tracked in a giant dragnet Surveillance company 'Flock Safety' has quietly deployed over 100,000 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) across 10,000+ US communitiesThese ar

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From making friends to managing money: Students' advice for this year's freshers

Your local library is ready to support you with storytime activities, free educational resources, and accessible caregiving accommodations. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about library services for new parents:

. See for official warnings from the QFD. DO NOT RELY ON THIS SERVICE FOR TIMELY EMERGENCY WARNINGS.

AVOID SMOKE (HAZARD REDUCTION BURN) - Mungallala (near Roma) - fire as at 9:42am Saturday, 15 August 2026 (WARN-150)

Location: Mungallala -26.447910174023225 latitude, 147.54311499383303 longitude, grid square QG33SN52
Map:
Incident Type: FIRE VEGETATION
Alert Level: Advice
Severity: Minor
Action: Monitor
Expires: 2026-08-16T09:42:53.243+10:00

Thick smoke is affecting Mungallala. This is from hazard reduction burning near the Warrego Highway and Redford Road, Mungallala.

Protect yourself from the impacts of smoke.

- If the smoke is thick where you are, stay inside and close windows and doors.

- If you need medication to help you breathe keep it close.

- If you are worried about your health call your doctor or 13 HEALTH (13 432 584). If it is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) now.

- If you are affected by the smoke you may need to leave the area.

- Do not fly drones around the fire as they affect firefighting.
- Click here for current QFD incidents and warnings
- Click here for bushfire preparation tips
- Click here for health advice and air quality information
- Follow QFD on Facebook and X.com
- Click here for road closure information or call 131940

- See for a listing of ABC Local Radio stations which may be broadcasting emergency information in your area.

. See for official warnings from the QFD. DO NOT RELY ON THIS SERVICE FOR TIMELY EMERGENCY WARNINGS.

AVOID SMOKE - Captain Creek and Miriam Vale - fire as at 3:20pm Saturday, 15 August 2026 (WARN-156)

Location: Captain Creek, Miriam Vale and surrounding areas -24.309991044630337 latitude, 151.6955306193652 longitude, grid square QG55UQ35
Map:
Incident Type: FIRE VEGETATION
Alert Level: Advice
Severity: Minor
Action: Monitor
Expires: 2026-08-16T15:21:32.627+10:00

Thick smoke is affecting Captain Creek, Miriam Vale and surrounding areas. This is from a fire burning near Round Hill Road and Uxbridge Road, Captain Creek.

This fire could burn for days. Protect yourself from the impacts of smoke.

- If the smoke is thick where you are, stay inside and close windows and doors.

- If you need medication to help you breathe keep it close.

- If you are worried about your health call your doctor or 13 HEALTH (13 432 584). If it is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) now.

- If you are affected by the smoke you may need to leave the area.

- Check for warning updates often.

- See for a listing of ABC Local Radio stations which may be broadcasting emergency information in your area.

The Muscle Gain Cost of Inconsistent Training

Your body needs repeated exposure to resistance training, consistent opportunities for progressive overload, and enough weekly training volume to create a reliable reason to adapt.

You Lose Repeated Exposure to the Growth Stimulus

Progressive Overload Becomes Harder to Track

Technique and Exercise Efficiency Can Decline

Your Training Volume Becomes Unpredictable

Make It Nice: Is There Such A Thing As A Good-Looking Dog Crate

The Shake Up Podcast With Candice Harvey
I'm here to shake you up with straight-talking strategies, a smidge of humour, and my obsession with human behaviour in the workplace because I get it, I did it for 15 years...

Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory:

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This isn't being used for local crime prevention, researchers have found thousands of instances of Flock data being accessed across state lines In multiple states local police granted federal agencies (like ICE)

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. See for official warnings from the QFD. DO NOT RELY ON THIS SERVICE FOR TIMELY EMERGENCY WARNINGS.

AVOID SMOKE - Emerald - fire as at 7:04pm Saturday, 15 August 2026 (WARN-162)

Location: Wills Road, Caringal Road and Gregory Highway -23.482023127668963 latitude, 148.146119001781 longitude, grid square QG46BM74
Map:
Incident Type: FIRE VEGETATION
Alert Level: Advice
Severity: Minor
Action: Monitor
Expires: 2026-08-16T19:07:10.167+10:00

Thick smoke is affecting Wills Road, Caringal Road and Gregory Highway. This is from a fire burning on Wills Road and Gregory Highway.

This fire could burn for days. Protect yourself from the impacts of smoke.

- If the smoke is thick where you are, stay inside and close windows and doors.

- If you need medication to help you breathe keep it close.

- If you are worried about your health call your doctor or 13 HEALTH (13 432 584). If it is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) now.

- If you are affected by the smoke you may need to leave the area.

- Check for warning updates often.

- See for a listing of ABC Local Radio stations which may be broadcasting emergency information in your area.

. See for official warnings from the QFD. DO NOT RELY ON THIS SERVICE FOR TIMELY EMERGENCY WARNINGS.

STAY INFORMED - Pacific Haven, Howard and Buxton - fire as at 3:59pm Saturday, 15 August 2026 (WARN-159)

Location: Pacific Haven, Howard and Buxton -25.257483043174886 latitude, 152.513819927111 longitude, grid square QG64GR18
Map:
Incident Type: FIRE VEGETATION
Alert Level: Advice
Severity: Moderate
Action: Monitor
Expires: 2026-08-16T15:59:11.523+10:00

A fire is burning near the Bruce Highway, Cherwell.

Stay informed because the situation could change.

- Check for warning updates often and listen to your local radio station.

- Decide what you will do if the bushfire gets closer.

- If the smoke is thick where you are, stay inside and close windows and doors.

- If you need medication to help you breathe keep it close. Smoke can make it hard to breathe.

- Do not fly drones around the fire as they affect firefighting.

- If you are in danger, call Triple Zero (000) now.
- Click here for current QFD incidents and warnings
- Click here for bushfire preparation tips
- Click here for health advice and air quality information
- Follow QFD on Facebook and X.com
- Click here for road closure information or call 131940

- See for a listing of ABC Local Radio stations which may be broadcasting emergency information in your area.

sucks when you like someone who likes someone else but you never really had a chance with them anyway

How to bring more playfulness to your everyday life

The Nope Coach
For recovering people-pleasers who are tired of putting themselves last to keep everyone else comfortable. Hosted by Suzanne Culberg...

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Flock says that the data is secured and restricted to specific police departmentsIndependent researchers have demonstrated that Flock's video feeds are accessible publicly, highlighting how dangerous mass location d

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Want to be a great leader We asked 11 pro athletes to share the trait that matters most

. See for official warnings from the QFD. DO NOT RELY ON THIS SERVICE FOR TIMELY EMERGENCY WARNINGS.

AVOID SMOKE - Churchable and Lockyer Waters - fire as at 2:20pm Friday, 14 August 2026 (WARN-142)

Location: Churchable, Lockyer Waters and surrounding areas -27.42922076902964 latitude, 152.37204271160715 longitude, grid square QG62EN46
Map:
Incident Type: FIRE VEGETATION
Alert Level: Advice
Severity: Minor
Action: Monitor
Expires: 2026-08-15T14:20:55.427+10:00

Thick smoke is affecting Churchable, Lockyer Waters and surrounding areas. This is from a fire burning near Gatton Esk Road.

Fire crews are currently on scene. Protect yourself from the impacts of smoke.

- If the smoke is thick where you are, stay inside and close windows and doors.

- If you need medication to help you breathe keep it close.

- If you are worried about your health call your doctor or 13 HEALTH (13 432 584). If it is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) now.

- If you are affected by the smoke you may need to leave the area.

- Check for warning updates often.

- See for a listing of ABC Local Radio stations which may be broadcasting emergency information in your area.

How to make the most of this Shoulder Workout!

Performing dumbbell upright rows effectively while keeping the shoulders in a comfortable position.

1 Start with a manageable weight.

2 Begin with the dumbbells in front of your thighs.

3 Keep the dumbbells relatively close to your body.

I dont often go to Threads, but when I do, I am glad I find content like this

Book preservation question:

I have a lot of picture books (really, a lot, like about 250) and I want to box them up. My kids are done with them for now but we'd like to keep our favourites for if/when they have kids or we have other small children visiting in the future.

What's the best way to store them so they don't get musty/mouldy

Last updated: 2026-08-19

Using video for Promotion attribution