Author | Lightnews

Brad Desmond

@braddesmond.bsky.social

4K followers 4.2K following 190 posts

Psychologist posting about life and happiness and stuff like that.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Jan 11

Richard Nixon tried to deport John Lennon and stop his peace activism.

Today his song ‘Imagine’ was performed at Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

Life is funny sometimes.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · 18d

Do you feel guilty when you look away from the unpleasant things happening in the world right now?

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · 19d

“You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be flawless. You only need to show up — fully — for the life that is still yours.” - Patricia Routledge:

Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · 23d

Beyond the red flags..don't miss the good stuff.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · 26d

Ouch.!

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · 27d

"When I look at the world collectively I’m pessimistic, but when I meet with individuals I am optimistic."

- Carl Rogers.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Sep 18

Dear ABC.

The world just saw one of your employees verbally attacked by the world's most powerful man. Please check that he is okay. And don't just tick a box. Actually support him and reaffirm his job security.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Sep 18

The problem is our simplistic, black and white thinking. Two things can be true at once. Empathy AND compassion make better people.

Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Sep 18

'Don't hold back. The more unlived your life, the greater your death anxiety.'

- Irvin D. Yalom

Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Sep 11

‘Empathy’ is not a new age term.

Empathy comes from the Greek for emotional involvement. Empathy was found by humanistic therapists to be catalyst for growth and therapeutic change. Empathy makes better therapists, partners, parents, friends and leaders.

We need more empathy.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Sep 1

I never met a happy racist. Accepting diversity is a parallel process to self-acceptance. People either develop both, or neither.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Sep 1

How do we encourage people to grow out of racism?

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 27

The sound of gaslight.

That didn’t happen.
And if it did, it wasn’t that bad.
And if it was, that’s not a big deal.
And if it is, that’s not my fault.
And if it was, I didn’t mean it.
And if I did…
You deserved it.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 27

With so much ugliness in the world, deliberate distraction is legitimate self-care.

“Denial can be healthy if it allows time for the individual to absorb harsh realities gradually.”

- George Vaillant.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 25

'How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.'

- Wayne Dyer.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 25

A lot of gaslighting goes unnoticed. If you are suddenly side-tracked, confused or explaining yourself you’ve been gaslit.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 24

It helps when I remember the universe is under no obligation to provide me with only good experiences.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 21

I have clients who like to discuss their issues with AI in between sessions, and often they receive great insights and feedback. Then they can't wait to tell me about it thus showing, at the end of the day, we humans will always prefer humans.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 19

If you want your partner to be submissive you aren’t ready for a grown-up relationship.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 18

Family Violence will reduce significantly when IVO breaches are treated as indictable offences. Most people are surprised that police can issue warnings or fines, like traffic offences, even for repeated breaches.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 17

Carl Jung said accepting the opposites within one’s ego is the path to growth. This includes taking ownership of one’s masculine and feminine sides. Unfortunately, ‘toxic masculinity’ blocks this process creating a generation of incels and angry man-babies.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 16

Should parents be worried about the ‘manosphere’ and toxic masculinity?

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 12

"The lack of meaning in life is a soul sickness whose full extent and import our age has not yet begun to comprehend."

- Carl Jung.

Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 12

The idea that doctors either lack, or deliberately withhold best practice treatment, and that self-appointed wellness influencers know better is comical, and dangerous.

And yet this is the basic premise of the wellness industry.

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 12

...you demand the special, secret tips described by the wellness industry. You want the premium advice doctors withhold from the general public. You even offer to pay more for this.

Now the doctor is looking at you, unable to tell if you're a weirdo or a plain idiot.

2/3...

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Brad Desmond @braddesmond.bsky.social · Aug 12

🧵 Here’s a thought experiment.

You’ve been overdoing the food, booze, and couch scrolling. You feel tired and sluggish, and you decide to see the doctor.

But you tell the doctor you don’t just want the regular advice given to everyone. You demand...

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