Latest news with #RiseAbove
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Could this be the secret to a happy and successful life? An Ivy League psychologist thinks so
Ivy League psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman reveals key to success is unlearning fear. (Photo courtesy: IG@scottbarrykaufman) A psychologist from Columbia University has outlined what he claims to be the key to achieving both happiness and success — a process he refers to as "unlearning fear". Scott Barry Kaufman, an adjunct associate professor of psychology at Barnard College, Columbia University, says fear often stands as the biggest barrier between individuals and their goals. As reported by CNBC, Kaufman suggests that fear — whether of failure, rejection, or uncertainty — is learned through past experiences and traumas. He argues that success is more likely when individuals make a conscious decision to "choose a different way of living" by actively confronting and dismantling these fear-based responses. Fear is learned — and must be unlearned In his latest book Rise Above, published in April, Kaufman states, "Fear is automatically learned… and fear must be actively unlearned: We have to choose a different way of living, and we can start by taking responsibility for the fact that unlearning fear — or any past patterns — can take a lot of inner work," as quoted by CNBC. He explains that people often avoid actions that may trigger fear, such as asking for a promotion or starting a business. This avoidance is frequently the easiest option, especially when feelings of overwhelm and helplessness take over. "Our default state is to have a sense of helplessness when we get overwhelmed," Kaufman said to CNBC. Reframing fear as an opportunity for growth Kaufman advocates for a mindset he calls "learning hopefulness," a concept where fear-inducing situations are reframed as chances to grow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo "You can, in any moment, decide to live and make the fear decision or make the growth decision," he told CNBC. He believes individuals often have more control over these decisions than they realise. He also emphasises the importance of asking constructive questions. Instead of asking "Why am I feeling this?", he suggests shifting to "What am I feeling? What would make me feel better?" As quoted by CNBC, Kaufman says, "Asking, 'what' questions… these lead to a whole upward spiral of productive questions." Replacing helplessness with clarity and solutions This approach, according to Kaufman, helps individuals approach problems more objectively. For example, when faced with overwhelming work demands, asking "what" can guide someone towards a clearer understanding of their needs. This may lead to a constructive conversation with a manager about realistic expectations and workload priorities. Kaufman warns that asking "why" can often lead to "a dead end" in problem-solving. In contrast, "what" questions create a sense of distance, allowing for better emotional regulation and more rational solutions, as reported by CNBC. Other experts echo the emphasis on mindset Other psychologists have voiced similar perspectives. In a May 2022 article for CNBC Make It, psychologist Jenny Wang described failure as "a pitstop where you refuel your journey and redirect your approach." She added, "Failure can be a tool to help hone your skills, understand your obstacles, and realise that you have it within yourself to stand back up and keep pushing." Kaufman concludes that maintaining a sense of flexibility and curiosity is essential. "Going into any situation with curiosity and an openness to learning is a much better way than leading with your fear," he said, as quoted by CNBC. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Adrienne Adams launches first NYC mayoral campaign ad blitz, but is there time to break through?
Mayoral hopeful Adrienne Adams is launching a multi-million dollar campaign ad portraying her as a drama-free professional who can 'rise above' the fray of New York politics — her first big spend of the 2025 election cycle, which comes amid signs of growing momentum, but also as questions loom about whether she has enough time to break through. The 30-second ad, entitled 'Rise Above' and set to hit television and digital airwaves Thursday, less than three weeks ahead of the primary, features a piano-led gospel track, as Adams declares: 'In New York City, we know drama, but as City Council speaker, I rise above it.' Pictured behind a church pulpit, she then touts how she as speaker reversed library and child care budget cuts enacted by Mayor Adams — who is not related to her — and recently secured a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump's administration from putting federal immigration agents on Rikers Island. 'And now I'm running for mayor, not for power or praise, but for my children and for yours, for affordability, for safety, for justice,' she says in the ad, which the Daily News got an exclusive preview of. 'I'm in it for us.' The speaker's campaign didn't immediately have an exact figure for how much she expects to plunk down on the ad. But her spokeswoman Lupe Todd-Medina said it will be in the 'multi' millions. The ad blitz comes after the speaker unlocked matching funds for her campaign last week, netting more than $2 million in the coveted public cash. Had she not gotten that cash boost, she wouldn't have been able to qualify for matching cash until June 20, just four days before the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary. Even before getting matching funds, signs have emerged Adrienne Adams' mayoral pitch is gaining traction with voters. A recent Marist poll put her in third place, behind front-runner Andrew Cuomo and No. 2 candidate Zohran Mamdani, marking her best showing to date. Her rise in the polls came after she was endorsed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and DC 37, the city's largest public sector union. Still, the speaker, whose name-recognition on a citywide level is low, has lots of ground to catch up with less than four weeks to go until the primary and early voting starting June 14. The Marist poll projected her clutching 11% support in a simulated first ranked-choice voting round, well behind Mamdani's 22% and Cuomo's 44%. Trip Yang, a New York City Democratic strategist who isn't involved with any mayoral campaigns this year, said the fact that Adrienne Adams was already climbing in the polls before she launched a major ad blitz is a positive sign. 'She absolutely has a shot,' he said. 'She has already been in third place in some polls without much spending, and now she has the matching funds. That's a huge boost of adrenaline for her campaign.' Yang noted City Comptroller Brad Lander has typically grabbed the No. 3 spot in most mayoral race polls. 'But Brad has already spent millions of dollars [on ads], and she barely has spent any and she's already climbing,' he said. 'By that logic, Adrienne has a much higher ceiling.' The ad rollout comes after the mayoral candidates faced off at the first Democratic primary debate on Wednesday night. The debate was dominated by the eight other candidates on stage ganging up on Cuomo, blasting his record and accusing him of being unfit for office, having resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations he denies. Speaker Adams made waves when she interrupted Cuomo on stage after he declined to offer any 'personal regrets' when asked by moderators. 'No regrets when it comes to cutting Medicaid or health care, no regrets when it comes to cutting child care, when it comes to slow walking [personal protective equipment] and vaccinations in the season of COVID to Black and brown communities — really, no regrets?' she fumed at Cuomo while shaking her head.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Feature interview: How to overcome a victim mindset
Newsflash. No one's life is perfect. But we've managed to turn everyday suffering into social currency and being a victim into a competitive sport says renowned psychologist Dr Scott Barry Kaufman. In the age of TikTok therapy, typical difficult feelings are treated like a diagnosis. Dr Kaufman says that while some adversity is real, it can be the start of the story not the end of it. His new book offers insights about taking personal responsibility and embracing the idea that our greatest challenges can result in our greatest victories. The book is called Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
CNBC
19-05-2025
- General
- CNBC
Ivy League psychologist shares his No. 1 key to success and happiness: 'We have to choose a different way of living'
Often, people's biggest obstacle to success and happiness is their own fear — of failure, rejection, or uncertainty, to name just a few — says psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman. You can overcome it with a process called "unlearning fear," says Kaufman, an adjunct associate professor of psychology at Columbia University's Barnard College. By doing so, you can become more resilient and, ultimately, more successful by developing an ability to identify your self-imposed obstacles and think objectively about how to move past them, he adds. "Fear is automatically learned" from people's past experiences and traumas, Kaufman writes in his latest book, "Rise Above," which published in April. "And fear must be actively unlearned: We have to choose a different way of living, and we can start by taking responsibility for the fact that unlearning fear — or any past patterns — can take a lot of inner work." Avoiding something that scares you is a normal reaction, says Kaufman. Maybe you're afraid to ask your boss for a promotion or apply for a new job, because you don't want to suffer the disappointment of rejection. Or, maybe you fear failure too much to take the risk of launching your own business. The easiest thing to do in those situations is typically nothing: "Our default state is to have a sense of helplessness when we get overwhelmed," Kaufman the key to "unlearning fear" is to reframe what frightens or worries you as an opportunity to learn or try something new, and potentially unlock a greater level of success than you'd previously thought possible. Kaufman calls this "learning hopefulness," he says: "You can, in any moment, decide to live and make the fear decision or make the growth decision. You have more control over that than you realize." Try asking yourself "What" questions instead of "Why" questions, Kaufman recommends. He offers this example: Your boss gives you more work than you were expecting, leading you to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. "You can go from 'Why am I feeling this?' to, 'OK, what am I feeling? What would make me feel better?'" Kaufman says. "Asking, 'what' questions — 'What do I need right now, in this moment?' — these lead to a whole upward spiral of productive questions." The result: You might end up talking to your boss about setting realistic expectations for how much work you can get done in a set amount of time, so you can prioritize your tasks together. Asking why can lead you to "a dead end" for identifying possible solutions, Kaufman says. Asking "what" helps create distance and objectivity, making it easier for you to recognize harmful patterns and come up with solutions to break them — ultimately helping you build the mental strength and resilience you need to overcome obstacles and become more successful. "If we approach life with a sense of flexibility and embracing all that life has to offer, we learn that everything can teach us something," says Kaufman. "Going into any situation with curiosity and an openness to learning is a much better way than leading with your fear." Other experts recommend similar strategies to overcome fears, particularly fear of failure. Most successful people can reframe their failures, identifying them more as learning opportunities, rather than falling into the trap of a "fear-based fixed mindset," psychologist psychologist Jenny Wang wrote for CNBC Make It in May 2022. Failure is "a pitstop where you refuel your journey and redirect your approach," Wang wrote, adding: "Failure can be a tool to help hone your skills, understand your obstacles, and realize that you have it within yourself to stand back up and keep pushing." ,
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Workout tunes: Sanjoy Narayan puts together a playlist to help you flex
I know this will sound sanctimonious, but the gym is my temple (there, I said it). It's a sacred space where sweat and steel forge resilience. For 28 years, I've leaned on the barbell. I'm a 65-year-old devotee still hitting the iron three to four days a week. This journey began in my late-30s, as a tentative flirtation with weights. It was, in part, a response to an early health warning, but the weights soon became a full-blown obsession. From the raw grit of 1970s classic rock to the cerebral pulse of modern jazz, I've scoured genres for the perfect sonic fuel to power my lifts. Here's how I went from punk rock deadlifts to squatting with Miles Davis — and why jazz became the ultimate soundtrack for strength-training. My lifting odyssey began at 37. In addition to my health warning, I was inspired by the musician Henry Rollins's visceral essays on weightlifting. ('The Iron never lies to you,' he writes in one. 'You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you're a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal.') His punk-rock ethos — raw, defiant, transformative — spoke to me as I navigated the chaos of midlife. I dove into punk, blasting the Black Flag album Damaged through my headphones as I tackled my first bench presses, Rise Above fuelling my fledgling grit. The Ramones' Rocket to Russia powered my early lightweight deadlifts, its relentless simplicity a match for my debutant's zeal. Punk was loud, unpolished and urgent; perfect for a beginner finding his footing in an intimidating Mumbai gym. As my commitment deepened in my 40s, so did my musical explorations. Punk's raw energy gave way to 1970s classic rock, the soundtrack of my teens. Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti became a staple, Kashmir driving my squats with its hypnotic cadence. Deep Purple's Machine Head pushed my bench sessions, Highway Star coaxing one more rep from weary muscles. These bands, with their towering riffs, turned workouts into epic clashes, making each set a tiny bit easier to tackle. For a while. I also dabbled in psychedelic rock, drawn to that genre's experimental edge. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon lent a surreal calm to warm-ups, while Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow added a trippy vibe to accessory work. But psychedelia lacked the punch required for heavy lifts. Waylon Jennings's Honky Tonk Heroes had a rugged charm for kettlebell farmer's walks (that's one kettlebell in each hand), yet country felt too mellow. I tried folk, and found that Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks suited recovery sessions, but not the demands of a PR (personal record) attempt. In the 2010s, I began to expand my playlists to include late-'80s and early-'90s gangsta rap. NWA's Straight Outta Compton hit like a sledgehammer, the raw aggression perfect for psyching up before a set. Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back brought raging fervour to my squats, Chuck D's voice slicing through the clank of plates. Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) fuelled tough pull-ups, its gritty beats and sharp lyrics egging me on. Rap's unapologetic edge mirrored the defiance I felt, pushing my body through middle-age. As I crossed into my 60s, though, my training crystallised. Compound exercises (a mix of squats, deadlifts, benches and overhead presses) became my mantra in my temple. They were frill-free exercises that build on decades of effort. With this clarity came a new soundtrack genre: jazz. I started with the masters. Miles Davis's Kind of Blue flowed through my warm-ups, its modal coolness setting a meditative tone. John Coltrane's A Love Supreme accompanied my squats, its spiritual depth echoing the focus of a heavy set. Charles Mingus's The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady brought frenetic energy to heavy deadlifts, while Ron Carter's bass lines on Speak No Evil anchored my dumbbell bench press. Jazz isn't just music; it's a conversation. Its improvisational flow syncs with my lifts, the changing notes mirroring the instinctual adjustments of a well-executed rep. A great lift, like a great solo, demands precision and freedom, discipline and daring. Modern jazz has deepened this connection. Kamasi Washington's The Epic brings cinematic grandeur to my sessions. Shabaka Hutchings's We Are Sent Here by History matches the fire of my heaviest days. Vijay Iyer's Break Stuff adds intellectual rigour to warm-ups, while André 3000's New Blue Sun offers meditative calm for cooldowns. The new British jazz scene — Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, Ezra Collective — infuses my workouts with vibrant, relentless grooves. Why jazz? Because it's not just about adrenaline (though jazz delivers that too). Lifting has its rhythm — inhale, brace, lift, exhale — and jazz, with its syncopated pulse and unpredictable turns, mirrors that perfectly. In my mid-60s, I'm not chasing the reckless intensity of my 40s. I'm pursuing zen and the quiet power that a body can achieve. Jazz is the soundtrack for that pursuit, complex and soulful; a reminder that strength, like music, evolves. (To write in with feedback, email
