Roman Russo's Blog, page 2

Trauma and Loss Are Universal, but So Is Happiness

Let’s start with a fundamental truth: no one is perfect, everyone is somewhat broken, and everyone has experienced trauma and loss. This realization might sound simple, but it is important because many people get lost in their negative feelings, thinking that their suffering is somehow special, unique, and justified. However, as a saying goes, “The […]

Altruism vs. Egoism: The Path to True Happiness

What do Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr. all have in common? They were very altruistic, which, in accordance with happiness theory, means that they were very happy. At the same time, happiness theory also suggests that happiness is a positive subjective experience. This means that we can never know for certain if […]

Existentialism: Escaping the Hamster Wheel of Life

One of my close friends is constantly joking about existentialism and how everything seems to just fall into it. It’s a great joke until you realize that it’s not, which is probably an even bigger joke. Thinking about this, I wrote an Instagram story saying that “the biggest joke is life,” and immediately I got […]

Give and Take: Finding Happiness in a Balanced Life

Another relatively common mistake people make in their pursuit of happiness (mostly women, but sometimes men, too) is giving more than they receive in their jobs, relationships, and other aspects of life. What they give and receive can be anything: time, money, energy, emotion, or anything else. For example, in a relationship, one partner may […]

The Privilege: The Invisible Line That Separates Us

Today, I went to a different part of town, one which I rarely visit, where the less wealthy people live. It was an impressive and unexpected transition. One moment, I was surrounded by people who look more like me, and then suddenly there was nothing – a place of transition with very few people. Then, […]

Crucial Conversations: How Many Have You Had Already?

I used to have a problem with a flatmate who was very dirty. As a result, I would become very passive-aggressive towards them, feeling angry and bitter. I would leave a lot of indirect signs whenever I could, but I never really told them directly what I wanted. I shied away from having a crucial […]

Energy Drinks: An Exaggerated Negative View of This Drink

I remember walking into a store and buying an energy drink. In turn, the shop owner went out of their way to tell me, a stranger who they met for the first time and who didn’t do anything special to start a conversation, about why I shouldn’t be consuming energy drinks and why they are […]

Embrace Your Dark Side for a Brighter Life

When I tell you to accept and embrace your dark side, I don’t want you to become depressed, mean, or otherwise evil. Instead, I want you to find genuine happiness in the right way. Let me explain. Everyone has a dark side, so it is something that we need to be aware of and accept. […]

How I Speak 8 Languages—And You Can Too

Often, people are surprised when they catch me speaking different languages, to the point that they ask “How many languages do you speak?” to which I answer “8.” This is often received with great astonishment and curiosity, to the point that people often ask me how I achieved this impressive feat in order to understand […]

Is Gratitude the Key to Happiness?

Many people say that happiness is gratitude, and I agree, although only partially. After all, we need to remind ourselves that we often have much more than others and yet still find reasons to complain that it’s not enough. In this way, gratitude puts everything into perspective, reminding us that we are doing great, that […]