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The Present Minds
Writing archive195 published pieces

All writing.

Long-form essays, personal perspectives and writing on psychology, mental health, the self and modern life.Page 15 of 17

169 Psychology6 min read

You Would Not Expect Japan to Be Here

Assaí Brazil does not look like Tokyo. It sits in the state of Paraná, surrounded by farmland and open sky. Portuguese is spoken. Brazilian flags hang from…

Shaniya NazRead article →
170 Psychology6 min read

What Happens to a City During Ramadan Fasting

Ramadan fasting changes the way a city breathes. On a normal weekday afternoon, a food court in Manchester or Mumbai is loud and practical. Trays clatter. Coffee…

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171 Purusharth6 min read

The Illusion of Free Will in Modern Society

The illusion of free will in modern society is the great unspoken reality of our time. We wake up, consume, and scroll, entirely convinced that we are…

Navneet ShuklaRead article →
172 Psychology7 min read

The Strange Way Your Brain Invents Patterns from Nothing

Pattern recognition bias is why lightning looks like tree branches and rivers look like veins. Your nervous system looks like roots and pattern feels like proof. You've…

Shaniya NazRead article →
173 Psychology6 min read

Why Valentine’s Day Feels Like Expensive Homework

Valentine's Day pressure starts in the supermarket aisle. It's February 13th. You're standing in front of the flower display at Tesco. The roses are wrapped in plastic.…

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174 Psychology7 min read

Why Is Blue the Most Powerful Colour in the World?

Why is Blue the most powerful colour in the world? Let us explore. You've seen it. Your camera roll is proof. Beach photos. Sky shots. That airplane…

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175 Purusharth6 min read

Why Everything Feels Either Right or Wrong Now

Binary thinking is what makes most days feel like a long row of small switches. You say yes or no to a message. You swipe left or…

Navneet ShuklaRead article →
176 Psychology7 min read

The Bulldog Breeder Changing How We Think About French Dogs

A Dutch breeder is revolutionizing french bulldogs by breeding them the right way. Not long ago, anyone with even a passing interest in dogs would have recognised…

Shaniya NazRead article →
177 Psychology6 min read

Do Jellyfish Sleep? What Scientists Found Changes Everything About Rest

Do Jellyfish Sleep? A jellyfish does not have a brain. No cortex. No hippocampus. No circadian clock ticking behind two eyes. Just a translucent bell, a nerve…

Navneet ShuklaRead article →
178 Psychology5 min read

Sheffield Boy Flies Abroad Because the Train Made No Sense

The platform was ordinary. Grey floor. Faded signage. People standing with bags that looked heavier than they should be. A phone came out. A price was checked.…

Navneet ShuklaRead article →
179 Psychology6 min read

The Future of AI Isn’t Helping You. It’s Narrowing You.

Personal AI tools feel like a relief before they feel like a choice. A prompt box opens, a suggestion appears, a draft forms, a plan tightens, and…

Shaniya NazRead article →
180 Psychology6 min read

The Man Who Won without Looking Like He Was Trying

Quiet competence doesn’t usually go viral, which is why this clip caught people off guard. It started the same way a lot of modern stories start. Someone…

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