HalfAtheist

{"videos":[{"id":"IEr4n8z4o08","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IEr4n8z4o08/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IEr4n8z4o08/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IEr4n8z4o08/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IEr4n8z4o08/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IEr4n8z4o08/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-04-25T17:19:50.000Z","title":"Islam has a PR problem","shortTitle":"Islam has a PR problem","description":"My brief thoughts on Islam and its current state in the West.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"My brief thoughts on Islam and its current state in the West.","duration":1237,"tags":["life","islam","terrorism","political correctness","liberals"]},{"id":"S3rIGZzUOSk","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3rIGZzUOSk/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3rIGZzUOSk/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3rIGZzUOSk/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3rIGZzUOSk/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3rIGZzUOSk/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-03-15T19:36:10.000Z","title":"Emotional stability","shortTitle":"Emotional stability","description":"Emotional stability is an important part of your overall health.\n\nIf you have emotional issues, you can't focus on your goals. It's hard to get much done at all. So you have to resolve these first. \n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Emotional stability is an important part of your overall health.","duration":308,"tags":["life","emotions","goals"]},{"id":"S3Bj3b7yu7U","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3Bj3b7yu7U/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3Bj3b7yu7U/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3Bj3b7yu7U/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3Bj3b7yu7U/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S3Bj3b7yu7U/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-03-04T12:34:18.000Z","title":"It's ok to compare yourself to others","shortTitle":"It's ok to compare yourself to others","description":"It's only natural to compare oneself to others. But don't measure your self-worth based on the comparison. \n\n0:01 - People say you shouldn't compare yourself to others, but it's natural to compare. And we struggle if we try to stop comparing ourselves. The key is to not measure your self-worth based on others.\n\n3:00 - Your path is different to others', and your self-worth can remain intact by knowing this when making comparisons. Instead, use comparisons to inspire you to do better. And ultimately, comparing against yourself is the only way to reach your personal best.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"It's only natural to compare oneself to others. But don't measure your self-worth based on the comparison. ","duration":419,"tags":["life","comparisons","self-worth"]},{"id":"PEiBNAxC3L4","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEiBNAxC3L4/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEiBNAxC3L4/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEiBNAxC3L4/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEiBNAxC3L4/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEiBNAxC3L4/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-03-01T20:49:21.000Z","title":"Hustle","shortTitle":"Hustle","description":"Life is a hustle.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Life is a hustle.","duration":192,"tags":["life","hustle"]},{"id":"n8kBXom9WgI","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n8kBXom9WgI/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n8kBXom9WgI/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n8kBXom9WgI/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n8kBXom9WgI/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n8kBXom9WgI/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-02-15T21:00:04.000Z","title":"Enjoy the moment, not the gadget","shortTitle":"Enjoy the moment, not the gadget","description":"Too many people nowadays are absorbed in their gadgets. Stop using the gadget once in a while and just enjoy the moment.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Too many people nowadays are absorbed in their gadgets. Stop using the gadget once in a while and just enjoy the moment.","duration":296,"tags":["life","gadgets","meditation"]},{"id":"s8Z4XNyr21o","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s8Z4XNyr21o/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s8Z4XNyr21o/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s8Z4XNyr21o/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s8Z4XNyr21o/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s8Z4XNyr21o/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-02-14T00:23:45.000Z","title":"Be open to who a woman is","shortTitle":"Be open to who a woman is","description":"Instead of approaching women with a pure objective-based mindset that sees them as all the same, go with a mindset of discovery, open to who she uniquely is. You might have more success. \n\n#Dating #Mindset\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Instead of approaching women with a pure objective-based mindset that sees them as all the same, go with a mindset of discovery, open to who she uniquely is. You might have more success. ","duration":190,"tags":["life","women","dating"]},{"id":"3V9moGlLPiQ","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V9moGlLPiQ/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V9moGlLPiQ/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V9moGlLPiQ/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V9moGlLPiQ/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V9moGlLPiQ/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-01-31T01:16:12.000Z","title":"Are you attached to outcomes?","shortTitle":"Are you attached to outcomes?","description":"Are you attached to outcomes? To mental concepts? Reality is the ultimate arbiter of truth - always accept reality even if it conflicts with your mental models.\n\n0:01 - Usually when people talk about attachment they mean attachment to things and people. But the deeper level of attachment is attachment to feelings, outcomes and situations. All of which are based on the ideas I have in my mind about those situations. Something that means nothing to somebody else might mean the world to you. This is the key point to realise about attachment.\n\n2:20 - We often are so attached to our ideas that we think we're correct about our beliefs. We're more interested in feeling good about ourselves than actually being objectively correct. We're attached to the idea and feeling of being in the right. This is why it's tough to deal with information which conflicts with what we think is true - we are resistant to a change in opinion when it's to do with something we're very attached to.\n\n5:00 - Reality is the arbiter of truth, not our feelings. This means willing to be wrong, often. Being willing to change one's mindset and beliefs about what is true. This is the only way to truly get to the truth, and make better decisions in life!\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Are you attached to outcomes? To mental concepts? Reality is the ultimate arbiter of truth - always accept reality even if it conflicts with your mental models.","duration":405,"tags":["life","reality","attachments"]},{"id":"gU0jhY2YADc","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gU0jhY2YADc/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gU0jhY2YADc/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gU0jhY2YADc/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gU0jhY2YADc/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gU0jhY2YADc/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-01-26T01:01:04.000Z","title":"There is so much bullshit around","shortTitle":"There is so much bullshit around","description":"There is much bullshit around us. Rise above it.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"There is much bullshit around us. Rise above it.","duration":896,"tags":["life","society","bullshit"]},{"id":"Ycv6ai8KOdo","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ycv6ai8KOdo/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ycv6ai8KOdo/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ycv6ai8KOdo/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ycv6ai8KOdo/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ycv6ai8KOdo/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-01-14T13:30:25.000Z","title":"Success is the greatest revenge","shortTitle":"Success is the greatest revenge","description":"Success is the best revenge. Sometimes you want to get back at people who've wronged you. You want to hurt them. But it's better for your own peace of mind and happiness to focus on becoming successful in your own right and being the best you can be.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Success is the best revenge. Sometimes you want to get back at people who've wronged you. You want to hurt them. But it's better for your own peace of mind and happiness to focus on becoming successful in your own right and being the best you can be.","duration":542,"tags":["life","success","revenge"]},{"id":"YOz2lybULfA","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YOz2lybULfA/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YOz2lybULfA/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YOz2lybULfA/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YOz2lybULfA/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YOz2lybULfA/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-01-09T22:38:13.000Z","title":"Stop being racist to white men","shortTitle":"Stop being racist to white men","description":"There is too much hatred against white people, and white men specifically right now. This is disgusting, stupid and ultimately an ineffective approach to solving racism or bigotry. \n\nWhat's more, being racist and bigoted only hinders one's own personal growth. Transcending race in one's mind is the answer and the way forward.\n\n0:01 - The media landscape has seemed to normalize the the idea that it's ok to \"beat down\" on white men and assume that there is plenty of white racism to go round.\n\n3:00 - My own experiences have taught me not to be racist. We've all descended from violence, so none of us can claim racial one-upmanship. We have to treat all races fairly and equally.\n\n9:10 - Despite your childhood experiences which have been very negative, you have to rise above that, like Gandhi. Don't let racists be your teacher. Don't copy their example. Though you still have to stand up for yourself. It's about the intention you hold in your heart and what you let into your mind. \n\n13:00 - Race relations aren't progressing the way they should, because the discussion has become too partisan. There will always be racism and stereotypes, on both an aggregate level and an individual level. The best you can do is to accept that these things will remain and then go ahead and forge your own identity anyway.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"There is too much hatred against white people, and white men specifically right now. This is disgusting, stupid and ultimately an ineffective approach to solving racism or bigotry. ","duration":1007,"tags":["life","racism","white privilege","white men"]},{"id":"DM5IyR5MYxA","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DM5IyR5MYxA/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DM5IyR5MYxA/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DM5IyR5MYxA/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DM5IyR5MYxA/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DM5IyR5MYxA/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-01-02T02:30:00.000Z","title":"What is meditation and how do you do it?","shortTitle":"What is meditation and how do you do it?","description":"What is meditation? What are its objectives? How do you start meditating?\n\n0:30 - In Eastern philosophy meditation is practised to achieve \"enlightenment\" - linked to the idea that the immediate world isn't the ultimate reality of the universe, and that achieving this frees one from the suffering cycle of life. Reaching this stage may take many lifetimes - some cultures believe in re-incarnation.\n\n2:55 - The other use for meditation as espoused by people is to simply calm you as a person and help you be a happier human being. This is what most people who talk to me about meditation are interested in. Enlightenment may or may not be true for me. I liken understanding enlightenment to going to a restaurant to eat. Until you eat the food yourself you can't know what it actually is about. Until then be skeptical and go with what we do know for sure about meditation's benefits.\n\n6:25 - I'll introduce Vipassana meditation (originally from Burma), a meditation technique which is about observing the present reality of your body. It can be done at any time, at any place, in any situation. It focusses on your breathing and your body sensations. At a retreat you start off with the breath and eventually move onto focussing on ever smaller areas on the surface of your body.\n\n8:35 - All your emotions and reactions generate a sensation within your body. Thus, observing the sensations teaches you to indirectly observe your reactions. This awareness teaches you how you react as a person and at the same time allows you to not be ruled by your sensations as much. If you sit to meditate for an hour without moving you feel aches and pains all over, and this practice of awareness of sensation is essential to be able to get through the session peacefully.\n\n11:30 - Focussing on your sensations inadvertently teaches you to focus on and watch your mind. You will learn about yourself as a person. You will experience daily life differently once you start to practise in earnest. You become more equanimous - more ok with whatever happens in life.\n\n14:00 - An hour of practice is ideal, but if it that's too hard start by just doing 5 minutes. But work yourself upto an hour as only a long period like that allows you to let go of the need to track time mentally. And if you find yourself able to sit for an hour without getting bored you will know that you've built up serious concentration power, and you should definitely feel calmer. Sit or stand, it doesn't matter. Do it daily, somewhere quiet and ideally in the same place and at the same time. But go with no expectations - whatever happens in your session, accept it. Doesn't matter if it's going great or not, just accept it. Use the reality in the present moment to help yourself go deeper.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"What is meditation? What are its objectives? How do you start meditating?","duration":980,"tags":["meditation","vipassana","spirituality"]},{"id":"oOWaJD1kA5U","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOWaJD1kA5U/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOWaJD1kA5U/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOWaJD1kA5U/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOWaJD1kA5U/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oOWaJD1kA5U/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2017-01-01T05:03:13.000Z","title":"Cut the bullshit! Be Authentic","shortTitle":"Cut the bullshit! Be Authentic","description":"Most people aren't being their authentic selves. Instead they're controlling what they say and do out of fear of what others will think of them.\n\n0:01 - Authenticity is saying and doing what you think, all the time without any fear. But most people don't do this, instead choosing to manage their \"social reputation\". We're constantly concerned with what people think of us, because we rely on the good opinion of others. And this is considered to be a smart approach to life.\n\n6:00 - Although we can get results this way, we can aim to develop ourselves at a deeper, more internal level. And we do this by pushing ourselves in different directions, compelling our self-image to change from within. We can start off mimicking successful people and approaching change from the outside, but over time the inner change is also needed.\n\n9:10 - Ultimately, you can't have fulfilment with people without meaningful relationships. For this to happen you need to become comfortable with who you are, and learn to accept your vulnerability. This process itself makes you become more aware of the times you're being inauthentic. You start to pick up on where people say things out of protocol rather than authentic desire. If you say something, you should mean it.\n\n13:20 - You can also stop lying to yourself if you are authentic. And maybe if you do this it can encourage other to stop lying to themselves too. And maybe you can share a deeper truth with each other, and trust each other's opinions more.\n\n14:55 - Authenticity MUST be twinned with an understanding of the impact of your words on another person. Always be honest and authentic, but can you express yourself in a way which minimises the pain to somebody else? Understand what \"space\" you are coming from as you say things. If you're being mean, then why? What are you getting out of it? Understand this.\n\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Most people aren't being their authentic selves. Instead they're controlling what they say and do out of fear of what others will think of them.","duration":1046,"tags":["authentic","self","bullshit"]},{"id":"DA4aR0TQDzg","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DA4aR0TQDzg/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DA4aR0TQDzg/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DA4aR0TQDzg/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DA4aR0TQDzg/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DA4aR0TQDzg/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-12-27T17:37:17.000Z","title":"Society teaches contradicting things","shortTitle":"Society teaches contradicting things","description":"Society teaches us to be individuals and look out for our own self-interest. And yet to also form relationships, where cannot simply look out for our own self-interest if we are to succeed. How can we do both?\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Society teaches us to be individuals and look out for our own self-interest. And yet to also form relationships, where cannot simply look out for our own self-interest if we are to succeed. How can we do both?","duration":282,"tags":["relationships","society","individualism"]},{"id":"3V-6w8USX_c","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V-6w8USX_c/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V-6w8USX_c/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V-6w8USX_c/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V-6w8USX_c/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3V-6w8USX_c/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-12-26T15:36:46.000Z","title":"Elites dominate media","shortTitle":"Elites dominate media","description":"When was the last time you saw someone on TV talking about issues, who wasn't educated at private school or Oxbridge? I lay out some stats.\n\nSource: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/feb/24/privately-educated-elite-continues-to-take-top-jobs-finds-survey\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"When was the last time you saw someone on TV talking about issues, who wasn't educated at private school or Oxbridge? I lay out some stats.","duration":392,"tags":["elites","media","private","skewed","bias"]},{"id":"ajN98rIZ4DQ","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajN98rIZ4DQ/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajN98rIZ4DQ/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajN98rIZ4DQ/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajN98rIZ4DQ/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ajN98rIZ4DQ/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-12-26T00:55:06.000Z","title":"Fearing the loss of identity","shortTitle":"Fearing the loss of identity","description":"If you lost everything tomorrow, who would you be? how would you feel? does it have to be this way?\n\n0:01 - I realise that losing everything I have would be painful because I would lose my identity as I saw it. The mental and emotional sense of loss would be more painful than the physical loss. Getting over it would be hard, but it would make me stronger too. But do I have go through something like this to get that strength?\n\n3:30 - Fear is what drives the aversion to loss of identity. And this is natural. But if I have to handle the situation I would end up having to face our fear by default. You can take a positive-minded approach to handling such a situation, but knowing how it affects your identity is more important.\n\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"If you lost everything tomorrow, who would you be? how would you feel? does it have to be this way?","duration":404,"tags":["loss","uncertainty","fear","identity"]},{"id":"BuzWV-V12b4","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuzWV-V12b4/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuzWV-V12b4/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuzWV-V12b4/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuzWV-V12b4/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuzWV-V12b4/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-08-26T01:54:27.000Z","title":"Burqa ban","shortTitle":"Burqa ban","description":"I don't think Burqa's should be banned, but they're also a symbol of patriarchy and morality, which ultimately affect women negatively.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"I don't think Burqa's should be banned, but they're also a symbol of patriarchy and morality, which ultimately affect women negatively.","duration":291,"tags":["burqa","islam","ban"]},{"id":"gXMUC5swvPc","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXMUC5swvPc/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXMUC5swvPc/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXMUC5swvPc/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXMUC5swvPc/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXMUC5swvPc/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-08-22T07:00:00.000Z","title":"It's never too late","shortTitle":"It's never too late","description":"It's never too late to pursue your dreams and do what you want to do. Life is short, and every moment up until the day you moment you die is precious and full of potential. Don't let fear of failure or of it being too late to do something hold you back. \n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"It's never too late to pursue your dreams and do what you want to do. Life is short, and every moment up until the day you moment you die is precious and full of potential. Don't let fear of failure or of it being too late to do something hold you back. ","duration":365,"tags":["fear","age","dreams","determination","life","happiness"]},{"id":"u9s_4j7Q1xU","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9s_4j7Q1xU/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9s_4j7Q1xU/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9s_4j7Q1xU/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9s_4j7Q1xU/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u9s_4j7Q1xU/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-08-21T12:33:04.000Z","title":"Eat your veggies","shortTitle":"Eat your veggies","description":"Eat your veggies. Do your workouts. Stick to your principles and do the things you know you need to do, even though you don't feel like doing them. Keep doing this and you'll raise your standards, and eventually it will be easy to keep going.\n\n0:01 - To be healthy, you have to eat healthily and exercise (mind and body). Living this way is a part of being human, and is an essential component of living well. Good relationships are important too, as feelings of loneliness are bad for your health. Sometimes taking care of yourself is tedious but you have just have to do it.\n\n4:00 - It's easier to follow the rules imposed upon you by external forces (job, society, etc), whereas it can be hard to motivate yourself to follow your own rules. This is why people fail to follow through on new year's resolutions. It comes down to your internal \"standard\" for yourself - you always default to doing whatever your standard is.\n\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Eat your veggies. Do your workouts. Stick to your principles and do the things you know you need to do, even though you don't feel like doing them. Keep doing this and you'll raise your standards, and eventually it will be easy to keep going.","duration":400,"tags":["vegetables","standards","determination"]},{"id":"gONv7BTWRzI","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gONv7BTWRzI/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gONv7BTWRzI/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gONv7BTWRzI/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gONv7BTWRzI/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gONv7BTWRzI/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-08-15T10:45:25.000Z","title":"Hitler wasn't \"evil\"","shortTitle":"Hitler wasn't \"evil\"","description":"Hitler was a bad dude, but he wasn't \"evil\" in the Biblical sense. In fact, nobody is born evil - they just grow into people who do messed up things. Calling people evil is a way of explaining away the negative actions of a human being via simplistic biblical narratives and not having to acknowledge the complexities of the human being.\n\n0:01 - Hitler was a messed up dude who unfortunately got into power. Indeed, the allied powers didn't intervene until their own interests were threatened - he wasn't evil until he was deemed evil. By calling Hitler evil, people use him as a reference point, e.g. \"ISIS are worse than Hitler\". Ironically, he was endorsed by the Vatican (Catholic church).\n\n5:00 - Nobody is born evil. Many factors contributed to Hitler becoming who he became. The same goes for anyone who you may consider \"evil\". To not call them evil doesn't mean or condone them. Calling the evil, however, offers no redemption to that person.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Hitler was a bad dude, but he wasn't \"evil\" in the Biblical sense. In fact, nobody is born evil - they just grow into people who do messed up things. Calling people evil is a way of explaining away the negative actions of a human being via simplistic biblical narratives and not having to acknowledge the complexities of the human being.","duration":428,"tags":["hitler","evil","god","language"]},{"id":"vM7p-7Z7Hms","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vM7p-7Z7Hms/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vM7p-7Z7Hms/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vM7p-7Z7Hms/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vM7p-7Z7Hms/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vM7p-7Z7Hms/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-08-01T13:00:09.000Z","title":"Embrace frustration","shortTitle":"Embrace frustration","description":"Embrace frustrations, they're going to come. Don't let your happiness depend on everything always working out.\n\nLife isn't meant to constantly work out. There are going to be problems, and you're going to get frustrated. Particularly if you're pushing your limits and actively growing as a person. Embrace these frustrations, and don't allow them to get your down. They show that you're working hard.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Embrace frustrations, they're going to come. Don't let your happiness depend on everything always working out.","duration":251,"tags":["frustration","happiness"]},{"id":"rwSIKujQfYk","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rwSIKujQfYk/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rwSIKujQfYk/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rwSIKujQfYk/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rwSIKujQfYk/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rwSIKujQfYk/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-31T12:00:04.000Z","title":"Make yourself do it","shortTitle":"Make yourself do it","description":"Sometimes we just don't feel like doing the things we need to do, no matter what we try. We have to force ourselves to do them.\n\nConventional wisdom states that if you really don't feel like doing something then you shouldn't do it. But if you're looking to change a bad habit or achieve a goal then you can't afford not to do what needs to be done. Sometimes you just have to make yourself do it in order to maintain momentum.\n\n0:01 - Most habit-changing advice is the same. Start with one at a time, visualise, create a ritual, etc. Willpower also plays a part - initially it's high and we're really motivated. Over time it gets lost and we start to lose out, despite following all the advice laid out.\n\n3:00 - It feels like most advice is about making you feel good and excited to do what needs to be done. But what if you can't? This is where discipline comes in: make yourself do it. But you may be conflicted here - should you be doing something that you don't really want to do it? There's a way to tell what is and isn't in conflict with who you are.\n\n5:40 - Ultimately you'l feel good about getting closer to your goals, even if you've had to forcibly make your way there.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Sometimes we just don't feel like doing the things we need to do, no matter what we try. We have to force ourselves to do them.","duration":373,"tags":["goals","momentum"]},{"id":"WpDq2zxd7Xg","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpDq2zxd7Xg/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpDq2zxd7Xg/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpDq2zxd7Xg/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpDq2zxd7Xg/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpDq2zxd7Xg/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-30T16:30:01.000Z","title":"Follow your heart, own yourself","shortTitle":"Follow your heart, own yourself","description":"Follow your heart, and trust in who you want to be. \n\nSociety and the people around us are always telling us who we should be and what we should do. It takes courage to ignore such messages and follow the path our heart desires, given that there is more perceived uncertainty in choosing to do so. And yet, without risks one cannot obtain great rewards.\n\n0:01 - It's hard to trust our own instincts, our own ideas, especially before we've established confidence within ourselves (e.g. when we're young). The world places demands on us, people place demands on us. But no one has seen your future, so nobody can tell you who you are supposed to be or what you are supposed to do.\n\n3:30 - It's hard to follow our own hearts though, because even those of us who do still want things to work out. But what is life if not to feel the experience of being alive, without taking risks? You will have to learn to handle the risk, just as you will have to learn to handle others and believe in who you want to be. Other people will respect you, even if they disagree with you. Own it.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Follow your heart, and trust in who you want to be. ","duration":386,"tags":["life","goals","trust","instincts"]},{"id":"vGQSBXi7D9o","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGQSBXi7D9o/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGQSBXi7D9o/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGQSBXi7D9o/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGQSBXi7D9o/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGQSBXi7D9o/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-29T18:44:04.000Z","title":"How to live a meaningful life","shortTitle":"How to live a meaningful life","description":"What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How can we create a meaningful life for ourselves?\n\nMost human beings just repeat the same patterns day in, day out, never really consciously growing in any particular direction. This is ok, but for some of us it can be decidedly uninspiring. What we want is the feeling of being alive.\n\n0:01 - LIfe is lived within patterns. Most people are happy just living in patterns. But ambitious and driven people cannot do this. And thus they are driven to break their patterns in order to grow.\n\n4:00 - In order to break the patterns and experience moments of growth, you have to push yourself, consciously. If you add up these growth moments you get a collection of meaningful moments. For me, making videos is one area where I'm pushing myself. Can you do the things you fear?\n\n7:00 - You may be tempted to compare yourself with others. It can inspire you to do this, but it's better to compare with yourself, with who you were yesterday. In fact, each day is an opportunity to grow beyond who you were the day before. Your days are your life in miniature, i.e. how you spend each day altogether represents your life.\n\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How can we create a meaningful life for ourselves?","duration":620,"tags":["meaning","life"]},{"id":"RFgicSMqz8Y","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RFgicSMqz8Y/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RFgicSMqz8Y/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RFgicSMqz8Y/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RFgicSMqz8Y/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RFgicSMqz8Y/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-25T10:53:23.000Z","title":"Think with nuance","shortTitle":"Think with nuance","description":"Thinking in a nuanced manner is needed if we are going to solve the major problems facing us.\n\nNowadays debates around critical ideas lack nuance, and instead resort to name calling and slanderous accusations. Expressing a nuanced opinion in such an environment, and yet it is essential we don't lose this ability or else less-informed opinions will rule the day.\n\n0:01 - Criticism of Islam often gets one branded an Islamophobe and racist. This results in an inability to expressed nuanced opinions on it. The same goes for any situation where people are seen as monsters, painted as such in broad brush strokes.\n\n4:00 - Life is complex, and nuanced opinions are the only opinions that make the most sense. Often there isn't really an ever-correct answer for every situation. But people (and especially the political/social Left) shy away from this and end up in group-think mode.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Thinking in a nuanced manner is needed if we are going to solve the major problems facing us.","duration":385,"tags":["debate","discourse","thinking","islamophobia","islam"]},{"id":"--H0NVmmAQs","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/--H0NVmmAQs/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/--H0NVmmAQs/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/--H0NVmmAQs/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/--H0NVmmAQs/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/--H0NVmmAQs/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-25T00:32:43.000Z","title":"If there is a God","shortTitle":"If there is a God","description":"If there is a God why did he/she create us? Why is the world the way it is? These and other questions encourage one to question the core belief itself.\n\nBelief in God or a supernatural deity exists alongside numerous other beliefs dependent on the core belief. Furthermore, introducing the idea of God introduces a number of other as-yet-unanswered questions regarding God's nature and intentions.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"If there is a God why did he/she create us? Why is the world the way it is? These and other questions encourage one to question the core belief itself.","duration":441,"tags":["god","belief","spirituality"]},{"id":"2Y6l13VWmFw","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Y6l13VWmFw/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Y6l13VWmFw/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Y6l13VWmFw/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Y6l13VWmFw/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Y6l13VWmFw/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-21T04:27:35.000Z","title":"Does your religion grow you?","shortTitle":"Does your religion grow you?","description":"Does your religion allow you to consistently grow in your spirituality?\n\nMost religions simply require you to believe in something, do as you're told, and then simply wait for the after-life for your rewards. But some religions provide a path for you to actually gain an ever deeper understanding of yourself over time, as you practice. Buddhism is one such religion.\n\n0:01 - Buddhism, the core philosophical form, is a great spiritual practice. A great book is http://integrateddaniel.info/book/. Unlike other religions, buddhism isn't about belief, but rather about discovering and understanding your true nature, through meditation. \n\n4:10 - In most religions the idea is that God has created all, and that therefore you should love all, including your enemies - hence Jesus's saying \"love thy enemy\". Progress in religion is thus measured by progress in love. But to do this properly requires meditative focus - which is what you would do in Buddhism, albeit more directly. Belief is irrelevant, meditation and understanding are th key things.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Does your religion allow you to consistently grow in your spirituality?","duration":462,"tags":["religion","buddhism","god","beliefs","growth","meditation"]},{"id":"_bB6opB-aWQ","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_bB6opB-aWQ/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_bB6opB-aWQ/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_bB6opB-aWQ/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_bB6opB-aWQ/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_bB6opB-aWQ/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-20T01:02:44.000Z","title":"You are the king!","shortTitle":"You are the king!","description":"You are the king of your kingdom, and it's your decision that counts.\n\nOther people will always want to advise and tell you what you are and aren't capable of doing. But you can ignore of all of them and keep doing what you think is right for you. Or not. It's up to you. They don't know who you're supposed to become in life.\n\n0:01 - People are always telling you their idea of who they think you should be. Ultimately though, nobody knows who you're supposed to be. So really, you could ignore all the advice ever given to you. There are many examples of successful people who became successful in exactly the area people told them they couldn't succeed in.\n\n4:00 - You can listen to your \"adviser\" all you want but ultimately you have to make the decision, because it's your kingdom.\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"You are the king of your kingdom, and it's your decision that counts.","duration":270,"tags":["kingdom","decisions","life"]},{"id":"PL2sBXTWkKI","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PL2sBXTWkKI/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PL2sBXTWkKI/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PL2sBXTWkKI/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PL2sBXTWkKI/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PL2sBXTWkKI/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-19T06:34:13.000Z","title":"Work with life, not against it","shortTitle":"Work with life, not against it","description":"Life often doesn't go to planned. It's upto us to take this into account and make our plans out of what life gives us.\n\nThere's the old saying \"when life gives you lemons, make lemonade\". Though simplistic it's general message is true. We can learn to not be upset by things not working out once we understand that things are not always meant to work out in life.\n\n0:01 - Nothing in life is guaranteed, despite our efforts. Even knowing this, we put in as much effort as we can in the hope of achievement. Letting go of control over the outcome can actually make you more powerful as a person. There is no need to argue with the reality of the present, wishing it to be different.\n\n3:30 - Most of us don't achieve everything we want, only some things. You may not end up where you initially set out to be. Embracing this possibility is key to \"working with life\". Things not working out the way we want is actually a normal part of life. Align yourself with the reality of how things actually pan out.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Life often doesn't go to planned. It's upto us to take this into account and make our plans out of what life gives us.","duration":371,"tags":["life","plans","goals","frustrations"]},{"id":"k7RpLktH9aM","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7RpLktH9aM/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7RpLktH9aM/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7RpLktH9aM/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7RpLktH9aM/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7RpLktH9aM/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-19T06:26:58.000Z","title":"Transcend your race","shortTitle":"Transcend your race","description":"You are more than your race, and you can transcend it in your own mind.\n\nWe can't easily change what other people think of us, but we can change what we think of ourselves and we can focus on being the best versions of ourselves, and in this way command the respect of others.\n\n0:01 - I'd always be frustrated by the fact that I was treated differently due to my race. After much time one realises that not needing people to change their racist opinion of you is the most empowering way to living your life. You can command respect, but you can't demand it.\n\n3:30 - You can transcend your race in your own mind, even if you can't in others'. You shouldn't spend the rest of your life being agree about how others perceive you. You can go out there and try to make change but in the end you have to be able to handle it. Set yourself a higher standard of being loving yourself.\n\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"You are more than your race, and you can transcend it in your own mind.","duration":409,"tags":["race","racism","prejudice","transcendence","fulfillment"]},{"id":"G4NMfmc-86U","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G4NMfmc-86U/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G4NMfmc-86U/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G4NMfmc-86U/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G4NMfmc-86U/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G4NMfmc-86U/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-17T03:08:24.000Z","title":"You can't control what happens","shortTitle":"You can't control what happens","description":"Life is one damn thing after another. One damn thing we don't have control over.\n\nShifting our perspective - shifting the way we see things - allows us to get a grip on life and find inner mental peace. Understanding and accepting that we have no control is the only way to inner fulfilment.\n\n0:01 - \"Life is one damn thing after another\". Life is full of frustrations, indirectly resulting from our desires and actions. And then there are things we don't control. You don't even control your thoughts directly - they're mostly based on past thought patterns.\n\n2:36 - The only way to handle life is first accept that you don't really control what happens. And the happiness you get from things working out your way never lasts for that long. But peace of mind is something that can be lasting. And this can be achieved by being able to handle what life throws at you. Positive thinking and an optimistic outlook helps towards this.\n\n4:55 - The quality of your life is determined by your state of mind and your perspective on the world.\n\n7:00 - How loving a person are you? Your progress along the path of deep spirituality can be ascertained by how loving you are as a person. Feeding into this is your state of mind. And equanimity is the ability to handle situations with a calm state of mind, neither too positive nor too negative. \n\n9:30 - Even for people who feel they have lots of mental \"triggers\", they could really work on their inner state of mind in order to dampen the effects of said triggers. For most of us, meditation can help us overcome many of the shallow triggers in our minds and gain greater control over our states of mind.\n\n11:00 - Fulfilment comes from accepting that your life cannot be made perfect, that life will have ups and downs. \n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Life is one damn thing after another. One damn thing we don't have control over.","duration":688,"tags":["life","control","perspective","meditation"]},{"id":"jcJAzx5zSD0","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jcJAzx5zSD0/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jcJAzx5zSD0/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jcJAzx5zSD0/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jcJAzx5zSD0/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jcJAzx5zSD0/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-15T01:03:40.000Z","title":"Your story is arbitrary","shortTitle":"Your story is arbitrary","description":"Your story in your mind of who you think you are is arbitrary. It is not set in stone, and it can be changed. \n\nWe are so tied into our identity. And yet our identity is so fragile, and simply a combination of our memories, feelings and current thoughts. A lot of which is based on our environment. Understanding this enables us to learn how to change our inner dialogue and thus the story of our life, and possibly even transcend it.\n\n0:01 - Your story is everything you think you are. We all want our stories to be successful, whether we're religious or not. And this is because we know this life is finite, and so having a \"good story\" is important to us.\n\n3:20 - We often worry about losing what we have. We don't want to lose the level we've reached, whether it's how much money we're now earning, the friendships we have, etc All of these things feed into our identity and story - losing something shocks our system and makes our story feel incomplete.\n\n5:00 - But your story is arbitrary, and starts off as nothing. It's built up over time based on your life experiences. And we end up forgetting how arbitrary it is. And what if your story isn't a happy one? Who would you be without your story? Can you imagine what that would be like? Would you be happier?\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Your story in your mind of who you think you are is arbitrary. It is not set in stone, and it can be changed. ","duration":432,"tags":["philosophy","story","success","life","spirituality"]},{"id":"kdsignLZSFw","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdsignLZSFw/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdsignLZSFw/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdsignLZSFw/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdsignLZSFw/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kdsignLZSFw/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-07-12T08:16:17.000Z","title":"Spirituality and Meditation","shortTitle":"Spirituality and Meditation","description":"Why people want certainty, why they choose to believe in God, and a different kind of spirituality that is beyond belief.\n\nThe problem is that these almost never touch on alternative approaches to spirituality, such as meditation and philosophy that doesn't rely on beliefs. I try to explain the difference between philosophies which espouse meditation and those which are faith-based, and why people would rather choose the latter.\n\n0:05 - Most of the religion vs. non-religion debates are focussed around the question of whether God exists. This is such a black-and-white view of the world. For most of us watching these debates, spirituality begins and ends within these narrow definitions.\n\n2:30 - What can you say with absolute certainty? The only thing that you know for sure is that you exist - everything else is just a probability. And yet most religions are about believing in something, i.e. they're based on a probabilities which are treated like certainties.\n\n5:10 - People love to believe in God because it gives them a feeling of certainty. Most people crave certainty and predictability when it comes to the important things in life. Atheists by definition must embrace uncertainty.\n\n8:00 - I've seen videos where people actually suggest that following a set of rules (i.e. a religious text) is a superior way of living, because why wouldn't you want the answers to everything? But even they would have to admit that the don't know things for certain.\n\n10:08 - Meditation is a different approach to spirituality. Most importantly, it's not about what you believe but rather what you experience. It's not concerned with your beliefs or who you think are - it's concerned with the reality of this present moment.\n\n12:30 - Our mind triggers happy feelings within based on the beliefs we have about things that we want. Your perspective on the world shapes how you feel about it. This is where sayings like \"every cloud has a silver lining\" comes from. Meditation is about your mind and perspective.\n\n15:50 - The original purpose of meditation as taught by Buddha was to escape suffering. And this is accomplished through understanding and controlling your reactions and perceptions. And this comes from first understanding who you are.\n\n18:00 - All in all, it would be good to see more discussion of meditation and associated spiritual traditions rather than the God vs no God argument we see far too often. Surely we can take a more open-minded approach to things?\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"Why people want certainty, why they choose to believe in God, and a different kind of spirituality that is beyond belief.","duration":1198,"tags":["spirituality","meditation","faith","religion","atheism","god"]},{"id":"TnVoOAGmHC8","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnVoOAGmHC8/default.jpg","width":120,"height":90},"medium":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnVoOAGmHC8/mqdefault.jpg","width":320,"height":180},"high":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnVoOAGmHC8/hqdefault.jpg","width":480,"height":360},"standard":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnVoOAGmHC8/sddefault.jpg","width":640,"height":480},"maxres":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TnVoOAGmHC8/maxresdefault.jpg","width":1280,"height":720}},"date":"2016-06-18T08:52:50.000Z","title":"Why Donald Trump is winning","shortTitle":"Why Donald Trump is winning","description":"My thoughts on why Donald Trump is winning so far.\n\nDonald Trump has taken the republican nomination by storm and shaken up expectations within American politics this year. He has received more votes than anybody else in the history of the Republican party. Using straight talking, entertainment and a willingness to attack his rivals he has run circles around the rest of the field and placed himself in pole position to win the nomination and possibly the presidency.\n\n1:20 - Most people I know are convinced he's not going to win, including myself at one point.\n\n3:45 - People feel there's something wrong with him winning. He has manipulated his way into where he is, like a troll. Trump's objective is to be seen and heard as much as possible. Scott Adams (Dilbert creator) thinks he knows what's Trump is doing.\n\n7:30 - If Trump is so bad, why are so many people voting for him? Some level of authenticity - he says what he thinks, e.g. he talks about radical Islam.\n\n11:00 - Is Trump really going to achieve the things he says he is? who knows. As far as people voting for him is concerned, it almost doesn't matter. Why are people angry at Trump anyway? surely it's better to ask why people would vote for him in the first place?\n\n13:40 - It's cool that Americans are engaged in politics, but they hope too much from any one person, whether it be Obama or Trump. This is partly why Trump does so well - because people really believe.\n\n---\n\nThanks for watching! My mission is to think better, explore and grow as a human being. I make videos on current affairs, philosophy, spirituality and living better. Subscribe now and stay in the loop.\n\nWebsite: https://halfatheist.com\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/halfatheist\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfAtheist/\n\nCheck out more videos: https://halfatheist.com/videos","shortDescription":"My thoughts on why Donald Trump is winning so far.","duration":965,"tags":["donald trump","politics","elections","usa"]}],"tagCloud":["life","islam","terrorism","political correctness","liberals","emotions","goals","comparisons","self-worth","hustle","gadgets","meditation","women","dating","reality","attachments","society","bullshit","success","revenge","racism","white privilege","white men","vipassana","spirituality","authentic","self","relationships","individualism","elites","media","private","skewed","bias","loss","uncertainty","fear","identity","burqa","ban","age","dreams","determination","happiness","vegetables","standards","hitler","evil","god","language","frustration","momentum","trust","instincts","meaning","debate","discourse","thinking","islamophobia","belief","religion","buddhism","beliefs","growth","kingdom","decisions","plans","frustrations","race","prejudice","transcendence","fulfillment","control","perspective","philosophy","story","faith","atheism","donald trump","politics","elections","usa"]}