Mental Health

We are all born with a desire to create – and yet somehow, as adults, many of us grow disconnected from our innate creative powers. Often the pressure to perform, be productive, and get it right holds us back from fully immersing ourselves in the creative process. And some of us simply don’t make time to play and create in our daily lives. Join us for a dynamic evening of conversation about the creative process. Is creativity a universal human trait, or are some simply born without it? What’s the best way to tap into the creative powers, and what

At the most basic level, food gives us the energy we need to live. But we eat for more than just physiological nourishment: we eat to come together, to mark occasions like weddings and funerals, to discover cultures, to feel better when we’re in pain. This month you’re invited to gather for a discussion on the many ways food impacts our lives. Why do we eat what we eat? What is the relationship between food and mental health? And how can our relationship with food become an extension of our values and ethics? Join us for a discussion of food,

Aging: it’s the one experience that doesn’t discriminate. No matter how smart, wealthy, or powerful you are, every person on earth is on a journey toward mortality. Some of us hardly think about this process at all; for others, it looms in our consciousness every day. This month we invite you to reflect on what it means to grow older. What has aging meant for your identity and relationships? What gifts has it bestown, and what has it taken away? How often, if at all, do you think about your own mortality? Join us for thoughtful consideration of life, evolution,

We all have, to some extent, internalized a cliche image of addiction: a person shooting up heroin in a park, a man buying a bottle of vodka at nine in the morning, or a girl who sneaks off at every opportunity to light up another cigarette. But in fact, addiction is far more common than those stereotypes suggest. In some ways, we all know the experience of addiction from the inside. But what causes us to become addicted? And why is the experience clouded by so much shame and secrecy? This month we invite you to discuss addiction — from

Loss is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of the human experience, yet it is an inevitable consequence of being alive. One of the great paradoxes of grief is that it is inextricably linked to our capacity for love. The truth is, someday, we will all lose everything that we hold dear. This month we invite you into a touching conversation about love, loss, and the process of grieving. What has loss given us, and what has it taken away? What does life after a great loss look like? Do you ever really get over a loss, or do

Many of us don’t think much about the mind, but consciousness is perhaps the most quintessential part of the human experience. The mind can trick us, embolden us, and even torture us. Mental illness is surprisingly common, yet it’s taboo to talk about. In December, you’re invited for a thoughtful conversation about the mind and how it goes awry. What is consciousness, and where does it come from? What causes experiences of mental illness? What can these experiences teach us about ourselves, the mind, and society at large? Join us for a frank discussion about consciousness, mental illness, and what

Hope and cynicism: they may seem like polar opposites, but both of these two perspectives live within each of us. At times elusive, hope can be our closest ally when we face the chaos of the unknown. And at times when positivity can feel saccharine and hollow, cynicism can feel like the only thing connecting us to real, solid ground. This month, we invite you to partake in honest and enlightening conversations on how we think about the future. Are some more apt to hope than others? Is cynicism a more honest worldview, or does it mistakenly forecast certainty into

For many of us, the word intimacy is interchangeable with the physical and romantic connection. Yet many of us long for intimacy in other ways: emotional connection with family members, trust in friendships, and compassion for ourselves. This month, you’re invited to gather to discuss the idea of intimacy. How has our childhood affected our present-day relationships? Why do we sometimes pull away when others get close? How can we find meaningful fulfillment in platonic relationships, as well as with romantic partners? Join us for an enlightening conversation about relationships, honesty, and connection. Come away feeling a little less lonely,

Who are you? Many of us answer this question by pointing to aspects of ourselves we believe immutable — gender, ethnicity, profession, or family role. Yet these nominal identities do not seem to capture the whole of who we are. Join us for an evening of dialogue on identity — what it is, where it comes from, and how it changes throughout our lives. How do we learn who we are? What happens when aspects of our identity we believed immutable start to change? How does identity affect our relationship with ourselves and others? Join us for lively conversations about

Embodiment — the experience of having a body — is a universal experience, and yet how we think and feel about our bodies is as unique as each of us. Join us for engaging dialogue about the physical self. What does it mean to have a ‘good body’? How much of how we think about our bodies is inherited from our parents, our society, and our culture at large? When, if ever, is it a good idea to make a change in our physical body? And what does it take to find a sense of ease and confidence in one’s

From the time we are children, many of us learn to hide aspects of our true thoughts and behaviors from others. Yet the most fulfilling encounters almost always emerge when we can be fully transparent about ourselves — without filters, shyness, or reserve. Join us this month, for an evening of warm and fascinating conversational confessions. Why do we keep secrets, and what do those secrets say about ourselves? What keeps us from asking for what we really want? Join us for an evening of transparent conversations on the themes of family, relationships, money, and career. Come away feeling more

It’s something most of us avoid at all costs, but failure is an inevitable part of the human experience. Many of us keep our career, relationship, and personal failures hidden. Yet the most successful people among us have not only tried and failed but learned to reap failure’s benefits. Join us for an evening of open and compassionate dialogue about messing up. What does it mean to fail? How much of how we think about failure inherited from our parents, our society, and our culture at large? What can we learn from experiences of failure, and how can we persist