#93: 5 new terms (that I made up)

What’s important about the bitter bias is that it’s unethical and dishonest. Of course, sometimes we moralize people’s behavior because it’s actually immoral, but I think just as often we refashion it that way so that we can claim the moral high ground, thereby countering our feelings of inferiority.

“tiny touches” (when someone you live with is tou... See more

Bitter bias: The tendency to moralize the work or actions of people who make us feel inferior in some way.

This process wasn’t even conscious. When I expressed my doubts about the idea, I think I really believed them. This is the risk of a logical cover story. Your commitment to it can obscure you from yourself.

Expert cosplay: When a creator, especially on TikTok or YouTube, projects expertise via aesthetics—an authoritative voice, academic language, cl... See more

Logical cover story: A logical framework created to justify a choice or belief that obfuscates (or outright hides) the root emotion that motivates the choice or belief.

Elastic mood: When a mood is so overwhelming you mistake the intensity of it for the longevity of it.

An elastic mood is most liable to occur when you’re spiraling about something—your work, your relationship, your social life, your health. If the anxiety you're experiencing is profound enough, it can feel all-encompassing, as if you’ve felt that w... See more