Srinagar, May 31 -- When you're worried about food on the table or safety on the streets, new ideas can feel like a luxury you can't afford. Why take a risk on something untested when today's challenges are already overwhelming?

This resistance to innovation isn't unique to Kashmir. It shows up anywhere people face economic hardship or instability.

A 2023 study from the University of Oxford found that chronic stress reduces cognitive flexibility, making it harder to embrace change.

When you're focused on getting by, your brain prioritizes the now over the maybe. I get it, when life feels like a tightrope, who has time to dream about flying?

But here's the thing: staying stuck doesn't solve problems. It buries them. So how do we shift ...