It’s easy to look all around us, especially the online spaces we inhabit, and conclude that decency is dead. But the truth is, it’s possible to disagree with decency. Human nature is complex. Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have an inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control. Steven Pinker. Monkey … Read more
A muse is a reference to either a literal person or to a supernatural force that serves as someone’s source of artistic inspiration. For centuries, we’ve believed in the power of the muse to guide our creative pursuits. The question is: how far does the muse help us in our creative endeavors and is it … Read more
Move over, Tom Cruise. There are new superstars in town, or at least, in our imaginations. Us—You and me. Okay, we may not be shooting down enemy planes or blowing up restaurants and running out in slow-motion, but we still have central casting in the movies constantly running in our heads. Our ability to see … Read more
Behind every shine, there is a lot of grind. Everyone wants the shine. The grind? Not so much. What’s in a name? Parents name their child after a famous person or character sometimes as a tribute, but often hoping that simply by sharing a common name, the child will somehow inherit a few of the … Read more
People have a need for certainty – and that need for certainty is in every human being, certainty that you can avoid pain, certainty that you can at least be comfortable. It’s a survival instinct. Tony Robbins In 2020, after the pandemic hit, the NY Times published an article titled “The island brokers are overwhelmed.” … Read more
I’m going to go out on a limb and make a prediction. You, or someone you know well, would like to make at least one positive change this year. Maybe the goal is to get healthier/fitter/leaner/stronger. Or, maybe, you simply want to perfect your favorite celebrity impression (no one’s judging) by the end of the … Read more
According to a poll, a majority of Americans officially (whatever that means) quit their New Year’s resolutions on, or by February 1 of the New Year. The main reason for quitting is that most of us don’t fully believe in our own resolutions in the first place. We feel that change is only possible if … Read more
Jane Wagner said “Reality is the leading cause of stress for those in touch with it.” Sad, but true. Dreaming about a stress-free life is like hoping for our national debt to be paid off. It’s not going to happen. What we can do instead is to adopt some simple strategies to tackle the overwhelm. … Read more
We live in an age of hyper-connectedness and constant noise. But life’s most important breakthroughs often occur during periods of solitude. Read on for why it’s important to find time for solitude. I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon … Read more
George Bernard Shaw said, “Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.” Art matters. But it doesn’t take extraordinary genius to be an artist. Creativity can be nurtured with effort and practice. All it takes is for us to do the work. In a video that went viral, two teens appear flummoxed … Read more
Einstein, as everyone knows, was an extraordinary physicist. What isn’t as well documented, though, is Einstein’s sailing expertise, or lack thereof. Einstein had a clunky 15-foot sailboat named Tinef, Yiddish for worthless or junk. People who watched him sail were convinced that his boat’s name mirrored his sailing skills. But that didn’t stop Einstein from … Read more
Okay, although the title may seem like it, this isn’t an article about how to fake it till you make it. On the contrary, it is an ode to the art of reading and an attempt to dispel the notion that reading is a time-consuming pursuit or that it’s something only the cultured (or nerds) … Read more
Here’s a popular Irish-Catholic joke: “What do Irish Catholic bodybuilders lift?” Answer: Their guilt! Point me to something that’s gone wrong, and in less than two minutes, I can connect the source of the mishap to something I did (or didn’t do) or could have but didn’t prevent. The potted plant died because of my … Read more
There will come a time when you do something for the last time, and you will rarely know it. Sam Harris. With the cultural emphasis (overemphasis) on staying productive and making every second count, we forget to indulge in life’s little and, often, greatest pleasures. We fail to realize that many of life’s most valuable … Read more
Never underestimate the big importance of little things – Matt Haig, The Midnight Library A successful ad campaign based on little things In 2012, Olivari Olive Oil, an international Olive Oil brand, decided to enter the already-competitive US olive oil market. To launch the brand in the US and increase its brand awareness, the ad … Read more
That feeling of “what on earth was I thinking” when you remember something embarrassing you said or did is universally unpleasant. But it comes with a silver lining. Seeing our own errors in judgment is a sign of progress and a testament to improved self-awareness. We just need more of it in our lives. Henry … Read more
Canadian educator Laurence Peter once said, “Fortune knocks but once, but misfortune has a lot more patience.” Truth. We try to play safe to avoid adversity in life, even though growth is interminably linked with growing pains in the natural order of things. Instead of fighting adversity, embracing mild stress and minor setbacks can be … Read more
There is no dearth of material on minimalism—books, podcasts, blogs, shows. It can be addictive to watch someone on a Netflix show discard 90% of their possessions and still be left with a fairly cluttered space. But the reasons to simplify and declutter go beyond healthy bank balances and walkable spaces. Social scientists Elgin and … Read more
We are all walking bundles of expectations. We have expectations of ourselves and others, and we feel bound and pressured by what others expect of us. All of this collective weight of expectations really just does one thing—it makes us irritable, angry, and disappointed because, let’s be honest; eventually, we’ll fall short, at least on … Read more
Singapore has a law called the “The Maintenance of Parents Act.” This law provides elderly parents who can’t support themselves a legal channel to seek maintenance from their children who are capable of helping them but won’t do so. Is the mere existence of such a law a clear sign that we humans are an … Read more