Over the years, I’ve had several people tell me that life is a game of “give and take.” While that phrase may sound perfectly logical, it’s simply not true. Instead, life is about giving and receiving. The reason for this is that none of us like “takers.” Takers are all about themselves and they’re out…
A friend emailed this story to me. I have no idea who wrote it or even if it’s true, but the lesson it contains is appropriate given today’s stressful environment. “One day I hopped into a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black…
USA Today reviewed a book written by psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown titled Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul. According to Dr. Brown, play is extremely important during periods of prolonged stress like now when we’re not sure when the pandemic we’re in is going to end. Play energizes us, refreshes us…
The secret to getting another person to hang on your every word is simple — talk to them about them. If you talk about them, they will listen to you all day. Always keep in mind, the other person is dying to tell his or her story but doesn’t care about hearing yours. The minute…
The pursuit of happiness is alive and well according to an article written by Taffy Brodesser-Akner that appeared in Spirit Magazine. As it turns out, the benefits of happiness are well worth the pursuit. The article states that there are at least 225 studies which tell us that once we become a happy person, we’re…
When you share with those around you that you’re getting ready to follow your dream–change careers, start your own business, go back to school—don’t expect them to tell you to go for it. Instead, expect them to say negative things like, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Or, “You’re taking an awfully big…
In his book, Work Rules!, Laszlo Bock, mentions an article written by Chris Argyris, a professor emeritus at the Harvard Business School. Professor Argyris looked at the performance of Harvard Business School graduates ten years after graduation. For the most part, these people got stuck in middle management when they had all hoped to become…
Some people choose to float through life–sitting back and watching the world go by while passing on opportunities and challenges that require any risk or effort. I had one such person share with me her strategy for dealing difficult challenges and tasks. She said, “If you wait long enough, someone will come along and do…
David Brooks, Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, wrote an essay titled “The Moral Bucket List” which was posted in the Sunday Review section of nytimes.com. He began his essay with the following paragraph: “About once a month I run across a person who radiates an inner light. These people can be in any…
Sociologist Shanna B. Tiayon posted an excellent article titled, “How Memories of Kindness Can Make You Happy,” in Greater Good Magazine. In the article, Ms. Tiayon points out that research has shown for quite some time that performing kind acts makes us happy. It also lowers our blood pressure and encourages stronger social connections. She…