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…
Pursuing happiness is one of the major drivers of our behavior. However, an article written by Professor Adam Grant, which was posted on Linkedin.com suggests that our “…quest for happiness might be a recipe for misery.” The reason is: “Happiness is an individual state, so when we look for it, it’s only natural to focus…
If you want to make your journey through life fun as well as exciting, pick a dream that you’re truly enthused about. Once enthusiasm enters the picture, there’s no procrastination because you won’t be able to hold yourself back. Also, enthusiasm is contagious and therefore attracts other people. This means you won’t have to chase…
Dr. B. J. Fogg, author of Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything presented his formula for adopting new habits in The Wall Street Journal. He said his formula applies to everything from flossing your teeth to running marathons. In his words, “To instill a habit, the first thing you need is motivation; Pick a behavior…
Have you ever wondered why some people are able to take criticism in stride while others seem to be crushed by it? During an interview with Jennifer Lopez on her television talk show, Rachel Ray asked her how she was able to deal with all the criticism that went along with being a star. Ms.…
In an article which appeared in the Detroit Free Press, Mitch Albom described a cab ride he took to the Bristol, Connecticut airport. As he got into the cab he said to the driver, “How are you doing?” The driver only nodded and didn’t seem too friendly. As Mitch described him, “He was foreign looking…
Most of us are not afraid of trying new things; we just don’t make it a priority. Then, when we do try something new and realize how positive the experience was, we often kick ourselves for not having done it sooner. Trying new things enriches our lives in a number of ways: It allows us…
I came across a wonderful quote on Facebook by Amy Weatherly that provides a very important lesson for all of us during this busy holiday season. “You’re going to come in contact with an awful lot of people who are at their absolute breaking point this season. Friends, family co-workers, teachers, strangers in the store,…
Until a year ago, I rarely dealt with the bank branch that handled my business account. Those transactions were always handled by an associate. Then, it became more convenient for me to take care of those transactions. When I first started going there, the place seemed dark, dreary and lifeless—I felt like I was in…