Often the reason so many people feel unhappy is because they have the false expectation that happiness is a trait that should be a constant presence in their lives. People may think that their unhappiness is a character flaw: “If I only tried harder.” This self-defeating mentality fuels a recurring loop of frustration and self-deprecation. … Read more
Developing endurance allows all of us to go the distance toward our goals and aspirations. And the best way to ensure success is to get comfortable with the notion of failing forward. Obviously, most people don’t wake up in the morning thinking about how they can botch things or fail to achieve their goals. However, … Read more
When high drama erupted in the swimming pool during the morning rush-hour, I was reminded of an ancient proverb from Rabbi Hillel, “In the place where there is no humanity, strive thou to be human.” Even with ear plugs and goggles, I detected significant turbulence in the raised voice and frenetic arm gestures of an … Read more
(Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Worth) As we ushered in the new millennium, I noticed the proliferation of hundreds of ridiculous and bizarre national holidays that have sprung up, the brainchild of some trade associations and people with weird sensibilities. These actual holidays (you can’t make this stuff up) include doozies such as National Spaghetti … Read more
Years ago, my hometown of New York City was immortalized in a popular advertising campaign with the moniker, “The City that Never Sleeps.” Living in a perpetually active metropolis, it’s easy to be swept up in turbo-charged energy and unrelenting motion. Newton’s Laws of Motion states that “an object at rest remains at rest, and … Read more
As acrid smoke from Canadian wildfires descended on the Northeastern United States, the red Sun ominously hung in a dark orange sky. Unfortunately, this wasn’t some newly released doomsday video game. Instead, it was just the dawn of another climate disaster dejour that activated a trauma response in me—even though I was 1,243 miles away … Read more
When my family gathered for the Passover Seder in 1998, I didn’t know it would be the last time I’d see my younger brother Gary alive. Fifty-one days later on the second day of the Jewish holiday Shavuot, I received a phone call at four in the morning telling me that he had died suddenly … Read more
If companies want to retain a productive, motivated workforce, it’s time to show some love. Employee appreciation is only appreciated when it is authentic and altruistic. Most people have a finely honed ability to sense when someone is genuinely appreciative versus simply going through the motions. When a supervisor is generous with gratitude, praise, and … Read more
I love puns. They are simultaneously funny, corny, and clever. Two years after George Lucas launched Star Wars: A New Hope, the original film in the Star Wars franchise, a pun was born that has morphed into a global holiday. The origin story began on May 4, 1979, when a celebratory ad was placed in … Read more
Wellness science research shows that people who cultivate strong committed relationships actually live longer and experience greater physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. In fact, a significant 2010 meta-analysis in PLOS Medicine of 148 studies including data from 308,849 participants revealed that people who had strong social connections were actually 50% more likely to have longer … Read more