In celebration of Be Kind to Humankind week, I am delighted to share wisdom from the ages on the subject of kindness—a gentle quality that has powerful reverberations. Lebanese-American writer and poet Kahil Gibran said, “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” Kindness is a soft verb; one that must … Read more
Danish existential philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” And, in 2016, author Rachel Cowan said, “Ours is the first generation in human history to move into elderhood with 20 years or more of vitality and good health ahead.” Cowan was one of the … Read more
Poet Anais Nin said, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” These words resonate deeply in our current times when the only constant is change. I am delighted to share a simple reframing exercise that can bolster your courage during uncertain times when so many outcomes are unpredictable. And the exciting news is … Read more
I just returned from the International Positive Psychology Association’s (IPPA) World Congress in Vancouver where I began my term as president of the Positive Health and Wellbeing Division. Imagine the energy and excitement as 1,000 of the most effervescent, inquisitive, and caring people from 53 of countries gathered to share the latest innovations in the … Read more
Don’t do anything, just sit there. What? It often feels difficult to wrap our heads around just sitting and being still. Simply resting. That’s because, from a young age, society has encouraged and indoctrinated us to do more, achieve more, and have more. And this can make us feel like our inherent worth is tied … 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
READ THE NEWSLETTER Abraham Lincoln said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count; it’s the life in your years.” What a pivotal year all of us are experiencing. When things are in flux, each one of us has the opportunity to choose to live more authentically and fully in … 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
Years ago, a prolific graffiti artist in my neighborhood festooned the sidewalk with one of his profound truisms written in colorful chalk: “Sometimes we hold onto things longer than we should.” Marie Kondo would certainly agree as the expert on tidying up—which, of course, is the name of the show that catapulted her into a … Read more