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
Sometimes relationships evolve in unusual and synchronistic ways. Although this Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of my brother Gary’s sudden death, I’ve continued to experience his presence over the years in powerful, unexpected ways during many significant moments. Synchronicity is defined as the simultaneous occurrence of events, which appear significantly related but have no discernable … 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
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” –Rabbi Harold Kushner Dr. Robert Emmons is a psychology professor at the University of California, a leading scientific expert on gratitude, and gratitude myth buster. He … Read more
People are stronger than they imagine. These days, throughout the world, everyone is trying to do the best they can. My mentor and colleague Dr. Angela Duckworth—considered the leading expert in the world on grit—defines resilience as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals that are difficult.” What do you do to persevere when things are … Read more
According to the latest research, feeling appreciated at work has little to do with giving out mugs with the hospital logo for nurse appreciation week, random pizza parties, or a cupcake with a candle to celebrate work anniversaries. In the recently published Mayo Clinic 2022-2023 State of Well-being Report, 51 percent of health care employees … Read more
John Lewis was a civil rights leader who dedicated his life to advancing the rights of Black people in the United States. Although he died on July 17 at the age of 80, his bold legacy of getting into “good trouble” has continued to be a rallying cry for each of us to fight systemic … Read more
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soaringwords (@soaringwords) Are you a character assassin or a character defender? Do you spend your time obsessing about your character defects until you pulverize your sense of self worth into a pulp? If you are highly skilled at being self-critical, today I am happy … Read more
[Image: Jacob Buksbaum’s painting of his mother, Sara, who survived Nazi work camps during the Holocaust.) Today, Holocaust Memorial Day, marks the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp 77 years ago. The following story is about my husband Jacob’s parents, who were forced into work camps during the Holocaust. This close connection serves as a reminder … Read more