When you see real teamwork in action, you never forget it. Last Saturday, I went to a restaurant without a reservation. It was Saturday night, and it was packed. They put us on the wooden bar, right in front of the open kitchen. There were four cooks working in there, along with the service manager, …
David Foster Wallace called his commencement speech at Kenyon College, “This is water”. He began with a short story about two young fish swimming in the ocean who met an older fish swimming in the opposite direction. This fish nodded at them and said, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish looked …
Repeated information is often perceived as more true than new information. This finding is called the illusory truth effect. Repetition influences beliefs about truth. If I told you that people only use 10% of their brain, you would probably believe me if you had heard it before. You’re not alone. Some research suggests that between …
Imperturbability, equanimity, or tranquility. We can use all of these as synonyms for ataraxia. It’s the state of calmness that is not disturbed by mental or emotional events. It’s freedom from anxiety and worry. Imagine drops of water landing on a lotus leaf and sliding down and away. The drop doesn’t stay. It makes its …
What is a strength? When we think of a positive quality that makes us more effective, we think of things like physical strength or certain mental abilities, such as the ability to solve problems. We’re naturally trained to look at physical or mental abilities that are learned or acquired through education or experience. They tend …
New Year’s resolutions are common in these first days. Many people think about what they want this year to look like and make decisions to get closer to their goals. For some, these decisions lead to changes that sometimes require difficult conversations at work or at home. With people they care about or people who …
Once upon a time, on a cold Christmas Eve, Mr. Scrooge was sitting in his counting house, watching his clerk in the cell beyond. Suddenly, a cheerful voice cried Merry Christmas, Uncle! The bearer of this voice was a bright-eyed and handsome fellow, Mr. Scrooge’s nephew. Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? …
Viktor Frankl observed that the primary motivation of an individual is to find meaning in life. Even in the most painful and dehumanizing situations, life has potential meaning. While we can’t avoid suffering, we always have the freedom to choose how to deal with it and move forward with renewed purpose. “Everything can be taken …
Are we entitled to our opinions? This is a controversial topic. If everyone is entitled to an opinion, are all opinions equally valid in all contexts? Ideally, opinions should be based on facts. And yet, humans have a limited capacity to gather information from reality. What facts should we consider? How do we know what …
Carl Lewis is one of the greatest sprinters in history. He is part of a select club of athletes who have won gold medals in the same competition at four consecutive Olympic Games. But what is fascinating is his unique approach to racing. He rarely led a race from the start, and some people thought …
