Over the last few years, I’ve interviewed multiple happiness researchers, read books written by several of them, and even implemented many of their suggestions into my life. What’s become quite apparent from my conversations and reading is that happiness, like most things, is a skill. It’s something that you actively have to work at—unless you’re…
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Some of us are stressed. Others are overworked, struggling with the new responsibilities of parenthood, or moving from one flawed relationship to another. Whatever it is, whatever you are going through, there is wisdom from the Stoics that can help. Followers of this ancient and inscrutable philosophy have found themselves at the centre of some…
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This was not your best week. Something didn’t go right. Let’s say it was a negotiation that didn’t play out your way. What do you do afterward? You might go to a bar with friends, talk to your spouse, or call your mom. But those are just delay tactics. Soon the ruminating will begin. You’ll…
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Swimmer Michael Phelps is a living legend. He’s the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time with a total of 28 medals, and also holds the record for Olympic gold medals. But you probably already knew that. In his book, No Limits: The Will to Succeed, Phelps tells a story about when he was training as a…
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Ever had a conversation that started with “How are you?” and abruptly ended after “Good?” You’re certainly not the first, or the last. But there’s definitely a better way to interact with people—in fact, it’s as easy as rephrasing the things you ask. Here are some of the simplest tips to asking better questions, which…
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Twenty-three years ago, one of my employees — I’ll call him Dale — asked for a private meeting. Dale was serious and bookish and had very strong opinions. His work was fastidious. He rarely socialized with colleagues, but he was impeccable in his commitments to others. And he was skilled at his job. As I…
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It can seem like our lives are filled with busyness, noise, distractions, and often meaningless activities. What if we could filter out all that noise, and focus on the meaningful? What if we could find stillness instead of constant distraction? I believe that most of us have that power. In my experience, most of the…
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The high speed of society has jammed your internal clock. Not long ago I diagnosed myself with the recently identified condition of sidewalk rage. It’s most pronounced when it comes to a certain friend who is a slow walker. Last month, as we sashayed our way to dinner, I found myself biting my tongue, thinking, I…
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One of the biggest sources of difficulties for every single human being is the desire for people to be a certain way. We can’t seem to help it: we want the world to be the way we want it. Unfortunately, reality always has different plans, and people behave in less-than-ideal ways. The problem isn’t other…
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Sure, everyone wants to be happy. But what kind of happiness do people want? Is it happiness experienced moment-to-moment? Or is it being able to look back and remember a time as happy? Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman described this distinction as “being happy in your life” versus “being happy about your life.” Take a moment to ask yourself,…
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