There’s a particular kind of mental math we all do, usually without realizing it. We add up achievements, subtract failures, and calculate whether we’re worthy of respect, love, or even basic self-acceptance. The equation feels logical: land the dream job = valuable person. Write the perfect book = deserve happiness. Get 500 likes = temporarily … Read More
Here’s one of my favorite quotes: “I am not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and other people.” This comes from the diary of John Steinbeck, who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. This kind of intellectual self-doubt is common among high achievers. The smarter they are, the more acutely they seem to question … Read More
YAMA is the radical acceptance that missing out is inevitable, so there’s no need to stress about it. Rather than trying to optimize every decision or avoid regret, it reminds us that we’re finite beings in an infinite world.
Plans fall apart. Flights get canceled. People let us down. And we often react automatically: irritation, anxiety, disappointment. But sometimes, we succeed in stepping back and reinterpret what’s happening, and suddenly it all feels much more manageable. That shift doesn’t mean you’re ignoring reality or pretending things are fine. It means you’re seeing the same … Read More
You’re working late on a deadline when someone emails about an urgent meeting tomorrow. Within seconds, your body prepares you for action and your cortisol levels rise. Cortisol isn’t inherently problematic; it’s a sophisticated chemical messenger that helped our ancestors survive countless threats. Yet in today’s environment this evolutionary advantage has become a potential liability. … Read More
A simple way to make the most of spring is by conducting springtime experiments, so you can use this season as an intentional period of personal growth.
Many studies show the positive impact immersion in nature can have on your mental health. How can we go about getting these benefits when living in an urban environment?
As the end of the year settles in, you might notice a distinct downshift in energy, both in yourself and the world around you. Messages flood in about “finishing strong”, yet everything feels like it’s naturally winding down. It’s not just your imagination: large-scale industry surveys suggest that by mid-December, over half of workers report … Read More
Help your colleague fix a bug, remind the sales team to follow up with a prospect, write a detailed brief for the marketing intern, share a list of healthy recipes with your spouse, plan out a fun day for you and your friend this weekend… If your to-do list looks like this, you may be … Read More
Growing up, many of us are taught to fight off our fears—to be strong and confident, to cast away our doubts and insecurities. As adults, fear becomes something we feel we have to carry alone, afraid to share it because it might make us seem weak. This is especially true for business leaders. Fear can … Read More