Lifestyle
Alongside taking care of other people and the planet, make sure you take good care of yourself. The Lifestyle section at the Optimist Daily has solutions for everyday wellbeing on topics like food, beauty, fashion, and the latest trends. Curious about caring for houseplants, eating plant-based, or parenting tips? It’s all in there.
After 25 years, Eastern Europe has closed the “happiness gap” with the West
The idea was that the transition from a centrally-controlled economy to one based on market forces would improve the quality of life for people living in Eastern Europe. Well, it did. But it took 25 years. For the first time, a report shows that the “happiness gap” between people from Read More...
What's the difference between mindfulness & meditation?
When I tell people I am a meditation teacher they often say, "Cooking is my meditation," or "Exercise is my meditation." And while those things are relaxing, meditation is its own thing—which is why it has its own word. Mindfulness is a "directed-focus" style of meditation, in which you're Read More...
Can quantum physics explain consciousness?
The mere mention of “quantum consciousness” makes most physicists cringe, as the phrase seems to evoke the vague, insipid musings of a New Age guru. But if a new hypothesis proves to be correct, quantum effects might indeed play some role in human cognition. Matthew Fisher, a physicist Read More...
The U.S has never been closer to ensuring paid maternity leave
Unlike nearly every other country in the world, the U.S has no laws guaranteeing some form of paid maternity leave. That may soon change thanks to new legislation that calls for the adoption of paid leave for both men and women. The legislation is gaining support in the House and Senate, and a Read More...
The fashion company that offers a lifeline to refugees
Many refugees end up spending years in camps--in a nowhere land where they can’t work or begin building new life. Here’s a company started by a former banker that breaks the “aid trap”. It provides productive, dignified work for 500 women in a Jordanian refugee Read More...
This map changes the way you see the world
We see the world as we know the map. It’s distorted picture of reality: Some countries are much bigger than they truly are. Others are smaller. It’s problem that comes with the projection of a 3-dimensional ball onto a 2-dimensional surface. And so the distortion lives in our minds. Here’s a Read More...
What it's like to meditate with Deepak Chopra
I’m not one for meditating. It’s not that I don’t believe in the virtues and benefits of the practice, but my mind tends to wander and instead of coming out of a session feeling zen, I instead emerge worried about my next deadline or the mysterious cough my 4-year-old daughter might have. Oh, Read More...
Central banks explore blockchain to create digital currencies
“If you can’t beat them, join them,” could well be the mantra for the world’s central bankers. Having watched as bitcoin went from obscure experiment in digital money to a currency with a market value of almost $10bn, they themselves are now experimenting with digital Read More...
Venezuelans are turning to bitcoin as the bolívar crumbles
Venezuela’s currency has lost so much of its value that people have given up on counting the notes—they just weigh piles of cash. So far this year, the bolívar has lost nearly half its value compared to the dollar, while inflation has shot up as much as 15 times. That’s Read More...
Pope Francis joins celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation
Five hundred years Christianity experienced a painful schism when the Protestant Reformation was born. Catholicism and Protestantism have been struggling ever since and its leaders—more often than not—have been unable to present a joint spiritual leadership to the masses. So it’s remarkable Read More...