The Optimist Living
Lessons in recycling: take this quiz
This is a familiar problem for many people: you stand in front of the trash cans but with your best intentions you don't know where the paper cup or the plastic bag in your hands belong. Take this quiz and it may be easier for you next time. The colors of the cans may vary from country to country Read More...
Oprah: No to these three questions signals a problem for relationships
Oprah Winfrey knows about conflict. In her television show, she has interviewed 30,000 people about subjects as complex as suicide, infidelity, mental health, and sexual abuse. She says that all her guests wanted one thing: validation. That is why, according to Oprah, these three questions are key Read More...
Ashwagandha: the ancient Ayurvedic herb with many health benefits
Ashwagandha, one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing, has been used since ancient times for a wide variety of conditions. It is most well-known for its restorative and rejuvenating Read More...
Let it be: what you can learn from Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney wrote one of the most successful Beatles’ songs, during a stressful episode of the band, after his deceased mother appeared in a dream and told him: “It will be all right, just let it be.” McCartney listened to the message. And that is a message for all of Read More...
We need quiet time to know who we are
The wired world is distracting and ultimately destructing our inner selves. We need not just minutes, but hours, away from our devices to make sure that we nurture ourselves and our ability to know who we are. That’s the message from physicist and writer Alan Lightman in this confrontational but Read More...
Getting your priorities right with three to-do lists
A to-do list should help you focus and stay organized. However, the list can also increase frustration when it becomes too long and messy. That’s why it may help to create three lists: for things that need to be done today, for things that are important but less time-sensitive and a list about Read More...
A political focus on the quality of life creates the happiest places on Earth
The biggest predictors of happiness are tolerance, equality, and healthy life expectancy. Governments can support these qualities when they shift their focus from economic development to promoting quality of life. That’s why Denmark, Costa Rica, and Singapore are the happiest places in the world. Read More...
Why switching jobs every three years is good for you
There are a lot of arguments for jumping ship every few years. The economy isn’t what it used to be—and never will be again. Workers who stay with a company longer than two years are said to get paid 50 percent less, and job hoppers are believed to have a higher learning curve, be higher Read More...
Be less certain and two more ways to improve your decision making
Making a good decision can save a lot of time and frustration. But how do you make a good decision? According to experts, three rules stand out. Overconfidence is a bias one has to eliminate first. So: be less certain! Read on for two more guidelines for better Read More...
Listen to trees to “unself” yourself
Listening to nature helps you relax and connect with a bigger life around you. Listen to the sound of the wind in the leaves of a tree or to the sound of the rain. Different trees have different “voices” and trees sound different in different Read More...