The Optimist Living
Will you join the compassion renaissance?
Matt Taylor’s passion is exploring the power of design to make compassion go further. He has found the perfect job: he is in charge of strategy and operations at IDEO.org, where he is unleashing the social sector's capacity to innovate through human-centered design. He recently gave a short, very Read More...
Jump on your commuting bike and reduce your stress at work
Work-related stress is a scourge that spills out of the workplace and into the home. The good news is that it can be mitigated during the time it takes to go to work and back. According to a recent study, which confirms the findings of an 18-year long study published last year, commuting on foot Read More...
These 5 impacts of meditation on your brain carry long-term health benefits
Here is an easy, quick and informative read. If meditation is already a regular practice in your life, then you may enjoy grabbing one little extra bit of information, and being generally reminded, about its health benefits. If you’ve been meaning to get started tomorrow and keep procrastinating, Read More...
6 foods that can make you happier
It’s always fun to read about the beneficial link between [delicious] food and happiness, especially when solid scientific arguments support the theory. Let's take joy in knowing that what delights our taste buds has proven long-term benefits for our health also—even more reasons to Read More...
Follow your artistic streak and enjoy reduced cognitive impairment in old age
Indulging an artistic pursuit, or making time for a craft you enjoy, may just be your passport to a healthy brain way into your later years, according to a new study by the Mayo Clinic. The former is associated with a 73-percent cognitive impairment risk reduction, the latter with a 43-percent risk Read More...
Forget about pursuing your passion: meaning is to be found in contributing to others
Known for his groundbreaking work at Gallup on employee engagement, leadership and well-being, researcher Tom Rath now has a new book out, Are You Fully Charged? The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life. His provocative idea about not heeding the popular call to pursue your passion, if you Read More...
5 tips for stressed out moms: avoid, alter, accept, adapt & affirm
It is no mystery that motherhood is one of the toughest jobs out there. Stress can become overwhelming at times, turning us into lesser versions of the parents we would want to be. We feel these five strategies can be like so many handrails, helping us remember that we are not alone and that there Read More...
Hugging meditation as a mindfulness and openhearted communication practice
Zen Buddhist monk, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh is a prolific writer. His view that “spirituality is a practice that brings relief, communication, and transformation” makes him a respected teacher in the secular West. Hugging, a routine gesture in American culture, takes a whole new Read More...
3 Stoic principles for a joyful life
Stoics have a bad rap, as austere people who refuse to complain and keep their feelings under wrap. Don’t feel bad if your ability to appreciate what you have and your wise insight into what you actually have control over, are often misunderstood. Take heart in three principles borrowed from Read More...
Lift the leaden lid off a stagnant job hunt
A fruitless job search in soul numbing, at best. And depressing, often. If you’re feeling stuck and at the end of your wits, or know someone who is, you may enjoy this heartening pep talk. Nothing like some sound advice from a kind stranger who has walked in one’s shoes to shake off the leaden Read More...