For long-lasting self-esteem, it’s time to stop seeking approval from others
What does it take to build long-lasting self-esteem? To answer this question, we have to understand that self-esteem is nothing more than how closely the person we are corresponds to the person we want to be—meaning that self-esteem is something that comes from within. Seeking approval from Read More...
Eight ways to make your outlook on life a bit more optimistic
Even though people tend to have genetic dispositions towards optimism or pessimism, it is absolutely possible to change your outlook and shift toward a more positive way of seeing the world. Here are eight ways you can shift from seeing the glass as half empty to seeing the glass half full of water Read More...
Water based batteries can make electric cars even cleaner
Electric cars are great for reducing air pollution and global warming, but the materials used to make the car’s batteries come from chemicals that are damaging to the environment. That’s why this invention by a team of scientists from the University of Southern California is so important: a car Read More...
The power of optimism in a pessimistic world
Tired of reporting blood and guts Once upon a time a young man named Jurriaan Kamp worked as a free-lance journalist in war-torn areas. One day he realized that the more bombs fell and the more people were horribly injured, the more he got paid. That’s when he began to suspect there was Read More...
Traveling perspective
Does traveling make one optimistic? I pondered this question during the 20-hour flight from Nairobi, Kenya to San Francisco, California. I was returning from a week in Mombasa, Kenya attending meetings and giving a keynote speech about my International Bill of Rights work. My answer: yes. Even when Read More...
A call for courage
Practicing courage, which I define as working with the tough stuff of life, rather than hoping to tap dance around it, create the resilience needed to confront pessimism and cynicism. We often think of courage as the stuff of heroes who have something bigger and braver than the rest of us–the Read More...
Why the new year will be even happier
We keep getting healthier The healthy food trends of 2013 will continue in 2014. People take responsibility for their own health. We prepare our own meals, with local products such as vegetables from our own garden. We check the origins of our food and are critical about meat. Fish consumption will Read More...
Pollyanna was not an optimist and why optimism is the best strategy
All that most people know about Pollyanna is that calling someone that name is not a good thing. It is an effective way to discourage someone from undertaking something overly optimistic. The reference dismisses optimism as a way to support health and happiness and build success. But few people Read More...
Optimism 2.0
How an optimistic outlook can help improve your state of health, not just your state of mind. Mary Desmond Pinkowish | September 2010 issue Admit it. Secretly you think optimistic people are just a little annoying—their constant, insufferable smiling; the way they’re always looking on the Read More...
In praise of Intelligent Optimists
Ode asked celebrated activists, artists, business people, politicians and thought leaders to pick their favorite Intelligent Optimists, individuals who aren't famous yet but should be because of the work they're doing to bring positive change to their communities, their countries and the world. Read More...