33 Ways to Be Childlike Today
“Great is the human who has not lost his childlike heart.” ~Mencius
Remember when life was simple?
When your friends were the most important thing in the world. When a snow day was a perfect excuse to have fun, not …
Category “happiness & fun”
The “If, Then” Trap: How It Keeps You Unhappy and How to Avoid It
“Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.” ~Chuang Tzu
Being an empty nester (the kids have grown up and left home), I noticed recently that I have fallen in love with little kids again.
After going through all the …
10 Life-Changing Lessons I Wish I Learned Sooner
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” ~Albert Einstein
I recently turned thirty-eight.
Birthdays and new years always make me quite reflective and, for a long time, critical about my achievements—what I’ve done and what I have to …
When You Feel Down or Stuck: How to Effectively Be What You’re Not
“Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not eliminating our weaknesses.” ~Marilyn vos Savant
I often hear the words “be yourself.” I love those words, and I truly believe that everyone should strive to be the truest version of who …
Setting Emotional Boundaries: Stop Taking on Other People’s Feelings
“The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” ~Sonya Friedman
The longer I stayed on the phone, the more agitated I became. My mother was on the other end, as usual, dumping her emotions on me. I had …
Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind About Yourself
“The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” ~Sonya Friedman
I’d had enough.
Once again, I’d sent follow-up emails to guys who had shown interest in my dating site profile. Once again, I’d included full-length photos with those …
A Letter from Your Future Self
“The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now.” ~Robert G. Ingersoll
Dear Past Me,
Remember that day when you thought all was lost? When you thought there was barely any point in carrying on?…
How to Fall Back in Love With Your Life
“If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us.” ~Daisaku Ikeda
Ever found yourself in a rut, just waiting for some force of the Universe to pull you out?
When …
Dealing with Depression: 10 Ways to Feel Positive and Peaceful
“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” ~Christopher Reeve
I have suffered from depression since I was a teenager. My experiences have also caused severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
My father has been abandoning me for my whole life. As a …
Want More Joy in Life? Prioritize Things You Enjoy Doing
“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” ~Joseph Campbell
Because I am self-employed, I often find that my work is my life. There is …
Jump Off the Busy Train for a Simpler, More Passion-Filled Life
“What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” ~Unknown
A few years ago I was on the busy track. I was working a corporate nine-to-five job, studying at night, and trying …
The Power of Kindness: Life-Changing Advice About Creating Happiness
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill
It was a beautiful winter’s day in Sydney. Having returned home after working for two years in Singapore and traveling through …
4 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Unhappy with Your Work
“What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” ~Unknown
In my working lifetime, I have been the poster child for seeking work-life balance. I have spent hundreds of hours curled into …
Are You Limited by the Fear of What Other People Think?
“It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.” ~Eckhart Tolle
A few months ago, I found myself on the busy streets of London’s Covent Garden.
It was a mild Friday evening in the …
Burn Away Your Barriers to Love: 7 Ways to Live a Beautiful Life
“Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~Rumi
My grandmother is nearing the end. She’s had a good life, a family, a loving …
How to Reduce Stress and Focus More on What Truly Matters
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” ~Socrates
Did you ever wish you could just take off from work and get away from it all?
This past summer I had the opportunity to do just that.
I was wrapping up …
5 Questions to Discover Who You Are and What Will Make You Happy
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~E.E. Cummings
At twenty-five I was happily married and had a great career, many friends, and lots of money. During that time I also became deeply …
5 Ways to Seize the Moment and Live Without Regrets
“Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence, and face your future without fear.” ~Unknown
Samara is my colleague at work. She is one of the most pleasant ladies I know. She always has a smile and an …
How to Feel at Home Wherever You Are
“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” ~Basho
For over three years, I’ve been living out of a suitcase and traveling around the world doing a combination of volunteering, housesitting, and couch surfing.
This journey started …
How to Embrace Your True Beauty (Not the Media’s Ideal)
“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” ~Kahlil Gibran
A few years shy of my fiftieth birthday, I went on a road trip with one of my best friends from high school. We’d taken …
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