Create a better world through curiosity, not judgment — A friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook recently, mocking people with different beliefs than his. I was disappointed but not surprised. This happens when you believe you are right — to support your position further, others who differ with you have to be wrong. And it’s much easier…

The everyday martial art of talking to someone who disagrees with you — Words are powerful. Once we put them out there, we can’t take them back. Expressions like “I didn’t mean to say that” or “I was only kidding” come too late. So why do couples get into needless arguments? Jeffery S. Smith, MD, writes in Psychology Today: The cause of arguments…

Create a better world by being honest, respectful, and taking responsibility for your actions. — I read a few articles by a guy on Medium a month ago. I always look forward to reading his unique take on things. His writing style is conversational, easy to understand, and full of actionable ideas. He's a darn good writer and a heckuva nice guy. Each of his…

And, sometimes, you’ve got to kick at the darkness til it bleeds daylight. — While surfing YouTube recently, I found Jewel Kilcher, known as Jewel, singing her smash hit "Who Will Save Your Soul." She began writing the song when she was sixteen, gradually adding lyrics over the next few years. When she turned twenty-one, it was the hit song on her twelve-time platinum…

A few ideas on facing life’s challenges after I bought a new toothbrush. — I didn't think buying a new electric toothbrush would be a big deal. But it opened up a major can of worms in my head, which meant I had to process all the debris lying dormant that got stirred up after an unexpected kick in the ass. I suppose that's…

And I don’t mean your pharma pills. — I wrote this article sitting in my little man cave/office/music room and refuge from the world, watching Storm Babet blow the crap out of Europe and the U.K. The wild winds didn’t stop for 48 hours. Every so often, Mother Nature lets us know who’s in charge should we forget. …

And a few tips on how to deal with being human. — In 1999, psychologists Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons released their famous basketball video. If you've never seen it, I invite you to watch it before you read the rest of this article. It's less than a minute and a half. The spoiler alert is below. I've used this in…

The choice to turn friction into harmony is always in our hands. — I felt great walking into the Middle Eastern restaurant after a long day of writing and publishing an article about letting go of what we can’t change. Little did I know at the time my exhilaration wouldn’t last long. I’d fasted most of the day, and I could almost hear…

More contentment in life comes from less resistance. — Here’s a quote credited to Buddha. “All human unhappiness comes from not facing reality squarely, exactly as it is.” It’s one of the most potent sentences I’ve ever read. Who knows if Buddha actually said it or not. What matters to me is it strikes a huge chord of truth…