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…

The more you value yourself, the more life blossoms. — I walked along the two-mile-wide river near my home in Scotland. The sun was low in the sky but sparkling brightly on the blue water. Just above the 19th century stone houses dotting the coastline were rolling hills and cows grazing. Picture postcard. I felt content, peaceful, and alive with…

Why we’re attracted to noble heroes like Jack Reacher. — If you've read any of my stuff, you probably think I'm a peace-loving guy because of all those articles about meditation and being a monk. That's true. Mostly. But that's not the whole story. There's another part of me. Deeper and more primitive. Let me explain it this way. We…

They’ll make your life a whole lot better, happier, and more peaceful. — I woke up today feeling good. Then an hour later, I got ready for the day and noticed our kitten decided to make the marital bed her litter box, soaking the duvet cover, the duvet, two more sheets, and the mattress liner. Nice. Her litter box was dirty. Somebody wasn’t…

Use Japanese martial art wisdom to handle everyday irritants more gracefully. — I just polled hundreds of my friends on social media, asking them two questions: What kind of behavior chips away at a committed relationship? What have you learned that is essential to keep a relationship thriving? A summary of what they said chips away: Lack of empathy. Narcissism and selfishness. Leading separate lives.

One man’s Eat, Pray, Love mystical journey narrated by a pair of 50-year-old patched Levi’s. — You wore me when you arrived at Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall of 1969. I was brand new, traditional navy blue with a button fly. No manufactured tears — just your average pair of classic Levi’s. I was straight and conservative, just like you. …

It’s about staying above the fray and enjoying the ride. — A few days ago, I pulled on a warm jacket, hat and gloves and walked up the hill behind our home that overlooks the North Sea. I sat on my favorite bench, perched right on top of the hill, and took in the view. It was low tide. All the…

And a Buddhist prayer to honor his death on January 22, 2022. — Thich Nhat Hanh, October 11, 1926–January 22, 2022, was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet, and teacher. Known as the “father of mindfulness,” he significantly influenced Western practices of Buddhism. I wish I had known him more before he passed last year. Since then, I’ve paid more…