Gretchen Rubin's Search for Happiness
"Are you happy? Could you be happier? Gretchen Rubin was already "pretty happy" when she asked herself these very questions. In search of the answers, she started her own pursuit of happiness, which eventually became a New York Times bestseller titled, The Happiness Project. She has now written a second book, Happier at Home, based on the idea that the home is the foundation of happiness. Knowledg... posted on Aug 13, 24326 reads

Why Compassion in Business Makes Sense
Managers often think that putting pressure on employees will increase performance. However, recent research shows that when organizations promote an ethic of compassion rather than a culture of stress, they may not only see a happier workplace but also an improved bottom line. Dr. Emma Seppala, the associate director of Stanford's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research, explores how managers ... posted on Nov 25, 29842 reads

The Gangster Gardener of LA
South Central Los Angeles is a food desert - an area filled with liquor stores, fast food chains and vacant lots. Tired of driving 45 minutes to buy food that is not chemically treated, Ron Finley decided to turn some of those unused plots, starting with the patch in front of his house, into a food forest. With obesity rates 5X higher in South Central than in Beverly Hills, a neighborhood only 8 t... posted on May 2, 6014 reads

A Poem of Kindness That Traveled The World
Some years ago Arab-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye wrapped a poem around an unexpected experience of both distress and kindness that she encountered at an airport in Albuquerque. She sent it off to exactly two friends, who passed it on to friends, who passed it on to friends. And in this way it circled the globe. Nye later remarked that this spontaneous series of people passing the poem on had res... posted on May 3, 106895 reads

Caught on Russian Dashboard Cameras!
In Russia, many motorists have dashboard cameras to record their driving and ensure justice in accident claims. Every so often though, they capture something unexpectedly beautiful -- like people helping others to cross the street, or get up from a fall or out of a jam -- despite rain, snow, and traffic. Some even put their own lives at risk. Check out this video of Russian drivers expressing the... posted on May 4, 8128 reads

What My Mother Gave Me
"Mother's Day is this Sunday. While some people are racking their brains to think of the perfect way to show their love and appreciation for Mom, a group of distinguished women recently flipped that script and wrote about the most profound gift their own moms gave to them. Their essays are collected in the new book What My Mother Gave Me: Thirty-One Women on the Gifts That Mattered Most." This art... posted on May 11, 10238 reads

Love Books? 4 Ways to Share Them
Love books? Learn how you can share this love with others with these simple and fun ideas. From sending your books on a journey to creating a tiny library in unexpected places, these ideas offer a way to promote literacy and build community.... posted on Jul 6, 27243 reads

What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work
What motivates us to work? Contrary to conventional wisdom, it isn't just money. But it's not exactly joy either. It seems that most of us thrive by making constant progress, meeting challenges, and feeling a sense of purpose. In this TED talk, behavioral economist Dan Ariely presents several eye-opening experiments that reveal our unexpected and nuanced attitudes toward meaning in our work.... posted on Nov 22, 7113 reads

What Is It To Be Intellectually Humble?
According to Aristotle, "All people by nature desire to know." The wish to know and understand things can foster great ambition. But this article is about intellectual humility, when we care so much about knowing, understanding, and getting to the truth that we become oblivious of what we are "worth." The apostle Paul says, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Can love of knowledge bring us h... posted on Jul 10, 35007 reads

8 Ways To Overcome Your Leadership Blind Spots
"To be a successful leader or entrepreneur, we need to become intimate not only with our strengths but also with our blind spots, those aspects of our personality that can derail us." We all carry with us personal blindspots and biases that can hinder our effectiveness in a position of leadership. In this article, Bruna Martinuzzi helps us rub the proverbial fog from our eyes, bringing to light co... posted on Sep 18, 38389 reads

5 Tips for Integrating Mindfulness In Daily Life
Research shows that most people spend up to 50 percent of their time in their heads - a tendency that does nothing to increase our happiness and in fact has been proved to be detrimental to it. Instead of being habitually consumed by thoughts of the past or of trying to control the future, mindfulness is a way of engaging with the present moment. It's a mode of being that helps increase clarity a... posted on Aug 2, 228048 reads

Stephen Jenkinson on The Meaning of Death
At the Orphan Wisdom School, the cold northern winds gently blow through towering pine trees and the trickle of icy water can be heard streaming through the hinterland. It is in this peaceful, wintery space that Stephen Jenkinson helps others learn the skills of deep living and making human culture. What is the meaning of death? What is depression? How can repay the debt of being human? These are ... posted on Aug 7, 34631 reads

Not Your Ordinary First Grade Ocean Project
Every year, Joan Wright-Albertini leads her first-grade students in transforming their classroom into a virtual rainforest, a desert, or an ocean -- whatever ecosystem interests her students the most. In recent years, she has also added to the months-long study of habitats an unusual, daring twist. Students come to class one day to find their ecosystem covered in a messy "oil spill." Deciding they... posted on Aug 14, 47137 reads

A Lesson In Empathy
Our lives intersect with others all day, everyday. Sometimes we know these other lives well; frequently, though, the points of connection are brief and transient. Who are these people? How might they tell their own stories? What thoughts preoccupy their minds? What joys and troubles are coursing through their feelings? This short film, produced by the Cleveland Clinic, reminds us that empathy is o... posted on Jun 27, 6975 reads

Miserable & Magical: A Graduation Speech for Paradoxical Times
When the student body of an elite private school in Silicon Valley was given the chance to vote on who would give their graduation address, their first pick was Nipun Mehta. An unexpected choice for these teenagers, who belong to what Time magazine called the "Me Me Me Generation". Nipun's journey is the antithesis of self-serving. More than a decade ago, he walked away from a lucrative career in ... posted on May 27, 550774 reads

35 Scientific Concepts That Will Help You Understand Life
"In order to sharpen our reasoning skills, we must have a good grasp of our own cognitive biases, as well as the basic laws of the universe. But in a dynamic world, new laws are constantly emerging." How do we keep pace with humanity's changing understanding of ourselves and the universe? Thankfully, Edge.org has interviewed hundreds of the world's most influential thinkers, including neuroscienti... posted on Aug 5, 596337 reads

A 15-Year-Old Homeless Artist Rocks the World
Inocente is a talented, spirited, ambitious teenage artist. She is also homeless, living with her mother and younger brothers on the streets of San Diego. She knows that her life depends on her art -- in more ways than we can imagine. This trailer for an award-winning documentary captures the dreams, fears, and inspiring resiliency of this remarkable young woman. ... posted on Nov 29, 13244 reads

Tapped on the Shoulder...By A Whale
Bryant Austin is one of the few people on earth who can say their life was transformed by a literal tap on the shoulder from a whale. Austin is an experimental multimedia artist whose lifelong passion has been exploring the possibility of connecting humanity with the greatest minds in the water. His drive comes from a deep desire to understand over five million years of evolving culture and commun... posted on Feb 16, 22535 reads

Gandhi's Ten Rules for Changing the World
Change the world; we hear those words thrown around quite frequently, and to some, the notion seems incredulous. However, if we take an inner approach, rather than an outer one, and transform our individual selves into adopting the qualities we wish to see in the world, then the task at hand won't seem as daunting. In the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, "As human beings, our greatness lies not so... posted on Jun 28, 1397872 reads

Rise up. Be your own guru.
Too often, we live our lives in a sort of buffered silence, fearful of venturing out into this, the most beautiful part of our being. This is your life, and it is a life that is as of yet, undiscovered. You decide your destiny. And, you choose who you will be in each day. Lean into the bliss of your own discovery. In this piece, "Good Life Project" founder, Jonathan Fields, provides his insight on... posted on Jul 31, 42266 reads

The Work of Local Culture
According to Wendell Berry, a human community must exert a sort of centripetal force, holding local soil and local memory in place. It has no work more important than this. This beautiful essay invites you to take a walk with Berry past an old family bucket and into a new view of human culture...... posted on Mar 4, 23824 reads

Mark Twain's Top 9 Tips For Living An Awesome Life
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the man better known as Mark Twain gifted the world timeless literary classics like Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His storytelling genius, coupled with his wit and wisdom have made him one of America's most beloved writers. This piece compiles 9 of his most quotable quotes on life.... posted on Sep 29, 593814 reads

The Development Paradox
"There you go", an illustrated e-book, tells the story of briefcase-wielding officials interested in "bringing sustainable development" to a forest-dwelling tribe. After interacting with the tribe, they find that it is already sustainable and perhaps doesn't need additional "development," yet the officials push ahead with their plans. At its core, the story is about different cultures and the con... posted on Jul 24, 7073 reads

Bend That Arc of Justice: A Brilliant Commencement Address
A man at the intersection of activism and public health, Dr. Larry Brilliant has dedicated his life to eradicating disease and ensuring the delivery of healthcare as a fundamental human right. Click here to read his inspiring commencement speech to the graduating class of Harvard's School of Public Health, where he urges us all to lend our hand in bending the proverbial arc of the universe towards... posted on Oct 25, 18238 reads

Encounters on the Exit Ramp
At one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles, California stood a person, destitute and holding a sign which read simply, "Can you spare a moment? Blessings appreciated." Most cars passed by without notice, as seems to have become the analogy in how many of us live our lives. To those passing by, this was just another homeless person looking for a handout. They had no way of knowing that this... posted on Aug 4, 44735 reads

6 Habits of Highly Empathic People
"If you think you're hearing the word 'empathy' everywhere, you're right. It's now on the lips of scientists and business leaders, education experts and political activists. But there is a vital question that few people ask: How can I expand my own empathic potential? Empathy is not just a way to extend the boundaries of your moral universe. According to new research, it's a habit we can cultivate... posted on Aug 25, 231156 reads

Rethinking the Bucket List
How would you live every day as if it were your last? Go skydiving? Attempt to ride a bull for 2.7 seconds? Kathleen Taylor has spent over 20 years as a counselor and community engagement facilitator for the dying and has found that in the last chapter of their lives, most people become their authentic selves. They become courageous - they change their minds, apologize, forgive... they find joy i... posted on Aug 23, 9262 reads

40 Days: The Productivity of Retreat
"When I was a child, I wanted to be a hermit. I can remember in particular a strange background desire I had for some years to live alone in a pine forest. Why a pine forest? I have no real idea. I have never spent much time at all in a real pine forest. But that was where I wanted to be. I could imagine myself dwelling in the dark, dank heart of a pinewood. Life there, I knew, would be more inten... posted on Nov 7, 25914 reads

A Final and Lovely Collaboration
Beloved children's author Ruth Krauss penned more than thirty books for little ones over the course of her forty-year career, but remains best-known as half of one of the most celebrated author-illustrator duos of all time, the other half being none other than Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are. Here are some of their choicest bits of childlike wit and helpful advice for adults o... posted on Sep 21, 36439 reads

Nurturing Your Introvert-Extrovert Mix
There is no such thing as a pure introvert or a pure extrovert; rather, everyone has a different mix of both tendencies in their personality. Read this insightful article to learn how to get the most from your personality type and how to understand and support the personality types of others. ... posted on Oct 24, 39967 reads

Woody Harrelson: Thoughts from Within
"I sometimes feel like an alien creature, for which there is no earthly explanation," begins Woody Harrelson's introspective poem. "I feel like a run-on sentence in a punctuation-crazy world." This spoken-word piece is brought to life in video with arresting images of the contemporary dilemma, where norms and meaning are dictated by unnatural forces seemingly beyond the control of our individual l... posted on Nov 2, 6963 reads

Clear Skies & A Chance of Joy
Imagine a life filled with beautiful twists and turns that still leaves you unfulfilled. For Laura Lavigne, it felt like slow death until one day someone asked her, "If you could start any center, what would it be?" In that moment, the idea for the Anacortes Center for Happiness was born -- an organization founded with a mission to spread of joy, smiles, and a splendid sort of silliness. It was t... posted on Jan 11, 28928 reads

Zen & The Art of Watching Television
"I want you to watch TV with acute awareness, mindfulness, and precision. 1) Watch any TV show for 15 minutes without turning on the sound. 2) Watch any news program for 15 minutes without turning on the sound. 3) Watch the television set for one half-hour with out turning it on." This unconventional series of assignments was handed out to his students by a sociology professor who used it to jump... posted on Aug 30, 30117 reads

The Profound Act Of Talking To Each Other
One of the paradoxes of our times is the fact that many people would like to simplify their lives, yet the world grows only more complex. Complexity has taken over how we attempt to get things done in organizations, communities and governments. We can't seem to do anything simply anymore. Yet real change is possible, and it begins with the simple act of people talking to one another about what the... posted on Jan 7, 56854 reads

Transformative Organizing: A Labor of Love
Elizabeth Flores played a pivotal role in the quest for equal rights of undocumented workers. Her passionate work helped persuade Governor Jerry Brown to sign the "California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights" into law. Flores' approach was one of 'transformative organizing' -- a way of combating injustice, that emphasizes creating change through how we are as individuals, how we relate to one anoth... posted on Jan 9, 15552 reads

The Meanings of Life
Professor Roy Baumeister wonders why parents often say: 'I just want my children to be happy,' rather than: 'I just want my children's lives to be meaningful." Yet we fear meaninglessness, and when we lose a sense of meaning, we get depressed. What is this thing we call meaning, and why might we need it so badly? This thoughtful article shares more.... posted on Nov 8, 56396 reads

Top 30 Innovations of the Last 30 Years
"Imagine this is 1979: If you were reading this article back then, chances are you would have read it on paper -- with a printed newspaper or magazine in your hands. Today, you are probably reading it on a desktop computer, a laptop (or as a printout from either of these), or perhaps even on your Blackberry or iPhone. The pace of innovation has been so hectic in recent years that it is hard to ima... posted on Nov 17, 36494 reads

8 Creativity Lessons From An Animator
Whether it is sharing ideas, working hard and being persistent in your efforts, or having the ability let go of your own ego, amazing things can be accomplished when you allow yourself to become a true team player. Bernhard Haux, who has worked on blockbuster motion pictures such as 'Up,' and 'Monsters U', offers up some inspiring thoughts that can help everyone work together to achieve a common g... posted on Dec 26, 30335 reads

The Thinking Habit That Changed My Life
Writing out a gratitude list can be a simple, yet profound act. "It's interesting, because so much of our lives are spent in unconscious mental habits. Without knowing it, we complain, we nitpick, we stress about little faults; we see the bad in people and situations. Changing that doesn't happen immediately. However, you can change a little at a time. Start with a small gratitude session, and ... posted on Dec 14, 84077 reads

Bright Ideas to Simplfy Your 'Stuff'
Whether it be through sharing, repairing or changing the rules there are myriad ways in which we can simplify our lives. In this article, writer Shannan Stoll offers up six different paths to simplicity and illustrative stories to go with them. Such as the story of the Fixers Collective in NY, a group that dedicates space, tools, and support for monthly repair sessions where folks in the communit... posted on Jan 21, 44888 reads

Not More, But Better: The Story of Solutions
The final film in the 'Story of Stuff' series asks, "What if the goal of our economy wasn't more, but better -- better health, better jobs, and a better chance to survive on the planet?" According to Annie Leonard, we get better and better at playing the wrong game. See what game she suggests:... posted on Nov 21, 27691 reads

Hope Is What We Become In Action
"I believe it is possible that we can turn today's breakdown into a planetary breakthrough on one condition. We can do it if we can break free of a set of dominant but misleading ideas that are taking us down." Francis Moore Lappe began her journey as an environmental author and activist with the publication of her bestselling cookbook, "Diet for a Small World." In her latest book, "EcoMind," she ... posted on Jan 13, 26904 reads

The Real-life Courage of Harry Potter Fans
When teacher, Andrew Slack, finally conceded to the pleadings of his students - he had no idea what he was getting into. They had been begging him to read the Harry Potter series -- an enchanting story about a teenage wizard who uses his magic to conquer the dark forces world. At first, Slack was mesmerized by the stories -- captivated by the notion that one boy could do so much good. And then on... posted on Feb 25, 30597 reads

The History of Simple Living
When Pope Francis took office, he shocked the world by abandoning the luxuries of office for a simple guesthouse out back. His goal was to experiment with a new living arrangement, one that allowed him to live amongst the community he was serving. And as the recession forces more and more families to 'tighten their belts', it seems that the art of simple living is making quite a comeback. In his n... posted on Mar 14, 43883 reads

How To Make Stress Your Friend
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Health psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive. If you believe that your body is energized and preparing you to take action, your physical... posted on Dec 22, 10725 reads

How To Foster Generosity In Students
In an effort to encourage the innate altruistic tendencies of young students, Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph. D., offers up several key components that she believes can help cultivate a spirit of generosity and kindness. Zakrzewski, the education director of the Greater Good Science Center, which teaches skills that foster a compassionate society, notes that one of the most important - and beautiful - scien... posted on May 16, 15301 reads

Painter of the Desert
"Three things are important in this world: good health, peace with one's neighbor, friendship with all.' This proverb from Senegal welcomes us on James 'Chip' Thomas' door. We ring the bell. He opens with a smile. Brazilian tunes fill the living room. Outside, sunset dyes the desert with pale pink..." Read on to hear the thought-provoking tale of Chip Thomas, doctor and street artist, and the "Pai... posted on Jan 16, 29153 reads

La Vida Robot
In a second-floor windowless room on the rundown Carl Hayden Community High School campus, four students huddle around an odd, 3-foot-tall frame constructed of PVC pipe. At the top sits a black, waterproof briefcase containing a nest of hacked processors, minuscule fans, and LEDs. It's a cheap but astoundingly functional underwater robot capable of recording sonar pings and retrieving objects 50 f... posted on Mar 6, 5892 reads

3 Resolutions For a Happier Year
I do understand why people don't like New Year's resolutions: They can be a source of failure, year after year. Folks often pick resolutions that are inherently unrewarding, that necessitate relentless hard work, or that remind them of their mortality in a way that makes them feel small instead of grateful ... Over the years I've learned a lot of tricks for successfully keeping my resolutions. And... posted on Jan 1, 76456 reads

A Mother, A Son & An iPad
Joshua Seftel is an award-winning filmmaker who has worked on many high-profile film, TV, and radio shows. This video is about a much smaller, much more personal project. Joshua originally bought his mom an iPad to stay in better touch with her after his father passed away last year. Once they began chatting regularly, he quickly realized their talks were something special. And he began filming th... posted on Jan 17, 5927 reads