Reforming The Prison System: Shaka Senghor & #Cut50
Convicted of the murder of a fellow drug dealer, Shaka Senghor spent seven of his 19 years in prison in solitary confinement -- a bare six by eight-foot cell. Today he leads a new initiative to transform the justice system by cutting the U.S. prison population in half by 2025. His message of personal and political transformation provides us with an opportunity to question the enormous costs of cag... posted on May 18, 12524 reads

Photos of Indigenous Americans Without Stereotypes
Three years ago photographer Matika Wilbur, a member of the Tulalip and Swinomish tribes, set out on a vast road trip across America to photograph members of all 562 of America's federally-recognized tribes. (That number is now 566.) Her collection so far includes images from more than 200 tribes she has visited in the course of traveling 80,000 miles around the western United States. ... posted on Sep 11, 14884 reads

The Biggest Reason We Steal Other People's Ideas
Because of the way human memory works, we tend to pay more attention to the content of an idea than to the source of it. Learn how this peculiarity leads to what psychologist Dan Gilbert calls keptomnesia, or the generating of an idea that you think is original but was actually unconsciously "stolen" from someone else, and how to minimize the chances of committing this error.... posted on Jun 14, 12966 reads

I Wish My Teacher Had Known...
Elementary teacher Kyle Schwartz recently came up with an activity for her third-grade class in a school where 92 percent of kids qualify for free or reduced lunch. She handed out notecards and asked them to finish this sentence: "I wish my teacher knew..." The results, which went viral, will tear at your heart. ... posted on May 28, 27439 reads

Michael Lerner: Whispers of a Wounded Healer
Meet Michael Lerner, one of the founding members of Commonweal -- an organization founded on the principle of engendering hope through service. "We can't know what the future will actually be," he shares. "but living in service and doing what we can engenders a form of hope, a form of resilience that is part of creating a global consciousness that can move us through these very difficult times." R... posted on Jun 1, 32585 reads

How to Transform Stress Into Courage and Connection
"Stress doesn't always lead to fight-or-flight, says Kelly McGonigal. It can also activate brain systems that help us connect with other people." In this article, McGonigal summarizes the social science research that explains how a certain response to stress changes the brain's biochemistry in surprising ways.... posted on Jun 29, 22354 reads

The Music In You
With those who say, 'I can't carry a tune,' music cognition expert Elizabeth Margulis begs to differ. Psychologists discover that nearly all of us are musical experts in quite a startling sense... So why don't we realize how much we know? And what does that hidden mass of knowledge tell us about the nature of music itself?... posted on Jun 7, 8437 reads

15 People Who Saved the Lives of Millions
Whether it be due to a lifetime of work or research, or perhaps just because of an incredible 'in the moment' decision, the following 15 people have been credited with saving the lives of millions of people worldwide. Find out more about these extraordinary -- and sometimes seemingly just ordinary -- people who have helped shape the course of history. ... posted on Jun 23, 53730 reads

Rescuing Social Change From the Cult of Technology
"Technology is terrific...But in the end, there's no real progress without change in people." This is the conclusion that Kentaro Toyama, leader of Microsoft Research India, reached after five years of working to implement technological solutions for social change. Hear his reflections on progress, technology, and the human will.... posted on Aug 12, 14371 reads

I Like Being 98
Evelyn (no last name given) was 97 when her driver's license was taken away from her for no other reason than her age. So, at age 98, she decided to get it back in order to fulfill a promise to a neighbor to get her to the grocery store once a week after their retirement community's bus service was discontinued. "When you make a promise, it's important for me to keep that promise if it's possible.... posted on Jun 20, 6951 reads

Everyone Has A Story The World Needs To Hear
Dave Isay opened the first StoryCorps booth in New Yorks Grand Central Terminal in 2003 with the intention of creating a quiet place where a person could honor someone who mattered to them by listening to their story. Since then, StoryCorps has evolved into the single largest collection of human voices ever recorded. Isay is the 2015 TED Prize winner, with an award of $1 million to fulfill a wish:... posted on Jul 25, 3916 reads

Can Compassion Change the World?
Can compassion change the world? In celebration of his 80th birthday, the Dalai Lama reached out to author, Daniel Goleman for assistance in capturing his compassionate vision. The result of their collaboration, "A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World", a book that is both a translation of the Dalai Lama's ideals and a call to action.... posted on Sep 4, 16171 reads

Where Children Play: Photographs of Playgrounds of the World
Photographer James Mollison captures the sacred spaces of childhood around the world in Playground. He became fascinated by how the great diversity of playgrounds around the world has shaped the experience of childhood, calling them "a space of excitement, games,bullying, laughing, tears, teasing, fun, and fear."This post shares more.... posted on Jul 18, 0 reads

Getting Hands On With Nature
The joy of children encountering the natural world on their own terms is becoming a lost idyll, no longer an integral part of growing up. There are many reasons for this loss -- urbanization, the changing social structure of families, the fear of stranger danger. But also much of environmental education has become restrictive and rule bound, taking on a museum mentality, where nature is a composed... posted on Jul 29, 8106 reads

The Art Pioneer Once Expelled for 'Doodling'
Adarsh Alphons rose to success from relative obscurity. After 'doodling' got him kicked out of one school,his diehard love of art soon led him to the chance of a lifetime: an opportunity to present his work to Nelson Mandela. It's no wonder then, that Adarsh has dedicated his life to giving other kids a chance to discover themselves and transform their world through art.... posted on Jul 17, 5131 reads

When You Give a Tree an Email Address
Given the chance to speak to a tree, what would you say? Recently, officials in Melbourne assigned trees in the city limits each an email addresses to help locals report broken limbs and other potential dangers. It turns out though, that people weren't as concerned with communicating about the trees as they were interested in communicating with them. Hear what people had to share, heart to heartwo... posted on Aug 10, 9388 reads

How Groups Shape Individual Judgement
Peer pressure, herd mentality, groupthink -- all various phrases that hint at a central truth: the mind of the group often sways the mind of the individual. But how and why does this happen? The scientists at the Greater Good Science Center of UC Berkeley endeavor to find out.... posted on Aug 26, 12830 reads

Peter Kingsley on Remembering What We Have Forgotten
In this interview author Peter Kingsley points out that "there's something infinitely precious at the origins of (Western) civilization. The trouble is that it's been lost because we started taking it for granted...The challenge (is) to wake up now and take responsibility for what we have been given." ... posted on Aug 6, 3588 reads

The WE-economy: Value Creation in the Age of Networks
"Underlying the collaborative economy are a handful of very strong and general trends that are challenging the conventional business models in just about every sector of the economy --not just in the types of transactions that we usually think of as the sharing economy. Focus is shifting from selling stand-alone, physical products to creating services that enable users to make the most of the reso... posted on Sep 1, 12778 reads

Say It Like It Is
There is no holding back in this powerful film featuring spoken-word artist Prince Ea. His lyrics are on point, wrapping all of society's faults and failings into a tight little ball before firing it straight at us. He lays out the problems but also the solution - "real love, true love, boundless love." ... posted on Sep 15, 4161 reads

Jane Kenyon's Advice on Writing & Life
"Tell the whole truth. Don't be lazy, don't be afraid," counsels Jane Kenyon, offering advice to fellow poets with a wisdom that applies to every field of creative endeavor and can electrify any artist. ... posted on Oct 29, 7746 reads

Homes for the Homeless
Homelessness is a fluid state. While the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development counted 578,424 homeless in January 2014, some advocacy groups say more than 3 million Americans experience an episode of homelessness each year: a night, a week or a month in a motel, in a recreation vehicle or on a friend's couch...but a few organizations like Housing First are trying to change the odds.... posted on Sep 29, 5734 reads

The Noble Art of the Manly Cry
One of our most firmly entrenched ideas of masculinity is that men don't cry. But historical and literary evidence suggests that, in the past, male weeping was regarded as normal in almost every part of the world for most of recorded history. Consider Homer's Iliad, in which the entire Greek army bursts into unanimous tears no less than three times...... posted on Oct 7, 9198 reads

A Recipe for Change
Studies in neuroplasticity indicate how new impressions stimulate and even feed our neurons. It's time to celebrate the fact that what we think changes the physical structure of our brain. When we change our minds, we change our brain. This piece shares more.... posted on Oct 23, 22897 reads

The Cave Digger
In the high desert of northern New Mexico Ra Paulette, with only his dog for company, has spent the past 25 years scraping and shaping New Mexico's sandstone into man-made caves of art. He calls them his wilderness shrines -- massive in scale, poetic in their design. If his work takes your breath away, that's just what he hoped it would do.... posted on Nov 10, 9170 reads

BJ Miller: What Really Matters at the End of Life
"At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, it's simply comfort, respect, love. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician at Zen Hospice Project who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients. Take the time to savor this moving talk, which asks big questions about how we think on death and honor life."... posted on Nov 16, 68518 reads

The Way We Think About Work Is Broken
What makes work satisfying? In this TED talk, psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that there are intangible values that our current way of thinking about work simply ignores. He describes how the ideas human beings create shape human nature and that it is time to revisit our ideas about the way we work.... posted on Nov 26, 19281 reads

The Problem of Precrastination
We all know that habitually putting tasks off for a later time can be problematic. But what about getting tasks done more quickly than is necessary? Recent research out of Pennsylvania State University documents a phenomenon called "precastination," a tendency to hastily complete tasks in order to get them over with. This article recounts several studies that illuminate the problems with precastin... posted on Nov 28, 7963 reads

The Couple Who Feeds Hundreds Each Day
After the heartbreaking loss of their only son, Pradeep and Damyanti Tanna, a couple from India, transformed their lives in a beautiful effort to honor their son Nimesh's giving spirit. Family friend Kintan Parekh sums up their ongoing endeavor as such, "There couldn't be a better tribute to Nimesh. He was a person with a golden heart." Read on to learn how this couples' generosity has touched hu... posted on Nov 4, 15734 reads

Three German Students Surprise a Homeless Guy
This sweet film is a heartwarming story of compassion and creativity. By using the universal power of music, walls are brought down to expose a universal issue. It also highlights the ability we all have to bring about change, simply by making a positive difference to someone's day. ... posted on Nov 20, 4736 reads

Two Little Pieces of Chocolate
Francine Christophe was born in 1933, the same year that Adolph Hitler took power in Germany. When she was eight years old, she and her mother were deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. In this interview for "Human," a film project directed by photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, she recounts an extraordinary tale of generosity at a time of great privation. ... posted on Oct 31, 6369 reads

The Power of Gift Culture
"I read a book called The Gift by Lewis Hyde. I think it struck me on several levels. The book has many layers; it's about creativity and art...having gifts that come to us from somewhere outside our own willpower, something we can't completely control; how creative work wants to be shared as a gift; how this "circulation of gifts" co-exists uncomfortably in a market economy, in transaction cultur... posted on Nov 1, 12743 reads

An Illustrated Love Letter to Canine Companions
There's something deep nestled within a dog's unconditional love, that prompts humanity's abiding devotion to these gracious,four-legged beings. In our worst of times, they are always there -- cold nose pressed firmly to heart, reminding us that we are not alone. In her beguiling book, Beloved Dog, artist Maira Kalman brings to life the deep bond between humans and their canine companions.... posted on Nov 8, 14440 reads

One Man's Journey Back from the Brink
In late 2012, Brice Royer was lying on a bed in terrible pain. He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer -- and, in unbearable pain, was contemplating taking his own life. But something kept him going, long enough to find a purpose within his suffering. From the ashes of hardship, he realized the blessing of unconditional love. Read on to be inspired by one man's miraculous journey.... posted on Nov 15, 7692 reads

The Life We Spend at Work
Most of us are taught from a very early age, that hard work is the key to happiness. As a result, we learn to measure success in terms of benchmarks and milestones, rather than the satisfaction that comes by way of the doing. Though, what if we could view things in an entirely new way? In this thought-provoking interview, organizational psychologist Adam Grant discusses the newer value measuremen... posted on Nov 22, 9570 reads

20 Amazing Pictures from Outer Space
As humans have begun to explore the mysteries of outer space, both by sending unmanned probes and physically traveling beyond the Earth's atmosphere, a vast number of amazing pictures have been collected. Often photographs of outer space are recorded for the purposes of science, but are also often breathtakingly beautiful images revealing the wonders of the universe. This post brings together 20 o... posted on Nov 9, 384718 reads

Welcome to the Empathy Wars
Critics of empathy call it biased, saying we should unemotionally help the greatest number. But Roman Krznaric suggests two kinds of empathy: 'affective' -- feeling or mirroring others' emotions, and 'perspective-taking' empathy -- imagining oneself in someone else's shoes. He gives examples of how they can work together, from sympathetic focus on a child caught in a mineshaft (affective) to the ... posted on Dec 14, 12420 reads

On Seeing
In this simple and poignant reflection, photographer Paul Van Slambrouck shares a moment of quiet revelation that illuminated for him the beauty of truly seeing the majestic world we live in.... posted on Dec 16, 10796 reads

What Generous People's Brains Do Differently
Some people make giving look effortless. They're the kind of people who bring donuts on Friday mornings and don't think twice before helping overwhelmed colleagues. Others face more of a struggle when it comes to putting the group first. So how do the givers do it? New research from the emerging field of neuroeconomics suggests that being generous is not as tough as some people think. ... posted on Dec 25, 11916 reads

Does Trying To Be Happy Make Us Unhappy?
"As we muddle through our days, the quest for happiness looms large. In the U.S., citizens are granted three inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the kingdom of Bhutan, there's a national index to measure happiness. But what if searching for happiness actually prevents us from finding it?" Read on to learn more from Adam Grant about why we might need to change our fo... posted on Dec 28, 20855 reads

A New Home For Brothers Reunited Against the Odds
This is the time of year families reunite to celebrate the holidays. Many people travel a long way to be with their loved ones. For some, the distance is so great it's measured not in miles -- but in years. CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports on a reunion a decade in the making. The moving story of three children thrust unexpectedly into foster care, the brother who dreamt of bringing the... posted on Dec 17, 4584 reads

The Dogs that Protect Little Penguins
When foxes discovered little penguins on a small Australian island, they nearly wiped the colony out. But a farmer came up with a novel way to protect the birds -- and the story has been made into a hit film.... posted on Dec 20, 24623 reads

5 Ways to Show Kindness this Holiday Season
"With the holiday season upon us, it's easy to feel pressure that you aren't spending enough, doing enough or otherwise keeping up with everyone else around you. If that's the case, log out of Pinterest, take some deep breaths and remind yourself that true holiday spirit can't be bought -- no matter how good the bargains get." This lovely piece offers up 5 immediate ways to be kind in this season ... posted on Dec 24, 13891 reads

Unexpected Joy on the Copenhagen Metro
In the quiet of the Copenhagen Metro, the clear, sweet notes of a flute panned across the train. As commuters looked on with smiles, the members of the Copenhagen Phil joined into a rendition of Morning Mood from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt, Op. 23. As listeners drank in the beauty of the melody, perhaps they were aware that at least for this particular commute, they were bonded with the strangers on... posted on Dec 29, 5059 reads

Ten Ways to Set A Positive Tone For the New Year
"For thousands of years, humans have marked the beginning of a new year with sacred festivals. January is named after the Roman god Janus, whose two faces looked to both the past and the future. As you consider the many days ahead in 2016, take some time to reflect on the past as well. Try these tips if you're searching for ways to make this year's New Year's celebration more meaningful."... posted on Dec 31, 57448 reads

A Simple Formula for Changing Our Behavior
"I had just walked into my daughter's room as she was working on a science project. Normally, I would have been pleased at such a sight. But this time, her project involved sand. A lot of it. And, while she had put some plastic underneath her work area, it wasn't nearly enough. The sand was spreading all over our newly renovated floors." When a fraught interaction with his daughter led Peter Bregm... posted on Jan 4, 44230 reads

The Top 10 Kindness Stories of 2015
What if we invited people from different parts of the world, to sit around a fireplace and share stories of their experiences with kindness? A kind act that they may have done, received, or been a witness to. That is what the online KindSpring.org community looks like. It's hard to select a few stories from thousands that were shared. Some are small acts that make someone's day, while others are l... posted on Jan 5, 35843 reads

Stop. Look. Go: Practices for Grateful Living
"All of us want to be happy...by experiencing, by becoming aware that every moment is a given moment -- it is a gift! You haven't earned it. You haven't brought it about in any way. You have no way of assuring that there will be another moment given to you. Grateful living -- that's the most valuable thing that can ever be given to us." In this beautiful video, filmmakers from Gnarly Bay have used... posted on Jan 26, 5620 reads

Bhutan's Dark Secret to Happiness
"Citizens of one of the happiest countries on Earth are surprisingly comfortable contemplating a topic many prefer to avoid. Is that the key to joy?...In Bhutanese culture, one is expected to think about death five times a day. That would be remarkable for any nation, but especially for one so closely equated with happiness as Bhutan. Is this secretly a land of darkness and despair? Not necessaril... posted on Mar 5, 25360 reads

Serving Up Dignity: A Soup Kitchen Set Up Like a Restaurant
The Kansas City Community Kitchen has been serving the community as a soup kitchen for 30 years. But this February, it re-opened its doors with a new restaurant-style initiative that allows the homeless to "dine with dignity." The new process includes greeters, waiters, and menus that lets diners choose what they want to eat.... posted on Mar 27, 10361 reads