The Blog

For some, merely seeing the word "suffer" triggers memories and feelings of pain, injury, or loss. Why is that? Where does suffering even come from?

Ancient wisdom tells us that it's our attachments.

“Attachment is the root of suffering.” - The Buddha

Why human beings are...

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle. Some things are within our control, and some things are not.” - Epictetus

Agency is as intoxicating as it is elusive. When the breaks go your way, it’s easy to believe it’s due to your intelligence...

Ultimately, it is impossible to know if an endeavor will succeed. What does “success” even look like? Too often success is confused with popularity and profits.

What if you measured success by the well-being it generates for yourself and others? What if success is doing well enough...

What defines some sound as "music?" It's organization and intent. Music is sound meant to communicate and connect and rhythm is the organizing element of that sound. Music is done out loud, with and for others, and it has a beat.

With music, as it is in any meaningful...

What does it mean to be devoted?

We don't talk much about devotion these days. Why have we lost touch with the idea that we can be enthusiastically loyal and true to an idea, or cause, or another person? What's wrong with observing and honoring the goodness, worth, and even sanctity of something...

The significance of what it means to testify goes beyond the context in which the term is often heard today. There's more power in the act of testifying than what it means in the legal or even religious sense.

The root of "testify" means "witness." Bearing witness in a legal or...

It's more than a hobby, but not necessarily your job or role. It’s a vocation found at the intersection of who you are, what you're good at, and where you belong. An endeavor is work that you are meant to do now.

An endeavor cultivates gratitude because you don’t have to do it, you ...

The status quo favors the exclusive club at the top. They stay there through control and compliance. For those winning the status-quo game, confidence, certainty, and even arrogance are rewarded.

Curiosity, courage, and creativity are discouraged. Those that don’t take a hint are punished....

Why do we cling to beliefs that hurt our sense of well-being and impede our happiness?

Why do we believe in things that don't stand up to scrutiny or science?

Why is the change we know is good for us so hard to make?

We're born with the capacity for reason, why do we use that power to...

I think stoicism is stupid.

To be clear, what I mean is ordinary English usage, lowercase "s" stoicism, is a pretty poor strategy for cultivating happiness while creating a life worth living.

Meaningful living and work, without question, involves challenges, misfortunes, and invitations...

Teaching is what I was born for. Some of my earliest childhood memories are about sharing what I just learned with others.

What I've learned is that teaching serves the teacher as much as the student. It reveals what you truly understand and what you don't. This allows you to leverage your...

What is productivity, really?

It’s not just “getting things done.” Everyone gets all sorts of things done daily. After a day of doing things, most are exhausted, But some get remarkable work done every day and appear energized by the effort. Wouldn’t you like to be one of...