In my blog post on November 1, you were invited to participate in a gratitude challenge. I know many of you started, and I hope you all finished the challenge and feel better as a result. Neuroscientists have discovered that practicing gratitude releases the happiness hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin is nicknamed the “happiness hormone” because Read More
We can all appreciate a good night’s rest, but did you know that cultivating more gratitude throughout the rest of your day actually adds to your ability to maintain levels of deep sleep for longer? By focusing on the positive side of life in our daily experiences before we settle down to sleep, we are Read More
Once there was a carpenter who decided to retire after a long and storied career. When he told his boss, the builder, of his intentions, the builder asked the carpenter if he would do one last job. The carpenter reluctantly agreed. He approached this project like none other. In the past, he had always given Read More
Just before dusk, on the last night of an end-of-summer camping trip, a young boy and his father were walking through the woods. They walked and talked together for some time until they came across a fallen tree branch on the ground in front of them. The boy cheerfully ran ahead and called back to Read More
This is a Guest Post by Ben Martin, Thera Rising We’ve talked a lot lately about the power of reciprocity. (Remember, reciprocity is the human tendency to reflect the attitudes and behaviors of others.) Today, we’ll give you a simple model for using reciprocity to defuse anger and hostility. But first, let’s do a quick Read More
There have been violent rain storms across the country recently. The photos of flooded streets, twisted trees, and roofless buildings serve as a reminder of the destructive power in nature. We would do well to remember the destructive power within us, as well, when we lose our temper and act out against others. Often, the “others” Read More
Several years ago, a colleague had a sign in her office that read something like, “I get plenty of exercise jumping to conclusions, pushing my luck and dodging deadlines.” People always got a good chuckle after reading it, mostly because it wasn’t true – especially the part about dodging deadlines; she always had tasks done Read More
Earlier this week, I listened to my friend, Anna Maravelas, speak at the Conflict Savvy Leader event that EAC hosted in partnership with Davenport University’s, Institute for Professional Excellence (IPEx). One of the concepts that Anna talks about is how we respond to frustrations. In his work, Charles Stroble, MD, talks about the fact that Read More
At breakfast with friends the other day, one friend began to complain about some recent poor customer service she had received at the grocery store. I won’t go into specifics, but she seemed rather ‘proud’ of the fact that her reply to the cashier was just as “nasty” as the cashier’s original response. As I Read More
Earlier this week, I was reminded of Aesop’s fable, The Oak and the Reeds. During a training, I asked the group, “Is there anyone who likes to be right, besides me?” I wanted to make the point that we can sometimes get so focused on our way being the right way, that we miss opportunities Read More
