The Real Mistake

A failure is not always a mistake. It may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying. – B. F. Skinner Where do you think you’ve “failed?” Have you given up on “that?” What if you took what you learned and began again, more intelligently? What if…

Gold or Platinum?

We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life. – Edwin Markham We all know what the Golden Rule asks of us: do unto others as we have them do unto us. It’s (pretty) good advice. But there’s something better. The Platinum Rule: do unto others as they would want…

The Charming Gardners

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. – Marcel Proust Who reminds you of your the happiness within you? Notice I took slight issue with Proust’s words and didn’t say “makes us happy?” To really believe that is to give away your…

Be. Grateful.

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. – Epictetus One of the most powerful things I’ve ever done is start, and continue – no matter what – a gratitude practice. Every day I write down five things I’m grateful for….

Complete Your Incompletes

Whatever is incomplete in your life is a drain on your energy. Incompletes are open cognitive loops that demand constant mental energy (whether conscious or not). I am not suggesting that you’ll never has incomplete things in your life. You will. But it matters what “form” they’re in. I recently realized that there are three…

Weeding the Garden of Character

Character is like a garden. It matters what you plant and how you care for it. You must also regularly weed your “garden,” being mindful of non-resourceful habits (little or big) compromises and your standards. If you let these things slip (i.e. you don’t weed your character garden), your character, and life, will suffer. It also…