The Two Piles Almost two thousand years ago, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus taught a simple lesson that still makes sense today: some things are within our control, and others are not. He understood this lesson from personal experience because he had once lived as an enslaved person in the Roman Empire. Many circumstances surrounding his
Caring About Something Does Not Mean You Have to Carry It Read More »
Two Ways of Experiencing the Same Moment The Participant and the Witness Whether we recognize it or not, we can experience the same moment from two different places within ourselves. One part of us is right there in the middle of whatever is happening. It feels the anger, disappointment, excitement, fear, embarrassment, joy, and confusion
Transformation Is Not Always About Inventing a New Identity A whole lot of modern self-development talk is built around the idea that we need to become somebody new. We are told to create a new identity, visualize a better future, repeat affirmations, and start acting like the life we want has already arrived. There can
Becoming Your Highest Self May Begin With Questioning Who You Are Not Read More »
The Words We Say Silently Most of us carry on a conversation inside our heads almost all day long, whether we realize how much we are doing it or not. We tell ourselves we are tired, worried, angry, overwhelmed, confident, prepared, afraid, or uncertain about whatever happens to be standing in front of us. Because
The Language Inside Your Head: Can Self-Talk Change How Your Body Responds? Read More »
The Mystery of the Voice Inside Our Heads Most of us carry on some kind of conversation inside our heads every day, whether we pay much attention to it or not. We replay conversations and think about what we should have said, question decisions we already made, and sometimes remember something embarrassing from twenty years
The Fear We Rarely Discuss We spend a whole lot of time talking about the fear of failure, and that makes sense because nobody enjoys rejection, embarrassment, disappointment, or losing money. But there is another fear we do not talk about nearly as much, and sometimes it shows up right when life is finally starting
When We Fear the Very Success We Have Prayed For Read More »
Introduction Life moves through seasons, and every season has something to teach us. Some days are filled with joy, peace, and moments that seem to come effortlessly, while others bring disappointment, uncertainty, or sorrow we never expected. I have learned that life is much like the changing weather. There are days of bright sunshine and
Beyond the Clouds: Finding Hope in Life’s Darker Days Read More »
Introduction One of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves is, “What would I do if I had only six months to live?” Few of us know how much time we truly have, yet reflecting on that possibility has long been used in philosophy, psychology, and palliative care to help people discover what matters
Living as Though Time Is Limited: A Lesson in Priorities and Purpose Read More »
Introduction One of life’s most difficult lessons is accepting that we cannot control another person’s behavior. We can communicate honestly, offer encouragement, and hope for positive change, but every individual ultimately makes their own choices about how they think, speak, and act. Many people spend years trying to understand why someone treats them poorly or
Protecting Your Peace: Changing Yourself When You Cannot Change Others Read More »
Introduction Some of life’s most meaningful lessons can be found in the natural world. A pearl is admired for its beauty, rarity, and value, yet few people think about the difficult process that creates it. A pearl does not begin as something precious; it begins with an irritation, a foreign object that disrupts the oyster’s
The Pearl Within: How Healing Can Transform Pain Into Strength Read More »