Category: Positive Thinking

I bet you never called someone a hypocrite and ended that exchange with an increased closeness and respect for each other; the word is filled more with smugness than utility. Accusing another that way gives us a feeling of superiority, but what a hollow feeling. If someone claims to be a certain way, and you… Continue reading Time to Retire "Hypocrite"

The term role model is lacking.  It fails to convey its own potency… it sounds passive, belying its real nature. It fails to convey its scope… as if there is a limited number of things one could role model. It comes with a sense of burden: if you are a role model today but not… Continue reading Upgrading "Role Model"

Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. Winston Churchill

An anthropology professor told me that in some cultures people like to play a game called “what if everything is a message for you”. It’s a great game because it promotes regular reflection and introspection, always a healthy thing to do. I also like it because when seen in this way, it is irrelevant whether divine… Continue reading Everything is a Message for You

There is a Taoist tale from the Lieh-Tzu about a man who loses and gains different things. Among the people who lived close to the border, there was a man who led a righteous life. Without reason, his horse escaped, and fled into barbarian territory. Everyone pitied him, but the old man said : “what… Continue reading What Makes You Think This Is Not A Good Thing?

You are at baseball practice. Coach is at the plate with the bat and ball and he’s pointing at you. “Pouliot! I’m going to hit this ball to you, are you going to catch it?” The sun is bright and high between you and coach. Horseflies are biting you. It’s a hot day and you… Continue reading Are You Going to Catch That Ball?