What did Einstein mean when he said we need “a new type of thinking”? — Without a doubt, Einstein changed our world. His revolutionary insights into the nature of the universe propelled physics forward. But his insights weren’t only scientific. He had a philosophical mind, too. In 1946, the New York Times quoted Einstein as saying, “A new type of thinking is essential if mankind…

But it’s not who you think. — I just finished reading Glennon Doyle’s Untamed. It’s a book written by a woman for women. Its culturally feminine cover screams, this is not for men! Few men would even dare to pick that book off the shelf. And if one did, he would carefully look around to make sure…

Here’s a secret: the answer is a paradox — When you ask yourself hard questions about life, do you ever arrive at depressing conclusions? Can life sometimes seem empty, pointless, and devoid of meaning? When we ask ourselves hard questions, our minds can easily turn toward nihilism—the belief that there’s nothing underlying existence, like values, meaning, purpose, or knowledge…

You can calm it if you take on a new perspective — In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf says to Frodo, “…do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” He says this in response to Frodo’s wish that his uncle Bilbo had killed Gollum when he had the chance. …

How to use prospective retrospection to live a life without regret — If you’re like me, you often take the present moment for granted. What does this mean, exactly? It means to implicitly assume that what’s happening now will happen again. Our thinking goes something like this: if this moment will happen again, it’s not special; if it’s not special, there’s no…

This is the best advice I’ve ever heard — Do you feel like you’re not where you should be? Like all your friends and peers are way ahead of you? Like you’re not even close to reaching any of the goals you so desperately want? Social media doesn’t help. Although you know the endless number of positive posts isn’t…

It’s so simple, yet so few of us do it. — Many years ago, I was sport climbing with a friend and struggling with a route. Then, he gave me some advice I will never forget: Don’t think about the end — that’s a distraction. Instead, focus your attention on each movement as you do it. He was right. This tiny…

Stop fighting against what you cannot control. — Imagine you’re walking through a park on a beautiful, sunny day. Suddenly, you’re struck by an arrow. After a moment of shock, you realize it’s grazed your shoulder. The pain begins to mount and blood begins to spill from the wound. How do you react? Are you relieved it was…

Self-compassion is the key to reaching your potential. — When you think of self-compassion, what do you imagine? Someone who’s perfectly satisfied remaining in mediocrity? Someone who’s lost all perspective on how to live a meaningful and productive life? Someone who feels sorry for himself when he makes a mistake? If you think self-compassion is an indulgence you simply…