What is more important than being happy? I have just watched this lovely TED talk by Emily Esfahani Smith. She studied positive psychology, and discovered that chasing happiness can actually make people unhappy. What is missing in people’s lives is …
Why is self-compassion so important? I have just watched a wonderful TED talk by Kristen Neff. In it she explains why treating ourselves with the same kindness we would offer to a friend is really important. Too often we treat …
Why is too much choice a bad thing? This is a very interesting TED talk from 2005 by Barry Schwartz. In it he explains why he feels that freedom of choice is not all it is cracked up to be. …
How can we train our brain to make ourselves happier? I have just watched this wonderful TED talk by Dr. Rick Hanson. He describes how in order to improve our happiness and confidence we need to first overcome the brain’s …
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How can too much choice destroy happiness? I found yet another amazing TED talk today. This one is by Dan Gilbert, and it was a real eye opener for me. I have always been somebody who wanted to have freedom …
How can I find lasting happiness? There have been many times in my life when I have been so happy that I thought it would last forever. I remember a previous boss of mine describing me as “the happiest person …
What is emotional intelligence? The ability to understand, use and manage our emotions. Once we learn to master this, we can use it to manage our stress levels, communicate more effectively, relate and empathise with other people, and diffuse conflict …
How do you work out your purpose in life? I recently finished a book about the Japanese concept of ikigai, which approximately translates as “the happiness of always being busy”. I thought this was a very powerful idea, as it …
What key skills are needed for self-employment? I have spent a good deal of time weighing up my options recently. I have conducted a lot of self-analysis, to honestly evaluate my motivation, and to assess whether I truly have the …
Why is the number three so important? There’s something magical about it, and not just for me. There are countless examples of the religious and cultural significance of the number three throughout many societies. Stories always have a start, middle …