The happiness switch

Mo Gawdat’s formula (Happiness = Reality – Expectations) becomes actionable in seconds: Notice negative thoughts, pause, consciously replace them with what’s working. That’s it. Life’s greatest illusion? That happiness requires complex...

Choose your reality

The choice is stark. Optimist or pessimist. “Realist” is often a shield for those unwilling to embrace hope. Research from Martin Seligman’s groundbreaking study showed optimists outsell pessimists by 56% and are 7 times more likely to be promoted....

When control is no longer

Controlling environments are like cages built with good intentions. We design them to create predictability, reduce errors, and streamline decisions. But what grows in a cage? According to Steve Magness, author of “Do Hard Things,” control-based...

The masquerade of change

Change isn’t a costume party. It’s surgery on the soul. Every October, millions dress up, pretending to be someone else. The global costume industry rakes in $11 billion annually, proving how much we love temporary transformations. But real change?...

When willpower fails you

You’ve been there. I most definitely have. New Year’s resolutions were abandoned by February. Fitness goals derailed by donuts. Work projects procrastinated until the eleventh hour. Each time, you’ve blamed your lack of willpower. Possibly willpower...

When to cut your losses

The $1.7 million trap started with a promise. A successful restaurateur, educated at Wharton, gave away her empire piece by piece. Not to a sophisticated con artist, but to an obvious fraudster who couldn’t even keep his story straight. The gravitational pull of...