Life Skills

We all know the feeling. Expectations press in like a fog, filling our head with shoulds and musts. A grade, a job title, a social standing. One misstep feels catastrophic, as if the whole life we’ve imagined will implode. Sometimes the cost of those expectations is devastating.

The Weight of Expectations Read More »

There are a million ideas out there about what to do with your life. Your parents have one. So do your friends, your boss, your culture. They’ll tell you what’s smart. What’s responsible. What’s impressive. But if you want a compass that points to something truly yours, try this one: follow your fascination.

Follow Your Fascination Read More »

Is depression all bad? Well, yes, in a sense it is. Because when you’re depressed, nothing feels good. But in the background, there are some things going on that can actually be helpful to you. Especially if you fully and honestly let yourself be depressed.

Depressed? Maybe That’s Okay For A While Read More »

These are moments that pierce the ordinary. They remind us of what’s possible in life—not someday, but right here and now. They’re not about material achievement, nor about numbing pleasure. They’re about something more primal and profound: the sheer aesthetic experience of being alive.

Glorious Life Experiences Read More »

In a world full of prestige TV, one small, tender series broke my film-geek defenses—and made me cry every single time. After Life (currently on Netflix) is the most personally moving TV series I’ve ever seen. And that’s saying something....

“After Life” Made Me Cry. Repeatedly. Read More »

Life is hard.  The grind of obligations. The stresses. The frustrations.  Sometimes it feels like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. So we ask ourselves: Why do we live?  What's it all for? Why do we even bother? I believe we live for something so uniquely human that we often overlook it. I believe we live for the aesthetic experience of life.

Living for the Aesthetic Experience of Life Read More »

silhouette of man running on beach during sunset
I want to talk to you about a few reasons to live, and to love being alive.  But first I want to talk about death, because death helps us appreciate life.  It puts things in perspective. The first time this was really clear to me was when I was 17 years old and almost died. 

3 Reasons to Love Life Read More »

For me, when choking from stress in life, it’s helpful if I can find a time and place away from everything where I can be alone with my thoughts and surround myself with nothing but reminders of the giftness of life. During such times, I can remember and appreciate again what is really important in life. The fact that I get to breathe air into my lungs. The fact that I get to....

Awaken To Your Win Read More »

I love making progress, but sometimes I get too caught up in it.Progress helps me achieve a sense of traction in life, giving me a daily trickle of both saline and champagne. When I make progress, I feel empowered, fulfilled and secure because I feel like I’m perpetually ratcheting up.Sometimes, though, my fixation on progress becomes unhealthy, almost like a drug addiction.

The Progress Trap Read More »

woman looking at sea while sitting on beach
Expectation primes us to be disappointed if things don’t work out exactly as planned. In reality, life rarely goes exactly as planned (especially when others are involved), and progress is often necessarily slow and uncertain.Furthermore, expectations make us pre-live what we think our experiences should be to the point of leaving us emotionally fatigued, bored and disappointed by the time the results of our goals become real.

Managing Expectations Read More »

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