The goose that laid golden eggs Once upon a time, there lived a very poor farmer who constantly struggled, always finding it hard to feed his large family. He prayed constantly to the universe for help and one fateful night his prayers were answered. In a dream, an old woman told him to go to … Read more
In a letter to Rachel Carson, Thomas Merton discussed one of the fundamental ills of modern society, namely heedless technological progress. Merton’s argument makes a compelling case that this type of progress derives from what I would call a survive-at-any-cost mindset. In order to progress our humanity, we need to change to a much wiser … Read more
It is a good idea to think about going Slow in a world where fast seems to be the default setting. Slow just means taking your time, being more deliberate and more mindful. Slow is about quality over quantity. Slow is about the means and not the ends. Slow is about experience and self-expression and not … Read more
Social consumption has declined because consumption is becoming increasingly solitary. Put another way, people are spending more time consuming alone. This has consequences for mental well-being, social well-being and environmental well-being. With the advent of cheaper electronic goods like televisions, stereos, personal computers, tablets and smartphones people isolate themselves much more than in the past. … Read more
“The minute you do what you really want to do, it’s really a different kind of life”– Buckminster Fuller Do you do what you really want to do in you work? If you don’t here are some very good reasons why you definitely should. 1. You will enjoy life more When you are not happy … Read more
Barry Schwartz who wrote The Paradox of Choice believes that in affluent societies too much choice is detrimental to well-being. When there are a plethora of choices, whether it is beer, jeans, cellphones, salad dressing or mutual funds, people are much less satisfied with the choices they make. That’s if they actually make a choice, … Read more
Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives. Study after study reveal this, including one of the longest ever studies of human well-being. “Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too,” said Robert Waldinger, the director of the … Read more
I strongly encourage you to watch this TEDx talk. It’s a little bit cheeky to have a blog post that is a Youtube video, but I could have banged on for ages like I often do and never have got across what Jon Jandai, a Thai farmer does in 15 minutes so plainly. It’s a powerful … Read more
We say ‘Do more good with less’. ‘Do more with less’ is a catch-cry in the sustainability movement but it is also a catch-cry for businesses who despoil the environment. The point is that doing more with less is fine if what you are doing is good – but what if it’s bad? Modern western economies … Read more
Money, where it comes from and what it can buy, is not everything. In our society, the economy gets way too much attention – in policy-making and political rhetoric, in the media, even in the education system. This is amplified by the unrelenting bombardment of advertising and promotional messages the average person faces every single day. Needless to say, … Read more