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“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”  ~ Albert Einstein 

 It has never been more important to play. In fact, play is the new work. To boost our mental and emotional health, many of us have an opportunity to embrace a new spaciousness of life at home, by creating new ways to enjoy our lives and each other. Engaging creatively in play lifts us up to transcend anxiety, worry and even grief in the midst of this uncertain time. Creatively managing our time brings the...

Looking for a summer read, I came across Strengthsfinders by Tom Rath, a book I read more than 10 years ago. It was written with the goal to start conversations about ‘what’s right with people.’

This feels more relevant today given how much we are constantly barraged with negative news and lack of civility when everything is in dramatic upheaval.

Strengthsfinders was a best-seller because it helped millions uncover their talents. The premise was that focusing on what we are...

Have you found yourself wondering what you can do to elevate justice and heal the harms that are rampant through our society?  Do you find yourself questioning the best way to move forward in hopes of not doing  harm to others and/or not continuing to experience harm yourself?  If so, you are not alone.  I am right there with you. I am writing this post as an invitation for personal reflection.  Though racism is systemic, it is also personal and it is helpful to start...

“Be a lamp or a ladder or a lifeboat. Help someone’s soul to heal. Step out of your house like a shepherd.” ~ Jalal’u’din Rumi, Sufi mystic

Whenever there is a rise in human suffering, the need for compassion increases dramatically. We are now, in the midst of a global pandemic, a deepening economic crisis, and for many, heart-breaking awareness of racial injustices perpetrated for generations. Yet, this overwhelming adversity has awakened a massive response of...

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Gratitude is appreciation for the good in our lives, even under dire circumstances. People who are thankful in the midst of adversity have a far better chance, not only to survive, but to thrive. During these unusual and trying times, when the waves of crisis keep coming, it’s perhaps more important than ever to...

Virtue 3: Resilience

“Life is not about how many times you fall down, but how many times you get back up.”  ~ Nelson Mandela

Resilience is a virtue we’re urgently calling on in the midst of the current pandemic, the anguished call for a social justice movement, and the rise of climate change. The waves just keep coming. Resilience is the strength of the human spirit to endure and navigate through adversity, disappointment, tragedy and loss.  What does...

“The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all.”   Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i Faith

We did not originally include Justice as one of the virtues in this blog series, though it was woven through others on the list of seven. However, in light of the brutal and senseless death of a black man under the knee of a white policeman, followed by an uprising of outrage across America, and...

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”  Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, psychiatrist, author, Man’s Search for Meaning

The Covid 19 pandemic has brought humanity to a crossroads unlike anything we have ever confronted in human history. Suddenly hit by this crisis, choosing our response has never been more crucial or more global in scope. We urgently need the...

Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” At this unknown crossroads, while we are coping with chaos and loss, we also find ourselves experiencing new levels of connectivity with family, friends and even workplaces, for those able to work remotely. The earth is breathing freely and skies are clear over L.A., Beijing, Mumbai and other cities around the world for the first time in decades. Innovative, creative thinking is cropping up, from new products to the...

Actor and comedian Rainn Wilson loves virtues!

You may not know it from his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, but Rainn is compassionate, caring and committed to making a positive impact on the world to bring out the best in people. He founded SoulPancake, a media company that celebrates humanity and champions creativity; he raises funds for the Mona Foundation, a charity focused on education and raises the status of women and girls; and is the creative mind and host behind The Baha'i...