I am fascinated by words and their meanings – both original and contemporary. I like to look at words from all sides and reflect on their impact – on me personally as well as collectively. Two words that have registered with me a few times over the past week are content and its close relative, contentment. The French origin of the English word contentment dates back to the mid-15th century … [Read more...] about Strenuous striving for satisfaction vs calm cultivation of contentment
meaning
Why words matter more than ever
I watched with grim fascination as the storming of the US Capitol took place yesterday – an act that was demonstrably incited by the sitting president. In the early videos shown on news channels, some of those who forced their way into the building seemed to behave like tourists, taking selfies and videos for the folks back home; others were full of rage and self-righteousness. It put me in … [Read more...] about Why words matter more than ever
How to use an old photograph to tell a meaningful new story
When it comes to memories, we are all unreliable narrators. The human brain will go to great lengths in order to create a coherent sense of self, sometimes inventing things that never happened and even people who don't exist simply to hold the story together. Memory is not like a video camera. It reframes and edits events to fit our current map of the world. So next time you go for a walk down … [Read more...] about How to use an old photograph to tell a meaningful new story
Nick Williams interviews me about the power of personal story
My good friend and mentor Nick Williams - author of many books including The Work We Were Born to Do - interviewed me about my work and why I believe in the power of story. In our conversation you'll discover: Why I think story is the fabric of life How we frame our life experience in story form How I help people become conscious of the story they're telling themselves How you can … [Read more...] about Nick Williams interviews me about the power of personal story