Why do bad things happen to good people?
It is a question people have asked for centuries. I do not pretend to have one answer that explains every painful event. However, after more than 30 years of working with people, I have noticed a pattern that may offer part of the answer. (more…)
Many of us believe that being hard on ourselves is the key to success.
We replay our mistakes, point out our shortcomings, and tell ourselves we could have done better. We think this inner criticism will motivate us to improve. Why do so many of us believe this? (more…)
I noticed the change in the atmosphere the moment I arrived back in South Africa last week.
Across the country there have been marches against illegal immigration. Immigration has become one of the most talked-about and emotionally charged topics in South Africa. (more…)
I am back in the Netherlands to attend a funeral.
My brother-in-law was on a cycling holiday in Belgium. He hadn’t been feeling very well, yet overall he seemed healthy to me. He was active, not overweight, happily married for more than 50 years, and he loved his work. (more…)
There are tasks that drain us before we even begin them.
We look at them and immediately feel dread, frustration, overwhelm, regret, or resistance. Sometimes we procrastinate. Sometimes we push through anyway while feeling miserable the entire time.
Many people force themselves through those tasks because they believe discipline is the only answer. Sometimes that works, but it often drains a huge amount of energy. Yet those tasks are often important and tied to the success we want to create.
That is why some motivational speakers talk about “eating the frog” first thing in the morning — doing the task you resist the most before anything else.
We had quite an adventure here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
A major storm hit our coast with relentless rain and strong winds. By day two, the municipal electricity failed after power poles were blown over.
We have solar power, but by the time the grid went down our batteries were already sitting at only 40%. (more…)