We are an outward-focused species. We believe that fortunate circumstances will make us happy. On vacation, we’re supposed to be happy and the rest of the year is supposed to be a struggle. But what kind of life will we lead when only the extraordinary brings us joy? Whatever we do frequently becomes ordinary, so even the extraordinary will quickly become dull to us.Rather than waiting for an extraordinary vacation to be…
When we don’t know who we are, we can easily begin to see ourselves the way other people see us. But most often, those people don’t even know who they are. So we are seeing ourselves through the eyes of people who have no idea what a human being truly is.We can only know others when we truly know ourselves. We are the gateway to understanding the complex and vast…
We all know that one man’s trash is another’s treasure. But did you know that one man’s wealth is another’s trash? Here’s what I mean by that. We all have blessings in this world. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you have, you are blessed to be alive in this world. The only difference between living in blessings and living in misery is the story we tell…
As you may know, a few years back while I was out of the country, the people closest to me stole all of my most valuable possessions. Naturally, upon refusing to give them back, that kind of thing ends a relationship. But in that act of selfishness, I lost a lot more than the relationship or my valuables.With the relationship severed and irreconcilable, I lost everything I had from my…
These days, I am laughing a lot at news headlines that tell me I should be scared. I know I am supposed to get stressed, but I have become aware of their tricks and I just find it very funny.Here’s the backstory. I used to be addicted to the news. I mean I would read every article from every media outlet from every angle I could get my hands on.…
I have a very important message to deliver from your future self. And since this is Stress Awareness Month, now seems like a good time to share. Here’s how I received the message.Several years back, I was spending a lot of time outside the country. So, I gave a trusted family member access to my bank account so he could deposit checks for me and that sort of thing. I…
I was recently in Indonesia meeting my sister-in-law’s incredible family in a beautiful village a few hours away from Jakarta. It was absolutely wonderful to be around such a huge, warm and welcoming family. Village life, wherever I’ve been so blessed to experience it in the world, is always special. There’s a deep connection to nature and to beautiful heritages and traditions that infuse their lives with ancient wisdom and firmly…
Whether it’s friends, family or strangers, everyone is going through something. Every single person is at a different level of development. Some children seem to have the wisdom of a thousand lifetimes, and some adults act like this is their first trip around the sun. That is the nature of reality.I personally am a very clear and calm communicator (I hope you’ve noticed). I’ll lovingly share when someone’s hurt me…
Why should I change myself to become better if I have nobody in my life? This is a two-pronged question. Because when we say "better," what do we really mean? And that word, better, means two things to the person who asked this question. Better in the sense of, "I want to feel better. I want my mind to stop fighting me. I want to be happier, healthier, and better…
We live in a world that, at times, can seem to celebrate and reward the greediest among us. We live by our own code of values and morals, yet we see people who are unencumbered by ethics get ahead and who seemingly don't have a care in the world.But the truth is, there is a greater joy than the fleeting pleasure of accumulation. There is a greater and lasting peace…
If something here helped you feel less alone, would you help me keep it alive?
Even the smallest support matters.
Weekly Writings from the Desk of Todd Perelmuter
