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As I’ve worked to fine tune my ideas about happiness and “designing life” over the years, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to talk to many different people about the things they love about their lives—and the things they wish were different. When I ask people what they want to change about their lives, I often […]

Complexity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Today’s world glorifies complex problems, complex schedules, and complex algorithms. And all too often, we apply the same glorification to complexity in our personal lives:  “If my life is complex, then it’s important.”“If my life is complex, then it’s interesting.”“Complexity is a sign of intelligence.”  The truth, […]

Some happy moments are fleeting: a fiery sunset on a peaceful beach, watching your kid get to the final round in the spelling bee, or finally emptying your inbox (just me?). But while moments like these come and go throughout your life, it’s possible to stay in a place of happiness all the time. Now, when […]

Inspiration can hit us in many different ways. Sometimes, it’s something a friend or loved one says. Other times, it’s something we read in a book (or on a blog!). Sometimes, it’s the result of long periods of reflection, or even longer periods of dissatisfaction or unhappiness. And sometimes, it just hits you like a […]

Claude Monet was one of the most well-known painters of his time, painting nearly 2000 works over the course of nearly 70 years. Today, many of his paintings are instantly recognizable, even by those without much knowledge of art theory or history. In 1908, Monet was set to open an exhibition of his now wildly […]

Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. That’s certainly the case when it comes to designing new thoughts and creating change in your life. It’s hard to start, because it’s hard to know where to start. What do you work on first? What do you change in order to work on it? Which mindset do […]

Self-awareness is a big step on the path toward a happier life. In fact, it’s one of the first steps you have to take. If you aren’t self-aware, you’ll never be able to identify the weaknesses or flaws that are holding you back, or the strengths that could propel you forward. If you’re going to […]

Once children become teens, they’ve likely grown out of most of their childhood fears (at least the ones about monsters under the bed and cooked broccoli). But that doesn’t mean they aren’t afraid of anything. Fear is an innate human characteristic. We’re born with a “fight or flight” response that never goes away (unless you […]