What are you most grateful for this week? When you think about the week just passed, how much of the time was your focus positive, and how often negative? What we focus on and fill our minds with hugely influences our thoughts about ourselves, our lives, and others. There are twin laws at work here:…
Kindness: doubles when you share it
Last week, we started musing on what it means to model the kind of person you want others – especially children – to be. As you have been thinking about that, what sorts of characteristics have come to mind? What would you want to do less of? And what would you want to demonstrate more…
How do I have a different perspective on Christmas preparations?
We are now into the season of Advent. A season of anticipation, of waiting. For me personally, it is a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, the gift that really does keep on giving. But whatever your belief system, the concepts of love, joy, hope and peace that are wrapped up…
Gratitude: how to show kindness when we don’t feel like it
If I were to say to you, The most selfish thing you can do in this world is help someone else” what would you make of that? It seems an odd thing to say. Like me, you might have misread it as the most unselfish thing you can do… Last week, I wrote here about…
How do we combat the mess of our world? With a little kindness
The world seems a particular mess just now. The news is full of disasters, anxiety about the future, loss of hope. Aggression and combative arguments among politicians. Reports of high levels of loneliness, record levels of self harming among teenage girls in this country, low self esteem and confidence. Trafficking, slavery, oppression, war, injustice, poverty.…
To really listen is to give a precious gift
We are well into Christmas season now, with all that entails. Everywhere we turn, we are swamped by advertisers and marketers seeking to encourage us to buy that perfect gift to give to the one we love. Or something along those lines. Interestingly, there has also been something of a backlash to the crazy, totally-over-the-top…
Habit Number 4: Think win/win
Would you do something for me? Take a wee minute and have a good scout around inside your soul. Poke into the dark and dusty corners into which you would prefer others not to venture. Ask yourself this question, and be really honest with yourself about your motives: How often do I go into a…
Make a difference the Glasgow way.
Sometimes the problems our world is facing seem so complex and multi-layered that overwhelm and paralysis set in – as an individual, what on earth can I do that would make a difference? Not a very cheery place to start this week, but let me expand a little. Famine, terrorism, complex political wranglings, injustice, social…