Possibility: One Last Thing: “We find the void in our minds”
From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 At sea, Henk de Velde has discovered something on his many solo voyages around the world: the void. Now the Dutch sea-farer tries to find it on the land as well. And he recommends everyone do the same. What do you mean by void? “Void is space. I Read More...
Optimism Is More Than Positive Thinking
Psychologist Elaine Fox believes optimism isn’t a choice, but a habit. She has some advice on how to develop it—because it’s not just good for you, but for everyone else. By Marco Visscher From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 It’s the perfect day for a conversation about optimism. Read More...
Remaking Work
How to find your inner economy in an outer economy that, more than ever, is willing to let you be you. By Valerie Andrews From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 Imagine no more drudgery—just years of doing what you love, stretched out before you. Work is never boring, because it keeps evolving. Read More...
Lessons from the Chinese Warlord
By Rob Hartgers From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, is 2,500 years old, but it’s still one of the most widely read books on strategy and leadership. What makes this work so relevant after all these centuries? And what can we learn from it? Henry Kissinger recommended Read More...
Turning poverty into peace
What the Nobel Peace Prize means to Muhammad Yunus - and how it shows the way new ideas come into the world. Jurriaan Kamp and Marco Visscher| December 2006 issue When Muhammad Yunus began to lend money to hard-working poor people back in the 1970s, he wasn’t exactly following the crowd. At that Read More...
Perspectives on trials and loss
Three stories about dealing with loss. Paulo Coelho | May 2009 issue When life makes us face difficult situations—such as a personal loss—we have to understand that eternity is taking one more step. Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges wrote something beautiful about this: You are cloud, sea, Read More...
Gay Luce: Connecting spirits and emotions at Mystery School
Philosopher Jean Houston credits Gay Luce's success with her Nine Gates Mystery School to her depth of understanding of the human condition. Carmel Wroth | Jan/Feb 2009 issue Gay Luce, Founder, Nine Gates Mystery School. Corte Madera, California Photo: Caramel Wroth When Gay Luce was a Read More...
In praise of failure
Failing is among life’s least pleasant experiences, but nothing else is as essential to success. Marisa Taylor | October 2008 issue J.K. Rowling delivers a commencement speech at Harvard about failure. College commencement speeches are meant to be inspiring, uplifting affairs that impart a Read More...
A man with balls
On skates he won four Olympic gold medals and broke 11 world records. Now, using sports and games, he's dedicating himself to helping ensure children in poor areas have safe and healthy futures. Ode speaks with Johann Olav Koss.Marco Visscher | April 2006 issue In the run-up to the 1994 Lillehammer Read More...
A massive outbreak of peace
New peacemakers have emerged in the 21st century. They're not political leaders. They're not savvy diplomats. They're people like you. Marco Visscher and Michael Gleich | June 2006 Read More...