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Hermes coined the principle of correspondence. As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul. This axiom has broad implications in many fields of study, from thermodynamics to alchemy to philosophy. But perhaps the most useful application on a daily basis is with our emotional lives. As above, so below, as within, so without, this is a striking visual for the correspondence of our…

Rogen’s finest voice acting work was for a monster that is a brainless, living mass of blue goo. Bob is an indestructible gelatinous blob whose greatest strength lies in his ability to devour and digest any substance. In my favorite scene, the doctor gives people the following warning: Forgive him, but as you can see, he has no brain. To which the young mass of goo replies: Turns out,…

When somebody cancels plans last minute, it often says more about the person being cancelled on, than the canceler themselves. It becomes an interpersonal inkblot test, providing insight into much deeper issues around attachment, worthiness and forgiveness. Imagine one of your good friends sends you a message ten minutes before your party is about to begin. Turns out, she’s exhausted from the week and won’t be able to make…

Organized chaos can empower employees, foster critical thinking, fuel engagement, stimulate adaptability and help teams achieve their goals. But we should be careful not to elevate our corporate buzzwords into company initiatives. Because a there’s a fine line between quirky, lovable dysfunction, and a hot mess tornado of chaos that’s leaving a trail of destruction in its path. My startup once had an applicant who explicitly stated during his…

Gratitude is much more meaningful than a mere emotion, it’s a higher force. When we give thanks for anything, big, small or in between, our appreciation sends out a cosmic alert into the universe that we are someone who is grateful for what is being so freely given to us. And we do this, not because there is an audience watching, and not because we secretly hope our reverse…

The advantage of being a relentlessly optimistic person with and boundless energy is, your frequent errors in judgment are generally overlooked. People will be so impressed by your enthusiasm, confidence and speed, that they won’t notice how bad your ideas are until they’re stuck cleaning up your mess. This strategy has paid off for a number of my jobs over the years, from launching my own publishing company to…

We can feel proud of every step we take forward, but we can also feel proud of every step the people that we love take forward. Buddhists call this mudita, aka compersion, or vicarious joy. Pleasure from delighting in other people’s wellbeing. Think of it as the opposite of compassion, which means to suffer with. Compersion means to celebrate with. Witnessing other people’s positive experiences and finding satisfaction in…

If we continue to let ourselves be victimized by an experience, then we’re at fault. Only by telling ourselves that we’re choosing to relax empowers instead of victimizes, cushions our stress and cultivates a peaceful spirit. But what if meditation wasn’t a thing, but a place inside of us? What if we could use anything as a vehicle for our relaxation? Perhaps our society could finally release itself from…

We all get faced with threatening situations, and we all need to be aware of the dangers they represent. But not every feeling is a call to action. If our anxiety suddenly starts welling up inside of us, that doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. We may be imagining a threat that isn’t there. In fact, our inappropriate anxiety might even be making things worse. To avoid getting caught…

Whatever physical injury or mental anguish has come your way, the most important truth to remember about your suffering is: It took a long time for your body to get this way. Which means it will take a long time to get some other way. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. And if you have any intention of getting back to your old self again, then try…