Sangha of Auspicious Companions

May 15, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

10 Keys to Happier Living

Happiness matters to all of us. And by focusing our time and energy on things that have been shown to consistently bring happiness, each of us can live rich, rewarding lives. The recently launched project, Action for Happiness, has identified practical actions that anyone can take in their everyday lives — not only to help boost their own happiness but also to contribute to building better, more positive environments in their families, relationships, workplaces and communities. { read more }

Be The Change

Experiment this week with some of their 10 Keys to Happier Living. { more }

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May 14, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Man Who Stopped A Nuclear War

Ever heard of Stanislav Petrov? Probably not, even though he saved the world as we know it. Petrov, a former member of the Soviet military, didn’t actually do anything, but that was precisely the point. In 1983, Petrov held a very important station: as lieutenant colonel, he was in charge of monitoring the Soviet Union’s satellites over the United States, and watching for any sign of unauthorized military action. This was the Cold War era, and suspicions were high. When an alarm announced that the US had launched missiles their way, Petrov could have pushed the red button to start a full-scale nuclear war. Luckily, he didn’t, saying to the Washington Post, “I had a funny feeling in my gut.” { read more }

Be The Change

The next time you are about to make a decision with major impact, check in with your gut feeling.

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May 13, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Homeless Man Bails out Banker

A year ago, everything was going right for her: a good job at a bank in the suburbs and a safe home. But last year, she lost that — and with her 10-year-old, had to move into a truck. Police threatened to take away her son until she found a safer alternative, so she moved into a hotel for a few nights to sort things out. That’s when her angel showed up. A man named Curtis Jackson paid her hotel bill day after day, everyday. It turns out that Curtis isn’t a big shot. He himself is homeless. But while on the street, he had always been treated by her with dignity and kindness; so in her time of need, he started raising money for her by panhandling on the streets — $9,000 since December. { read more }

Be The Change

Think of someone who has treated you with kindness in the past, and see if you can honor that in any way, big or small.

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May 12, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Leadership Lessons from Everyday Life

“Leadership is a capability that each of us has within us. It is formed as we take on the opportunities and challenges of everyday life, and it is measured by our successes and failures. It is my belief and experience that the leadership lessons we learn in our everyday lives can and should be carried with us into our work environments, and that they can help us become better leaders of our people. As I have reflected on leadership over the years based on my own experiences across several countries and continents, I have been inspired by people everywhere, irrespective of their country or their socioeconomic status, who exemplify the true qualities of leadership. And they do so by the strength of their character and their authenticity — by the way they live their lives every day.” { read more }

Be The Change

Explore deepening your own authenticity through everyday experiences today.

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May 11, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

How Aging is Changing

“The job of any doctor, Bludau later told me, is to support quality of life, by which he meant two things: as much freedom from the ravages of disease as possible, and the retention of enough function for active engagement in the world. Most doctors treat disease, and figure that the rest will take care of itself.” In this in-depth New Yorker article, celebrated author Dr. Atul Gawande reflects on the process of aging from various perspectives: medical, sociological, and personal. It is an inquiry only increasingly relevant. In 1950, 11% of the U.S. population was under 5, and 1% over eighty. Today, there are as many 50-year-olds as 5-year-olds, and in thirty years, there will be as many people over 80 as there are under 5. Medicine has increased the ranks of the elderly. Can it make old age any easier? { read more }

Be The Change

“If we could be mindful of how short our time is, we might learn how precious each day is.” Celtic mystic John O’Donohue shares a powerful reflection. { more }

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May 10, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Third Side of a Conflict

How do we live together in a world of differences? So much depends on our ability to handle our conflicts peacefully — our happiness at home, our performance at work, the livability of our communities, and, in this age, the survival of our species. The Harvard Negotiation Project’s William Ury offers a promising new way to look at the conflicts around us, called the Third Side — the side we often don’t see in looking at the two sides of an issue. Ury suggests 10 practical roles any of us can play on a daily basis to stop destructive fighting in our families, at work, in our schools, and in the world. Although in its infancy in our modern-day societies, these ideas have been used effectively for millennia by ancient cultures to reduce violence and promote dialogue. { read more }

Be The Change

Try out some of the practical roles Ury suggests in the article above.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,189 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

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May 9, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Is the Internet Changing the Way We Think?

Each year, Edge.org poses a provocatively deep question to visionaries in science and culture. This year, it collected 168 essays relating to the question, “How is the Internet changing the way you think?” In answer, academics, scientists and philosophers responded with musings on the Internet enabling telecommunication, or functioning as a sort of prosthesis, or robbing us of our old, linear mode of thinking. Responses alternate between the quirky and the profound; the Atlantic Wire excerpts some of the more piquant answers. { read more }

Be The Change

For you personally, has the Internet changed the way you think? Share your reflections here. { more }

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May 8, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

5 Powerful Tools for Reflection

“Reflection is actually one of the secrets to my success. At least once a day, and more often several times a day, I reflect on my day, on my life, on what I’ve been doing right, and what isn’t working. I reflect on every aspect of my life, and from this habit of reflection, I am able to continuously improve. Reflection is what gave me the topic of this post, and the tips that are to follow. Reflection is what gives me the content of every post I write here.” The founder of the popular Zen Habits blog shares five powerful reasons to make reflection a daily habit, and how to do it. { read more }

Be The Change

Start a one-sentence journal today. If you’d like, share your reflection here. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,157 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

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