![]() ![]() I’ve found I can’t make others be civil, but I can be civil and at best set a positive example and at least minimize the total incivility in the world. When we live within the familiar we forget about the diversity in the bigger world. ![]() But if time and finances don’t allow, visit a new state or spend time in a museum near where you live. The best way I know to enlarge your perspective is to travel abroad. You’ll learn more when you learn what others think and feel and why. Go beyond “what are you doing?” to “what are you thinking?” Staying superficial is easy but it is the junk food of thought. Have deeper conversations with friends.You simply increase frequency, intensity and/or improve technique.) Technique as a way to get better at anything. ![]() (In my book, The Potential Principle, I explain the F.I.T. And don’t forget to get your heart rate up enough to improve your cardio. Doing weight lifting wrong is a quick way in injury and will produce little if any positive results. I am amazed at some of the bad practices I see at my gym. (Yawn.) Sorry, but despite how much we talk about it, few of us do it enough or do it correctly. Be informed but don’t be inundated by news. You can be saturated with much of the same news each day, which adds to your frustration. News tends to repeat itself, both on TV and in print. Read enough about current events to have an informed opinion and world view. (Michael Connelly’s crime novels are a great example of engaging plots and insights into police procedure.) But don’t read exclusively for pleasure. I love novels that aren’t just engaging but teach something at the same time. Now, I sleep enough to keep the flame of my candle going. When I was young I prided myself on burning the candle at both ends. The research is clear: lack of sufficient sleep is a major influence on poor health. A friend’s father-in-law was a doctor and when asked the most important thing someone could do to improve their health, the doctor’s response was “chew more.” Not only have I tried to chew more, but in doing so it slows how quickly we tend to gobble down our food. There are times when speed is necessary, but too often speed only seems necessary because we are chasing rabbits instead of tracking the big game in life. The longer I live the more convinced I am that you accomplish more of importance by slowing down. Just because others are behaving badly doesn’t mean that you are justified to do so, too. ![]() Reacting without thinking and lashing out in anger are both shortcuts to an ulcer. Act with integrity even if others don’t.Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.” Don’t get excited about things that either aren’t true or are so wildly exaggerated as to get attention. Take responsibility for your life and quit blaming others. Balance your heart with your head so emotionalism doesn’t drive out reason. While is sounds like a good idea, just how do you do that? What can anyone do? The short answer? Pursue sanity. However, I am, for purposes of the year ahead, thinking specifically about this question: I’m not discounting the tremendous opportunities that exist these days. The gamut of craziness runs from politics and investigations to egregious behavior and accusations to social media, uncivil media, and so much more. No matter how you analyze it, the events happening around us are often unprecedented and challenging. ![]()
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