Overcoming the Creative Block: Advice From Artists
""Inspiration is for amateurs -- the rest of us just show up and get to work," Chuck Close scoffed. "A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood," Tchaikovsky admonished. "Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too," Isabel Allende urged. But true as this general sentiment may be, it isn't always an easy or a livable truth --... posted on Apr 22 2014, 26,225 reads

Learning From Leonardo: Decoding The Notebooks Of A Genius
"As we recognize that our sciences and technologies have become increasingly narrow in their focus, unable to understand our multi-faceted problems from an interdisciplinary perspective, we urgently need a science and technology that honor and respect the unity of all life, recognize the fundamental interdependence of all natural phenomena, and reconnect us with the living Earth. What we need toda... posted on Apr 21 2014, 19,785 reads

Hamlet's Blackberry: To Surf Or Not To Surf?
"Do you find yourself checking Facebook as soon as you wake up in the morning? Do you answer e-mails on your Blackberry while surfing the Web? Even as you read this article, is your right index finger twitching on the mouse, just itching to click on something new? If so, welcome to the 21st century. Without even realizing it, we've signed up for a life in which we're all connected, all the time. W... posted on Apr 20 2014, 9,069 reads

Solving the World's Biggest Problems
Echoing Green invests in individuals with the creativity and passion to "solve the world's biggest problems." Its fellowship recipients are young, bold, and talented. Get to know this innovative funding organization by meeting some of its social entrepreneurs and previewing a few of their projects: emergency medical response for urban India, micro-capital investment programs for rural West Africa,... posted on Apr 19 2014, 2,596 reads

Truth & Journalism: Reflections From A Pulitzer Prize-winner
This is a piece for all the "independent seekers of the truth" out there. Paul Van Slambrouck, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former chief of the Christian Science Monitor converses with master interviewer Richard Whittaker. They discuss the pursuit of truth in journalism, the power and edges of modern-day mass media, and highlights from Paul's illustrious career, ranging from interviews wi... posted on Apr 18 2014, 9,003 reads

The Empathy Library
Imagine a library filled with only the very best examples of human empathy. A treasure trove of inspiring books and films to 'spark a global empathy revolution.' This was the goal of author Roman Krznaric, who worked to capture the world's most memorable examples of empathy under one digital roof. His project, dubbed The Empathy Library, is swiftly being recognized as one of the best online commun... posted on Apr 17 2014, 24,882 reads

Helpful Tips For Your Inner Critic
Many believe that being hard on themselves will make them better people. However, research does not support this belief. Self-criticism has been shown to reduce motivation, increase procastination, and increase rumination. This article from the Greater Good Science Center summarizes some of the scientifically-proven healthier ways to take an honest look at yourself and learn from your mistakes. Fr... posted on Apr 16 2014, 47,028 reads

Carl Sagan & The Pale Blue Dot
"The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena...There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." These are the words of astronomer Carl Sagan, taken from his book Pa... posted on Apr 15 2014, 22,794 reads

The Daily Routines of Geniuses
In his book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, author Mason Curry examines the schedules of 161 painters, writers, and composers, as well as philosophers, scientists, and other exceptional thinkers. Drawing from the examples Curry provides, Sarah Green of the Harvard Business Review picks out for us a set of compelling commonalities shared by some of history's most brilliant people.... posted on Apr 14 2014, 63,888 reads

Sprouting Seeds of Compassion
"One day, visiting a friend's house in Malibu, I met an old man who had spent his life planting trees. As we talked through the afternoon, with the blue Pacific murmuring rumors of the world's vastness, and nearness, he explained how trees were the ecological equivalent of one-stop shopping: they could restore degraded soil, increase crops, feed livestock, provide building materials and firewood, ... posted on Apr 13 2014, 13,194 reads