How can you live a life without regret?
rl Pillemer of Cornell University interviewed nearly 1500 people age 70 to 100+ for his book “30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans.” He asked them what life lessons they would pass on. What did they say about avoiding regrets? Via 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans: Here’s the refrigerator list for regret reduction: 1. Always be honest. Avoid acts of dishonesty, both big and small. Most people suffer from…
3 minutes
What five secrets about life can you learn from those who have lived the longest?
piece in the Harvard Gazette covers what Karl Pillemer of Cornell University learned from studying nearly 1500 people age 70 to 100+ for his book "30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans." What insights did he come away with? 1) Remember that life is short. His research began with a simple question: “What are the most important lessons you have learned over your life?” Respondents included homemakers, entrepreneurs, and even a former Tuskegee airman,…
2 minutes
To Help Others The Right Way, Do These 5 Things
ve posted a number of times about how helping others makes you happier. But I know this leaves some people scratching their heads: How much should I help others? How often? Will I be exploited? Will I end up resenting people I love if they don't reciprocate? We all know selfless givers who are taken advantage of and taken for granted. Nobody wants to feel like a sucker. So this simple thing doesn't seem so simple -- and it feels…
3 minutes
2 Things That Lead To A Happy Life, Backed By Research
ve posted a number of times about two nearly-lifelong studies: the Terman Study (covered in The Longevity Project) and the Grant Study (covered in Triumphs of Experience.) While different in some respects, both followed a sample of people from youth until death and provided insights into what makes for a happy life. What two big ideas do they both strongly agree on? 1) A Happy Childhood Matters More Than You Think The Grant Study found being happy when you're…
4 minutes
Checklist: What are 4 steps to a more meaningful life?
bsp; 1) What do you want the story of your life to be? It's your funeral. After a long life, the end has come. What do you want the people who love you to be saying about you? About what you accomplished? About the difference you made in their lives? Got a few thoughts? Congratulations, you now have long term goals. Work backwards and make those things happen. Via Richard Wiseman’s excellent book 59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a…
4 minutes
Which 8 questions can determine how happy and successful your life will be?
ve posted previously about the Grant Study. It followed (and continues to follow) a group of men through their entire adult lives and into old age to determine what is associated with health and well-being. George Valliant's book Triumphs of Experience covers the results of the study and what he learned shepherding it. Looking at the men who were happiest and most accomplished in their 80's researchers were able to see similarities. Which men would go on to fare the best and…
2 minutes
How do you find the best mentor for you?
bsp; Mentors have been essential for me. No matter how many books you read or how much time you spend researching on the web, mentors are still a crucial part of learning in any arena. So how do you find a great one? Daniel Coyle goes through the research in his excellent book The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills and pulls together five points: 1) Avoid Someone Who Reminds You of a Courteous Waiter …one who focuses his…
4 minutes
What makes for a good life?
the 1940's the Grant Study began at Harvard, following a cohort of young men for their entire lives in an effort to determine what predicts health and well-being. George Valliant took over shepherding the study in 1966. He recently published a book on its findings and how it affected him personally: Triumphs of Experience. Dan Slater has a piece in the Daily Beast about it. Here are some highlights: To avid consumers of modern happiness literature, some of Vaillant’s conclusions will…
2 minutes
