CNN recently posted the Presidential hand-off letter–from Obama to Trump–on Inauguration Day 2017. Might the four points apply to all of us? 1. Use your blessings to help others. 2. Be a leader, by action and example. 3. Be a…
Professional Review and Rating: David C. Sarnacki, Super Lawyers 2017
Super Lawyers selected David C. Sarnacki to its 2017 Michigan Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, uses “a patented, multi-phase process that includes peer nominations, evaluations and independent research” to select the top 5% of attorneys in…
Restoring trust after a crisis: how to prevent making things worse
CNN Money highlights four keys to recovering from a crisis and restoring reputation. While written in the context of what companies should do in a public relations crisis, the tips provide a focus for relationship problems we encounter. Rupert Younger…
How to handle difficult people? Simple strategies starting with listening and understanding
The ABA’s Law Practice Today offers advice on dealing with difficult people. Matt Potempa explains his top six tips (excerpt): 1. Listen. . . . Try to understand the source of their frustration while avoiding the temptation to interrupt and…
From pain to future: grieving into a new life
On Being shares an extraordinary letter offered up to a stranger, the “unknown friend.” Kao Kalia Yang writes (excerpt): From somewhere in the high heavens, the places I could not see, far beyond my gaze, there was a future floating…
How to avoid raising spoiled kids: Just say no
The New York Times reminds us of something the Rolling Stones told us years ago: “You can’t always get what you want/But if you try sometimes well you might find/You get what you need.” In today’s research, showing our children…
Keeping your inner peace
The recent article on finding the calm in your chaos reminded me of this quote attributed to Saint Francis de Sales: “Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace…
Living with the chaos inside of you: How to find calmness and manage stress
CNN shows one approach to finding your calm in the storm. Jessica Ravitz writes (excerpt): “Chaos is not outside of us; chaos is inside of us,” [Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji] answers. “In the chaos also you can find calmness. In the…
Why do I feel alone?: The upside of things going wrong
Jennifer Ryan animated an On Being discussion of fear, vulnerability and connection. The 2015 conversation between Brené Brown and Krista Tippett explored The Courage to Be Vulnerable, and Ryan recently added her artistic inspiration to the voices. Ryan writes (excerpt):…
Relationship advice: 11 words, 4 sentences for living and loving
On Being with Krista Tippett recently reminded us of her 2013 interview with Dr. Ira Byock. The expert in palliative care and hospice shares the core statements for any relationship and for what to say when you don’t know what…
Leah Juliett marches on: It can’t be “revenge” when you did nothing wrong
The amazing Leah Juliett slams “revenge porn” with her survivor poem, The Artist. She’s the New York performer-poet leading efforts to combat predatory discrimination and to promote cyber civil rights. CNN recently highlighted Juliett’s efforts to organize the March Against…
Extracting lies, with a little help from your mother
Craig Gray, a truly brilliant Renaissance man (and Grand Rapids’ own Krav Maga master), posted an effective tip from his PeaceWalker Program. “The Lie Detector” was inspired by the look given by a mother, and you too can use it…
Love stories: bold, sweet, hopeful, lifelong . . .
CNN Living offers up “A sweet assortment of love stories” to get us in the mood for Valentine’s Day! They asked people to leave voicemails telling their love stories and then created a multimedia page for us to share in…
Harsh parenting: bad grades, riskier behavior
CNN Parents highlights the dangers of harsh parenting: over-reliance on peers, more sexual activity, more delinquency. The study published in the journal Child Development was led by Rochelle Hentges, a postdoctoral psychology fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. It focused…
Staying happy: 5 tips for no matter what happens
CNN’s Health section highlights five coping strategies from the Dalai Lama, including being gentle with yourself, making time to reflect, keeping compassion at hand, helping, and being playful. Jen Christensen writes (excerpt): First step, work on compassion and start by…
Helping or hating: how to intervene when you see bullying or harassment
CNN’s opinion page suggest ways in which innocent bystanders can stand up to hate. The authors advocate the “4 D’s of Bystander Intervention”: Distract (deescalate by bringing the harasser “out of the moment”). Delay (until the harassment ends, then asking…
Beyond extracting forgiveness: How to apologize and restore your personal integrity
The Harvard Business Review reverses the focus of apologies, from persuading to restoring integrity. Rising out of our failures, we can consider the gap between failed performance and aspiration. Joseph Grenny writes (excerpt): Issue the apology—for the right reason. The…
The psychology of kissing: What your lips need to know
Time Magazine is highlighting its prior feature delving into the science of kissing: “How to Be a Good Kisser – 10 Tips From Scientific Research.”
Add a little Awe to your life: How to find better health and more happiness
Parade Magazine focuses on the link between the wonder of Awe and the resulting health and happiness. Psychologist Dacher Keltner refers to Awe as a transcendent feeling “of something vast or beyond human scale.” You feel connected and “see things…
Control, connection and meaning: 3 steps toward loving your job
CNN has advice for the majority of Americans: fall in love with your job even when you don’t like it. The secret is in reframing to find “control over our lives, positive daily connections, and joy and meaning in how…