Posted on November 13, 2014 by Robert Ringer
If you’re like me, you probably find card-carrying members of the AAA (American Association of Arrogance) hard to stomach. But it’s still a good idea to learn, even from those you find repugnant. What can you learn from these self-anointed saints? Answer: plenty. For the sake of brevity, I’ll mention just three of the most […]
Posted on November 10, 2014 by Robert Ringer
We are living through a period of human history when morality has become a passé topic. For that very reason, vigilance and self-discipline are in order, because morality is perhaps the most important element in leading a successful life. In that vein, the first step is to define your moral standards, because they serve as […]
Posted on November 6, 2014 by Dr. Brian K. Nichols
We all have habits, patterns, or issues that we wish to change, such as managing our relationships with others, our weight, or our work accomplishments. For many, these habits are so troubling that they wish they could have them removed from their psyche, like some sort of modern-day “psycho-surgery.” I have long contended that as […]
Posted on November 4, 2014 by Lauri Ringer
Benjamin Franklin knew that happiness was not a passive endeavor, as evidenced by his statement, “The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.” Today, almost two-and-a-half centuries later, Franklin’s words still prompt the question, What are the factors that lead to a successful pursuit […]
Posted on October 31, 2014 by Robert Ringer
I have often heard it argued that reality is not an absolute, that each individual has his own perception of reality. The implication is that because each of us perceives the world through our own eyes, reality itself changes from person to person. While it’s true that everyone perceives reality differently, reality could care less […]
Posted on October 27, 2014 by Lauri Ringer
Every human being possesses a hero within. Biologically rooted in our primitive ancestors, it is part of humankind’s collective unconsciousness. When we access our hero within, we unlock our deepest potential as human beings. We also gain insight into dealing with life’s inevitable challenges. To discover our hero within, we must embark on what Joseph […]
Posted on October 23, 2014 by Robert Ringer
In Erich Fromm’s 1956 classic The Art of Loving, he provides some unique insights into the subject of faith that have given me a lot to think about. Fromm did not believe faith is in opposition to reason or rational thinking. On the contrary, he simply made a distinction between rational faith and irrational faith. […]
Posted on October 21, 2014 by Robert Ringer
By dictionary definition, joy is “an emotion of great happiness.” I would be tempted to refer to it as ultimate happiness, but there is no accurate way to quantify either happiness or joy. The truth is that none of us can ever be certain of what constitutes ultimate happiness. Whatever it is, joy seems to […]
Posted on October 16, 2014 by Robert Ringer
A friend of mine just returned from a trip Down Under, and I was saddened to hear him tell me that the visible destruction in Christchurch, New Zealand, my one-time home, is still enormous. Christchurch suffered a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 2011 that killed one hundred eighty-five people and destroyed scores of buildings. This got […]
Posted on October 14, 2014 by Robert Ringer
I never cease to be amazed by the uncertainties of life. Americans have been cruising along for years, enjoying the nonexistent economic recovery, rooting for their favorite thug teams, and piling evermore vacations, cars, and all kinds of frivolous and discretionary goodies onto their credit card balances. But times they are a-changin’ — beheadings in […]
