A second benefit of moving from a focus on goals to a focus on effort, is that it naturally moves us from focusing on the future to focusing on the present.

But when we think of our own mortality, we realize that it is the important things we are most likely to regret not doing when we finally run out of time (for good!). So it’s crucial to find a way to set aside time regularly for the important activities that aren’t necessarily urgent. We can usually do this by giving up some of our less purposeful

Are you doing what’s truly important? Are you responding appropriately to the needs of the situation? Are you paying attention to what you’re doing? Are you clear about your purpose and the actions that are required to achieve them?

“Only go straight, don’t know” was one. “Try, try, try for ten thousand years” was another. And a third, a decade before Nike used it to sell shoes, was the phrase “just do it.” The phrase had two slightly different meanings. First, it was to do only one thing at a time and to do it wholeheartedly. “When you are eating, only eat; when you are sleep

It takes maturity to work on something far in advance of a deadline if the activity isn’t something we like. Most of us need the pressure of a deadline closing in to kick us into action. Why? Because the feeling of discomfort or aversion we associate with the work is stronger than the feeling of anxiety we have about getting it done. So we wait unt

It is a simple method that involves three questions: 1. What have I received from __? 2. What have I given to __? 3. What troubles and difficulties have I caused __?

And somewhere along the road you may discover that there is no such thing as the “right” decision. There is just the action you take and the new situation you face as a result.

“kaizen.” It’s a generic Japanese word that means “improvement,” but is usually used to describe a program of organizational development that is based on “continuous improvement.”

Naikan is a unique reminder system. By reflecting on our past (perhaps just the past week) we’re reminded of something we should do for someone who was supportive or