Living a Life That Matters

Tragic stories and new data on the prevalence and harmfulness of bullying have made us all more sensitive to the ways our words can hurt others — merciless criticism, nasty sarcasm, hurtful nicknames, malicious rumors, and careless gossip. In Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, Joseph Telushkin writes about the moral implications of what we say. He points out that most people …

There is an ever-growing body of knowledge about the nature and causes of happiness. For one thing, it’s clear that happiness is a feeling, not a circumstance. Happiness is more than just fun or pleasure. It’s a more durable sense of well-being. Our happiness depends not on what happens to us, but what happens in us. In other words, it’s …

Character may determine our fate, but character is not determined by fate. There’s no doubt that our character has a profound effect on our future. What we must remember, however, is not merely how powerful character is in influencing our destiny, but how powerful we are in shaping our own character and, therefore, our own destiny. It’s a common mistake …

Truth Matters. Trustworthiness Matters. Truth matters and it’s your moral responsibility to find it. Trustworthiness matters and it’s your moral duty to insist on it. Never in my lifetime has truth been more important or more elusive. Though hard to find, within every mountain of careless claims, unsubstantiated assertions, fallacious reasoning and outright lies there are true facts and credible …

What can be more meaningful and fulfilling than making a positive difference in this world by making a difference in the lives we touch? It is the essence of living a life that matter. As the following story illustrates it is so much easier than we might think and it’s something we all can do every day of the year. …

Whether one calls it values education, moral education, character education or ethics education, the goal is to help young people develop sustainable attitudes, beliefs and habits that translate into personal integrity, moral strength and, most of all, positive behaviors. The Need for Moral Judgment: While there are many ways to approach ethics education, effective methods must emphasize the importance and …

Suppose you saved the life of a leprechaun, and in gratitude, he said he would give the man your daughter will marry one exceptional quality of your choosing. This man could be very smart, enormously rich, remarkably good-looking, unusually strong and athletic, highly creative and artistic, or singularly competent — or he could possess extraordinary character. What would you choose? Now suppose …

Long ago a young man crossing a desert came upon a spring of cool, crystal-clear water. The water was so delightful he thought how much his grandfather Saul would love it, so he filled his leather water bag. After a two-day journey he presented the water to Saul who immediately drank from the canteen and with a look of pride …

Whether you are a Christian or not, Henry Van Dyke‘s concept of “Keeping Christmas,” written in 1905, is worth reading and following: It is a good thing to observe Christmas Day. The mere making of times and seasons when men agree to stop work and make merry together is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the …

In her book “Gifts of the Heart”, Betty Youngs tells of a man who read an appeal in his church bulletin to gather food, gifts and toys to help a church family have a better Christmas. The man, I’ll call him Jim, whose own family was struggling, pointed to the bulletin and told his wife, “We must help.” So, the …

As a precocious smart ass in high school and in later stages of my life as a law professor, parent and boss, I thought it was my right and responsibility to make my friends wiser, my students smarter, and my children better by telling them better ways to think, clearing up their confusions and deepening their understanding and knowledge. I …