Archive for 'Flourishing' Category

Finally: My formula for happiness

Posted by Sharon 8 May 2010

New research reported by behavioural economist Daniel Kahneman, shows a fascinating distinction: “money doesn’t buy you experiential happiness, but lack of money certainly buys you [the experience of] misery.”  Check out Kahneman’s TED Talk here.
Kahneman explains that the research from the USA shows people’s moment to moment feelings of happiness increase as their income increases, […]

Teaching our kids life literacy - we owe it to them

Posted by Sharon 23 April 2010

I spent yesterday out at James Meehan High School at Macquarie Fields and then the Claymore Neighbourhood & Youth Centre talking to some amazingly passionate women and men, courtesy of United Way Sydney.  Their measure of success is that the kids from these very disadvantaged suburbs have positive role models and opportunities to gain literacy […]

Positivity and the Magic Ratio

Posted by Sharon 29 November 2009

We’ve got the golden mean and the 80/20 rule.  Now, thanks to Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity, we have the magic positivity ratio of 3:1: if you have at least three positives - thoughts, phrases or actions - for every one negative, your life will change for the better.
Medical, psychological, marriage and business research all […]

Creating Shining Eyes

Posted by Sharon 16 December 2008

It’s the season to be merry, so a great TED video clip for all of us who are leaders at work, home or in our communities and clubs.  Lots of great one liners from conductor Ben Zander.
My favourite quote (at the 19 minute mark) is: “Who am I being so that my ‘followers’ eyes are […]

Why giving really is good for you

Posted by Sharon 11 June 2008

I ran across a fascinating book in the Pages & Pages, Mosman bookshop on the weekend - just the topic for a wet Sunday - Why Good things happen to Good people. Author and researcher Stephen Post must have one of the best research roles - commissioning and finding research that proves the link […]

Life’s a Garden

Posted by Sharon 3 April 2008

Thanks to colleague Meiron Lees for his reminder that summer is over and the analogy of life as a flower. My take on it is this:
Life is a garden. What you put your attention (water) on flourishes. Things you don’t water tend to grow up stunted in some way, except for those pesky, […]

Spring - Time for Human Flourishing

Posted by Sharon 15 September 2007

It’s that time of year again - my birthday - when I think about the year that’s been, celebrate my growth, successes and failures and evaluate the learning from the year. Then I set my intentions for the new year. It’s great because it coincides with spring time and find I gain lots of energy […]