Download or read book The Seed written by Jon Gordon and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-04-27 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A business fable to help you discover your purpose in work and life New from Jon Gordon, the international and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Energy Bus, The Seed takes you on a quest for the meaning and passion behind work. Josh, an up-and-comer at his company, is disenchanted with his job. Challenged by his boss to take two weeks to decide if he really wants to work there, Josh takes off for the country, where he meets a wise farmer who gives him a seed and a promise: find the right place to plant the seed, and his purpose will be revealed. Through Josh's journey cross-country journey, you'll find surprising new sources of wisdom and inspiration in your own business and life. Nobody captures the deeper meaning of business like Jon Gordon, and The Seed is his most searching and significant book yet. Whatever your profession, take this insightful look at the purpose behind work, and plant The Seed of inspiration in your life!

Download or read book The Crossroads of Should and Must written by Elle Luna and published by Workman Publishing Company. This book was released on 2015-04-07 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are two paths in life: Should & Must. We arrive at this crossroads over and over again, and every day. And we get to choose. Starting out or starting over, making a career change or making a life change, the most life-affirming thing you can do is to honor the voice inside that says your have something special to give, and then heed the call and act. Many have traveled this road before. Here’s how you can, too. #choosemust An inspirational gift book for every recent graduate, every artist, every seeker, and every career change.

Download or read book 365 Comics written by Andrew Folts and published by . This book was released on 2020-12-09 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you ever felt "behind" as a creative?You're not alone. In 2019, Andrew Folts was a freelancer designer struggling to find purpose. But when a chance encounter forced him to take a hard look at his "jack-of-all-trades" portfolio, it was time to do something BIG...He set out on a mission to draw 365 comics in ONE YEAR.In his first published book, Andrew tells the story of how a simple daily practice changed his whole life-how he defeated creative block, landed a guest post with Chris Do (CEO of The Futur), grew his Instagram following from 0 to 1,500, and became known as the go-to-guy for creative purpose.With three hundred sixty-five illustrations and thirty "tiny essays," 365 Comics is the zany-yet-strangely-effective blueprint that every creative rebel needs to kickstart their personal revolution.It's a call-to-arms that forces you to ask..."Why didn't I do this five years ago?"And... "Where will I be tomorrow if I start today?" (:

Download or read book The Power of Meaning written by Emily Esfahani Smith and published by Crown. This book was released on 2017-01-10 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a culture obsessed with happiness, this wise, stirring book points the way toward a richer, more satisfying life. Too many of us believe that the search for meaning is an esoteric pursuit—that you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to discover life’s secrets. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us—right here, right now. To explore how we can craft lives of meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith synthesizes a kaleidoscopic array of sources—from psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, and neuroscientists to figures in literature and history such as George Eliot, Viktor Frankl, Aristotle, and the Buddha. Drawing on this research, Smith shows us how cultivating connections to others, identifying and working toward a purpose, telling stories about our place in the world, and seeking out mystery can immeasurably deepen our lives. To bring what she calls the four pillars of meaning to life, Smith visits a tight-knit fishing village in the Chesapeake Bay, stargazes in West Texas, attends a dinner where young people gather to share their experiences of profound loss, and more. She also introduces us to compelling seekers of meaning—from the drug kingpin who finds his purpose in helping people get fit to the artist who draws on her Hindu upbringing to create arresting photographs. And she explores how we might begin to build a culture that leaves space for introspection and awe, cultivates a sense of community, and imbues our lives with meaning. Inspiring and story-driven, The Power of Meaning will strike a profound chord in anyone seeking a life that matters.

Download or read book Seeking Purpose Happiness in Life written by Abhimanyu Singh and published by Notion Press. This book was released on 2020-06-08 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life is continuity, with the genes we inherited from our ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago. Death is not the end of life but a break for life to rejuvenate itself. Life and nature are symbiotic. Our actions should not be in conflict with the laws of nature, which is part of the larger cosmos; else, it will be destructive to life. We cannot be happy by pursuing our objectives for narrow, personal gains. Pleasures that are physical provide only transitory happiness. Lasting happiness is mental—when our actions are for the general good and appreciated by others and when our inner self feels contented. This can happen when our conduct is morally right and we live a life of moderation, avoiding excesses. We have opted for democracy as it provides for rule by the people and for its commitment to protection of human rights, but powerhungry politicians have become despots, repressing the rights of the people. Similarly, the free market has widened the gap between those who own the means of production and the employees, leading to concentration of wealth which creates inequalities and exploitation of the weak. We have to be not only eternally vigilant but also take advantage of the opportunities offered by emerging technologies to banish poverty, which is a blot on humanity in modern times.

Download or read book The Passion Test written by Janet Bray Attwood and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-10-13 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Accessible to anyone of any faith or background, The Passion Test takes readers on a journey to experience the transformation that occurs when they determine what really matters most to them. Through interactive sections, the book helps the reader to identify their top 5 passions, and provides guidance on how to align their life with those passions. Combining powerful storytelling and profound wisdom from the world's leading experts in self-development, The Passion Testshows practical ways how the law of attraction can be used to bring a life of unlimited reward and unconditional love.

Download or read book What the Happiest Retirees Know 10 Habits for a Healthy Secure and Joyful Life written by Wes Moss and published by McGraw Hill Professional. This book was released on 2021-10-26 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The bestselling author of You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think and host of Money Matters reveals the 10 essential habits for a rich, rewarding, and blissful retirement. What does it take to have a truly happy retirement? Is it money? A mortgage-free home? An active social life? A long-lasting marriage—or maybe a new one? Finance expert, author, and radio host Wes Moss asked more than 2,000 of the nation’s happiest retirees to find out—and their answers may surprise you. Through a series of revealing surveys, Moss noticed a pattern of distinct, recognizable habits that the happiest retirees shared, from the simplest of lifestyle choices to the smartest of financial strategies. These are the kinds of habits anyone can develop—the perfect road map to a healthy, secure, and joyful retirement—sooner. Whether you’re already retired or just starting to make plans, these 10 simple actions and attitudes can make a profound difference in every aspect of your life. The book is packed with hard-won wisdom and invaluable advice on how to make little changes now that will have the biggest impact later. It’s filled with proven ways to develop smarter habits with: Money (“Think river, not reservoir”); Family (“Get your kids off your payroll”); Housing (“Live mortgage-free”); Investing (“Be a tomorrow investor”); Spending (“Be pound wise—so you can be penny foolish”); and much more. With these 10 transformational habits, you can stop obsessing over money, stay socially connected, and start enjoying your new life—as the happiest retiree on the block.

Download or read book Seeking Purpose Happiness in Life written by and published by . This book was released on 2020-06 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life is continuity, with the genes we inherited from our ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago. Death is not the end of life but a break for life to rejuvenate itself. Life and nature are symbiotic. Our actions should not be in conflict with the laws of nature, which is part of the larger cosmos; else, it will be destructive to life. We cannot be happy by pursuing our objectives for narrow, personal gains. Pleasures that are physical provide only transitory happiness. Lasting happiness is mental-when our actions are for the general good and appreciated by others and when our inner self feels contented. This can happen when our conduct is morally right and we live a life of moderation, avoiding excesses. We have opted for democracy as it provides for rule by the people and for its commitment to protection of human rights, but powerhungry politicians have become despots, repressing the rights of the people. Similarly, the free market has widened the gap between those who own the means of production and the employees, leading to concentration of wealth which creates inequalities and exploitation of the weak. We have to be not only eternally vigilant but also take advantage of the opportunities offered by emerging technologies to banish poverty, which is a blot on humanity in modern times.

Download or read book How to Ikigai written by Tim Tamashiro and published by Mango Media Inc.. This book was released on 2019-01-31 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Live Your Best Life Ancient, time-tested wisdom: Okinawa, Japan is a tiny, tiny island south of the Japanese mainland where people live their life’s purpose every day. How is it possible for so many to live each day in such meaningful ways? The Okinawan concept of Ikigai. How to Ikigai describes the lifestyle choices that have led to an island full of fulfilled, long-living people. Magical reality come to life: Examples of ikigai in action are often magical. Take David Michiels. David stuttered severely well into his adulthood. In clinical terms, his stutter was difficult to treat. But David started to work in a liquor store. Before long, his focus turned to one specific section of the sales floor: the scotch section. As he spent more of his days learning about scotch, he began to share his knowledge with customers. Eventually, David noticed that his stutter vanished when he talked to anyone about scotch. Over time, David’s passion led to a new life. Today, he is a renowned whiskey expert, traveling the world tasting and purchasing whiskey on behalf of his employer. He feels his life is meaningful because of ikigai. A humble look at happiness: Bringing together an exploration of joy not unlike that of The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a look inward reminiscent of The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer, and deep truths like those explored by Singer in The Surrender Experiment, How to Ikigai describes the concept of Ikigai with clarity and meaning. How to Ikigai explains a simple but abstract map for living a meaningful life. After reading this book, you will understand how to implement Ikigai’s four directions in your own life: • Do what you love • Do what you’re good at • Do what the world needs • Do what you can be rewarded for

Download or read book Find Your Life Purpose written by Mervyn Smallwood and published by . This book was released on 2012-12 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ""Have you found your unique purpose in life? Have you discovered the secret for success and happiness?"" If so, congratulations! If not, read on... I believe there's a "special purpose" for your life and "you can find it." Finding and living your purpose is the most important thing you can ever do in life. It's the secret for true success and lasting happiness. It's the pathway to inner peace and source of endless satisfaction. Your life is precious and your time is valuable. Don't waste it. Make the most of it. You are unique. You are irreplaceable. You have something to offer that no-one else in the world can give. Make this world a better place by doing what only you can do. Some find their purpose almost by accident; others through a flash of inspiration. Sadly, some never find it and miss out on what could have been. But life doesn't have to be like that... It took me a while to discover my own life's purpose. Since then I've sought to help others who've also been searching. During the past 30 years I've recognised patterns and similar themes that kept coming up. I've also kept a note of useful exercises that helped both myself and others travelling along on the same journey. This book captures what I've learnt and presents it in a structured yet thought-provoking way. Within this book I will guide you through a simple yet powerful seven step process. Each step contains valuable exercises to help you gain fresh insights and then apply what you learn. You will discover how to: See life with a clearer perspective Work out what's really worthwhile in life Tune into your inner guidance system Explore your hopes and dreams Make the most of your skills and abilities Plan your future for greater success and fulfilment Keep yourself motivated and overcome challenges ********** What others are saying about this book... "- "The book is one of the best I've ever read. This is great guide to finding your life purpose. I would recommend this to anyone. Money well spent!"" (Richard, UK) "- "20 years ago I read a number of PMA (positive mental attitude) books, every one of them by US authors. No disrespect to them, but I only wish that this book by Mervyn Smallwood had been available then because it cuts to the chase; he knows what he's talking about and he can get it across so well. I would call it a "life manual." It should be a compulsory read in secondary schools."" (Graham Higson, UK) "- "I would recommend this book to all of my friends. This book helped me through a very difficult time in my life!"" (Becourageous2, US) ********** Please, make the effort to discover and live out your unique life purpose. Find out more by clicking on the cover picture above to 'Look Inside', or if you're ready, just click the "'buy it now'" button...

Download or read book The Sweet Spot written by Paul Bloom and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2021-11-02 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This book will challenge you to rethink your vision of a good life. With sharp insights and lucid prose, Paul Bloom makes a captivating case that pain and suffering are essential to happiness. It’s an exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife One of Behavioral Scientist's "Notable Books of 2021" From the author of Against Empathy, a different kind of happiness book, one that shows us how suffering is an essential source of both pleasure and meaning in our lives Why do we so often seek out physical pain and emotional turmoil? We go to movies that make us cry, or scream, or gag. We poke at sores, eat spicy foods, immerse ourselves in hot baths, run marathons. Some of us even seek out pain and humiliation in sexual role-play. Where do these seemingly perverse appetites come from? Drawing on groundbreaking findings from psychology and brain science, The Sweet Spot shows how the right kind of suffering sets the stage for enhanced pleasure. Pain can distract us from our anxieties and help us transcend the self. Choosing to suffer can serve social goals; it can display how tough we are or, conversely, can function as a cry for help. Feelings of fear and sadness are part of the pleasure of immersing ourselves in play and fantasy and can provide certain moral satisfactions. And effort, struggle, and difficulty can, in the right contexts, lead to the joys of mastery and flow. But suffering plays a deeper role as well. We are not natural hedonists—a good life involves more than pleasure. People seek lives of meaning and significance; we aspire to rich relationships and satisfying pursuits, and this requires some amount of struggle, anxiety, and loss. Brilliantly argued, witty, and humane, Paul Bloom shows how a life without chosen suffering would be empty—and worse than that, boring.

Download or read book The Algebra of Happiness written by Scott Galloway and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2019-05-14 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An unconventional book of wisdom and life advice from renowned business school professor and New York Times bestselling author of The Four Scott Galloway. Scott Galloway teaches brand strategy at NYU's Stern School of Business, but his most popular lectures deal with life strategy, not business. In the classroom, on his blog, and in YouTube videos garnering millions of views, he regularly offers hard-hitting answers to the big questions: What's the formula for a life well lived? How can you have a meaningful career, not just a lucrative one? Is work/life balance possible? What are the elements of a successful relationship? The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning draws on Professor Galloway's mix of anecdotes and no-BS insight to share hard-won wisdom about life's challenges, along with poignant personal stories. Whether it's advice on if you should drop out of school to be an entrepreneur (it might have worked for Steve Jobs, but you're probably not Steve Jobs), ideas on how to position yourself in a crowded job market (do something "boring" and move to a city; passion is for people who are already rich), discovering what the most important decision in your life is (it's not your job, your car, OR your zip code), or arguing that our relationships to others are ultimately all that matter, Galloway entertains, inspires, and provokes. Brash, funny, and surprisingly moving, The Algebra of Happiness represents a refreshing perspective on our need for both professional success and personal fulfillment, and makes the perfect gift for any new graduate, or for anyone who feels adrift.

Download or read book Ikigai written by Héctor García and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-08-29 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • 2 MILLION+ COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE “Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai.” ―Business Insider “One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life.” ―Forbes Find your ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) to live longer and bring more meaning and joy to all your days. “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—where what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?

Download or read book From Strength to Strength written by Arthur C. Brooks and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and the Atlantic's happiness columnist Arthur Brooks. Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful it is when it occurs. What can we do, starting now, to make our older years a time of happiness, purpose, and yes, success? At the height of his career at the age of 50, Arthur Brooks embarked on a seven-year journey to discover how to transform his future from one of disappointment over waning abilities into an opportunity for progress. From Strength to Strength is the result, a practical roadmap for the rest of your life. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach. By refocusing on certain priorities and habits that anyone can learn, such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress, we can set ourselves up for increased happiness. Read this book and you, too, can go from strength to strength.

Download or read book The Path written by Michael Puett and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2016-04-05 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For the first time an award-winning Harvard professor shares the lessons from his wildly popular course on classical Chinese philosophy, showing you how these ancient ideas can guide you on the path to a good life today. The lessons taught by ancient Chinese philosophers surprisingly still apply, and they challenge our fundamental assumptions about how to lead a fulfilled, happy, and successful life. Self-discovery, it turns out, comes through looking outward, not inward. Power comes from holding back. Good relationships come from small gestures. Spontaneity comes from practice. And excellence comes from what you choose to do, not your “natural” abilities. Counterintuitive. Countercultural. Even revolutionary. These powerful ideas have made Professor Michael Puett's course the third most popular at Harvard University in recent years, with enrollment surging every year since it was first offered in 2006. It's clear students are drawn by a bold promise Professor Puett makes on the first day of class: “These ideas will change your life.” Now he offers his course to the world.

Download or read book The Happiness of Pursuit written by Chris Guillebeau and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2014-09-09 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A remarkable guide to the quests that give our lives meaning—and how to find your own—from the New York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup and 100 Side Hustles “If you like complacency and mediocrity, do not read this book. It’s dangerously inspiring.”—A. J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All When he set out to visit all of the planet’s countries by age thirty-five, compulsive goal-seeker Chris Guillebeau never imagined that his journey’s biggest revelation would be how many people like himself exist—each pursuing a challenging quest. These quests are as diverse as humanity itself, involving exploration, the pursuit of athletic or artistic excellence, or battling against injustice and poverty. Everywhere that Chris visited he found ordinary people working toward extraordinary goals, making daily down payments on their dreams. These “questers” included a suburban mom pursuing a wildly ambitious culinary project, a DJ producing the world’s largest symphony, a young widower completing the tasks his wife would never accomplish—and scores of others writing themselves into the record books. The more Chris spoke with these strivers, the more he began to appreciate the direct link between questing and long-term happiness, and he was compelled to complete a comprehensive study of the phenomenon. In The Happiness of Pursuit, he draws on interviews with hundreds of questers, revealing their secret motivations, their selection criteria, the role played by friends and family, their tricks for solving logistics, and the importance of documentation. Equally fascinating is Chris’s examination of questing’s other side. What happens after the summit is climbed, the painting hung, the endurance record broken, the at-risk community saved? A book that challenges each of us to take control—to make our lives be about something while at the same time remaining clear-eyed about the commitment—The Happiness of Pursuit will inspire readers of every age and aspiration. It’s a playbook for making your life count. “The Happiness of Pursuit is smart, honest, and dangerous. Why dangerous? Because it is as practical as it is inspiring. You won’t just be daydreaming about your quest—you’ll be packing for it!”—Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, author of Daring Greatly

Download or read book Noble Purpose written by William Bill Damon and published by Templeton Foundation Press. This book was released on 2009-07-23 with total page 113 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book describes the personal and spiritual benefits of living life in a way that matters, with an awareness that one's life can reflect a sense of higher purpose no matter what the circumstances. The book draws upon religious, philosophical, and literary writings to show how humans in many cultures and historical epochs have pursued noble purposes by answering God's call as each hears it. Noble purpose can be pursued both in heroic acts and in everyday behavior. The book shows how ordinary people—teachers, business professionals, parents, citizens—can ennoble what they do by being mindful of its deepest meaning. It also points out that humility is a necessary virtue for those who pursue a noble purpose. Great heroes are bold, courageous, and sometimes audacious in their determination to succeed; but they are also humble in their awareness of their own limitations. Moreover, a person must never violate basic moral laws while pursuing a noble purpose—the means must be as moral as the ends. Purpose brings coherence and satisfaction to people's lives, producing joy in good times and resilience in hard times. It also presents a paradox: hard work in service of noble purpose that transcends personal gain is a surer path to happiness than the self-indulgent pursuit of happiness for its own sake. The closer we come to God's purpose for us, the more satisfied our lives become. From the inspiration and examples conveyed in this book, we learn that all individuals have the capacity to discover their own God-given abilities, to learn the world's need for the services they can provide, and to experience joy in serving society and God in their special ways. As theologian Frederick Buechner writes, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."