By Jim Selman | BioAnyone familiar with 12 Step programs knows that the literature generally characterizes the ‘ism’ or addiction as a disease of ‘self-centeredness’. This is basically a way of saying that the behavior (that is, the alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, etc.) are symptoms—not causes. The nature of the problem is that people become trapped in a ‘self-referential’ relationship with the world, live in various states of denial, and pursue increasingly self-destructive behaviors until they ‘hit bottom’. At that moment, they can begin the process of recovery—assuming they will take the first step—to acknowledge that they are out of control and powerless and that their life is ‘unmanageable’.[Read More]
Looking for a way to immerse yourself in a different culture AND make a
difference? Consider a volunteer vacation. Opportunities exist for
people of all ages to use their skills and abilities in a variety of
situations. Some organizations
specialize in one particular type of volunteer work[Read More]
Women and men experience pain differently. Recent studies reveal that
women, when compared to men, experience more recurrent,
severe and longer lasting pain....
By Jim Selman | BioI work with organizations that are attempting
to change. At the beginning of working with a new client, I point out
what’s missing for any organization that has recurring or seemingly
intractable problems: what’s missing is a different way of observing.
Whether we’re talking about a company, a community or a continent, a new
perspective always gives us an opening to create new possibilities,
have new choices and take new actions: a new way of observing the world
effectively gives us a different future than some variation of ‘more of
the same’. We need to stop asking what the problems are and start
asking why they persist. When we do, we begin to realize that we
have a paradigm problem. Until we deal with that, none of our seemingly
intractable problems—from staggering debt to unending war, climate
change to the underlying causes of the mortgage crises—can be solved.
Albert Einstein expressed this concisely when he said that sometimes our
problems cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when we
created them.[Read More]
Finding safe, healthy and green products is all the rage today.
Considering a lot of our weekly spending goes to food, personal care and
household products, it would be great to be able to learn more about
what we really are investing in and get expert advice on what are the
best buys from a green perspective. We came across a website worth using
called GoodGuide.
On it, you can search for over 70,000 products, create your own
"Favorites" list, and make all your purchasing decisions count.
Membership is free, and gives you access to all the tools on the site.
GoodGuide is a certified B corporation™, which means they
meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance
standards and consider stakeholder interests as part of their legal
responsibilities.[Read More]
The C.D. Howe Institute recently released their recommendations on how
to break the deadlock in the Canadian pension system. With many citizens
not saving enough for retirement, provinces, lobby groups and
retirement gurus alike are looking to increase tax-deferred saving,
improve access to good retirement saving plans, and modernize the rules
governing
retirement income.[Read More]
One of the most inspiring things here [at the
Olympics in Vancouver] is the sustained camaraderie of ALL the
athletes.We have been here eleven days and the demonstration of humanity
has not waivered once. I am continuously stunned by the
respect, courtesy and admiration that transcends national boundaries,
religious differences and historic animosities. This code of
sportsmanship and honor encompasses more than just the sport.[Read More]
Recorded 25 years after the original video, this amazing performance from over 80 artists and performers reminds us we can make a difference in the lives of the Haitian people today.[Read More]