Insulting someone with a compliment
What some people offer as a compliment, others take as an insult. Generally speaking, when we compliment someone, we expect that person to be happy [...]
Patriotism is one of the most powerful emotions
Patriotism is not meant to make us into cannon fodder at the summons of the power hungry. It is meant to inspire us to dedicate [...]
Get what we value vs value what we get
Whenever we don't get something that our mind is infatuated with, we often find ourselves in a foul mood, where we devalue or even detest [...]
Earning the right to correct others
Just because we are right does not mean that we have the right to tell everyone that we are right. Sometimes people who are right [...]
Delivering bad news is sometimes necessary
Delivering bad news is sometimes necessary to prevent the bad news from becoming worse. When something bad happens and we get the information about it [...]
An unflattering truth about feeling flattered
Just because we are flattered by a proposal doesn’t mean that we are going to accept that proposal; nor does it mean that we are [...]
How to deal with the ungrateful
People are ungrateful for the help offered to them, not just because the help that was offered was inadequate, but because they just want a [...]
Why people think we are disrespectful
Just because something is obvious to us doesn't mean that it has to be obvious to everyone else. To use the word 'obviously' can come [...]
See beyond harsh language
Just because we don't endorse someone's language doesn't mean that we can't empathize with their feelings. Sometimes some people express their concerns in language that [...]
Why words hurt
What some people consider friendly banter, others consider to be beastly torture. In this world, different people perceive things differently. And sometimes someone who might [...]
Two kinds of extremism
Two kinds of extremism: Extremism can be in thought and in action. Extremism in thought is often called exclusivism, where people believe, for example, if [...]
The capacity to appreciate our blessings
The capacity to appreciate our blessings is the greatest blessing. We are all surrounded by blessings in our lives, be they small or big. Yet [...]
How gratitude brings happiness
Happiness comes not by increasing what we have but by increasing our appreciation for what we have. The world often teaches us that to be [...]
Courage in the absence of danger?
We all sometimes dream of situations in which we act bravely and offer great help, even life-saving help, to someone in need. Whenever we think [...]
Fight today’s battles, not yesterday’s battles
Life in this world is characterized by constant change. Functioning effectively in such a world, therefore, demands a dynamic approach to life. The need for [...]
The difference between cleverness and wisdom
When we interact with others, we often like to be perceived as lively and witty. Accordingly, we may aspire to come up with clever comments [...]
Taking responsibility for the effects of our speech
When a doctor gives a medicine to a patient, the doctor's intent may be good: to help the patient heal. Though the doctor may carefully [...]
Why sensitivity in speech is especially needed in the internet age
The Bhagavad-gita (17.15) urges us to speak the truth sensitively — that is, in a manner which is non-agitating at the very least and pleasing [...]
Sensitivity in communicating superiority
Whenever we share a spiritual message with others, we may naturally feel inspired to emphasize the things that inspire us the most. Such an emphasis [...]
Two kinds of contentment — and how they are opposite
The sentiment of contentment is sometimes seen negatively. Some people think of it as the symptom of laziness and the cause of stagnation — they [...]
Forcing ourselves to be grateful?
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is primarily an internal endeavor, wherein we try to change the default direction of our thoughts. Still, such cultivation can [...]