http://www.dailygood.org/ Extraordinary, positive changes are happening all around the world and are often overlooked. Come in and get inspired as we showcase the uplifting news stories you might have otherwise missed. http://www.dailygood.org/ http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/147610610/icon2_bigger.jpg en-us clubs@charityfocus.org "At first, I sat on a couch cushion in the middle of my living room, and meditated for 5 minutes using my kitchen timer. At the beginning, I experienced what the book referred to as a 'waterfall' of thoughts. Having never tried to focus my mind on something so simple as respiration, so many thoughts poured down on me: 'What am I going to have for lunch?' 'What if this doesn't work?' 'I should do a load of laundry.' In these instances, the wild horse takes off. Then you have to grab the reigns, and lead the horse back to the path: your breath. The important thing is to commit to doing this, and not leave your seat until the timer goes off, otherwise the horse is in control instead of the rider." Joanna Holsten writes eloquently about her early exploration of training the mind for happiness. http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4883 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4883 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800 One bitter night, in the rough end of New Haven, fifteen-year-old Vinny Ferraro and his gang were hanging out as usual by the projects when a chance encounter with a homeless man (who they were assaulting) changed the course of the rest of his life. "I didn't know what compassion meant when I was fifteen. But I knew that that homeless guy had seen my heart. And that was scary. I had done my best to hide this heart, because it wasn't safe in my world to be soft or show feelings. And he had seen right through me." It is now Ferraro who looks into angry young eyes and finds a glimpse of compassion. In this candid piece, he shares his remarkable journey from violence and despair to mindfulness and freedom, inspiring thousands of underserved youth to similarly transform their lives. http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4881 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4881 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Recent scientific research reveals that great creativity almost always springs from collaboration, conversation, and social networks -- challenging our mythical image of the isolated genius. Keith Sawyer has been studying the phenomenon known as "flow," where we get so absorbed in a task that we lose track of time; it's what some people refer to as being "in the zone." Research shows that when a group is in flow, it's more likely to resolve problems with surprising and creative solutions. Given how much of our personal and professional time is spent collectively, how can business managers, coaches, and the rest of us foster group flow? From studying improv groups, jazz musicians, and business teams, Sawyer shares that group flow tends to emerge when 10 key conditions are in place. This essay published by Greater Good shares more. http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4882 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4882 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Sometimes the greatest lessons come unexpectedly, and from the smallest moments. 7-year-old Owen Shure's heart-warming letter to a football player is a perfect example. The Twittersphere buzzed with reactions to the San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Williams fumbling the ball in a tight moment in the playoffs. Some responses were downright vitriolic. But hopefully Kyle also saw this touching story from Ben Mankiewicz: 'He was crying, saying of Kyle Williams, with the distinct sobs of a seven-year-old between each word, "But... why... did he... have to... fumble?" [...] Trying to get his son to stop crying, Michael asked him, "If you feel this way, how sad do you think Kyle Williams is?" Owen paused a second, then asked his dad, "Can I write him a letter to make him feel better?"' Nisha Srinivasan shares her reflections on Kyle's letter. http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4879 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4879 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Architect Paolo Soleri is regarded as a visionary, much to his dismay. His thought and vision combines the ethical and the metaphysical in terms of how to structure and build our cities. He says, for example, "We have reached the point where we understand the appearance of self-awareness is one of the most incredible things that's happened in the universe. So, slowly we are developing some kind of responsibility to do in the universe what it has allowed us to do." To him, ultimately, this would be a form of service. In his words, "Service, number one, to ourselves. Number two to the biosphere. Number three to reality." To survive, we must, as he says, "develop more knowledge, more tolerance, more wisdom, and become aware of what we call love or compassion." It's not the language of an ordinary architect. http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4880 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4880 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 "Simon Dale is a family man in Wales, the western part of Great Britain. His interest in self-sustainability and an ecological awareness led him to dig out and build his own home -- one of the loveliest, warmest, most inviting dwellings you could ever imagine. And it cost him only $4,700. Can you imagine a more charming entrance than this?" http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4878 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4878 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 "I'd feel so much better about the world we live in if being 'passionate' or 'inspired' was a national standard instead of so much of the academic trivia that is mandated," a high school teacher wrote. Working with 11th graders in his capacity as college advisor, he was helping them explore how their own passions could lead to further study and possible career choices. In the process, he introduced some video excerpts from the public television series "Roadtrip Nation," whose motto is "Define your own road in life." Roadtrip Nation began in 2001 when four friends just out of college set out across the country in a green RV to interview people who loved what they did. Ten years later, it's a movement. http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4874 http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=4874 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800