Author: Rick Bellingham
Imposers and Exposers
I’ve been thinking about windows and mirrors lately, an educational concept created by scholar and educator Emily Style.
Windows allow readers to see into different lives and different ideas. Mirrors reflect a person’s own culture, ethnicity, and philosophy. As Sydney Harris, an American journalist and author, said:
“[M]ost people reflect the emotions of the time, while few open windows that bring light to dark places.”
In Defense of DEI
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is more than just a moral imperative; it’s a powerful driver of social and economic progress. While some argue that focusing on DEI is unnecessary or even detrimental, a wealth of research demonstrates the benefits of fostering inclusive environments in organizations and society at large. One of the most significant benefits of real DEI is its positive impact on economic growth. Keep reading to find out why and how this works.
When Loyalty is a Liability
Loyalty can morph from a valued quality to a blinding force that hinders intellectual growth and impedes progress. As Mark Twain suggests, being “loyal” to opinions that are no longer relevant impedes progress and freedom.
So what is the true power of loyalty? Where does its real value lie?
Radiance
I’ve been thinking about what it takes to bring a little light to an increasingly dark world. Fires, floods, fertility flops, and famines have become more frequent and more severe. The world seems to be shifting to the right fueled by populist rage based on false information. These rapidly changing trends are personal. We have friends whose house burned to the ground in California. They had just moved in two weeks ago and lost everything. Read More
Entertainment or Expertise
Today, less than half of U.S. adults read even just one book per year.
Is Chris Hayes right that our attention has become the focus of corporate manipulation?
If all our conscious thoughts are replaced by the buzz of beeps, notifications, and texts, how can we be more than just “bystanders to our minds”?
Hopelessly Flawed
In a blinding glimpse of the obvious, I recently had a revelation during my morning meditation. It finally struck me, on an emotional level, that we are all hopelessly flawed.
The pressure to be perfect is immense. Constantly striving for an idealized self prevents us from connecting with others. Read more to find out how to harness the power of vulnerability to connect authentically and find the courage to be seen.
Commodities or Communities
Every day presents us with choices, the most essential of which is how we spend our time and what paths we choose.
Sometimes our lives feel like a rolling stone – ups and downs over hills, through valleys, with no sense of place or permanence.
How can we find a sense of home?
When Winning is Losing
Ah, I thought I had finally found a topic on which several books had not already been written. Wrong again. When I searched Amazon for books entitled “When Winning is Losing”, several popped up. But surely, I thought, Google Gemini won’t be able to generate any ideas on this topic! Bingo. In one second it came up with several examples. Oh well, I consoled myself, at least I can still provide my unique view on Read More
Mysteries and Miracles
Throughout history, humans have grappled with the ineffable, seeking to understand the universe and our place within it. Science sometimes can’t explain experience. The belief in miracles make life simpler, whereas understanding mysteries make life more complex. Keep reading to find out more about the differences between miracles and mysteries.
The Seduction of Distraction
In a conversation with my granddaughter about a movie we had recently scene suggesting that every decision we make is an opportunity to bring our best self to whatever moment we are in, she said, “It’s hard to bring the best of who you are to each moment when you have to drag along the rest of you who are into that moment.” How can we continue to dance in harmony with the world when it’s so cacophonous, churning, distracting and discordant?
Leadership Humility, Honesty, and Humor
One could say that I have been a bit obsessed with leadership and learning for most of my life, and I finally came to the conclusion that great leaders could be distinguished by three simple characteristics. Read more to find out.
Hanging onto Hope
Our twin grandchildren just celebrated their 13th birthday as thriving and loving young adults full of potential and promise. Passing this milestone made me think back to the first 105 days of their lives which were spent in the NICU. Each day we hung onto the hope that we might be able to celebrate who they would become one day. When they turned one, I wrote a poem entitled the Sun has Come Out describing Read More