Our Society Depends Upon Skillful Striving. Here’s the Case For It. — There is increasing momentum behind a movement that I’ll call broadly “anti-ambition.” Loosely defined, the anti-ambition crowd says that we place too much emphasis on work and striving and it’s bad for us as individuals and for us as a society. While there is some merit to this argument, it…

Over the past few months since the publication of The Practice of Groundedness — a book which, in many ways, is a coda to what I’ve been… — Over the past few months since the publication of The Practice of Groundedness — a book which, in many ways, is a coda to what I’ve been writing about in this column for the last five years — I’ve had the chance to interact with all kinds of people, from…

My annual list includes titles by George Saunders, Kate Bowler, Cal Newport, and more. — Welcome to the annual reading list. If you are familiar with my work, you’ll know that it integrates ideas, research, and practices from diverse domains. (See my latest book for a great example.) People always ask me how I do this. The answer is simple: I do my best to…

The case for subtraction and creating more space — A common refrain amongst my coaching clients, and most people these days, is finding it challenging to pay deep attention to meaningful activities. Even after addressing low-hanging fruit — for example: eliminating distractions, designing the physical environment, and timing specific tasks — many people still struggle. …

There’s a simpler — and better — way — A recent report from the Global Wellness Institute, a nonprofit focused on research in preventative health and wellness, found that Americans spent $264.6 billion dollars on physical activity in 2018, far more than any other nation. The United States leads the world in spending for every segment, including fitness classes…