How to Change Your Bad Habits by Practicing Mindfulness

A woman smoking a cigarette and trying to change bad habits

Do you want to learn how to change your bad habits? How can mindfulness help you overcome self-destructive practices? According to Robert Wright, mindfulness is an effective way to change your habits. He says that mental modules are like muscles—they strengthen in response to repetition or weaken in response to disuse. Keep reading to learn why mindfulness is the key to self-improvement.

The Desire Map: Book Overview (Danielle LaPorte)

A man with a gray beard and sweater sitting on a couch and reading a book with a table and bookcases in the background

What if the goals you’re chasing aren’t actually making you happy? How can you set goals that align with your deepest desires and lead to genuine fulfillment? In her book The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals With Soul, Danielle LaPorte reveals a new approach to goal-setting that focuses on how you want to feel rather than what you want to achieve. She helps you discover your core desired feelings and use them as guideposts for making decisions. Read on for an overview of this book that can help you tap into the wisdom of your emotions as your

Youth Personal Development: Homeboy Industries’s Success

Greg Boyle and members of Homeboy Industries showing youth personal development

How did Greg Boyle change the lives of many at-risk youth? How can small, everyday changes lead to profound personal growth? Greg Boyle’s book, Tattoos on the Heart, explores youth personal development through transformation and redemption in gang-affected communities. His work demonstrates how patience, understanding, and unwavering support can help young people discover their inherent worth and potential. Let’s look at the power of gradual transformation that exists within every person.

Trust Your Feelings—Especially Your Desires (Danielle LaPorte)

A compass with smiley face emotions (joy, anger, peace, sadness) illustrates the advice to trust your feelings

What role should emotions play in your decision-making process? How can you tell the difference between fleeting wants and genuine desires? In The Desire Map, Danielle LaPorte explains why it’s essential to trust your feelings, particularly when making important life choices. She reveals how deep-seated desires act as an internal compass, guiding you toward genuine fulfillment rather than temporary satisfaction. Continue reading to discover how your emotional guidance system can work alongside logic to create a more authentic and satisfying life.

How to Connect With Your Emotions: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

A woman holding several different face emojis in her hand illustrates how to connect with your emotions

What’s holding you back from truly understanding your deepest desires? How can you better recognize the emotions that guide your daily choices? Learning how to connect with your emotions is a transformative journey that begins with self-examination. In The Desire Map, Danielle LaPorte offers a fresh approach to goal-setting by focusing on feelings rather than actions. She helps you explore your core values, natural talents, and what brings you genuine joy. Read more to discover powerful questions and practical techniques that will help you unlock a deeper understanding of yourself and your emotional landscape.

Pursue Your Core Desired Feelings (Danielle LaPorte)

A woman looking at sticky notes on a white board that say "Peace," "Joy," and "Confidence" illustrates core desired feelings

What emotions do you truly want to experience each day? How can you intentionally create those feelings in your life? In The Desire Map, Danielle LaPorte introduces a revolutionary approach to goal-setting based on core desired feelings. Instead of focusing solely on achievements, she guides readers to identify and pursue the emotions they most want to experience in their daily lives. Keep reading to discover how to transform your life by making decisions based on how you want to feel.

Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: Book Overview

A happy woman reading a book during autumn

What’s Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman about? Should you be realistic about your dreams? Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals explores the four-step method to achieving success and happiness within the life you’ve been given. These four steps are accepting your limitations, making progress toward your goals, releasing control, and focusing on the present moment. Read more in our brief overview of Meditations for Mortals.

How to Be Realistic in Life: 3 Strategies to Work Within Your Limits

A woman looking at a red and white target being realistic in life

Can you live a good life within your realm of possibility? What can you achieve with your finite resources and opportunities? According to Oliver Burkeman, the first step toward being happy and successful is to learn how to be realistic in life. Burkeman says that while it’s good to dream big, it’s also necessary to be realistic—otherwise, you’ll waste your time and energy pining for things you’ll never attain. Below, we’ll explore the three strategies Burkeman says can help you learn to work within your limitations.

Your True Desires: Don’t Be Misled by What Others Want for You

A woman smiling, closing her eyes, and holding her hand over her heart illustrates finding your true desires

Why do some people end up chasing dreams that aren’t truly their own? What’s the key to identifying and following your genuine desires in life? In The Desire Map, Danielle LaPorte explores how to distinguish between authentic desires and goals that others have chosen for us. She reveals how our assumptions and expectations can sometimes lead us away from what we genuinely want, and offers guidance on reconnecting with our true desires. Keep reading to discover practical ways to identify what you really want and create a life that aligns with your authentic self.

The 2 Advantages of Realism: Accept What’s Really Possible

A curious person thinking about the advantages of realism

Did you know that it’s better to be realistic than to cling to unachievable dreams? How can realism help you live a better life? According to Oliver Burkeman, to work within your limitations, you must first change your mindset. Accurately assess your reality so you can let go of unreachable ideals and focus on what’s currently possible instead of what could be possible in an abstract, unknown future. Let’s look at the two advantages of realism and shifting to this mindset.