Loss of Concentration? Your Internet Use Might Be to Blame

A woman sitting at a desk but looking away is suffering from a loss of concentration at work

Is your attention span shorter than it used to be? Have you noticed a change in how you read and process information? The internet has revolutionized our access to knowledge, but it may come at a cost. Nicholas Carr explores how our constant online interactions might be reshaping our cognitive abilities. He delves into the impact of digital media on our reading habits and thought processes. Continue reading to get Carr’s insights on the loss of concentration in the digital age.

Focus & Insight Meditation: Traditional Paths to Enlightenment

A woman meditating near a small statue of the Buddha illustrates traditions of insight meditation and focus meditation

Is it possible to achieve a state of complete spiritual liberation? What does it mean to combine focus with insight in meditation? Insight meditation, a practice innovated by the Buddha, combines focused attention with open awareness. In Altered Traits, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson explain that this approach aims to cultivate a state of mindfulness, allowing practitioners to observe their thoughts and experiences without judgment. Continue reading to learn how insight and focus meditation evolved and found their way into modern Western culture.

How to Show Competence: 7 Vocal & Behavioral Cues

A bearded man in an office wearing a buttoned shirt and jacket talking with hand gestures illustrates how to show competence

Is your voice undermining your credibility? Can simple gestures make you appear more capable? In personal and professional settings, it’s important to send the message that you know what you’re doing. In her book Cues, Vanessa Van Edwards outlines techniques you can use to convey competence through your speech and behavior. Read on for Van Edwards’s advice on how to show competence in any situation.

How to Identify Customer Needs Your Product Should Address

A young woman shopping in a grocery store, looking at products on a shelf, illustrates how to identify customer needs

How well do you know your customers’ needs? Are you meeting those needs better than your competitors? Knowing how to identify customer needs is crucial for any business. By understanding what your target market truly wants, you can create products and services that stand out from the competition. This process involves calculating the value of each need and crafting a compelling value proposition. Read more to learn the steps you can take to pinpoint and address your customers’ most pressing needs.

What Makes You Special? Discovering Your Distinctiveness

A man with dark hair and eyes and a goatee looking in the mirror illustrates thinking about what makes you special

What makes you special? How can you uncover your unique talents and abilities? Discovering your true self and what sets you apart is a journey of self-reflection and exploration. In Awaken Your Genius, Ozan Varol offers insights on how to tap into your distinctive qualities, drawing from both your childhood experiences and your current circumstances. Keep reading to discover Varol’s tips for uncovering what makes you special and how to apply it to your life today.

The Origin of Mindfulness Meditation (+ Modern Manifestations)

An Indian man practicing meditation and an American woman practicing mindfulness depicts the origin of mindfulness meditation

What’s mindfulness meditation rooted in? How did it come to the West and become so popular? The origin of mindfulness meditation is primarily in Theravada Buddhism, the oldest of the three major Buddhist schools. It evolved from traditional practices and was simplified for wider accessibility. Western travelers, including authors Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson, brought these techniques from India in the 1970s. Read on to discover the fascinating journey of mindfulness from ancient spiritual traditions to modern-day applications.

How to Appear Charismatic: 24 Verbal & Nonverbal Cues

A smiling woman with long, dark curly hair with a floral dress and flowers in her hair illustrates how to appear charismatic

Ever wondered how to captivate a room with your presence? What makes someone truly charismatic? The art of charisma involves both verbal and nonverbal cues. From choosing your words carefully to using body language effectively, there are numerous techniques you can employ to enhance your charm in both personal and professional settings. Learn how to appear charismatic by using these techniques presented in the book Cues by Vanessa Van Edwards.

3 Disadvantages of Internet Use: How It Undermines Our Brains

A child on a mobile phone in a cafe illustrates the disadvantages of internet use

Is the internet reshaping our ability to concentrate and retain information? How might our digital habits be affecting our capacity for deep thinking? The rise of internet use has brought about significant changes in how we process and consume information. Nicholas Carr’s book The Shallows explores the potential drawbacks of our increasingly digital lives, focusing on three main areas: concentration, deep reading, and information retention. Read on to learn about three disadvantages of internet use and discover how our online habits might be impacting our cognitive abilities.

What Do You Want Out of Life? A Novel Approach to Success

A drawing of a man standing on a rock pile and looking up at the sky illustrates the question What do you want out of life?

What do you want out of life? How can you align your desires with your authentic self? Discovering what you want out of life is a journey of self-exploration and experimentation. Ozan Varol’s book Awaken Your Genius includes insights on defining personal success and pursuing unconventional paths. Also, career coach Paul Millerd provides a real-world example of this sort of approach to success. Continue reading to learn how you can uncover your unique definition of success and create a life that resonates with your true self.

5 Anti-Charisma Cues to Avoid (Vanessa Van Edwards)

An annoyed man wearing a denim buttoned shirt and crossing his arms illustrates nonverbal cues associated with anti-charisma

Do you have charisma—or anti-charisma? What subtle cues might be sabotaging your charm without you even realizing it? In Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication, Vanessa Van Edwards lays out the concept of anti-charisma. She identifies several verbal and nonverbal signals that can undermine your charm and offers practical alternatives to enhance your presence. Keep reading to explore the world of anti-charisma and discover how to become a more magnetic communicator.