Every year on February 14th, the world celebrates Valentine’s Day. Traditions vary across the globe, but often involve chocolate, flowers, heartfelt cards, and romantic gestures. Not everyone likes Valentine’s Day, so why should you at least consider celebrating the day or understanding what it’s all about? Here are fifteen reasons why Valentine’s Day is important: … Read more
At its most basic, communication transfers information from one place, person, or group to another place, person, or group. All living things communicate in some way. Animals communicate through sound, touch, and smell. Even plants use a form of communication with each other, sending messages, warnings, and nutrients through chemicals, electrical signals, and underground fungi … Read more
Humans are social creatures. We may not all love large groups of people, but we are wired for social connections. For some, that means a big network of friends and family, while others need fewer relationships. Whatever community looks like for you, there are many reasons why social ties are important. Here are ten: #1. … Read more
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” He most likely imagined a specific kind of music system, but the sentiment still rings true. Every culture in the world has some kind of musical tradition. Why is music so important to humans? How can music make life better? Here are ten reasons: … Read more
“The arts” encompass a range of creative expressions, including literature, music, painting, dancing, and more. Through the arts, humans have told stories, taught values, recorded history, and expressed both individual and collective experiences. Unfortunately, the arts are becoming less valued compared to science, technology, and mathematics. Whether it’s an underfunded school music program or an … Read more
Self-love, which is also often referred to as self-compassion, involves taking care of your own needs, accepting your weaknesses and failures as well as your strengths, and staying in touch with your emotions. Because selflessness is such a prized virtue in many circles, many believe self-love is egoistical. Caring for other people is important, but … Read more
When you enter an unfamiliar environment or ponder a difficult decision, what do you feel? Do you second-guess yourself or agonize over what to do? Confident people are not immune from self-doubt, but they enjoy a strong sense of security, clarity, and trust in themselves. Confidence affects every area of your life, including work and … Read more
In many societies, romantic relationships are considered the most important. However, friendships, which encompass varying degrees of emotional intimacy and support, should not be dismissed. If you asked people to think deeply about the most important relationships in their lives, many would say their friendships have impacted them the most. Why? What makes friendship so … Read more
Communicating well consists of two parts: expressing yourself and listening to others. Many people forget the second part. Lots of people are good at talking, but when it’s time to hear the thoughts and feelings of someone else, they fall short. Listening can be very challenging. It comes naturally to very few people, so to … Read more
They say a dog is man’s best friend, but they aren’t the only animals close to humanity’s heart. According to historians and archaeologists, dogs were the first domestic animal. The history of domestication is complicated and different animals played different roles. Keeping pets is part of this history. Why are pets important to humans? Here … Read more
Is happiness a feeling? Or a state of being? Philosophers, psychologists, spiritual leaders, and others have discussed the definition for thousands of years. Safety, contentment, and success are all aligned with happiness, but what makes one person happy may not work for someone else. Though we may never reach a definitive answer about the nature … Read more
Everyone is born into a family, but not everyone gets a healthy one. For those who aren’t privileged to have a good birth family, they often create a chosen family later on. Why is family important? What kind of impact does it have on a person in their childhood and as an adult? Does it … Read more
In your opinion, what makes a person trustworthy? Do they keep your secrets? Respect your beliefs and boundaries? When you know someone isn’t trustworthy, it affects your relationship. Often, it can break a relationship. People need to have others they can trust. Whether it’s in personal relationships, work, or society as a whole, trust is … Read more
No one is an island. This is true in most areas of life, including organizations and any group working towards a common goal. Teamwork is an essential part of developing successful processes, projects, and programs that propel an organization forward. Without good teamwork, organizations flounder. People feel underappreciated and frustrated. When teamwork is made a … Read more
