1: Do you want to unlock untapped sources of motivation, energy, and willpower?
The answer is actually quite simple.
You start by identifying your values.
Then you take actions aligned with those values.
“Research shows that when action is guided by values, it’s vastly easier to accomplish feats that would seem impossible otherwise,” Jane McGonigal writes in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully.
This holds true, Jane … continue reading
Abraham Lincoln on steadfastness: “Don’t swap horses while crossing a stream.”… continue reading
1: In July of 2009, game designer and PhD Jane McGonigal suffered a severe concussion.
“There is no known effective therapy or treatment for post-concussion syndrome,” Jane writes in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully.
She was on total cognitive rest. “I literally had nothing to do. ‘Rest and wait’ is the only prescription,” she recalls. “Which meant I couldn’t do anything that stimulated my brain: No … continue reading
1: Imagine you were to experience back pain and disability after an acute back injury.
Turns out you will likely fall into one of two distinct groups.
“Researchers have known for years that some people who experience acute back pain recover successfully and lead full lives, while others experience ongoing pain that eventually leads to disability,” Jane McGonigal writes in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully.
What … continue reading
“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” —T. S. Eliot
1: You have a goal.
You will likely encounter obstacles or challenges that you must overcome to reach your goal.
Game designer and PhD Jane McGonigal calls these “The bad guys.”
Bad guys test us and make things tough, creating challenges to overcome.
There are always bad guys in the games we … continue reading
1: What’s the secret to a happy marriage?
Want to be thought of as more creative and effective at work?
Would you like to be less vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder?
Research shows there’s a simple way to increase the likelihood of these outcomes.
How? Simply increase the ratio of positive to negative emotions in your life.
“A myriad of studies show that having more positive emotions, … continue reading
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” —Abraham Lincoln
1: What if you could feel better anytime, anyplace, no matter what?
And not only that, but you could also live ten years longer.
Sounds good, right?
How do you do this? The answer is found in an unexpected place, Jane McGonigal writes in her book SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully.
Chances are, if you are a gamer, you know about power-ups.
“They’re the bonus items that … continue reading
“One of my clients had candles spread all over her house, in every room,” Diane Button, an end-of-life doula, writes in her book What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living.
“They were on nightstands and dressers, surrounding her bathtub, and even along the walkway of the woodsy entrance into her house,” Diane notes.
“There were dozens of them, and they were beautiful, but not one … continue reading
1: What’s the difference between a fact and a story?
A fact is, “The queen died and the king died,” Dan Pink writes in his book A Whole New Mind.
A story is, “The queen died and the king died of a broken heart.”
This week, we’ve been exploring the power of telling customer stories with contrast. Now, take a closer look at what makes these stories compelling.… continue reading
