This page is divided into two somewhat lengthy sections: Articles, then Blog. You can use the search function (the magnifying glass icon at right in the nav bar) to search for articles and blog posts on specific topics of your own interest.
Articles:
I welcome you to use these articles individually and/or reprint them in your own publication. Feel free to edit the articles to best fit the needs of your readers, but be sure to follow these guidelines for reprinting procedures:
- When you download the article, please email [email protected] with your intent to use.
- Include Jim’s bio just as it appears at the end of each article.
- Send Jim one copy of the e-zine or item it is published in.
Everyday Happiness
- Act Happy Week 2023, Day 5: Self-Expression
- Act Happy Week 2023, Day 4: Self-Talk
- Act Happy Week 2023, Day 3: Self-Work
- Act Happy Week 2023, Day 2: Self-Care
5 Prescriptions for Happiness (downloadable PDF)
Strategies for Personal Change
- Book Reviews – Top 2 for ’21
- Done is Better than Perfect
- ThanksGETTING – How do you receive a Gift?
- I GOT A BALLOON!
Leadership and Workplace
- How To Ask For Coaching
- ThanksGETTING – How do you receive a Gift?
- Three Simple Rules
- ACT HAPPY WEEK, DAY 5: WHAT’S THE ONE THING?
Happiness Principles
- #6: Tolerate Nothing (downloadable PDF)
Annual Planning Kits
- Jim’s Annual Planning Kit for Couples (downloadable PDF)
- Jim’s Annual Planning Kit for Individuals (downloadable PDF)
Blog posts:
Happiness and Healthcare
My dear father-in-law is currently in surgery — open heart surgery to repair his dissected (torn) aorta. And we are sitting in the hospital totally happy! Lester M. Dunning (initials LMD, aka Lucky Mr Dunning) has been healthy for 80 years, until eight weeks ago when he *thought* he hurt his back making a difficult … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: Relationships
Beauty in the air
Two ends of a flight. Picture this. 1. Flying out of Miami International airport on a bright, sunny day, flying north, in a small plane: To the left, smooth lines — the white strip of beach, parallel lines of orange and sand colored art deco buildings, fringed in green, green, green. Beyond: the muddy green-brown … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: Pleasure
Happiness on the road
I’m on a road trip, and have a schedule that initially caused me some concern — where will I have time to take care of myself? Tight flight schedules, early morning conference starts, group meals, and the extra time required to navigate an unfamiliar city often conspire to reduce or eliminate self-care time. Still, I … Read more
No man is an island…
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main….”
I recently came across this short poem by John Donne, which I memorized in junior high school and am still able to recite (mostly) today. It’s always meant a great deal to me, to know that I am, always, a part of something much bigger than I.
Although the passage speaks of death, my ‘read’ of it is much more about how we all connect. We are emotional creatures, all linked to one another in deeper ways than most of us admit or realize….
How Dare You Put Yourself First?!
It’s the end of a coaching conversation, and my client confesses, “I notice this whole conversation has been about me. Usually I’m working on everybody else and what they need. I like it… but I’m really uncomfortable.” She’s in her mid-40’s and in all that time it’s never been about her. What she hears in … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: About Happiness
Tiny Tips to increase Happiness
I was delivering a talk on Happiness. When I asked people to consider, “what gets in the way of your happiness?” one man said, “Time. I am so stressed and have so much to do, I don’t have time to do any of the stuff that makes me happy.” OK, so let’s establish something: Happiness … Read more
You can choose your attitude
I found this story on the web, and just had to share! “There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. ”Well,” she said, ” I think I’ll braid my hair today.” So she did, and she had a wonderful … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: About Happiness
Happiness rebounds: In Memoriam, Kara W Smith
It was exactly four years ago — 10:10 AM on a Monday morning — that my world got knocked off its axis. That was the moment a police officer came knocking on my door to tell me that my daughter had been in an accident. Later that morning we learned she had died of a … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: About Happiness
Miracles do happen — the power of attraction
This is about a little miracle — in the midst of a bad economy. My wife and I bought another house (a foreclosure) in our neightborhood a few years ago. After rehabbing it we rented it out. The tenants — who were decent sorts — recently moved, but after fixing all the problems they left … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: About Happiness
Happiness is not a marathon (it's more like strength training)
The Akron Marathon is this weekend, and I have two clients and several friends who are running. Should be a gorgeous weekend! Thinking about marathons reminded me of a recent discussion I was part of. I was a guest on a local public radio station show two months ago. The Sound of Ideas topic was … Read more
Read more articles like this one in: About Happiness