The library
Every article on the site, grouped by topic and by the month its address dates from.
The topics and web addresses come from the blog that lived on this domain between 2009 and 2014; the writing is new. Old roundup posts, such as the weekly "Friday's links" lists, now point here, since the links they collected are long out of date. If you're new, the Start here picks on the home page are a good first stop, or try the 31-day challenge.
By topic
Purpose & Meaning24 articlesWhat matters to you, how to notice it, and how to build a life that points in that direction.Habits & Growth6 articlesSmall, repeatable changes: sleep, attention, creativity, learning and the routines that hold them together.Relationships11 articlesFriendship, listening, conflict, forgiveness and the everyday work of staying close to people.Gratitude & Happiness8 articlesEvidence-informed ways to notice the good, enjoy it longer and share it.Decisions & Goals20 articlesChoosing well, planning without overplanning, and turning intentions into action.Stress & Resilience15 articlesFear, self-doubt, setbacks and stress: practical ways to steady yourself and keep going.Money & Work9 articlesEmergency funds, careers, side projects and the basics of making work fit the life you want.Just for Today Challenge33 articlesThirty-one small daily experiments. Do one a day, or pick the ones you need.Book Notes8 articlesShort, honest overviews of well-known personal-growth books: what each argues and who it suits.
By date
2009
October 2009
- The First Step: How to Start When You Don't Feel Ready Decisions & Goals
- Making Mistakes and Overcoming Them Stress & Resilience
- Thanksgiving: Simple Ways to Make Gratitude the Main Course Gratitude & Happiness
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: Book Overview Book Notes
- "Our Deepest Fear": Where the Famous Passage Comes From and What It Means Stress & Resilience
November 2009
- A Meaningful Existence or a Meaningless One? How to Tell the Difference Purpose & Meaning
- How Will You Be Remembered? Thinking About Legacy Without the Gloom Purpose & Meaning
- The Leap by Rick Smith: Book Overview Book Notes
December 2009
- Top 5 Reasons to Leave Your Job (and How to Know It's Time) Money & Work
- Show Me Your Plan and I'll Tell You Your Future Decisions & Goals
- Your Past Does Not Determine Your Future Stress & Resilience
- You Are More Than Good Enough Already Stress & Resilience
- Seth Godin's What Matters Now: The Free 2009 Ebook, Revisited Book Notes
- How to Put the Meaning Back into Christmas Gratitude & Happiness
- Just for Today Challenge: How 31 Days to a Better You Works Just for Today Challenge
2010
January 2010
- Day 1: Write Your List of 101 Things to Do Before You Die Just for Today Challenge
- Day 2: Schedule the Dates That Matter This Year Just for Today Challenge
- Day 3: Wake Up Earlier (Without Wrecking Your Sleep) Just for Today Challenge
- 5 Surefire Ways to Stick to Your New Year Resolutions Decisions & Goals
- Day 4: Write Down Your 25 Proudest Moments Just for Today Challenge
- Day 5: Write Someone 10 Reasons Why You Love Them Just for Today Challenge
- Day 6: No TV (or Streaming) for Today Just for Today Challenge
- Day 7: Say Thank You, and Mean It Just for Today Challenge
- Day 8: Phone a Friend (an Actual Call) Just for Today Challenge
- Day 9: It's Picture Day (Photograph What Matters) Just for Today Challenge
- Day 10: Eat a Healthy Breakfast Just for Today Challenge
- Day 11: Get Outside Today Just for Today Challenge
- Day 12: Save Your Money (A No-Spend Day and a Savings Habit) Just for Today Challenge
- Day 13: Take a Break from the News Just for Today Challenge
- Day 14: Take Action on Your Goals Just for Today Challenge
- Day 15: Ask for What You Want Just for Today Challenge
- Day 16: "You're So Beautiful" and Other Compliments Worth Giving Just for Today Challenge
- Day 17: Get Rid of Some Stuff Just for Today Challenge
- Day 18: Why You Need to Update Your Resume (Even if You're Happy) Just for Today Challenge
- Day 19: Why You Need to Take Care of Your Health Just for Today Challenge
- Day 20: Start a Gratitude Journal Just for Today Challenge
- Day 21: Be Charitable to Others Today Just for Today Challenge
- Day 22: Get More Quality Sleep Just for Today Challenge
- Day 23: Be Creative Today Just for Today Challenge
- Day 24: Plan Your Meals for the Week Just for Today Challenge
- Day 25: Turn Off the Negativity Just for Today Challenge
- Day 26: Examine Your Peer Group Just for Today Challenge
- Day 27: Find the Laughter Again Just for Today Challenge
- Day 28: Just Say No Just for Today Challenge
- Day 29: Just Say Yes Just for Today Challenge
- Day 30: Be Present Today Just for Today Challenge
- Day 31: Suspend Reality for Today Just for Today Challenge
February 2010
- After 31 Days: How to Review Your Challenge and Keep What Works Just for Today Challenge
- 5 Quiet Success Factors Nobody Talks About Decisions & Goals
- How to Make Better Decisions That Move You Forward in Life Decisions & Goals
- Why It's Never Too Late for Your Dreams Purpose & Meaning
- Are Books Worth the Money? How to Read More for Less Money & Work
- What to Do When the Grass Isn't Greener Decisions & Goals
- Are You Being Your True, Authentic Self? Purpose & Meaning
- Invest in Your Most Important Asset: Yourself Money & Work
- Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk: Book Overview Book Notes
- Linchpin by Seth Godin: Book Overview Book Notes
- 100 Ways to Improve Your Life: What List-Style Self-Help Gets Right Book Notes
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin: Book Overview Book Notes
- Switch by Chip and Dan Heath: Book Overview Book Notes
March 2010
- Do You Need to Let Go and Forgive? Relationships
- Garbage In, Garbage Out: Choosing What You Let Into Your Life Habits & Growth
- What Dream Can You Cross Off Your Life List This Year? Purpose & Meaning
- One Sure-Fire Way to Start Your Emergency Fund Today Money & Work
- 10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Life Habits & Growth
- What Would You Do If You Knew You Couldn't Fail? Decisions & Goals
- Know These Five Causes of Conflict (and How to Defuse Each) Relationships
- Are You a Pushover? How to Boost Your Assertiveness Today Relationships
- Warning: Following These 5 Tips May Get You Out of Your Rut Habits & Growth
- Using Visualization to Get from Point A to Point Z Decisions & Goals
April 2010
- The Power of Analytical Thinking in Everyday Life Decisions & Goals
- Starting Over with Nothing: Rebuilding Through an Information Business Money & Work
- Are You Paying Attention? Help Can Come from Anywhere Purpose & Meaning
- The Number One Shortcut to Success: Learn from People Who've Done It Decisions & Goals
- The Only Words You Need to Overcome Your Fears: "What If It Goes Well?" Stress & Resilience
- Stop Lying to Yourself: How to Spot and Drop Self-Deception Purpose & Meaning
- How to Use 10-10-10 to Get Unstuck Decisions & Goals
May 2010
- Do You Recognise Yourself in These 6 Stages of Change? Habits & Growth
- Perception as Reality: How Your View Shapes Your Experience Stress & Resilience
- What If You Only Had One Week? Purpose & Meaning
- How to Stop Thinking and Start Doing Decisions & Goals
- The First Step in Finding Meaning for Your Life: Know Your Values Purpose & Meaning
- The Next Step in Finding Meaning: Turn Values into Action Purpose & Meaning
- 50 Reflection Prompts (and Why We Skipped the Usual Quote List) Purpose & Meaning
- 50 More Reflection Prompts for Journaling and Conversation Purpose & Meaning
- Failure and Imagination: Lessons from J.K. Rowling's Harvard Speech Purpose & Meaning
June 2010
- Seven Friends You Need in Your Life Relationships
- Five Ways to Add Connection to Your Life Relationships
- Why Succeeding Starts with Treating Yourself Kindly Stress & Resilience
- How Healthy Is Your Relationship? Signs to Look For Relationships
- How to Heal Your Relationships After a Rift Relationships
- Are You Ready to Build Your Empire? Starting a Business Sensibly Money & Work
- Life Is Short, But Not That Short Purpose & Meaning
- How to Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Lessons from Getting to Yes Relationships
- Is Win-Win Always the Best Negotiation Tactic? Relationships
- The Stress Buster Nobody Talks About: Doing Less Stress & Resilience
- What Are You Waiting For? How to Stop Postponing Your Life Decisions & Goals
July 2010
- Warning: These Emotions May Be Affecting You More Than You Think Stress & Resilience
- Create the Life You Want: Describe Your Ideal Ordinary Day Purpose & Meaning
- How to Write a List of 100 Things That Make You Happy Gratitude & Happiness
- Do You Recognise These Common Excuses? Decisions & Goals
- The 4 Best and Worst Things About Being an Entrepreneur Money & Work
- Small Ways to Make a Big Difference Gratitude & Happiness
- Why You Need to Write in Your Goals Book Daily Decisions & Goals
- Understanding Your Chances in Life: Luck, Probability and Better Bets Decisions & Goals
August 2010
- If You Could, What Would You Do Over Again? Purpose & Meaning
- Finding Out Who You Really Are Takes Love and Courage Purpose & Meaning
- How to Get More Personal Freedom, Starting Today Money & Work
- Avoid the Trap of Thinking You Have Too Much to Lose Decisions & Goals
- The Five Keys to Happiness: What Research Keeps Finding Gratitude & Happiness
September 2010
- How to Motivate Yourself in Times of Stress Stress & Resilience
- You Don't Have to Travel Far to See the World Purpose & Meaning
- Why We Sabotage Ourselves, and How to Stop Stress & Resilience
- The Victim Myth: Taking Back Control Without Denying Real Harm Stress & Resilience
October 2010
- Being Thankful: What the Science of Gratitude Says Gratitude & Happiness
- This Is Your Life: Living It on Purpose Purpose & Meaning
- How Clean Is Your Water? Safe Drinking Water and What You Can Do Gratitude & Happiness
- Create Your Future Using a Vision Board (the Way That Works) Decisions & Goals
- Why You Need an Ideas Book Habits & Growth
- 7 Ways to Stop Doubting Yourself Stress & Resilience
November 2010
- Are You Ready to Learn, or to Teach, Today? Habits & Growth
- Lest We Forget: Remembrance Day and Why It Still Matters Gratitude & Happiness
- What Can You Do When You've Lost Your Way? Purpose & Meaning
- How to Improve Your Listening Skills Relationships
December 2010
- Jealousy: How to Get Over It Relationships
- 7 Ways You Can Relax Right Now Stress & Resilience
2011
January 2011
- Goodbye Old Year, Hello New: A Simple Year-End Review Decisions & Goals
- Something to Think About: Sacrifice Purpose & Meaning
- Your Life Can Change in the Blink of an Eye Stress & Resilience
- Let's Get Travelling: Travel Hacking Basics for Beginners Money & Work
- Something to Think About: Self-Reliance Purpose & Meaning
February 2011
- Something to Think About: Uniqueness Purpose & Meaning
2014
April 2014
- The Best Piece of Advice: How to Find, Test and Use Good Advice Decisions & Goals