Author Archives: Yitzhak Sasson

The opposite of gratitude is ingratitude and ingrates are complainers. Complainers essentially find fault with their world and the world around them. Their cup is always half full — at best. I believe we were created prone to peace. Why? It’s seems evident that behaviors, attitudes and beliefs can be easily rubbed off from oneContinue reading “No room for complainers.”

Our lives are filled with mundane tasks that we often do by rote. Morning routines like showering, teeth brushing, getting dressed, etc., as well as household chores are usually executed without much thought or concentration. What would happen if we approached them with a totally new mindset? Imagine approaching tasks as opportunities to increase happinessContinue reading “Seize the moment.”

We are often labeled and identify ourselves by what we are. Rarely do we ponder about what we are not — or why we are not something or someone different. To appreciate the introduction it important to believe that God is very active in our lives and guides us in a direction that is forContinue reading “The other side of the coin.”

There are many ways to expand the horizons of your current knowledge level. Online learning via MOOCs (massive open online courses), Udemy and other education platforms are hugely popular. YouTube has a plethora of educational channels and on a more primitive level there are books, public speaking, conversation and more. Sometimes we learn something thatContinue reading “TIA & the World of Possibilities.”

The modern mobile phone has opened doors to global communication and given access to a rapidly doubling virtual global library. However, it also has the ability to steal time better than the smoothest burglar. As one with Luddite leanings I believe the mobile phone should used with a discerning discretion most of the time andContinue reading “The importance of daily downtime.”

I once read that moviegoers are more deeply affected by the death of a single character than the death of thousands or millions in a single catastrophic event. It’s possible this phenomena applies to real life as well. On September 11, 2001 over 2900 people died terrible deaths but the images of people falling toContinue reading “Can you relate?”

Research suggests the first seven years of a child’s life are spent absorbing the behaviors, norms, and rules that will later become their “operating system” for life. It should come as no surprise that the ‘age of chinuch‘ is by the age of seven, according to most opinions. Interestingly enough, Aristotle said, ‘Give me aContinue reading “The first 7 years.”

Wikipedia defines hedonic treadmill as, “the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.”  Interesting….but what’s that have to do with gratitude? Based on the hedonic treadmill concept we live with a baseline happiness level and since so much ofContinue reading “The Hedonic Treadmill”

There are a variety of popular mediums to express gratitude trending today. I believe the method that evokes the most sincere feelings is best — regardless of how it’s done. Below are two of the most popular ways of establishing a daily gratitude habit. Gratitude Journal. Probably the most widely suggested form of expressing gratitudeContinue reading “What’s right for you.”

Not only is gratitude the ‘mother of all virtues’ and good manners but it also leads to happiness! There’s been a significant amount of research on gratitude and its effects on the individual expressing it, the recipient as well as society. Here’s a very impressive short list of benefits. When we express or receive gratitudeContinue reading “Gratitude leads to happiness.”