Lou Tice

If you'd like to add new depth of meaning to your life, and give your energy level a boost at the same time, then read on. There's a great idea that seems to have gone out of fashion for a while, and that's really too bad, because it's an idea that helps give meaning and purpose to life. It can also do wonders for your energy level, relationships, and self-esteem. That idea, in a word, is "service."

To be more specific by "service," I mean the act of doing something to assist or benefit someone else without any expectation of… >>>

Yesterday, we talked about "corporate disasters" and the resiliency required to pull through them. Today, I'd like to talk about the most important component in a successful recovery - affirmations.

As you may know, affirmations are simply present-tense statements of fact - about the future. Affirmations are usually most effective when they are personal, but you cannot beat an organizational affirmation that has total buy-in from everyone. "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts," so to speak. It becomes the organization's "vision" for tomorrow, and leads you through to success.

For yourself personally, you must believe that… >>>

Have you ever thought about what it takes to bounce back from life's downturns? Today, let's talk about how to handle those inevitable setbacks that occur from time to time.

No matter how hard we may try, life isn't perfect. Every day cannot be sunny, our relationships with others cannot always be smooth - and let's face it, sometimes work is more of a pain than a pleasure. However, it is how we react to those less-than-perfect situations that show us how far we've grown as human beings.

Since most of us spend a significant portion of our lives at… >>>

When you think about the people you know who have integrity, do you count yourself among them? What does it mean to be a person of integrity? Well, first and foremost, integrity is about truth. And truth is the greatest force we have for personal and planetary well-being.  

No bomb, no hatred, and no prejudice can match the strength of truth. In troubled and uncertain times, truth is our most powerful friend. When we stand for truth, we are confident, whole, and energized.  

Throughout history, every great philosopher and religious leader has tried to teach us the same lesson -… >>>

These days, more and more people are aware of the connection between self-esteem and illness. In 1985, my wife, Diane, was stricken with cancer. For many people, that would mean a death sentence. The doctor tells them they don't have much hope, they start telling themselves they're going to die, and friends and family treat them like they're not long for the world. It's only natural that their body gets a strong death message. Next thing you know, they're going downhill fast.

When we got the news about Diane's cancer, it was a shock, but we went right into action.… >>>

Have you ever been faced with a challenge in life, one that really pushed you to your limits? 

Most of us have. But let me ask you, how did you feel when you came out on the other side? I'll bet you felt relieved, but I'll also bet that you felt stronger, tougher and more capable, too. 

In an old favorite of mine, "The Inner Game of Tennis," author Tim Gallway pointed out that when you want a really good game, you look for an opponent whose skill level is equal or superior to yours. Gallway said that, "It's no… >>>

Positive thinking is certainly a powerful thing, but positive expression is equally important. Many people, especially marriage partners and parents of small children, seem to believe that the best way to get somebody to change for the better is to consistently point out to them what they are doing wrong.  

These authority figures criticize, day in and day out. Eventually the people they are talking to become frustrated and often start to feel angry, because they see that nothing they say or do has any positive effect, and sometimes things even get worse.

Has this ever happened to you? If… >>>

What would the world be like if there were no negativity? Do you have difficulty imagining such a place? These days, I wouldn't be surprised.

Can you imagine a world in which there was no negativity? Now, I'm not talking about a world without legitimate sadness or anger. But I am talking about a world in which there were no put-downs, no belittling of self or others, no withering remarks, no free-floating hostility, no power-tripping, no insults, no bigotry or intolerance. 

That's a pretty tall order, isn't it - even to imagine such a place? So let's back it up… >>>

Do you think happy people are blind to reality? Or, do you think they see things that the rest of us miss? 

I think the answer may include a little of both, but I also think that, in the final analysis, people are happy because they make up their minds to be. Let me explain what I mean.  

Most happy people aren't blind to the pain in the world, but because they have chosen to be happy, they don't focus their attention on it. They don't let the cruelty and injustices that are undeniably present in the world rob them… >>>

It is getting to be that time of year again. I received my first graduation announcement just last week. I would like to say a few words to young people, heading into "graduation season," about education and about being successful after they graduate from school.  

Regardless of your field or interests, education by and of itself is not going to be enough to get you where you want to go. I know many of you have done a lot of work in school and you want to reap some rewards for that work. But the rewards that you earn, both… >>>