If you are losing your leisure, look out! –It may be you are losing your soul Virginia Woolf In modern society, work has come to dominate almost all aspects of our lives. One’s identity becomes subsumed by their job title. Days become filled with endless tasks and checklists. Ever increasing productivity seems to be our … More Rethinking Leisure in the Age of Total Work
I’ve written before on the downstream effects of small any seemingly insignificant acts of goodness. Through our deeply interconnected world, we can never fully appreciate how our actions will impact others and our broader communities. Recent research being done on the science of awe-inspiring moral behaviour has begun to validate some of these claims. In … More Encouraging Goodness: How Moral Actions are ‘Awe-Inspiring’
High stake situations require complete and utmost concentration. Any distraction or lapse of judgement can shift your attention away from the present moment, hindering your efforts to achieve a state of effortless flow. This could make all the difference in the final moments of a championship game or dictate whether you are in peak performance … More Reverse Engineering Bliss: Hacking the Flow State
It may seem cliché, but we are all born with a unique set of gifts. Each of us is distinct from one another with different genes, cultural upbringings and life experiences. Moreover, we all have our own interests, passions and value that we can offer the world. No one quite sees or interprets things like … More Unleashing Human Creativity: Education and the Revival of Human Imagination
What does it mean to be at home? A simple sentiment, but one filled with rich metaphorical meaning Home is much more than a shelter which protects you against the elements More profound than a property that stores your possessions It is a refuge not only for the body, but for the spirit Home is … More Longing for Home
Is this the real world or is it fantasy? Glowing billboards. ‘Reality’ television. Instagram influencers. Golden yellow arches crowding large city centers. Fake bodies, fake personalities, fake plastic trees. Flooded with information, memes and seductive advertisements. McDonalds – I Am Lovin’ it. Nike- Just Do It. Coca-Cola – Taste the Difference. Apple – Think Different. … More The Age of the Spectacle
The art of play … More Embracing the Art of Play
I was watching an interview with John Cleese recently and he said something that got me thinking. When asked about his creative process he said, “You cannot bully the subconscious. It simply doesn’t work.” He went on to say that his best work always happened spontaneously. He still had a process of course, it’s just … More How To Unlock Your Creative Genius
Take this moment. Just for you. Your body. Your mind. Your purpose. Breathe it in. Then let it out. You are beautiful. . . . SnapDragon is a writer, artist, and donut enthusiast. Follow Snippets of SnapDragon for all kinds of goodness, yo.
Inside this chest pounds a heart so steady. Inside this head lives a brain so alive. And somewhere in between rests a spirit so gentle, even the tiniest of scratches leaves a scar. . . . How would you describe your spirit, Dear Reader? What inspires you? What shakes you to your core? (Such easy … More SnapDragon Speaks: On The Gentle Spirit.
There are many things I do not know. Like what it takes to make a light switch work; or how many species of bird reside in my home state. I do not know advanced mathematic formulas; I do not know why the daffodils come back each spring. I’m just one person, with a single, yet … More SnapDragon Speaks: On Knowing.
Greetings, Dear Reader! The SnapDragon Family is currently on the road, seeing some sights during this all-too-depressing season of lockdown during winter in Pennsylvania. (starts shivering, and hides head beneath a blanket) We’re cozied up in our Berkshire Class-A RV, embracing the open road and relishing the chance to travel to the American southeast. Sure … More SnapDragon Speaks: On All I Need.
By Ellen Jayne When was the last time you did something by yourself? Truly by yourself, and for yourself? … More Ignite Your Independence
Provided by AP from Clear Air Turbulence Why is it always said, he cried like a little girl? We never say, she cried like a little boy, do we? For that matter, we never say she cried like a little girl either. Of course I’m forgetting that’s because it’s acceptable for girls to cry! Silly … More Why Crying Like A Little Girl Is The Manliest Thing You Can Do
Provided by Bobbie Herron from Aloft with Inspiration A few weeks ago I posted a piece called “Final Chapter…” At the time I had every reason to believe that I would need to discontinue my blog, sketching, teaching art, reading for pleasure…all the activities that had given meaning to my life thusfar, all because of … More Why giving up doesn’t work
Provided by Evan from Mind Power Grow I’ll admit it. This is something that I did for a long time and let me tell you – it’s a bad habit. When I was younger, I was very non-confrontational. I was the type of kid who thought that everything could be resolved without conflict. I learned … More Don’t Be Sorry. Apologize and Grow Stronger
Provided by Danielle Davis from The Nurse’s Heart “Flowers don’t open and close according to who is walking by. They open and show their beauty regardless.” – Rebecca Campbell A recent realization I have had is that I struggle with using my voice or “speaking my truth.” I know I am not alone in this. I … More Finding My Voice
Provided by Marushka from Skeleton At The Feast There are many good arguments on behalf of contentment. I am in fact completely in favor of contentment, so if you find yourself at peace with your life please don’t read any further – because today I make the case for a creature called Dissatisfaction. What is this … More Dissatisfaction: A User’s Guide
Provided by Sarah Cole from PURC The Principle Of Sustainability: There are numerous definitions of sustainability. Like, the ‘entropy principle’ of sustainability states that life on Earth should not use more energy each day than is supplied by the Sun every single day. Herman Daly proposed these three principles of sustainability: non-renewable resources should not … More How Is Sustainability An Ethical Decision?
Provided by Anthony Garner from https://zenothestoic.com/ I believe on any number of counts, including personal experience, that we have the power to choose to be happy but that the road is not altogether straightforward. Our philosopher friends would tell us that happiness is a “quale” – one of a number of different “qualia” which we humans can … More On Choosing Happiness