I'll never forget those yellow pads of paper filled with tasks and appointments. Page after page of calls to be made, reports to be written, meetings to attend. Every minute of my boss’s workday was booked. He was president of a research firm I once … [Continue reading]
Perfectionism, and why it isn’t enough
The quest for perfection can act as a real spur to achievement. It’s exhilarating to bring a task to its fullest and finest state of completion. For some, though, the wish to be perfect can turn sour in what becomes an obsession. While it might … [Continue reading]
What’s needed to lift the gloom is right at hand
The woman in line at the bakery commented rather grimly, "It's going to be a miserable week." It was the kind of remark you overhear without giving it much attention. Yet it came on the heels of similar negative comments I'd heard over the weekend. … [Continue reading]
Life-changing moments
While listening to the radio I happened to catch part of an interview with an author. The interviewer was asking him about his first meeting with a potential publisher. He said it took place in the publisher's office in a high-rise office building … [Continue reading]
In our right Mind
The young visitor was quite excited to tell his parents all that he had been taught during his first visit to a Christian Science Sunday School. He started to describe to them some of the things the class had discussed during the hour, adding that … [Continue reading]
When we’re urged to find better relationships
It’s not surprising that many of the relationships we see around us, or have ourselves, are strained if not broken. But why the surprise if people are what they often appear to be -- a lot of messed-up mortals? But hold on. How many of the people … [Continue reading]
The potential of silent prayer
A friend of mine, experiencing severe pain, called for help from a Christian Science practitioner in the early hours one morning. She said the practitioner immediately sought to allay her fear, talking to her about the spiritual basis not only for … [Continue reading]
Discovering opportunities to do good
We know we’re supposed to do good and help others. That’s the right attitude to have. Yet we may feel a reluctance to step forward and offer help. What can get us past indifference or fear and compel us to act? It takes something powerful enough … [Continue reading]
If we think there are no answers
You can almost picture the wide-eyed, inquisitive five-year-old carefully taking hold of the pocket compass that his father had brought to his bedside for him to see. What impressed the boy most about the compass was not that the needle pointed in … [Continue reading]
All that you need, all that you have
Some years ago a friend of mine set an interesting goal for himself. He said he wanted to remove the words I need from his vocabulary. I know why he felt that way. We were working together in a brand new department; we had a heavy workload, … [Continue reading]