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 seem like a virtue to be a perfectionist, in the … [Read more...]
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. One had to do with inevitable deterioration, one … [Read more...]
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 overlooking New York City, where he was proposing … [Read more...]
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 they also talked about someone named "Myrtle … [Read more...]
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 you work with side by side or pass in the aisle of … [Read more...]
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 conquering pain but for experiencing … [Read more...]
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 to reverse self-centeredness, overcome timidity, … [Read more...]
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 the same direction regardless of which way he … [Read more...]
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, inflexible deadlines, and very few resources. During … [Read more...]
What greater self-knowledge can reveal
The initial thought of having greater self-knowledge can bring with it what I call the dark attic effect. Venture up there and turn on the light and who knows what you’ll uncover. Imagine all the dust and nests and hidden creatures lurking in the darkness. Reason enough to avoid climbing into the … [Read more...]