Diamond-Cut Life is about how to be rich in the things that matter, like health, financial solvency, dynamic relationships, and peaceful coexistence. Last week I named my first seven ways to add value to any situation. This post completes the two-part series, and draws from my background in counseling psychology (I have an M.S. in that field). Set a boundary. A boundary clarifies ...
Top Ten Things To Happily Live Without
Being rich in what matters flows from what we do and who we are with, not from the things in our lives. Research shows that the peak in U.S. happiness happened when we were much less materially wealthy than we are now. That said, a confession: I do believe in collecting lots of good books, and ...
Top Ten Timewasters To Avoid
We all have exactly 168 hours in a week. The way we choose to use our 168 hours determines how rich we become in the things that matter, like health, integrity, loving relationships, connection to nature and overall happiness. At the same time, we all need to relax, and have respite from our responsibilities. I'm a glutton for steaming-hot ...
Eight Tips On Compulsive Hoarding
Hoarding tends to trigger stress, depression and anger in the families and friends of the one who hoards. I suggest that hoarding -- being out of control with accumulated stuff -- is the reverse image of being rich in what matters. Hoarding creates suffering, even though it is triggered by abundance. Rotting garbage, rodent and insect infestations, shame, ...
Friendly Tour: The 57 Best Posts Since 2007
570 of anything, whether it’s books, bikes or blog posts, means you can’t find what you want without help. Since Diamond-Cut Life has posted more than 570 pieces since it started in late 2007, I'm presenting today a new page: a friendly tour of the 57 best/most popular posts on how to be rich in what matters, arranged ...
Best Low-Cost And No-Cost Christmas Gifts
Giving and receiving gifts can be juicy and joyful, and make us lots richer in what matters. I think the best gift-giving keeps us living within our means and grounded in our values. Climate change is driven by overconsumption, and research indicates that more stuff doesn't even increase our happiness. But more and better relationships do. A cool ...
The Heretical Truth About Money
Mainstream culture tells us to buy as much stuff as possible. Hence the success of Walmart. Upscale mainstream culture tells us to buy the most expensive stuff possible. Hence the success of designer labels and Ferraris. Mainstream wisdom is that buying lots of stuff and/or expensive stuff will give us happiness, status and popularity. The heretical truth is ...
When Slow Is Fast
Like many people, I have lots to do. And I love to get a lot done. So I tend to rush. Which often, just slows me down. For example, it takes me forever to get dressed in the morning when I've done a hurried, harum-skarum job of putting my clothes away for the past month. I can't ...
Top Vacation Pick: Oregon’s Ravishing South Coast
Are you wondering where to vacation this summer without fighting vast crowds of people, or spending an arm and a leg? I think you'd love the South Coast of Oregon. I recently spent one of the happiest weeks of my life there, and I'm smitten. Moonstruck. Head over heels. Like any person in love, I've got ...
Challenged By The Dalai Lama
His voice is deep, as in basso profundo deep, yet animated. His bare right arm, the only part of his body not covered by his red and gold robe, gestures energetically when he talks, like an orchestra conductor. All 11,000 of us at Memorial Coliseum yesterday morning were hanging on every word that His Holiness the ...
