Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Let me tell you a little story about frustration, relief and ultimately success. I am a guy who has finally retired (I thought I never would) who does not have any training in computer science. I had a little exposure to Fortran back in my graduate class on statistics, but this was in the day of inputing with punch cards into a large main frame computer. Ages ago really. But over the last few years I have been learning how to design and create websites and blogs, both for our psychology practice and for personal interest.…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I have been working on a new layout and focus for A Warm Heart.ca. It has been challenging and fun. Just what my brain needs. Designing a new logo has been fun with the creative help from my wife and daughter. They help curb my unhelpful tendencies. For example, I tend to drift toward ideas that are a little more edgy or funky. They like designs that are more refined and elegant. Together we have found something that works, I think. The overall process has not been easy, though, and has taken a little work and…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald It was a great day for a walk in the park, catching up with friends we haven't seen in a while. Aside from a few politicians, two neurologists from University Hospital (one of whom treats Harry) spoke about the exciting new developments for ALS treatment and research. This was good news for the many individuals with ALS and their families. Harry was very moved that so many people came out to support him. His wife Kathleen and a few volunteers hosted a big luncheon for us all at their place. Attached is a picture of us…

Dr. Michael MacDonald You can get moving again by finding inspiration from outside sources. This was the main point of my last post, Infectious Energy, where I described the amazing creativity of Paul McCartney and the boundless enthusiasm of Linda Rottenberg. You can also draw inspiration from your own work. Maybe you have forgotten how much you enjoyed some of your recent projects. Revisiting your earlier work may stir up your creative powers. These renewed memories can show you that you have still got it. This process of renewal helped rejuvenate my own work and helped me to get moving…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Faithful readers will know that I like to read and write about people who lift others up. People who give power and light to others. People who get things done. People who help us all soar.  This is not altruism. Reading about these inspirational people lifts me up, gives me energy and helps me get things done. Some of these people are down right infectious (more about that later). I love that. Writing Again So when I needed to get back to writing again, I started reading articles, blogs and interviews that get me reved up.…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I hit a bump in the road. This was caused by my own hubris, which can be defined as exaggerated pride or overconfident arrogance, often leading to a person's downfall. Yikes! And down I went with a self-inflicted illness. The Consequences (in more detail than you will ever need) When you think of illness or injury, do you automatically think of something happening to you? You may imagine getting cancer, having a heart attack or being injured from a fall or accident. These are often our biggest fears and the consequences can be serious. But such…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald What does living an extraordinary life mean to you? World travel? Sky diving? Writing a best-selling novel? These life experiences and accomplishments are exciting. But what about all of the life in between these peak experiences?  Don’t we want each day to be extraordinary? To make this happen we need to find and engage in acticities that are meaningful and at least a little bit challenging. A Personal Example As part of my retiremernt life, I have been teaching myself to play the drums. It has been very exciting. I have always had an interest in…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Can empathy and kindness really enhance your productivity? Can it do so in meaningful ways? Kindness, empathy, and productivity may seem like separate qualities, but they can work together in a useful and powerful alchemy. Five ways they can amplify each other, like accelerants: Creating Trust and Collaboration o When kindness and empathy are present, people feel respected and valued. This builds trust and strengthens relationships, which reduces friction and miscommunication. Trust makes collaboration smoother, boosting productivity by cutting down on wasted time and energy. Reducing Stress and Increasing Focus o Empathetic and kind interactions lower…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Most of us would like to contribute more to charities. If we have some money available, this should be easy to do. If we want to include a charity in our wills, this too should be easy to accomplish. We could allocate just 1% of our estate and make a huge difference in the lives of vulnerable people. Unfortunately, this process is not easy. Many of us don't know where to start. There are too many choices. Here are a few simple guidelines I use. I Like to Get My Money's Worth. And whenever I can,…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Would you like to be admired and respected?  Do you want to be someone who is looked up to - by your family, your friends, your co-workers, your teammates and your community? Who wouldn't want that? Let's Get Some Respect When you act kindly, here are some of the unforgetable impressions you make on others. Trustworthy and reliable. Kindness signals that you are safe to be around and likely won’t exploit them. Warm and approachable. People often see you as friendly, easy to talk to, and good company. Generous. You will be seen as someone who cares about…