Dr. Michael R. MacDonald All we seem to hear about these days are bullies who like to throw their weight around. They like to target disadvantaged people who are less able to fight back. These bullies even like to pretend that they are the victims of the very people they attack. So pathetic. Is this real power? I don't think so. When you read the news you may think that power is only related to dominance over others. This may be true in some circumstances, but I think there are more useful and helpful ways to think about power. REAL…

Optimism has never been more important, for your relationships, career and overall quality of life. These 5 articles can help you create new sources of optimism, build up your current state of optimism, or fight back against societal and media messages that can knock you down. When you think about it, wouldn't you rather connect and hang out with people that are fun, positive and optimismistic? Don't you feel better around such people? Wouldn't you feel better about yourself? Optimism Really is Contagious But sometimes it can also be fragile when you are bombarded by negativity in the social media…

A little while ago, I wrote some posts about optimism. In more than post, I wrote about the late great Daniel Kahneman and one of his best quotes. I just love this one. Nobel Prize Winning Ideas According to psychologist and Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, “optimistic individuals play a disproportionate role in shaping our lives. They are high performers – not your average people. They got to where they are by seeking challenges and taking risks. People who have the greatest influence on the lives of others”. Here is the best part. “If you are allowed one wish for your…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I started this newsletter and website with one purpose in mind. It was not to make any money, since everything is free and I have nothing to sell. (I like to joke that I do have some Hope and GSD for sale, but that is all free too). The purpose was to raise awareness of a charity I love, Room to Read. This is still a main purpose. To develop awareness of Room to Read, I wrote an eBook called, How to Feel Younger at Any Age and made it available to subscribers of a Warm…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald The world is still mourning the loss of the late Pope Francis. We will miss his compassionate presence and messages of kindness and hope. Much has been written about Pope Francis, his authenticity and his deep devotion to helping others at all levels of society, religious or not. I would like to add one extra tribute. One Little Thing Our lovely daughter found this short poem on Pinterest, which has been attributed to Pope Francis. I found it so moving and hope you will too. Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Harry is a very GSD kind of guy. He is a guy with a big heart who works tirelessly to help others.  We can now join him in helping even more people by walking (as an individual or with your own team) and/or donating to the Walk to End ALS, June 21, 2025, at Springbank Park, London, Ontario. (You can donate even if you aren't able to join the walk. Here is a link to find a walk near to you.) About Harry Our good friend Harry Joosten was in the early stages of his retirement when he…

As promised, my new ebook is now available. This Big Free eBook is full of inspiring stories, practical ideas and useful strategies. It is about new ways of seeing ourselves, our actions and the great big world out there. The main focus is to help you get meaningful things done in your life. This ebook is filled with many ideas that I have used to guide my life and I am glad to share them with you here. It's for Everyone For faithful readers and subscribers (and readers who find us on the web), you can download your eBook from…

Last year I retired. I was fortunate to have a long and rewarding career as a clinical and rehabilitation psychologist. Ninety per cent of my work, over 35 years, involved helping people cope with severe and disabling forms of long-term (or chronic) pain. With each person, I tried to embrace a deep understanding of how chronic pain affected their lives. I even enjoyed testifying in court, on their behalf, strange as that may seem. The physical pain they experienced often caused additional stress, losses of work and income, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Pain Limits Functioning Physical pain can also cause…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald This new eBook is almost ready for you. So I thought I would send out a little teaser. 101+ Pathways will soon be available to all current and new subscribers totally free. Of course subscribing is also free - always has been and always will be. There is no advertising, no spam and never any sharing of your personal information. No benefits accrue to me whatsoever. (You probably already knew this.) Here is the a brief summary and Table of Contents to whet your appetite. Introduction This is not a book about tricks, hacks or even…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald On the path toward our goals, we will have to overcome obstacles. And, unfortunately, some of these obstacles will be ones we create ourselves.  For instance, obstacles such as fear, doubt and perfectionism can get in the way and hold us back.  A Creative Way Through Lydia Bouchard is a dancer, choreographer and show director at Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun). I am sure you have heard about this amazing group of highly creative artists. In her video below, Dreaming is Not Enough, Bouchard explains how we can get out of our own way and grow…