Dr. Michael R. MacDonald You would be hard-pressed to find a group more creative than Cirque Du Soleil (Circus of the Sun). They have excelled at storytelling, acrobatics, costuming and original music, to name just a few of their talents. Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix started as street performers and built a multi-billion dollar international company, unlike anything before. I am a big fan of Cirque du Soleil and have seen many of their incredible shows. They have been around for a while now, but I never tire of being surprised and inspired. And I am certain we can learn some things from their…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I was re-watching an interesting video from Room to Read , the other day, called What’s Your Superpower (see below). The many great ideas took me by surprise, again, as I read an older post, which featured this video. I liked these ideas so much that I thought the post deserved an update. Lessons from Young Girls In this video, several young girls (as well as men and women) from Bangladesh were interviewed. They described some of the strengths that helped them in their lives. These are attainable and inspiring superpowers that can help young girls…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Michael J. Fox continues to rise, despite incredible obstacles in his path. On January 4, 2025, President Biden presented Fox with  the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. This award recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors. At the White House, Fox was recognized as “one of the most beloved actors of our time with remarkable wit and charm.” He was honored for his boundless determination to change the future for millions of…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I am looking forward to reading Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff. It will be out soon and I can't wait. I have been reading Anne-Laure's newsletter for the past year and liking her science-based ideas. Anne-Laure is the co-founder of Ness Labs, which she describes as a playground for curiosity – a place where you can learn how to experiment with ideas, explore creative projects, make better decisions, and reflect on your progress. She also calls her company a laboratory for your mind. Tiny Experiments This is…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Is all the negativity out there beating you down? Do you want to get back up and stay up? A strong dose of optimism will help. I explained in a recent post how optimism can be a powerful force. It can lead to greater productivity, better health, stronger relationships and an improved quality of life. But, this optimism can be hard to maintain. Maybe you are still sinking. Maybe the damage has been too extensive. I hope not. Here are two ways to help. Let's take a look. Reparative Reading and Viewing If the algorithms or…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald In this day of AI and ever more powerful media companies, we can be pushed down a slippery slope and end up a negative mess. We can struggle to unearth whatever optimism we did have under this mountain of negativity and pessimism. But, it doesn't have to be that way. We can learn to exert some control over what is fed to us on our phones, computers and television sets. And we can gain some control over how our mood and our lives are affected. First, let's see how this all works. Life in Today’s World…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I have always loved reading about marketing - even before I became a psychologist and started a small practice group. But, I have never liked the approach of some marketers who emphasize hype and manipulation. To me, there are much better ways. To be successful in the field of marketing, you need to have a strong mind. You also need to be productive. Without these strengths, there are many ambitious people more than willing to move ahead of you. When we think of marketing, generosity is not likely to be top of mind. These are concepts…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald My attention span is not one of my strengths. My attention to detail is even worse. My wife wonders, sometimes, how I have made it this far in life. One of my bad habits is to skim over what I am reading. As a result, I often miss important parts of a story. Thankfully, my wife misses very little. If you are a skimmer like me, you may have missed important parts of my website, A Warm Heart. In case you missed it (from the About section), here is a story that inspired me to set…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald Optimism and self-confidence are both powerful forces in almost all walks of life. And, they can mutually reinforce each other. When one gets stronger, it helps the other to grow. By practicing optimism, you can help yourself be more self-confident and more successful. And, of course, more success also boosts self-confidence. Here’s How This Can Work Positive Outlook and Self-BeliefAn optimistic attitude can foster a stronger belief in yourself. Optimists tend to expect positive outcomes and view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. This perspective can help you feel more capable and confident…

Dr. Michael R. MacDonald I love watching The Daily Show and sometimes even the other late night comedy shows. I have been a fan of Jon Stewart for a long time. He has come back to Comedy Central and has brought a crew of very funny co-hosts with him. Long live Jon Stewart. But, even though I am laughing at the clever comedy, too much of it can make me irritable and bring me down. This is especially true if I watch different shows that focus on the same daily depressing events. The real danger comes with watching late night…