Gregory Loewen

I was speaking to a friend the other day about belief. Not a general discussion about what they believed in, but whether or not those beliefs were harmful to others. Does it make them kinder, more open, more compassionate? Or does it give them permission to judge, exclude, shame, or treat someone as less worthy? That’s the part that matters. A belief can sound holy and still cause harm. You can dress it up in spiritual language, quote scripture, wrap it in tradition, but if it needs someone...

At 67 years old, I think I’m finally starting to understand myself. For most of my life, I believed there was something wrong with me. My mother used to call me lazy. My teachers would tell me I had “so much potential if only I applied myself.” I look at the graveyard of business ideas behind me. I was endlessly energized by creating things — new ventures, concepts, experiences, brands, stories. The beginning stages lit me up. But once the excitement settled into structure, maintenance, or...

(from our forthcoming book, Unreasonable Happiness ) Most mornings, it’s decaf by the fire and a scroll through the news of the world. The news tries to light me up; I practice not taking the bait. One simple question keeps me steady: Is this mine to carry, or mine to witness? If a story touches my family, my street, or a community I’m part of—and there’s a clear step I can take today—it’s mine to carry . I make the call, send the donation, sign up, or put a date on the calendar. Then I close...