The book
A Person Is a Person Through Other Persons
It feels good to be the person that others count on, the one who always offers help, but hidden within that identity, there can be a sneaky trap. My holiday reflections on this dilemma led me to the wise words of...
Elisabeth Sperling · 11 January 2022 · 3 min read
That Big Question that Haunts You
Sometimes we face dilemmas and decisions that are so important we just can’t seem to find an answer. We get frustrated, anxious and even obsessed. We get stuck. A great way to get unstuck is to stop looking for an...
Davide Pagnotta · 14 December 2021 · 4 min read
What Would I Do if I Had No Fear?
Our first reaction to fears is often to go into survival mode where fears paralyse or overwhelm us and all we can do is either hide or run away. But it doesn't have to be like that. We can also learn from fears...
Davide Pagnotta · 1 December 2021 · 5 min read
Connecting Beyond Images
When we think of ourselves, we call up a certain self-image that we hold in our minds. When we think of others, we call up an image for them as well. But these images can distance us from our deeper essence and that of...
Elisabeth Sperling · 16 November 2021 · 2 min read
Don’t Let Mistakes Derail You
Last week I was interviewed for a podcast and, at a certain point, I made a mistake. The inner voice in my head went ballistic and almost derailed the whole interview. The podcast, eventually, went super well, and I...
Davide Pagnotta · 2 November 2021 · 4 min read
How to Handle a High-Stakes Conversation
It can be scary to realize how one conversation may determine the future of a project, a relationship, or even a life. Four researchers spent twenty years studying how to navigate such moments, and distilled their...
Elisabeth Sperling · 12 October 2021 · 8 min read
Whoever Gets Offended First Loses
Last week, I finally managed to go visit my parents in Italy after over a year. It was very emotional to see them in person and be able to hug them again.
Davide Pagnotta · 28 September 2021 · 4 min read
Learning to Run Toward, Not Away
I learned a life lesson when taking an Advanced First Aid course in college. I had finished about half of the course and was walking through the freshman quadrangle when I saw an elderly man collapse on the path ahead of me.
Elisabeth Sperling · 14 September 2021 · 2 min read
Oops, What Did I Just Do? 🙈
After several cold and wet weeks, it was finally sunny and 30+ degrees in the UK this past weekend (that’s just short of 90 Fahrenheit). Fran (my partner) and I couldn’t miss the opportunity: we rented a car and drove to the South West beaches.
Davide Pagnotta · 20 July 2021 · 5 min read
Take a Holiday from Work, not from Yourself
Well, it doesn’t feel like summer here in London but the calendar says it is and, even more so, my body and my mind are telling me I need a proper break.
Davide Pagnotta · 8 July 2021 · 4 min read
Can I unsubscribe from your judgment, please?
A common refrain among my students is: “I would like to stop caring so much about what other people think of me.”
Elisabeth Sperling · 6 July 2021 · 3 min read
The Journey Is What Brings Us Happiness, Goals Just Set Directions
Have you ever noticed that we don’t have control over whether we achieve our goals or not?
Davide Pagnotta · 22 June 2021 · 4 min read