Category Archives: Self-Knowledge

The Other Contagion: Mistrust

Under any circumstances how people perceive they are being treated by their employers either creates greater or lesser trust. The coronavirus pandemic naturally stirs up and may drastically heighten whatever level of trust is part of an existing workplace environment — depending on what the leaders do. A lot has been made of ensuring adequate […]

March 16, 2020 – 2:42 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Changing the World, Reflective Leadership, Self-Knowledge, Trust | Comments (4)

No Mud, No Lotus

A few years ago, the Vietnamese Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, published a slim volume called, No Mud, No Lotus. The premise is straightforward: the “mud” of suffering is essential to happiness. The two are inextricably linked. To find happiness, first embrace your pain, look deeply into it, and learn to “suffer well.” Last week, […]

March 4, 2020 – 1:38 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Consciousness, Radiance, Self-Knowledge | Comments (0)

If It’s Not a Clear Yes, It’s a No

If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no. The phrase tests our clarity and commitment. It doesn’t apply in every situation that might be answered, “maybe, maybe not.” Not everything can be or should be clear cut. But the phrase may have distinctive value when it is a way of asking ourselves about situations […]

January 31, 2020 – 2:59 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Openness, Self-Knowledge, Truth | Comments (0)

On Workplace Depersonalization

I have been thinking a lot lately about workplace depersonalization. Let me give you a couple of examples. True stories. I go for a doctor’s appointment and am sitting in the waiting area while others check in. One of the receptionists says to an older, incoming patient: “Oh, hello! It’s so nice to see you! […]

December 11, 2019 – 1:44 pm | By Dan Oestreich | Posted in Self-Knowledge, Trust | Comments (3)