There are days when nothing feels right, when things seem a little too much or even overwhelming, and we need a gentle nudge to remind us that hope and joy still exist. At such times we either want to be left alone, waiting for the feeling to pass, perhaps taking long, brisk walks to shake off the gloom, or we reach out to close family and friends. And sometimes, we turn to books, movies and music. Books aside, movies can feel like friends too—stepping in with vivid character

None of these stories or parables are new. They have been told and retold countless times, yet they never lose their moral appeal. Inspired and adapted from Zen, Sufi and other tales of the wise, they’re simple and uplifting, carrying timeless insights passed down through the ages.   Perhaps that’s why they still resonate with readers: the world keeps changing, but wisdom never loses its power to inspire humans to live ethical, meaningful and compassionate lives.   Why are y

Everyone deserves to be happy in their own way. But is happiness really the purpose of life? It's a matter of personal belief or choice, as one person’s idea of happiness might simply be another’s state of contentment.   In Stoic philosophy, for example, happiness is seen as a natural outcome of living a virtuous life guided by wisdom and reason. It’s not something to be pursued actively, like a career goal, but rather as a consequence of aligning our thoughts and actions w

On Christmas morning, I met an old acquaintance who had come down from London with his family to spend the holidays with his parents. With the help of a caretaker, he was in the process of moving his father from a wheelchair into his car.   “We’re taking mom and dad to my place for Christmas lunch,” he said after we exchanged greetings. “My sister and her family, from Sydney, are here too.”   “That’s wonderful,” I said. “I can’t imagine how happy they must be.” I wished him a

During the time I worked as a trainer for the IELTS exams (International English Language Testing System), one of the questions in the...