Why Purpose Doesn’t Have to Be All or Nothing

As human beings, we often fall prey to all-or-nothing thinking. The American Psychological Association defines this as dichotomous thinking—the tendency to interpret experiences in terms of polar opposites: good or bad, happy or sad, success or failure. At first glance, this kind of thinking might seem harmless, maybe even motivating. But research suggests the consequences […]

How Friendships With Elders Help Teens Find Purpose

Time in this high school moves without hurry once classes are done. Afternoon sun fills the halls, almost empty of students now except for the few still packing up. In one classroom, teens and older adults begin to arrive—some ebulliently, others shyly, but all with an eagerness that feels palpable. Gradually, their voices and laughter […]