Blog Library – Personal Kaizen

24 Mar 2026

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5 Simple Exercises to Increase Happiness and Well-being

Our recent post shared research covering 10 models on the meaning and pursuit of happiness. One of the models highlighted is from Martin Seligman’s book Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. Seligman introduces his PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement) of well-being and shares many of his thoughts on Positive Psychology developed as a practicing psychologist. Seligman shares several evidence-based exercises in the book designed to increase long-term well-being and decrease depression. Here are five of his exercises proven to increase your happiness and well-being, and our thoughts and experience testing them. The "Three…

16 Feb 2026

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An Engineer’s Reasons for the Existence of a Grand Designer

A recent post summarized Mo Gawdat’s 2017 book, Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy. Gawdat shares six "grand illusions," seven "blind spots", and five “ultimate truths” in his very thought-provoking book on happiness. The final chapter of the book is titled “Who Made Who?” and is an engineer’s reasons for the existence of a grand designer. I found this section didn’t fit particularly well with the rest of the book, but his argument was persuasive enough to share with the Personal Kaizen community and explore separately. The Problem Statement Trying to tackle the existence of God as the…

27 Jan 2026

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10 Models on the Meaning and Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness. It’s the most universal and basic of human desires, driving our dreams, decisions, and aspirations. We all chase it throughout our life, yet often the thrill fades and we’re left wondering why we never found the lasting joy we expected. We are about to explore 10 models on the meaning and pursuit of happiness, by both philosophers long dead and modern authors who have looked into the topic for their own lives. I’ll then recommend how we obtain happiness based on this research. This is our final post (for now) in our recent series exploring happiness. We encourage you…

16 Dec 2025

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Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy

Mo Gawdat, chief business officer at Google, took an engineer's approach to the problem of happiness after the tragic loss of his son. In his 2017 book, Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy, Gawdat shares that happiness is not a goal to be achieved, but our natural, default state. The key to living a joyful life is to remove the obstacles that prevent us from experiencing this innate happiness. Gawdat identifies these obstacles as "grand illusions" and "blind spots" that cloud our perception of reality. By understanding and dismantling them, we can realize “ultimate truths” and return to…

18 Nov 2025

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How a Positive Mindset Results in a Happiness Advantage

In the pursuit of success, we've been sold a faulty formula: work hard, become successful, and then you'll be happy. But what if the equation is backward? What if happiness isn't the result of success, but the engine that drives it? Shawn Achor's international bestseller, The Happiness Advantage, dismantles this conventional wisdom and presents a compelling, science-backed case on the need to cultivate a positive mindset first. It's about training our brains to be happier, more resilient, and more effective; shifting the focus from simply reacting to life's challenges to actively creating a better future. Learn Achor’s seven principles of…

21 Oct 2025

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How to Stop Stumbling and Start Making Better Happiness Decisions

Have you ever made a big decision, certain it would bring you happiness, only to find yourself feeling the same as you did before? Or perhaps you've dreaded an upcoming event, convinced it would be a disaster, only to discover it wasn't so bad after all. In his groundbreaking book, Stumbling on Happiness, Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert reveals the shocking truth: our brains are terrible at predicting what will make us happy. He shares the surprising science of "affective forecasting" and the range of biases that lead us to constantly misjudge our future happiness. Gilbert’s central argument in Stumbling on…

23 Sep 2025

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Equations for a Great Life from Scott Galloway’s Algebra of Happiness

Scott Galloway's book, The Algebra of Happiness, isn't a traditional book of mathematical equations. Instead, it uses the concept of algebra to present "equations" or formulas for living a great life, based on Scott’s own experiences and observations. The core idea is that success, happiness, and a great life are a function of several variables, and getting these variables right requires making conscious trade-offs. Scott Galloway is a serial entrepreneur and professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He has several popular podcasts, including his Prof G Pod. This post shares the key equations and concepts Scott covers…

26 Aug 2025

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Build Lasting Love: 9 Keys to a Healthy Relationship

Ever wonder what makes some relationships thrive while others falter? Clinical Psychologists John and Julie Gottman have dedicated their lives to answering this very question. Through groundbreaking research and observation, they've developed the Gottman Method, a renowned approach to couples therapy that helps partners build stronger, more fulfilling connections. To experience love and be loved is Rule 5 of the Personal Kaizen 10 Rules for Life, and this post shares the Gottman’s research on building lasting love and their nine keys to a healthy relationship. Who are the Gottmans? John Gottman, a clinical psychologist, and Julie Gottman, President of The…

29 Jul 2025

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27 Conflicting Answers on How to Live

Have you ever asked yourself if the choices you are making in your life are the right ones? This month we are summarizing the 2021 Derek Sivers book How to Live: 27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion. I love this simple book. Sivers goes all-in on 27 different, and contrasting, philosophies for how to live your life. All 27 are listed below, and Sivers makes a strong, rational, and logical case for each of these ways. Which one (or more) resonates with you? Conflicting Answers from How to Live Most of Sivers' answers to How to Live are explained…

08 Jul 2025

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Make Your Thoughts Useful, Not True

Rule 4 of our 10 Rules for Life is to Live in the Moment with a Positive Mindset. Living in the moment means being present – not getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future. Having a positive mindset can probably best be explained by the 2024 Derek Sivers book Useful, Not True. I love this short, simple book and have been giving copies away to my friends and family. Here is a short summary of how to make your thoughts useful, not true. If you enjoy this summary, I highly recommend reading the book. Sivers masterfully builds…

5 Simple Exercises to Increase Happiness and Well-being

An Engineer’s Reasons for the Existence of a Grand Designer

10 Models on the Meaning and Pursuit of Happiness

Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy

How a Positive Mindset Results in a Happiness Advantage

How to Stop Stumbling and Start Making Better Happiness Decisions

Equations for a Great Life from Scott Galloway’s Algebra of Happiness

Build Lasting Love: 9 Keys to a Healthy Relationship

27 Conflicting Answers on How to Live

Make Your Thoughts Useful, Not True

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