Monday Motivation here we come! This is for those of you who slog through your Monday mornings. If you lament the end of the weekend and dread returning to the office, you may need our Monday Motivation quick tips. Grit Daily offers an avenue to connect with others like you. Were here to help get your work week off to a good start. Pump your fists its time for Monday Motivation!

If you can relate to our headline image, then this is the column for you. You need Monday Motivation as desperately as the rest of us. Me too. Here I am trying to write this column, in the wee hours of a dull and rainy morning, which translates to nightmare commute into the city. Sigh.

But Im on the case! Im constantly reading books knowing that I will learn at least one thing from each. There is always something that I highlight or a page that I photograph to go back and refer to at some point. Plus, there is some magical thing that happens in your brain which connects the dots and brings new thoughts together with past experiences. From it, new ideas, strategies, and plans emerge. Its quite amazing how this happens.

Of course, along the way, dont forget to enjoy the ride. It cant be all work and no play. Without reward, youd struggle to stay motivated. Especially on Mondays ugh!

Over the weekend, I read the book, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. Was there anything Earth-shattering in there? No. Nor was there any silver bullet or panacea for figuring out what to do. There never is with self-help books. But if a person who became a self-made multi-millionaire in his 20s takes the time to write a book about how he did it, you should read it. Its that simple.

The concept is simple and parallels what we know from Steven Coveys book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In a nutshell, you have to push through doing things (or not doing them) until they become a habit. You keep doing whatever the new behavior is that you desire until you no longer think of it as a new behavior. Somewhere along the way it morphs into part of your character and a standard part of your routine.

Monday Motivation follows the same trajectory: you keep at it, week after week until youre no longer the girl thats falling down the stairs every Monday morning because youre ready to embrace the week. Bring. It. On. Thats your new battle cry.

Again, no magic pill makes this stuff happen. Only YOU can change whatever it is that you desire to change. Monday Motivation takes focus, discipline, a warrior mindset and the grit to git er dun. Here is the science behind changing behavior and why it works if you attack the problem one change at a time. And a checklist if you want to do everything that you possibly can to ensure that you will be successful. Personally, I find this checklist a bit daunting: too many things to think about at once but thats how I see it and you may look at it differently.

Dont overwhelm yourself. Thats an easy thing to do. We can all pick ourselves apart then find ourselves wanting to change our hair, weight, relationships, living environment, job, how much we drink or go out and so on. But thats not going to accomplish anything. Pick ONE thing and change it. Not tomorrow. Not later. NOW! Begin immediately. Do this new thing until you no longer resent doing the new thing. Then, add something else and begin changing that.

I was an overnight success, said no one. Most fine artists are not celebrated until theyre six feet under. Musicians often struggle with their craft until they get noticed by a connected agent. New mothers dont drop all their pregnancy weight upon the birth of their child. Multi-millionaires (not trust fund babies) are made, not born. Everything takes time. Be patient, and be kind to yourself while youre making the change.

Theres a double edge to this last tip. The first is that you have to embrace a change that can be made over time. Something that you are in control of and can modify through new behaviors. The second aspect of keeping it real is holding yourself accountable. For example, some people like to use calorie trackers if they are trying to lose weight. Others join communities for support and to put the pledge to change out in the open so that everyone hears it and keeps the person changing on track.

Whatever it is that you want to change, know this. You CAN make simple changes in your life, which, over time, will add up to something bigger and better. The success of doing one little thing differently will have a positive ripple effect throughout your personal and professional life. So its worth doing, even if its going to be tough.

And, this is Monday Motivation, which is sensible thinking for every day of the week. Not just Mondays. Hold your head up high, youre fine as you are if you feel that youre fine. If you feel like you want to make a change, then make it. Whats stopping you?

Now its my turn to hit the crowded buses, trains, and subways but Ill be doing it with a smile. Because, as of today, Im counting my calories on my path to weight loss. BRING. IT. ON!

The rest is here:
Monday Motivation: Change One Thing - Grit Daily

Almost everyone I spoke with feels that the county overspent during the gas boom years, and that the bill is coming due. We got wasteful and stupid, and now we have to go back to common sense, Corrine Weatherly, who owns a dress- and costume-making shop, Sew What, told me. Ms. Weatherly also runs the county fair, and so she shows up to almost every Quorum Court meeting.

This worldview will continue to affect national elections. The most dominant news source here is Fox News, which I think helps perpetuate these attitudes. Theres another element, too: For decades, the dominant conservative theory of politics is that government should be run like a business, lean and efficient, and one of the biggest private employers here is Walmart, where Mr. James was working when he was elected.

Theres a prevailing sense of scarcity its easy for people who have lived much of their lives in a place where $25 an hour seems like a high salary to believe there just isnt enough money to go around. The government, here and elsewhere, just cant afford to help anyone, people told me. The attitude extends to national issues, like immigration. Ms. Hamilton told me shed witnessed, in Texas, a hospital being practically bankrupted by the cost of caring for immigrants and said, I dont want my tax dollars to be used to pay for people that are coming here just to sit on a government ticket. Mr. Widener, who described himself as more libertarian than anything else, told me his heart goes out to migrant children who are held in detention centers at the border, but he blames the parents who brought them to this country.

Where I see needless cruelty, my neighbors see necessary reality.

The people left in rural areas are more and more conservative, and convinced that the only way to get things done is to do them yourself. Especially as services have disappeared, they are more resentful about having to pay taxes, even ones that might restore those services.

And many of those who want to live in a place with better schools, better roads and bigger public libraries have taken Ms. Hamiltons suggestion theyve moved to places that can afford to offer them. This includes many of my peers from high school who left for college or jobs and permanently settled in bigger, wealthier cities and towns around the region.

Over the summer, after the uproar about Ms. Singletons pay, library supporters gathered signatures for a special election that would have slightly increased the amount of county property taxes collected for the library, helping it pay off the new building and stave off closing altogether. It set off a new furor, even though the increase was estimated to cost about $20 a year for properties assessed at $100,000, and many people have properties valued at much less than that.

Read more here:
In the Land of Self-Defeat - The New York Times

For airports across the globe, providing passengers with a seamless travel experience whilst protecting the airport systems from risks are two of the most important priorities. Here, Wilma van Dijk gives an insight into how Schiphol is working towards securing both.

The ultimate goal for any airport is to make the boarding process as easy and as quick as possible for passengers. Many airports are turning to new technologies that can optimise operations and improve efficiency to achieve this.

At Airport IT & Security 2019, Wilma van Dijk Director of Safety, Security & Environment at Royal Schiphol Group gave a presentation on how Schiphol Airport has focused on creating a more enjoyable end-to-end passenger experience. Following this, International Airport Review spoke to her regarding the recent trials of biometric self-boarding systems using facial recognition and CT scanners, to gain an insight into Schiphols vision for the future in terms of both the passenger and the security systems.

Schiphol Airport have implemented the Seamless Flow programme; a public-private cooperation in which the government, the airport and airlines are closely working together to explore the best way to secure a painless passenger experience.

The Seamless Flow programme aims to create a seamless journey for passengers through all obligatory checks at the airport. Within this programme, there have been several separate pilots on biometric boarding and border passage. Recently, the airport has started a pilot in which passengers test enrolment, border passage and boarding, all using biometrics (facial recognition).

Schiphol has also completed the roll-out of CT scan technology for cabin baggage in all security filters in the non-Schengen area of the airport. This means that passengers can keep both liquids and electronic devices (including laptops) in their bags during security checks. CT-scanners from several manufacturers have been tested and this will continue in order to further improve systems and keep track of the latest developments in the market.

It is planned that complete implementation of CT scanning for cabin baggage in the Schengen security filters will occur in 2020.

When implementing new technologies, there are of course economic and environmental concerns that have to be considered.

Therefore, business cases at Schiphol always include among other themes both economic and environmental elements.

The executive team ensure that all decision-making strikes the right balance between testing new technologies and balancing environmental and economic implications.

The long-term vision at Schiphol Airport is to further improve processes with a next step being fully automated self-service security for certain travellers. The team therefore focus on constant incremental improvements and new technologies in the security process that improve the passenger flow. This is always subject, of course, to national and international legislation on aviation security.

Schiphol is part of a community of airports, airlines, security providers and relevant government agents. Discussions with our trusted partners help us to be prepared and to pro-actively take necessary security measures.

Aviation security at Schiphol is an eminent example of cooperation between all parties that are involved within the aviation processes. At an airport, aviation security is the result of cooperation between a myriad of partners. Schiphol looks for win-win solutions that not only keep improving aviation security but facilitate the processes of all partners. At Schiphol, a Platform for Security, Border and Public Safety, whose membership consists of all public and private parties working on security at the airport, has been instituted. The objective of this platform is to promote and create an integrated approach of counterterrorism, public order and safety, crime and border control.

Wilma van Dijk believes the key to success here is that cooperation between all public and private parties involved takes place based on equality and commitment.

Wilma van Dijk, Director of Safety, Security & Environment at Royal Schiphol Group, has been in this role since October 2015 and is responsible for aviation security policy and operations, access control, cyber-security (CISO of Schiphol) and company security. This includes contract management, contacts with (inter)national government agencies, private security companies and technical development companies. She is also responsible for policy on safety and environmental issues and for the airport fire brigade. Next to this, van Dijk is responsible for Seamless Flow, the innovative programme that aims to provide a secure, hassle-free and paperless passage on the airport by using biometrics.

From 2009 to 2015 she occupied several posts within the Ministry of Justice, for example, Deputy National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism as well as Director of Cybersecurity.

Read more:
Schiphol Airport: Striving towards seamless flow and self-service security - International Airport Review

Though its mild, paradoxical and perhaps a bit prurient to say so, Slave Play is a happy surprise.

Its mild because Jeremy O. Harriss play, which opened at the Golden Theater on Sunday, is one of the best and most provocative new works to show up on Broadway in years.

Its a paradox because what could be happy in a play about pain? A play so serious, so furious and so deeply engaged in the most intractable conflicts of American life that it became both a cause clbre and a scandal before it opened?

And its a bit prurient because when we talk about the provocations of Slave Play and the people who saw it downtown last year at New York Theater Workshop have been talking about it almost nonstop since what we usually mean is sex: the whip, the dildo, the nudity, the boots, the bondage, the orgasms both achieved and aborted. Those things are indeed a surprise, at least if you havent watched television this millennium.

But sex is more than titillation in Slave Play; it is the crucible in which Mr. Harris performs a thought experiment. If black people in intimate partnerships with white people felt safe to say how they needed to be seen, would their white partners be able and willing to comply? Or are black people forever condemned by the legacy of slavery to live squarely in the blind spot of their nonblack partners myopia?

Though the experiment is carried out in a complex format one that blurs satire and minstrelsy and comedy and drama this is not some avant-garde nonsense producing microscopic results. In focusing on three messed-up interracial partnerships, Slave Play has nothing less than the messed-up interracial partnership of our whole country in its sights.

If only our whole country could go on a weeklong retreat to explore these issues, as the three couples do. (Read on judiciously if you want to preserve the plays surprises.) Their retreat, at a former plantation outside Richmond, Va., has been designed to help the black partners process their anhedonia their inability to get pleasure from their white partners through a series of exercises including, on Day 4, role play as slaves.

In that role play, Kaneisha (Joaquina Kalukango) takes on the persona of a disgusting little bed wench to Massa Jim that is, her husband (Paul Alexander Nolan), putting on a Southern accent. Phillip (Sullivan Jones) portrays a cultured house slave who agrees to be dominated by his partner, Alana (Annie McNamara), playing the plantations neurotic mistress. Gary (Ato Blankson-Wood) casts himself as a field slave in charge of a white indentured servant played by his narcissistic boyfriend, Dustin (James Cusati-Moyer).

In the plays first section, called Work, these three couples try to reconnect sexually in their antebellum alter egos (and in Dede Ayites witty costumes) while Mr. Harris and the plays director, Robert OHara, press every outrageous button they can. (Its just the beginning when Kaneisha twerks to Rihanna, begging Massa Jim to call her a Negress.) For some audience members not to mention social media kibitzers just seeing black characters take on reviled stereotypes may be too much to bear.

But the plays ambition is built on this outrageous foundation. In the second part, called Process, the couples discuss the outcomes of their role play under the guidance of two psychologists Te (Chalia La Tour) and Patricia (Irene Sofia Lucio) who developed the therapy. Here, Mr. Harriss satire of academic gassiness and self-help psychobabble does double duty: Its hilarious (even if a bit overdrawn) and yet illuminating. As the couples begin to pry ever more deeply into their troubles, we are the beneficiaries of their painful insights.

What we learn in lockstep with them is that the black subjects Kaneisha, Phillip and Gary are prized by their lovers despite their blackness instead of because of it. The role play, designed to flip that polarity, has forced the white partners to look at color and see it deeply, even at the risk of mortification.

This dynamic is pushed to a thrilling conclusion in the plays third section, called Exorcise, in which one couple faces the fallout of their work. A brilliant little play in itself, Exorcise is as wrenching a portrait of moral gridlock as anything in Arthur Miller, as weirdly lyrical as Tennessee Williams and as potently heightened as Suzan-Lori Parks.

I wish I could see what Mr. OHara, who often directs his own coruscating plays, could do with those authors. (His staging of A Raisin in the Sun at the Williamstown Theater Festival this summer was revelatory.) His showmanship both leavens and deepens difficult material and was crucial in turning Slave Play into the event it was downtown.

Uptown, his staging has grown broader and funnier but no less trenchant in the 800-seat Golden than it was in a space one-quarter the size; the continuous embroidering of marvelous detail fills any gaps that might have opened in the expansion. (Watch Phillip take refuge under his hoodie when he gets overwhelmed, or Alana scramble after her notebook as if it might protect her from what shes learning.) The returning cast especially Mr. Cusati-Moyer as the boyfriend who pathetically insists he is not as white as he looks has likewise amped up the emotional volume; they have a bigger house to bring down.

Their performances make that of the only new cast member Ms. Kalukango even more distinct and grave by comparison. As Kaneisha becomes the center of the plays argument, you see her struggle to express herself playing out on her face before she has the words. When the words do come, they are all the more devastating.

Devastating and, for white people, or at any rate for me, painful. And why shouldnt they be? The best plays arent just about empathizing with the oppressed; theyre also about accepting our connection to the oppressors. With asperity but also love, Slave Play lets us all see ourselves in the muddle that is race in America now. Theres even a giant mirrored wall in Clint Ramoss set to make sure we do.

Such reflections are no longer common on Broadway. If Slave Play can bring them to a bigger audience even an audience that is shocked or offended it will be a happy surprise indeed. Shock and offense may be just the ticket now.

Slave Play

Tickets Through Jan. 5, 2020, at the Golden Theater, Manhattan; 212-947-8844, slaveplaybroadway.com. Running time: 2 hours.

Visit link:
Review: Slave Play, Four Times as Big and Just as Searing - The New York Times

The more confident and assertive women present themselves, the easier it will be to ask for what they needand the less theyll care about being unlikable to theirboss.

As part of my series about the five things we need to do to close the gender wage gap I had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Pearson. Elizabeth is a professional life coach, spiritual seeker, writer, wife, and mother. Elizabeth specializes in getting women unstuck so they can achieve their highest goals in all aspects of life. Throughout her 15-year sales career, Elizabeth has worked for brands such as VitaminWater and Coca-Cola, as well as managing accounts for Amazon, Target, Whole Foods and others. During her sales career, Elizabeth discovered her true passion in lifeBeing of service to other women.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us the backstory that brought you to this career path?

I started out as a young and hungry sales rep for a scrappy startupVitaminWater. I was an intern for the company during college and, after graduation, promptly moved from St. Louis to Chicago after accepting a full-time position with the company. I loved my new city, the company I worked formy exciting life.

After the company was acquired by Coca Cola for $4BB, I sharpened my corporate sales skills by managing national accounts for Coke. I got to travel, eat at fabulous restaurants, and network with heavy hitters in the field. At this point, I was happily married and ready to do the next logical step (or so were told), move to the suburbs and start popping out babies. I was always an overachieving rule follower, so I bought the big house, had the kids and climbed the corporate ladder.

Then one day, after a yoga class, I began crying for reasons unbeknown to me. Looking back, I can now admit I must have been having some sort of spiritual breakdown or breakthrough. Something deep inside of me was urging me to take some risksGo for the gold, do more with my life than settle deeper into my comfort zone.

That moment was the catalyst to my exploration of all things self-help, both spiritual and empowering. I followed my passion for helping other women and began coaching. Fast forward 3 years later, my husband and I moved our kids across the country to sunny southern California, I own my own thriving coaching business, am writing my first bookLife is good.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

The most interesting thing thats happened is how many times Ive been blindsided with self-doubt. I knew there would be bumps in the road to entrepreneurship, but I always saw myself as a confident person. This journey to starting anew in so many areas of my life has destroyed all the armor I thought I had. I have days when Im sobbing with regret for walking away from my lucrative sales career, and Ive had days where Im sobbing with gratitude for my new life. The ups and downs are way more intense than I could have ever predicted.

Can you share a story about the funniest or most interesting mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The most interesting/cringeworthy mistake I made when I first started was not really listening to my clients. I used to coach from an I know whats best, just take my advice and youll be good mentality. A good coach does the opposite. An effective coach listens and looks for underlying messages or emotions from their client. Thank goodness I figured that out sooner rather than later, or I wouldnt have a successful business today.

Ok, lets jump to the main focus of our interview. Even in 2019, women still earn about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. Can you explain three of the main factors that are causing the wage gap?

1. Women not asking for more

No one will give you what you dont ask forso if a woman wants more money, more responsivity, a higher-ranking title, we need to start asking or demanding it from our employers. According to a survey published by Glassdoor, Women negotiated less than their male counterparts. Sixty-eight percent of women accepted the salary they were offered and did not negotiate, a 16-percentage point difference when compared to men (52%).

Some factors as to why women forgo the opportunity to negotiate their salaries stems from a lack of confidenceThey doubt theyre qualified enough for a promotion or deserve a raise.

Another factor may be whats commonly called the social cost of negotiationwomen feeling awkward or greedy when asking for more money. Men dont seem to have this hang up though, therefore its critical to avoid this costly mistake if we have any hopes of closing the wage gap.

A great option to feel more comfortable negotiating is to list out and quantify everything you bring to the organization. When women see the financial value they bring, its much easier to ask for a bump in their salary. Another great option is to take an online course on how to negotiate, as there are a ton of them available now.

2. Employer Bias

Many companies have a conscious or unconscious bias towards women which becomes evident when they overlook or undervalue the work their female employees do.

There is a reason to feel hopeful though, a recent Glassdoor study found that Based on over 425,000 salaries shared by full-time U.S. employees, men earn 21.4 percent higher base pay than women on average (or women earn 79 cents per dollar men earn). However, comparing workers of similar age, education, and experience shrinks the gap to 19.1 percent. Furthermore, after comparing workers with the same job title, employer and location, the gender pay gap in the U.S. falls to 4.9 percent (95.1 cents per dollar).

3. The Motherhood Penalty

Research shows that many mothers encounter some workplace-related backlash after having a childalthough it may be subtle. When compared to childless or male colleagues, moms can be viewed as being less committed and face higher expectations to prove their commitment to the company while receiving less consideration for a promotion. Some studies show the pay gap between mothers and childless women as an even larger gap than the one between men and women that gets the most attention. Moms earn approximately 7% less per child than childless women.

Theres a financial cost of being a stay at home momStay home, and you miss out on opportunities to earn and build wealth. The opposite is true for men because new fathers typically see earnings increase after their child is born. Why? Because it signals stability to the organization and that they are less of a flight risk if they are seen as having a heavier financial responsibility.

How do we start to fix this problem? Give mothers access to affordable, good quality daycare and give men the same 12-weeks of use-it-or-lose-it paternity leave that women get.

Can you share with our readers what your work is doing to help close the gender wage gap?

The joy of my life is helping women get reacquainted with their powerit never goes away, but sometimes it gets ignored for a few years. I encourage women to see their potential for the life they want to live, and then we take massive action to help them attain their goals, many of which are financial. By encouraging more women to take their seat at the proverbial table, we will have more women dictating wages and, hopefully, we can then finally close the wage gap.

Can you recommend 5 things that need to be done on a broader societal level to close the gender wage gap?

The progress that is being made is encouraging, however well need these 5 things to happen to close the gap:

1. Sustained action from businesses.

Equal paternity leave for new dads so they can carry more childcare weight and free-up moms to go back to work.

2. Government support.

Affordable childcare for new and single mothers is critical to ensuring women return to the workforce.

3. Awareness of biases.

Companies will need to take a good look in the mirror, and at their payroll, to see if there may be underlying biases and sexism happening within their organizations.

4. Women becoming skilled negotiators.

The more confident and assertive women present themselves, the easier it will be to ask for what they needand the less theyll care about being unlikable to their boss.

5. Parents overriding socialized norms for girls to be people pleasers and nurturing.

When we empower our youth to see girls as equals, we raise men and women who expect to pay women at the same level as men.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

The movement Id love to see happen is a Care Less Movement.

Care less about what others think of you.

Care less about fitting in.

Care less about doing things that you dont enjoy.

Care less what your parents and siblings think of your choices.

Be Happy. Do what you want to do.

Your only purpose in life is to be happy. Care more about that and less about everything else.

Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, its always your choice.Dr. Wayne Dyer

When clients seek out my help, theyre usually feeling somewhat powerless in an area of their lifeSome are even miserable in a toxic work environment. I always recommend that they use those feelings as a catalyst for change and improvement of the situation. Complaining about it will only keep it in your vibration and therefore in your reality. When you make a choice to be grateful for everythingwell, thats when the magic of transformation happens.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

Id love to have met the mentor-in-my-head, Dr. Wayne Dyer. His books and lectures have been a game-changer for me, and I feel he was way ahead of his time. Id love to have some thick pancakes and a great cappuccino and talk to him about the meaning of lifea topic which Im sure he has all the answers. Oh, and if we could snag a 3-top, of course Id want Beyonc there.

Go here to see the original:
Five things we need to do to close the gender wage gap, With Elizabeth Pearson - Thrive Global

Marianne Williamson recently burst onto the political scene as a somewhat unconventional candidate vying for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination in the United States.

While she has never garnered more than two per cent in the polls and did not qualify for the third debate meaning its likely her run will come to an end soon her remarks during the first two Democratic debates, as well as her personality and unconventional campaign parlance, have provoked many media responses.

What distinguishes Williamson from other candidates is her personal and professional background. Prior to her foray into politics, she was an internationally renowned self-help and spiritual author and speaker, known for penning bestsellers like A Return to Love.

A child of the 1960s, Williamson was significantly involved with the New Age and Human Potential movements, even spending time working at Esalen Institute in California, the American mecca of alternative spirituality.

Today, shes known as Oprah Winfreys spiritual adviser, and remains an outspoken advocate of mindfulness meditation, yoga and therapy as ways to achieve spiritual and social transformation.

Williamson unapologetically infuses her interest in spirituality into her political campaigning.

On her website she calls for a a moral and spiritual awakening in America, speaking to those who are seeking higher wisdom. And in her closing statement at the first Democratic debate, she proclaimed that she will harness love to defeat President Donald Trump.

A number of pundits have mocked Williamson. But the more common reaction is puzzlement: many just dont know what to make of a renowned spiritual and self-help teacher running to lead the Democratic Party.

I believe this is largely because few are familiar with the history of alternative spirituality in North America and its ties to progressive politics.

We have seen a dramatic rise over the last few decades in the number of North Americans who self-identify as spiritual but not religious.

Read more: What does it mean to be spiritual?

Those in this group, while certainly diverse, have deep spiritual interests, often champion something like the existence of a higher power, remain wary of orthodoxy and place a premium on individual autonomy.

It is these people to whom Williamson appeals. And while they might view themselves as seekers who dont adhere to traditions, there is a longstanding tradition of alternative spirituality in the West.

In Spiritual but not Religious: Understanding Unchurched America, religious historian Robert Fuller sheds light on the various metaphysical movements that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries in America.

These include Swedenborgism, Transcendentalism, Spiritualism, Mesmerism, Theosophy and New Thought, each of which despite being relatively unknown to most people have significantly shaped the spiritual but not religious trend.

These movements were certainly theologically different, but nevertheless, like Williamson and her followers, they postulated the existence of unseen forces and championed the importance of both mystical experiences and individual freedom. If channelled appropriately, those forces could purportedly lead to self-empowerment.

Read more: Why you should know about the New Thought movement

The influence of these movements was far from marginal in American society. They often attracted well-known writers, politicians and artists. Ralph Waldo Emerson, often called Americas national poet, was an avowed Transcendentalist, as was Henry Thoreau, committed civil rights activist and author.

Others who belonged to some of these movements include psychologists William James and Carl Jung, philosopher Rudolf Steiner and biologist Alfred Russell Wallace.

Historian Leigh Eric Schmidt of Princeton University usefully traces the historical ties between these movements and progressive democratic politics in the U.S. in Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality.

Schmidt observes that many of the leaders and spokespeople of these movements were ahead of their time, both socially and politically.

For instance, Margaret Fuller, an early Transcendentalist and confessed mystic, was also a staunch advocate for womens rights in the early 19th century. So was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a womens suffrage activist who sought to claim the privilege of autonomy for the female sex in The Womans Bible , published in 1895.

Walt Whitman, the famous American poet and writer - as well as a curious inquirer into clairvoyance and Spiritualism - championed, in cosmopolitan fashion, the good in all religious systems, according to Schmidt.

Felix Adler, a Reform Jew and founder of the Society for Ethical Culture, published in 1905 The Essentials of Spirituality, wherein he championed the importance of doing justice to that inner self in order to do justice to others.

Finally, Ralph Waldo Trine, proponent of New Thought and author of the successful In Tune with the Infinite, depicted God as a spirit of infinite life akin to a reservoir of superhuman power.

And though Trines doctrines were eventually appropriated by entrepreneurial and materialist ministers such as Norman Vincent Peale in the mid-20th century, Trine himself was a staunch progressive and social reformer. He was also a committed vegetarian, playing an active role in the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In light of this history, Schmidt concludes:

The convergence of political progressivism, socioeconomic justice, and mystical interiority was at the heart of the rise of a spiritual left in American culture.

Its therefore worth asking why a candidate like Williamson so boggles the modern-day mind.

In part, it has to do with the way alternative spirituality developed over the 20th century. The New Age movement of the 1970s was arguably the most prominent. And while the New Age label may today be out of fashion, many ideas that were once championed under its banner remain strikingly popular.

In fact, its likely that many who call themselves spiritual but not religious subscribe to a set of ideas and engage in a variety of practices that were once central to that counter-cultural movement. And carrying forward a long-standing tradition, these ideas tend to appeal to the left.

Religion, after all, is increasingly associated in the U.S. with social conservatism. In turn, for many progressives, especially millennials, religion is no longer considered a viable option.

So for those with spiritual interests, the cosmopolitan and inclusive spirituality of Williamson has an obvious appeal.

Of course, one of the tenets of New Age thought, at least in its most radical form, is that politics is a distraction from what really matters: self-transformation and spiritual enlightenment.

This may be why the image of Williamson as president is so difficult to entertain: we tend to think spirituality and politics just dont mix.

But thats at odds with the actual history of spirituality in America. Perhaps those who are spiritual but not religious will stop drawing a line separating the spiritual from the political. And if this happens, maybe the thought of a Williamson presidency wont seem so implausible.

[ Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter. ]

Original post:
Marianne Williamson and the religion of 'spirituality' - The Conversation CA

This post is part of a series of Queerty conversations with models, trainers, dancers, and, well, people who inspire us to stay in shape0r just sit on the couch ogling them instead.

Name:Matthew Shaffer, 41

City: Los Angeles. Ive had a fun little gypsy life. I was born in a small town in Colorado, but grew up in Southern California, just outside of Torrance.

Occupation: Performer, dancer, choreographer and author of Dancing Out of the Closet, a memoir of coming out on the wicked stage. I am also an educator at Studio School, a university in downtown Los Angeles Center Stages. Its the first of its kind in our country, where students earn a BFA while partaking in professionally performing and auditioning while in school.

Favorite Gym:I gave up gyms about four years ago and moved into a yoga studio. I was always punishing myself for what I wasnt, rather than rewarding myself for what I am. I actually go to Core Power, which is sort of like the Starbucks of yoga. Its great for when Im on the road. You always get a consistent practice.

Related:Stage star and trainer Sam Leicht, on how sports can build a bridge to queer acceptance

Favorite Work Out Song: Anything Annie Lennox, especially the Eurythmics. Pink, if Im feeling feisty. Queen, recently, because how could you not revisit such a beautiful group.

Recommended Work-Out Foods: I try eat more vegetables than anything else. Im not afraid of carbs, so Ill do a carbohydrate. I do high protein from beans and outside sources, but low meat intake. I try to stay away from meat on weekends and practice being vegetarian on weekdays. Ive found that in do that, instead of giving myself a cheat day it helps me find a consistent balance. I also gave up soda 11 years ago, and avoid dairy since that keeps weight on.

Best Workout Outfit: I like Lulu Lemon. I think their shorts are very well made for men, and last a long time. They have a built-in liner, and feel really tight and kind of remind me of biker shorts or jazz pants. On top, I go to Target and I buy tank tops.

How do you balance staying in shape and having fun? For me, the biggest battle in my life is that Im someone who believes in living in the moment, and I want to make sure I enjoy everything. For most of my 20s, I was in such a demanding field and had to look really good all the time, so I was constantly depriving myself. Now, I allow myself to indulge, but with that comes with the discipline of going to the yoga studio. If I have a day where Ive indulged too much, I might take an extra yoga class or pop into a spin class. That makes me feel good.

What about as a performer? Every day I keep a journal. I think that is especially important for anyone, but especially an artist because we are so emotional and can access that emotion very quickly, whether its good or bad. I read self-help books in perpetual cycles like [works by] Eckhart Tolle. If Im on my own, I write. It helps me stay mentally prepared. Thats how both of my books were born: the need to work through pain.

The book emphasizes your history of performance, coming out and how those correspond to highs and lows in your personal life. How did dance as a creative outlet prepare you for coming out? That was my favorite part of writing the book. When I set out to write it, that was the question I kept asking myself. Am I performer because I knew when I was three that I was gay and needed a way to channel it? Or was the fact that I liked to dance and act and perform just a catalyst to say Deal with this thing? Im not sure. I find it interesting that so many performing artists are gay. I dont want to stereotype, but it is interesting that so many writers, directors, costume designers, choreographers are LGBTQ. I also dont know if I ever could have come out without having the loving people that I was surrounded by in my dance company or on a set, because when youre on a break and you hear someone elses story, you think thats my story. It gives you a safe haven to talk about it out loud.

At times, you seem to lean into gay stereotypes in your book. For example, you ask the reader to think of you speaking with a gay lisp for emphasis, even though you dont have one. Do you think embracing a stereotype can empower you? I do. Look, were going to be stereotyped whether we like it or not. Thats not just actors or gay people, its everyone. I love that the generation beneath me is trying to break stereotypes, but at the end of the day, there have been tropes weve fit into. For me, the lispI did some research and that was one of the identifying ways it was safe for men in the 50s to find one another and be with each other. So yeah, part of being stereotyped is embracing the stereotype. As a performer, I learned to accept that because you get typecast. If I had to embrace it for my career, why cant I embrace it for my life?

How does dance prepare you for everyday life? I tell people if youre a dancer you can do anything. Dance is both a sport and an art. In order to fully execute the idea behind a story, you have to be physically at the top of your game. Youre versatile. And part of working in a studio is learning how to problem solve and when something doesnt work, finding a way out of it. I think that dance activates the mind and the body and the soul.

Tip for staying in shape:Love yourself and drink plenty of water. Stay active.

What do you keep on your nightstand? I keep a book Im reading, my journal, my phone and a bottle of water with a glass. Right now Im reading a book called Paris by Edward Rutherford.

Continue reading here:
Matt Shaffer on lisping and why part of being stereotyped is embracing the stereotype - Queerty

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Why the Self-Help Industry Has Depression Wrong

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Related:'Why Can't I Focus?' Here's What the Science Says.

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Related:Why the Self-Help Industry Has Depression Wrong#6 Ways How Sleep Deprivation Is Killing You Slowly and SteadilyThe Death Road: How Entrepreneurs Can Fight Suicidal Thoughts & Not Give Up

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Why the Self-Help Industry Has Depression Wrong - Greenwich Time

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If you have been feeling a little off lately or have just been looking for some extra inspiration, than lookno further than the list of best-selling self-help books on Amazon. These books are sure to help you find that pep in your step and positively re-evaluateyour goals or create new ones! Check out 10 of the most popular self-help books out now in the gallery below!

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Best-selling self-help books

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More from Aol.com: 16 breezy beach reads to pack for your next vacation Add these 6 Pulitzer Prize winning books to your reading list 12 fresh spring and summer cookbooks to inspire creative cooking

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10 self-help books to help you feel reenergized and inspired - AOL

So, in this Student Opinion question, we invited them to read about the things Times employees do to take care of themselves, and then share their own. Here are some of their tips for preserving and improving their mental, physical and emotional health:

Whenever I get stressed out, I draw. I know, I know, its a clich, but its what I do. As a high school student, I generally have a stressful life, what with schoolwork, extracurriculars, and spending time with my family. In order to not go insane, I often need to decompress. To do this, I put on some music, grab a pencil, and get drawing. If I didnt do this, Id snap. Drawing allows me to escape from all that chaos and just be.

Lucas Kruger, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

With school, sports, and homework finding time to get good sleep during the week is close to impossible. Taking time to simply just lay down and take a nap is by far one of the most important things for me. 2 hours. Thats all the time I need to re energize myself and feel good again.

Now, dont get me wrong online shopping helps a lot too but there is no immediate energy boost. I reserve time every weekend possible to just take a nap. The amazing feeling of laying down after a long week and just forgetting all your responsibilities is by far one of the best feelings that one can encounter.

Kali Hatcher, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

Crying, I realized, can be a good way to relieve excessive emotions. This leads me to understand why some people would need to power cry. I then tried it myself a couple of times and got to experience its power, although I rarely do it anymore since there isnt that much stress in my life if I prioritize.

Yuwei Hu (Emily), Hinsdale, IL

My idea of self care is simply listening to music at home everyday after school. Being very introverted, school can be extremely exhausting for me and I often find schoolwork to be overwhelming. Taking time to listen to music everyday and relax really helps me deal with the stress and pressure of school. It gives me a break from thinking about homework, grades, and my peers.

Eliana Donohue, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

Everyday after school, I head home, and before even thinking about homework, food, or anything else, I blast music. Nothing will make me feel more at ease than playing a Ben Platt song at full volume and screaming out the words.

Kayla Young, Bryant, Arkansas

When I was in 9th grade, my dad made me go to some religious classes every weekend and they spent an hour every morning doing yoga. I always thought yoga was just something that moms do but I realized a lot over the past few weeks at yoga. It was calming and it let me release the breath I didnt know I was holding in. Im a very extroverted person and I really enjoy being around other people but this was a new experience for me. This was a time spent to myself where I could ponder on my thoughts. I never realized the point of it all but when I noticed that this was the moment just for me I started to feel like I can catch my breath.

Bhavana Dronamraju, Hinsdale, IL

Excerpt from:
What Students Are Saying About: Their Political Views, Self-Care and Travel Memories - The New York Times