Rational intelligence or logic is widely known and helps us explain, predict phenomena in our world and solve problems. It can be cultivated, this is the goal of classic education.If you have ever been unable to solve a problem, then you understand the value of rational intelligence. Emotional intelligence is about recognizing, being aware andContinue reading “The three types of intelligence…”
Category Archives: A meaningful life
Save 1000$ in psychotherapy…
Listen to Esther Perel and Peter Attia talk about personal trauma, narrative, sex, parenting and child development. It is so good I could not stop listening. It is so dense in knowledge and wisdom that i am taking notes.
What emotional intelligence means to me…
When emotional intelligence emerges, it feels like removing a blindfold and seeing reality in an infinite nuances of colors. When I am self-centred, it feels like my vision is restricted to black and white. When I am self-centred, life is a struggle, me versus the world, and reality is seen as a series of checksContinue reading “What emotional intelligence means to me…”
On what friendship means to me…
Me and Daniel, we became friends about 32 years ago, in our early high school years at the College Saint-Alexandre. Back then, we used to get together and we went to lift weights at the Sportheque. Often, we would end the evening eating Harvey’s hamburgers at his home, talking about what life could be, hopingContinue reading “On what friendship means to me…”
The ebike, a tool for sustainable flow states
« Flow is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity » – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi I have experienced flow many times, in my work and in a few sports in which I have a good enoughContinue reading “The ebike, a tool for sustainable flow states”
On self-care in healthcare…
Self-care is not selfish. Let me explain why. Self-care is a means to ensure that one gives from a place of abundance so that our work is sustainable long-term. When our physical, cognitive, emotive and social batteries are full, giving our time feels right, and we resonate positively with the work we do, making ourContinue reading “On self-care in healthcare…”
Where passion is born…
At the intersection of competence and challenge, where a sense of mastery slowly emerges, my son found flow, and he felt this deep pleasure that comes with the feeling of control as one descends a mountain on two wheels. He asked for more, but we already had spent 3 hours on our bikes on theContinue reading “Where passion is born…”
The quiet life…
For a long time, I participated in the fast paced rat race that modern life creates. I worked hard, played hard and I kept a never ending to-do-list supplemented by an infinite bucket list. I never burned out but i often felt out of breath. When I quit emergency medicine in 2018, i thought that thisContinue reading “The quiet life…”
« Life is about people »
Tim Shaw wrote this. He was in the NFL. Read what he learned from ALS, a progressive degenerative neurological disease… A powerful story about resilience and what gives life meaning. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/tim-shaw-titans-letter-to-my-younger-self/amp
About inclusion…
Today, I would like you to take 3 minutes of your time and watch this powerful video. It says it all. Trust me; if you skip 3 minutes of Facebooking or TikToking to watch this, it will be worth your time. Inclusion is not about just welcoming a person with a different eye or hairContinue reading “About inclusion…”
On positive business practices…
There is a lot to learn from big companies embracing the “wellness mindset.” Watch this great 3 min video: Stamps.com promoting positive business. There is a lot of literature supporting the idea that happy employees make happy customers, which is good for the bottom line. When we care about human beings’ needs and treat peopleContinue reading “On positive business practices…”
On death and dying…and what it means to live well
To write and think about death and dying is not macabre… it is really to write and think about how one can appreciate life and the gift of time. It is to ponder on one’s personal choices to use this precious time given in this beautiful fragile existence. What do we want? Where do weContinue reading “On death and dying…and what it means to live well”
The nigh rider…
The sun has gone down. The moon hides behind the clouds. The forest is quiet. Fireflies create a surreal atmosphere. A silent light quietly travels the forest. I recently fell in love with night riding. Alone with my bike, pedalling the night away, inspiring music in my ears, this solitude is comfortable. I am aContinue reading “The nigh rider…”
About job crafting and emotional intelligence
Govan Brown is an example of emotional intelligence and job crafting we should admire and strive to emulate. He was a bus driver. He loved his job, and the people he drove loved him so much for simple reasons. He was kind, considerate and he cared about people. Any job can be crafted to beContinue reading “About job crafting and emotional intelligence”
On self-care… again.
A great question that every middle-age man or woman should ask and find his or her own answer. When we spend our lives caring about other people, is it unreasonable to reserve a few hours every week to allow ourselves to… just have fun? Wandering in the forest of our area on my bike onContinue reading “On self-care… again.”
Ultimate expression of human resilience…
I would give him a place in the Guinness book of world record.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu meaning… I love this African word. It means « I am because we are ». It’s about « humanity towards others». In this modern age of everyone looking at themselves through the lenses of Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook, this is an important reminder that I would be nothing without you therefore I shouldContinue reading “Ubuntu”
About wealth
The wealthiest of men is the one who truly understands that … He has enough to be happy, He can stop running the modern rat race, So he can enjoy what’s truly important, Life, family, friends, And so he can love and cherish what’s truly important… Life, family, friends. Thank you. Martin Pham Dinh
A gratitude letter…
I have received many positive comments on my last post « My shawarma guy » and i feel the need to explain something. If you liked this text, if it made you smile and feel something positive, I encourage you to try it. This is called « a gratitude letter ». Find someone you wantContinue reading “A gratitude letter…”
The power of empathy… in every day life.
I cancelled a trip to Croatia in May 2020 and the “european airline” gave us a travel credit of 2200$ for 2 plane tickets with an expiration date of 31 jan 2021. In the last year, I had to call my “online travel agency” 4 times for various questions related to this credit. I evenContinue reading “The power of empathy… in every day life.”
The art of getting out of your head…
Have you ever been unable to sleep? Have you ever been stuck in your own head? Have you ever been caught in a circular pathway of recurrent, mostly negative thoughts? Don’t worry if you answered yes to all of those, you are just human, like most of us . Rumination is the process of continuouslyContinue reading “The art of getting out of your head…”
Once in a life time and fear of missing out… or not.
How much fulfillment do we get from those rare intense experiences in contrast to the happiness that builds on our daily lives and interactions with people we love? Again, he nails it… I admire how Mark Manson tackles important subjects with simplicity and I love that he starts from his own navel to illustrate hisContinue reading “Once in a life time and fear of missing out… or not.”
Why I write?
This reflection is recurring in my thoughts and it evolves over the years. It changes as I do. Tonight, a friend took the time to write a nice comment on my writing style, basically saying he appreciated my thoughts, my post. My answer was short “My writing is just an honest expression of how IContinue reading “Why I write?”
On adversity’s effect on self…
Another great post by Mark Manson https://markmanson.net/life-lessons-from-2020 It’s about what we learned in 2020. I keep this one quote because it resonates with what I experienced. Adversity will divulge who we really are. I asked myself the question this morning: Am I proud of what i have become in 2020? I wish everyone a happyContinue reading “On adversity’s effect on self…”
I wish you bad luck…
Powerful words by John Roberts: (transcript below) Skip to 9:00 and listen for 3 minutes to these words of wisdom. “Now the commencement speakers will typically also wish you good luck and extend good wishes to you. I will not do that, and I’ll tell you why. From time to time in the years toContinue reading “I wish you bad luck…”
Martin Pham Dinh 