Category Archives: Accomplishments

Depression is a disease of the affluent

Posted on November 30, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Professor Martin Seligman, one of America’s top psychologists, speaking about the epidemic of depression in our society, says it’s clearly not ecological because the Amish people, who live just outside his hometown of Philadelphia, drink the same water, breathe the … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Accomplishments, Depression, Self giving, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Don’t worry about what’s outside the space

Posted on March 6, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

I came across an interesting piece written by a man who was touring Italy and, as most tourists do, visited the magnificent cathedrals and admired the art treasures within them. At one such cathedral he found an artist kneeling before … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Accepting, Accomplishments, Achievement | Leave a comment

We are often our own worst critics

Posted on December 3, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Alexander the Great, having conquered Persia, wept because there were no empires left to conquer. Hugo Grotius, the father of modern international law, at the end of his life said: ‘I have accomplished nothing worthwhile in my life.’ John Quincy … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, God's pleasure, Reward | Leave a comment

Growing great simply

Posted on October 18, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Impresario Sol Hurok said that Marian Anderson, one of the most celebrated opera singers of the century, hadn’t simply grown great, she’d grown great simply. He said: ‘A few years ago a reporter asked her to name the greatest moment … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Character, Greatness, humility | Leave a comment

There’s nothing there!

Posted on November 15, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

The problem of sudden success was highlighted a few years ago in a New York Times report on the aftermath of the Boston Red Sox having finally won The World Series Baseball after eighty six years of trying. It said: … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Achievement, Ambition, Futility, Meaning in life, Meaninglessness, Success | Tagged | Leave a comment

The two adventures

Posted on September 7, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Dr Paul Tournier says that within each of us is an instinct for adventure. It takes different forms in different people, but it’s the thing that makes life worth living. However, he also says that ultimately there are only two … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Achievement, Adventure, Life, Life's journey, Living Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

We live our lives on two stages

Posted on September 7, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Using Shakespeare’s famous analogy of life being like an actor on the stage, psychologist Dr Fritz Perls said that we all live our lives on two stages. One is the outward stage; the way we present ourselves and the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, inner yearning, Kingdom of God, Life, Life's journey, Living Life | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

‘Everyone needs to write their own obituary’

Posted on September 3, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Most of us live our lives in the tension between our desire to live the good life and our desire to be good people. Nowhere is this tension more obvious than in newspapers – in the advertisements and the obituaries. … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, accountability, Achievement, Death, Life, Life's journey, Life's lessons, Obituaries, re-evaluating life, Reflecting, Reputation | Tagged | Leave a comment

Crown of splendour

Posted on March 22, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Someone once said there are four ages of man: the first is when you believe in Santa Claus, the second is when you don’t believe in Santa Claus, the third is when you are Santa Claus and the fourth is … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, old age, Opportunities | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Succeeding at things that don’t really matter

Posted on March 21, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Time magazine once did a famous with George Harrison, one of the Beatles. Speaking about their meteoric rise to fame George said: ‘At first we all thought we wanted the fame. After a bit we realized that fame wasn’t really … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Ambition, Disappointed, Disatisfaction, fame, Futility, Life, Success | 2 Comments