During the final hearing for my Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Chicago, my advisor, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi pulled me aside and whispered to me: “NEVER use the word heart in a job talk.” My Ph.D. dissertation was on how adults learn in everyday life and I’d mentioned the heart too many times. Mihaly could tell…
We’re the most human when we’re being creative. Whether it’s painting a masterpiece, solving a tricky problem, or reimagining a relationship, creativity is what makes us feel alive and connected. It’s not just about art—it’s about engaging with the world in a way that allows for possibility, growth, and transformation. But here’s the thing: creativity…
After I finished my Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, I tried very hard to do what I was ‘supposed’ to do… get a tenure-track position at some respectable university. But I couldn’t do it. Instead, I moved to the wilderness of northwest Montana and lived in a teepee for a few years. Here’s what…
Throughout the world’s literature, certain metaphors of transformation appear time and time again, reflecting the universal human experience of growth, awakening, and renewal. These metaphors capture the deep processes of personal and collective change, symbolizing our journey toward greater understanding, freedom, and wholeness. From the delicate metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly to the…
In my 25 years of teaching—across graduate schools and diverse programs—I’ve seen that while many educators, trainers, and coaches emphasize content and strategies, it’s the opening of space that’s transformative. When we only focus on content, learning and growth become static. There’s no room to let the wisdom under the surface reveal itself. It’s in…
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