John Castleford Blogs

Although our survival instincts elicit in us a fear of death we need to be realistic. But it’s like the philosopher Epictetus once said, "death is inevitable—where can we go to get away from it?" All the great writers have commented on the stages we go through (from helpless drooling infant to helpless drooling vegetable). Didn’t Shakespeare identity seven ages? Youngsters are supposed to have the confident air of immortality and maturity gives us the resources to acquire wealth. But as the Dali Lama warned us, "Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” Most people on the hedonic treadmill aren’t on it for long before looking around for something better. But th...

Being grateful. I can’t think of much else that brings so many benefits, yet costs nothing. We all like the idea of living longer. Being grateful not only helps with the quality of life; it can also prolong it. Research in psychology has consistently shown that the act of being grateful is positively correlated with a stronger sense of self, enhances happiness, and improves our sense of happiness. Expressing gratitude is a great way to feel more positive generally, helps maintain and develop good relationships, promotes good physical health, and can also help become more resilient and better able to deal effectively with adversity. Being grateful is more than just expressing our appreciation for something: it is an acknowledgement that what we have received is a welcome addition to our lives. And this implies we are making a connection to another individual or to something bigger than just ourselves.  It’s so easy to express gratitude and feel grateful. * We ca...