Expressing sincere and positive thoughts works like a gem.

When we express appreciation and love to our children, they respond to our suggestions much more constructively.

When we are expressive with our spouse, our relationships become more harmonious and loving.

When we appreciate our staff they respond with better performance.

When we appreciate our volunteer colleagues they get more committed to the cause.

When we express appreciation and love to our parents, they feel good about their contribution to your life.

Each time I have gone the extra mile - whether it is with a customer, colleague or family member - I have found that I ended up gaining more than I gave.

With a customer, it generally leads to complete customer satisfaction and usually more business.

With a colleague, better camaraderie and synergy.

With a family member, a better relationship.

How about you? Have you gone the extra mile today?

One of the hardest things for an adult to hear is that a friend of yours has cancer. You've probably already had this happen to a friend of yours, perhaps even a relative.  I can pretty much guarantee that as you age it will happen more and more.

Perhaps the only thing that’s worse – hearing a child has cancer.

A couple of months ago my son James got a call from one of his best friends. Mike had been sick for a while, and they just diagnosed leukemia.

My 19 year old daughter, Sahar, was recently asked to sing a hymn in front of several hundred people.

She was given about 24 hours to prepare. Luckily, we had time together as a family which enabled her to practice the respective hymn many times before the event.

About 20 minutes before she was going to sing, she was told that she was supposed to sing a different hymn than the one she was given. There was panic all around! I had gone to park the car after dropping my wife Farzana and my daughter at the location.

Many people are time starved. They are so busy working, commuting, involved.

There is little time for exercise, relaxation, family, self, meditation or financial planning.  Stress and dissatisfaction are widespread.

The conventional solution is work hard, work fast and become self centered.  Is that working?

Not really!

There is still lack of fulfillment and happiness.  Relationship challenges and negative energy still prevail.

So what is the solution?

Giving!