Minimalism is a simple lifestyle of having less, decluttering the home, and strategically finding ways to be surrounded by things with purpose and add positive value to our life. I recently moved from a cozy studio apartment into a one-bedroom and realized something alarming. All the backache and soreness I got from the move convinced me that I had too much stuff. Had I lived like many American consumers with a penchant for accumulating things? I had stuff that expired on top of two or three items I thought I needed. The puddle of clutter turned into a lake before becoming a swamp. As a result, my things are weighing…

We develop bad listening habits when we enter a conversation without thinking emphatically about the other person. We carry the baggage of our agendas, and our sleep-deprived, social media-trained low-attention-span selves fail to create deep relationships because we do not know how to listen actively. Active Listening is a skill that is hard to master. When we talk, it is frustrating knowing that the person we are talking to doesn’t listen. Listening is an art form that must be developed and doesn’t come naturally for many of us. A great listener will use their active listening techniques to become great leaders in business and their social life and can become more…