GRANTED: The psychology of being kinder to others—and ourselves

October 2022

Your worth is not defined by what you achieve or acquire. It’s a question of who you become and how you contribute to others.
 
Self-esteem should come from character, not success or status. The highest accomplishment is to be a person of generosity, curiosity, humility, and integrity.
 
Some insights about how to move in that direction:

1. The Benefits of Not Being a Jerk to Yourself (Dan Harris, TED)
A wise, hilarious talk about how beating yourself up doesn't make you stronger—it leaves you bruised. Being kind to yourself isn’t about ignoring your weaknesses. It's about giving yourself permission to learn from your mistakes.
 
2. My Mom Won’t Stop Pressuring Me to Get Better Grades (Lori Gottlieb, Atlantic)
A master class from a therapist on how kids can stand up for themselves—and parents can be more supportive and understanding. This crash course in compassion should be required reading for every parent.
 
3. How to Overcome Polarization (Peter Coleman, TIME)
The psychologist who launched the Difficult Conversations Lab embarks on a tough one of his own—and teaches us all how we can get better at building bridges across divides.
 
From my desk
 
4. What’s Happening at Work (Dare to Lead)
Brené Brown, Simon Sinek, and I talk quiet quitting, toxic cultures, setting boundaries, and more:

• Part 1: Spotify | Transcript

• Part 2: Spotify | Transcript

5. Re:Thinking (TED)
My latest conversations:

• Reese Witherspoon on turning impostor syndrome into confidence: Apple | Spotify | Transcript

• How Celeste Ng writes fiery prose: Apple | Spotify | Transcript

• Busting the myths of the brain with neuroscientist Chantel Prat: Apple | Spotify | Transcript

• Life, the universe, and everything with Nobel laureate physicist Saul Perlmutter: Apple | Spotify | Transcript

In solidarity,

Adam Grant, Ph.D.
Organizational psychologist at Wharton, author of THINK AGAIN, and host of the TED podcasts Re:Thinking and WorkLife