Malou Jacques

Midlife is a time of significant change and readjustment of our priorities. Themes of change include our body, our role as family provider, our career, or our ambitions, all of which are deeply relevant to our sense of meaning and purpose in life. These basic building blocks of meaning are at risk of collapsing in midlife.

The significant rise in the number of adolescents and young adults battling mental health challenges may be explained by an increased awareness of mental health issues, a greater openness to seeking help, and an exceptionally stressful life context that exacerbates mental health disorders.

How is the world of work changing? What will be the new normal? A snapshot of emerging trends affecting the workforce and the workplace should help us prepare for what’s next.

A compelling story is the key to a successful job interview. A great story takes the audience on a journey. It has a clear beginning, middle and end. You have one goal: To leave a lasting impression by candidly depicting who you are, what you value, and how these two elements fit into the larger mission of the team or organization.

Suddenly your work seems meaningless, you experience job fatigue, or your career is at a standstill; are you ready to quit? Or have you been laid off? Consider the benefits of taking an extended break from work.

Research supports the notion that casual interactions with strangers or acquaintances improve our sense of well-being in life and provide access to the kinds of connections that are conducive to career advancement.

Burnout is highly prevalent and much talked about in the abstract, as a set of signs and symptoms. Now, with prominent names such as Ms. Ardern, Simone Biles, and Pope Benedict XVI personally connected to the subject, it becomes more real and relatable to us.

Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark, two black scientists, studied the effects of segregation on children. Their landmark ‘Doll Test’ study persuaded the Supreme Court to overturn school segregation in 1954.

The middle class plays a major role in our society: its purchasing power drives global economic growth, contributes to healthy democracies, and keeps the world safer. Yet, globally, we are witnessing a decline in the middle class amid growing economic inequality, increasing corruption, and rising political instability.

The tradition of patriarchy with its beliefs and values about gender division of labor has its roots in early childhood, through family, society and the school system.

Exceptional events occur when ordinary leaders and people rise to the challenge of attempting the seemingly impossible. In so doing, they become extraordinary leaders and extraordinary people.

People are living longer today and realize that their journey has only started after 30 years of life experience. They’re looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally so they can leave their mark on the world.

Historically, people had little need to manage their careers – they were naturally born into a career track or, until recently, relied on their company to chart their career path. But times have changed... Today, we must assume responsibility for managing our future and acquire the skills to manage ourselves and others.

Many of the personal, social, and environmental ills we face are rooted in our obsession with "greatness" as a value. This mindset is based on the premise that only outperformance and excellence are acceptable, when in reality they can sometimes prove irrelevant or counterproductive.

In a constantly evolving environment with hybrid work arrangements, the danger is real that some executives will lose touch with reality or cultural norms. A leader plagued by hubris is a major source of toxicity at work.

Inflationary pressures are improving, spiraling costs of living are beginning to ease - and as expected and desirable - the pace of economic growth is slowing.

Historical parallels indicate that both despots used the same playbook, but the forceful and decisive interventions of the Western states suggest a very different outcome this time around.

The American Dream evolved to mean different things to different generations and people – though it usually includes some promise of opportunity. It is part of the American ethos and likely always will be.

It means ditching the ‘hustle’ culture mindset. The term ‘Quiet quitting’ is a misnomer; we reframe it as ‘healthy working’ which is about restoring a healthy work-life balance

The same basic management concepts that drive business success may also be applied to make better choices in life

Culture often receives less attention than purpose and strategy, yet it plays a huge role in an organization’s success. Culture happens – whether by design or by default – so why not design it intentionally based on how we want the organization to operate?

The current crisis of the democratic system poses a serious risk to the stability of multicultural societies as well as to free market capitalism.

There is little indication that a future recession is looming. However, skyrocketing demand and supply shortages are stretching the economy to the limit.

Rapidly aging populations and demographic shifts underscore the reality that aging will affect all of us personally and require care and support for those close to us.

It's time to set more ambitious goals for our health. It's not just about adding years to life but also adding life to years. 

It is time for capitalism to keep pace with the evolving needs of society and respond to the new ways of how the world operates. The shift from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism is not only about adjusting the metrics of success, but also about redefining the rules that govern the world.

Why? We are more likely to develop emotional resilience by being gentle with ourselves than by boosting our ego with harsh self-criticism.

Intuition is a "special sense" – an ability to recognize patterns – that, if well developed and cultivated, can be a valuable complement to effective decision-making.

Positive behaviors (words, attitudes, interactions) make a difference, but it is crucial to avoid negativity that irrevocably damages the health and sustainability of a relationship.

For many people, success is addictive, and many will sacrifice their lives and relationships to keep getting hits of success.

The concept of workism is the belief that work is not only necessary for economic production but is also the centerpiece of our identity and the purpose of our lives; and that any policy to promote human well-being must always encourage more work.

The more compassionate we are as leaders, the deeper we connect with people and address their daily concerns, the sooner we will set the stage for business recovery and success.

The concept of outgrowing old versions of ourselves isn’t new: we grow out of old beliefs as our worldview expands; we grow out of habits or routines that no longer make sense for our lives.

Mastering life’s challenges starts with revisiting our perception of time. We mistakenly think that our life is linear, but it is in fact cyclical and mirrors the cycle of nature.

Have you ever wondered how persuasion works? How are salespeople, fundraisers, and politicians able to lure us into compliance – without even realizing that we’re being manipulated?

Preserving cognitive function, especially executive cognitive function, is key to continued independent living for seniors, as it improves mental flexibility, working memory and inhibitory control. These functions rely on neurobiological mechanisms that support the relationship between positive health behaviors and cognitive abilities.

Our imagination is not reliable in helping us to figure out what will make us happy in the future or even what has made us happy in the past. Because of logic-processing errors our brains tend to make, we misestimate our future satisfactions. However, we find ways to adapt to circumstances and create our own happiness.

Have you ever wondered where your emotions come from? We have much more power over our feelings than we imagine. This awareness alone is a powerful tool to reclaim control over what is getting us down or holding us back.

The awareness that the brain is malleable and can evolve empowers anyone who makes deliberate and repeated learning efforts to rewire their brain for maximum benefit.

The structures and functional capabilities of our brain are not fixed; the brain can reorganize, develop, and change in response to new experiences. A healthy lifestyle, combining diet and exercise, promotes neuroplasticity and improves our memory and cognitive performance.

Mind-body interactions are a two-way street. Our mental health or distress affects our physical well-being, while our physical health or discomfort may influence our mental health.

We often believe that passion is an essential component of success and well-being. However, researchers differentiate between two qualitatively distinct types of passion; harmonious passion and obsessive passion, both intended to improve performance, but with opposite results.

Early adversity, manifested by insensitive, unpredictable, and unresponsive caregivers, leads to numerous neurobiological abnormalities in the developing brain and an inappropriate response of our body to stress, which is believed to be implicated in the development of substance abuse.

In "What Happened to You?", Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry explore the crucial role of early childhood experiences in shaping the people we become: our strengths, weaknesses and unique responses to daily events reflect what happened to us. They conclude that the power of meaningful connections with others is essential to offset the impact of early trauma.

In "What Happened to You?", Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry explore the impact of early childhood experiences on the biology of our brains and the people we become. Their scientific and emotional insights help us understand how our personal journey influences the development, organization, and functioning of our brain – determining how we deal with stress, make decisions, and relate to others. To defeat the effects of trauma and adversity, they advocate shifting the focus from "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?” This is a subtle but fundamental shift in our perspective on trauma that opens the door to resilience and healing.

Life is an individual adventure: discover how freedom of choice, a sense of control and autonomy can significantly increase your happiness.

In an uncertain and ever-changing world, the art of survival is not to resist, but to adapt and transform. Would you agree that change - no matter how painful – can act as a catalyst for continued growth and renewal?

When young adults delay reaching adulthood, it does not mean that something has changed about them; but that the economic context in which they grew up has changed.

Working with emotions, not against them, is essential to creating the willpower needed to overcome obstacles and setbacks.

The successful application of a biological concept to leadership practices.

Every day we are inundated with information; some useful, some worthless or worse, misleading. Being critical allows us to triage the information we receive. Spot the most common fallacious arguments right at the outset of a conversation.

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, millions of people maxed out their disaster quota and are eager to move on from the pandemic. But emotional wounds still run deep and will take time to heal.

Learning how to discern and experience the full range of our emotional landscape comes with huge rewards. Do you embrace all your emotions – positive and negative?

A fascinating study that started in 1938 continues to give us insightful information, in particular: “Does the era in which a person lives ultimately influence his or her worldview and overall aspirations?”

Results of a landmark study describing a magical process by which ordinary people of all ages become leaders.

Research shows that casual interactions with strangers or acquaintances are equally important in restoring our sense of well-being and belonging as connecting with family and friends.

Research confirms that loneliness is multidimensional and that its resolution requires a multifaceted therapeutic approach.

As human beings, we have basic psychological needs for personal growth and development throughout our lives. By achieving self-actualization, we are able to find meaning and purpose in our lives and lead a more fulfilling life. What are six essential characteristics of a self-actualized person?

Aging affects all of us. Understanding the dynamics of aging, its impact on our daily lives and a few tips to stay in control is the topic of this post.

Freedom of speech has been a recurring topic on the internet and social media platforms lately. What are the objectives pursued by social media? How do they work? This blog attempts to answer the question: "Is online freedom of expression a myth or a reality?”

Having “meaningful interpersonal relationships”, more than money or fame, is what keeps people healthy and happy throughout their lives. Discover the evidence gathered over eight decades that supports this affirmation.

To thrive we need a direction and goals to look forward to; a clear sense of purpose allows us to find meaning in our lives. Finding and Reinventing Life’s Purpose Indefinitely is critical.

Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. What are the consequences of this change on daily life? A new study offers valuable insights on how to effectively navigate the transition to retirement.

Research shows that we are wired to seek social acceptance – Self-awareness and reconnecting with oneself, are the first steps in overcoming the constant need for recognition.

Focus on the activities that are most critical to your happiness!