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Digital Altruism

Cultivating compassion in the 21st century.

Education
Expanding the Heart While Educating the Mind

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on April 16, 2015

The Hippie gene has made its way into the Millennial’s DNA. The “old school” approach to work and education is not right for them. A Millennial would rather be a “freelancer” than a “cog-in-the-wheel” of so-called progress. Their highest aspiration is to become “independent freelancers and global citizens who make a difference in the world.”

The Hippie gene has made its way into the Millennial’s DNA. The “old school” approach to work and education is not right for them. A Millennial would rather be a “freelancer” than a “cog-in-the-wheel” of so-called progress. Their highest aspiration is to become “independent freelancers and global citizens who make a difference in the world.”

Teamwork
Collaboration Expands Heroic Potential

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on October 15, 2014

ALS, Climate Change, Ebola: Millions of individuals are using the Internet to respond to crises facing our global village, ushering in the future of heroism.

ALS, Climate Change, Ebola: Millions of individuals are using the Internet to respond to crises facing our global village, ushering in the future of heroism.

Personality
Are You A Collaborative Hero?

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on July 26, 2014

Every time we so much as send a tweet we’re setting in motion a ripple effect: one with the power to topple dictators and transform our world.

Every time we so much as send a tweet we’re setting in motion a ripple effect: one with the power to topple dictators and transform our world.

Media
Q & A: Violence and Video Games

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on July 1, 2014

We are healthier when we eat a balanced diet. This holds true in the world of media exposure. Limit your child's exposure to violent media just as you would limit their intake of junk food. Increase their appetite for healthy media that promotes character strengths and virtues.

We are healthier when we eat a balanced diet. This holds true in the world of media exposure. Limit your child's exposure to violent media just as you would limit their intake of junk food. Increase their appetite for healthy media that promotes character strengths and virtues.

Wisdom
When Crowd-Sourced Wisdom Becomes Collaborative Heroism

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on March 28, 2014

Unprecedented technological acceleration and innovation have changed the way we understand our world. As I write, researchers are scrambling to understand the impact of these technologies on the human body, our social interactions, and the natural world. Likewise, it’s important for us to recognize the many ways these technologies are impacting the human spirit.

Unprecedented technological acceleration and innovation have changed the way we understand our world. As I write, researchers are scrambling to understand the impact of these technologies on the human body, our social interactions, and the natural world. Likewise, it’s important for us to recognize the many ways these technologies are impacting the human spirit.

Grief
Finding Hope Amid the Tragedy of Flight MH370

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on March 24, 2014

Although the search for flight MH370 has ended in tragedy, the search itself has been an incredible mirror of some of humanity’s greatest qualities. Rather than behaving as bystanders, over 3 million people joined the search online via Digital Globe. Their actions, in tandem with an international team of responders, is helping to expand our understanding of heroism.

Although the search for flight MH370 has ended in tragedy, the search itself has been an incredible mirror of some of humanity’s greatest qualities. Rather than behaving as bystanders, over 3 million people joined the search online via Digital Globe. Their actions, in tandem with an international team of responders, is helping to expand our understanding of heroism.

Mindfulness
Disconnect to Save Lives

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on February 26, 2014

If you’re looking for a way to encourage your tweens and teens to monitor their digital habits, why not suggest they participate in UNICEF's Tap Project? Better yet, why not participate together? While you're at it, consider using the ten-minute smartphone hiatus to slowdown, breathe, and become more mindful of your surroundings.

If you’re looking for a way to encourage your tweens and teens to monitor their digital habits, why not suggest they participate in UNICEF's Tap Project? Better yet, why not participate together? While you're at it, consider using the ten-minute smartphone hiatus to slowdown, breathe, and become more mindful of your surroundings.

Altruism
Digital Altruism Goes Mainstream During Super Bowl

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on February 3, 2014

Right now you have the unprecedented opportunity to use your smart phone, tablet, or laptop, to engage in an altruistic act AND simultaneously download the new U2 song, "Invisible" on iTunes. Please take a few moments of your time to engage in digital altruism and join the fight to end AIDS.

Right now you have the unprecedented opportunity to use your smart phone, tablet, or laptop, to engage in an altruistic act AND simultaneously download the new U2 song, "Invisible" on iTunes. Please take a few moments of your time to engage in digital altruism and join the fight to end AIDS.

Dreaming
Supercharging Your New Year's Resolutions

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on January 13, 2014

Did you know that your inner child is trying to help you live your dreams? We don’t listen to our inner child much, but once each year we make a list of New Year’s Resolutions. For many of us, this list is a cryptic letter from our inner child: a list of all the things we’d like to do, be, see, or experience.

Did you know that your inner child is trying to help you live your dreams? We don’t listen to our inner child much, but once each year we make a list of New Year’s Resolutions. For many of us, this list is a cryptic letter from our inner child: a list of all the things we’d like to do, be, see, or experience.

Media
Media Saturation & Your Health

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on August 14, 2013

Media and interactive technologies can be instruments that support self-awareness and wellbeing but only if we approach them consciously—paying close attention the ways we interact with them—everything from the time we spend in front of computers, to the programing we watch on television, to the video games we play. A conscious approach involves mindfulness and moderation.

Media and interactive technologies can be instruments that support self-awareness and wellbeing but only if we approach them consciously—paying close attention the ways we interact with them—everything from the time we spend in front of computers, to the programing we watch on television, to the video games we play. A conscious approach involves mindfulness and moderation.

Bullying
The Cyber-bully vs. The Cyber-hero

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on April 20, 2013

Heroes are some of the best role models our children have. What, we might ask, would the world be like without them? A world populated solely by bullies? To answer this question we need travel no further than the online world of our tweens and teens. What we find there is an epidemic of cyberbullying.

Heroes are some of the best role models our children have. What, we might ask, would the world be like without them? A world populated solely by bullies? To answer this question we need travel no further than the online world of our tweens and teens. What we find there is an epidemic of cyberbullying.

Media
Why Violent Media Matters

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on February 23, 2013

Children believe what they see on television, in movies, and in video games for the same reason they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. My son believed their was a party in every box of Ritz crackers, what does your child believe?

Children believe what they see on television, in movies, and in video games for the same reason they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. My son believed their was a party in every box of Ritz crackers, what does your child believe?

Media
Why Violent Media Matters

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on February 23, 2013

Children believe what they see on television, in movies, and in video games for the same reason they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. My son believed their was a party in every box of Ritz crackers, what does your child believe?

Children believe what they see on television, in movies, and in video games for the same reason they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. My son believed their was a party in every box of Ritz crackers, what does your child believe?

Education
May the Force Be With Us

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on December 19, 2012

Can Star Wars teach us something about the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook elementary? This blog post explores an infamous scene from Star Wars as a means to confront the unimaginable nightmare that unfolded in Newtown, CT.

Can Star Wars teach us something about the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook elementary? This blog post explores an infamous scene from Star Wars as a means to confront the unimaginable nightmare that unfolded in Newtown, CT.

Gratitude
Gratitude is Good Attitude

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on November 19, 2012

G is for Gratitude. As a fundamental building block of human happiness, gratitude is one of the most important things you can teach your children. Here are four easy ways to get started today.

G is for Gratitude. As a fundamental building block of human happiness, gratitude is one of the most important things you can teach your children. Here are four easy ways to get started today.

Media
Introducing the Cyberhero Archetype

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on July 6, 2012

As fast as the high speed Internet, more powerful than governments, able to cross the planet in a single click. Look, here on the Web, it's a friend, it's a stranger, it's a cyberhero. Yes, a cyberhero!

As fast as the high speed Internet, more powerful than governments, able to cross the planet in a single click. Look, here on the Web, it's a friend, it's a stranger, it's a cyberhero. Yes, a cyberhero!

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November 2024
The Perfectionism Trap

When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires.

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