Brian Allain

Two Fundamental Paths

From “Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success” by Adam Grant Research suggests that there are two fundamental paths to influence dominance and prestige. When we establish dominance, we gain influence because others see us as strong, powerful, and authoritative. When we earn prestige, we become influential because other respect and admire us.

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Prelude to an Encounter with God

From “What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman” by Lerita Coleman Brown Howard Thurman also believed that quieting the mind prepares us for an encounter with God. Solitude reduces the chance that interruptions and distractions will interfere. In the silence, an ineffable experience may occur, or we might simply hear some

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The Purpose of Discernment

From “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri Nouwen with Michael J. Christensen and Rebecca J. Laird The purpose of discernment is to know God’s will, that is, to find, accept, and affirm the unique way in which God’s love is manifest in our life. To know God’s will is to actively claim

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