We live in a society where people find it increasingly difficult to deal with disagreement. We live in a society where respect for difference seems to be harder and harder to find.

Maria Popova writes a weekly online digest of ideas, something she has been doing for the past thirteen years. Below is her list of thirteen things she has learned through that process. They are worth pondering as we navigate our path through life.

Comparing ourselves to others is often not helpful. Sometimes our comparisons are about genetic things, like being taller, and sometimes about things others can do that we wish we could. Sometimes our comparisons are motivating, sometimes damaging.

It is wise to attribute best motive to others and to model this for those around us. How many unnecessary difficulties might we be able to avoid by this simple practice?

There are three key approaches to leadership – example, persuasion and compulsion. And the best leaders use mainly the first two – example and persuasion. That is my encouragement to our leaders.