At the core of many of my conversations with individuals and groups lately, stands a basic question of “belief.” Will we believe that we as individuals, and together, have the ability to affect change? Wavering on this question leaves us wondering whether we can step forward and truly make a difference. Here are three ways to restore and deepen your own sense of belief in these politically toxic and divisive tim

Driving to work this morning, all I heard on the radio was bad news. This doesn’t help matters: for many of us, the work we do already can feel so uphill. What are we to do? Running faster and harder isn’t the answer. Instead, I urge you to find ways to take good care of yourself – and here is an easy step you can start today.

I know it sounds crazy, but I’m actually starting to think the current budget stalemate in the nation’s capital has some positive sides. Where this battle ends up is anyone’s guess – and I hope it’s not with a government shutdown. But let’s look at the plus side of the ledger for a moment.

As the country’s latest war gets underway in oil-rich Libya, a potential nuclear meltdown in Japan hangs over our heads, and the nation’s thirst for energy only continues. Is nuclear power the solution to U.S. energy woes? I don’t know, but this much is clear: nuclear power is yet another example of how we believe we can get something for nothing.

The tectonic political plates on budget matters in Wisconsin and elsewhere continue to shift and I think that’s a good thing. Maybe you’ll be surprised by my position on these matters. But hear me out, and most importantly let me know what you think.

There was a disturbing piece in this morning’s New York Times about a New Jersey man whose car was stopped for speeding and then hauled into jail for eight days and subjected to two strip searches. He wasn’t even the driver. So, why then the strip search and what does it tell us about our collective condition?

Usually I’m not a big fan of national celebrations that designate a day or month in honor of a person or group. I’ll explain in a bit. Still, even given those sentiments there’s a person I’d like to highlight today as Women’s History Month kicks off: Hillary Rodham Clinton. With each passing year, I find my admiration of her only deepening.

What should we make of the growing budget controversy in Wisconsin, and what is unfolding in Ohio, New Jersey, California, New York and elsewhere? Individual states, and the nation as a whole, are at impasse over what to do. As more people take up sides, the shouting gets louder and shriller. How can we move forward from here?

There’s a conversation I keep finding myself in with different people: that the fastest, even most effective way to create community change is to “scale” national programs. People who push “scale” usually have sound intentions and an appealing sense of urgency to get things done. But how can we scale programs so they actually fit the very communities we want to help?

You’ve probably heard about it – the new Chrysler ad, which is more about the city of Detroit, than about cars. I often say one of the most important steps any community can take, especially hard hit ones, is to generate stories of self-trust and hope – civic parables, really. Well, this is one of the best examples of such stories I’ve ever seen.