Youth Personal Development: Homeboy Industries’s Success

Greg Boyle and members of Homeboy Industries showing youth personal development

How did Greg Boyle change the lives of many at-risk youth? How can small, everyday changes lead to profound personal growth? Greg Boyle’s book, Tattoos on the Heart, explores youth personal development through transformation and redemption in gang-affected communities. His work demonstrates how patience, understanding, and unwavering support can help young people discover their inherent worth and potential. Let’s look at the power of gradual transformation that exists within every person.

Perception in Buddhism: Why We See a False Image of the World

A closeup of a person's eye symbolizing skewed perception

Is the world truly how we perceive it? Why do we have a skewed perception of everything around us? In Why Buddhism Is True, Robert Wright explains that the idea of emptiness squares well with modern understandings of perception in Buddhism. He writes that today, scientists say that perception isn’t passive but active—that our brains construct the world we experience at least as much as we receive it. Check out how our projected preconceived notions of the world change how it looks.

Gang Intervention: Homeboy Industries’s Life-Changing Work

Greg Boyle holding a microphone and talking about gang intervention

What drives young people into cycles of violence and isolation? How can communities help traumatized youth find their way back to hope? Father Greg Boyle’s gang intervention work through Homeboy Industries, chronicled in his book Tattoos on the Heart, demonstrates how understanding shame and creating inclusive spaces can transform lives. His approach focuses on restoring dignity and building genuine connections with youth who have experienced deep trauma and marginalization. Keep reading to learn how communities can create lasting change through compassion and radical inclusion.

Our Perception of the World & Ourselves: What Buddhism Claims

A person looking at a globe, showing how we see the world

Have you ever craved something yet felt unsatisfied when you got it? How does this feeling represent how we see the world? Robin Wright says that we’re stuck in a cycle of craving and dissatisfaction because our perception of the world isn’t clear. Our understanding of ourselves and the world is clouded by subtle illusions.  Let’s look at the contorted way we view ourselves and the world.

The Importance of Inclusivity: Why Compassion Is a Savior

A diverse group of children showing the importance of inclusivity

What does true compassion look like in action? How can communities create spaces where everyone genuinely feels they belong? Greg Boyle’s book, Tattoos on the Heart, shows the power of compassionate connection and the importance of inclusivity in building stronger communities. Readers will discover how breaking down societal barriers and fostering genuine relationships can create lasting positive change. Let’s look at what it means to build truly inclusive communities where everyone thrives.

Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: Book Overview

A happy woman reading a book during autumn

What’s Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman about? Should you be realistic about your dreams? Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals explores the four-step method to achieving success and happiness within the life you’ve been given. These four steps are accepting your limitations, making progress toward your goals, releasing control, and focusing on the present moment. Read more in our brief overview of Meditations for Mortals.

How to Be Realistic in Life: 3 Strategies to Work Within Your Limits

A woman looking at a red and white target being realistic in life

Can you live a good life within your realm of possibility? What can you achieve with your finite resources and opportunities? According to Oliver Burkeman, the first step toward being happy and successful is to learn how to be realistic in life. Burkeman says that while it’s good to dream big, it’s also necessary to be realistic—otherwise, you’ll waste your time and energy pining for things you’ll never attain. Below, we’ll explore the three strategies Burkeman says can help you learn to work within your limitations.

Tattoos on the Heart: Book Overview (Greg Boyle)

A man reading a book in a library

What does it take to transform the lives of gang members and at-risk youth? What’s Tattoo on the Heart by Greg Boyle about? Greg Boyle’s Tattoos on the Heart tells the author’s story of giving faith-based support to troubled youth through his experiences at Homeboy Industries. The narratives and lessons demonstrate how unconditional love and acceptance can break cycles of violence and shame. Read more in our brief Tattoos on the Heart book overview.

Spiritual Priorities in Relationships: The Divine Blueprint

A couple having a serious conversation together about their priorities in the relationship

Did you know the key to lasting relationships is divine purpose? How can you build a spiritual foundation in your relationship? Michael Todd’s book Relationship Goals explores how priorities in relationships shape our connections with both God and others. The divine blueprint for relationships reveals that spiritual foundations are essential for creating stable, fulfilling connections in all areas of life. Keep reading to discover transformative principles that will revolutionize your approach to relationships.

The 2 Advantages of Realism: Accept What’s Really Possible

A curious person thinking about the advantages of realism

Did you know that it’s better to be realistic than to cling to unachievable dreams? How can realism help you live a better life? According to Oliver Burkeman, to work within your limitations, you must first change your mindset. Accurately assess your reality so you can let go of unreachable ideals and focus on what’s currently possible instead of what could be possible in an abstract, unknown future. Let’s look at the two advantages of realism and shifting to this mindset.