That conversation you’re having, it’s a distraction. What conversation? The one you’re having almost constantly with yourself. (And the one you heard when asked “what conversation?” above.) Sometimes it’s so loud you’re not present for the people, conversations or life events as they’re happening. Beyond that, you’re getting limited input, you’re focused inward and you’re missing opportunities. If you’re wondering…
Have you ever had a really challenging person in your life? Of course you have. We all have. The great news about being in their presence, especially if it’s with frequency, is that they are showing us exactly what NOT to do on a daily basis. Some may get exasperated, however from a space of gratitude, they are the perfect…
Excellence requires discipline. When you don’t have discipline, you get sloppy. When you get sloppy, you fit right in with the mediocrity the status quo fully supports. To do anything at a level of mastery, it requires focus and discipline. If the people around you aren’t on the same page, they will work to talk you into being reasonable. Being…
A goal is not enough. It’s important, but it won’t motivate you on a day when things are tough. How do you find your mojo if you really want to attain something and your mood just isn’t supporting you? You can use external means: You can shift your internal dialog: Motivation is a tricky thing, it’s all internal and you’re…
It’s easy to get bogged down with endless to-dos at work and home. In order to manage the load, I first pause and ask myself intentional questions before adding a new to-do to my list. I do this to make myself more thoughtful about what I continue to add as a person who has realized my identity is intertwined with…
“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.” Parker Palmer As I look back on the most challenging years of my life, one of the greatest outcomes for improving the quality of my life was from a promise I made…
Is it really failure when things don’t work? Often, we look at the lack of the results we intended as a failure, when perhaps it’s something more. I am a learner; I often refer to myself as a lifelong learner. I value reading, learning organically and in workshops, from digital sources and books – really any challenge to my thinking…
When you settle into the routine, it’s easy to get comfortable. This can be with the route you take to work, the groceries you buy or restaurants you dine at, the clothing you wear, the people you spend time with, the entertainment you seek, the morning or evening rituals you have, the exercise you do, even in the conversations and…
Change can be hard. It requires a letting go of what was while embracing what is possible and improved. Too often, our thinking is skewed to keeping things as is – especially if we believe it’s working for us. Our fixed thinking is what makes it hard, not the change itself. Change doesn’t have to be hard. When you adjust…
Patience. I don’t have a lot of it, though my Mom said I did. And I’d laugh. Sometimes, if you wait, things settle in and handle themselves. Often, I’m not patient enough to allow that kind of magic to happen, but when I do and it works, it appears as a miracle. Deep breaths, kind thoughts and trust in all…