Showing Up Clean
At its simplest level, “Showing Up Clean” means having an open mind. Easy words to say but the ability to calmly hear opinions you disagree…
AMY isn’t Your Friend
The amygdala, or AMY for short (from AMYgdala) is an almond-shaped cluster of nuclei located deep within the temporal lobes of your brain. AMY is…
Small Blessings Count Too
Elizabeth Gilbert (‘Eat, Pray, Love’) once said “You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings.” I take her words to mean…
What Emotional Energy seeds are you planting? For as you Sow, so shall you Reap
If we choose to speak disrespectfully of others (and remember we humans are a sensitive bunch); if we elect to gripe or groan about “how…
How are your Refusal Skills?
Refusal skills are communication strategies and pre-rehearsed scripts that help you say no without feeling guilt or shame, particularly when under social or peer pressure…
Memento Mori
Memento mori literally translates from the Latin as “remember death” or remember that we all die, that death is inevitable. Rather than being depressing or…
In Praise of Philoponia
Philoponia is a concept associated with the Stoics and its literal translation from the Latin is “a love of work”. But in the Stoic philosophy…
Embracing Disconfirming Evidence
Disconfirming evidence is anything that does NOT support our current belief system or reinforce our convictions about who we are or what we are capable…
Solvitur Ambulando
Solvitur ambulando means “it is solved by walking” and refers to the way a good jaunt can clear the mind and sooth the soul. Getting…
What is Better than Perfect?
Excellence! Excellencism is a healthy alternative to perfectionism. Excellence is achievable, perfection is not. Perfectionism is control, excellence is flow. Perfectionism is often born of…
The Art of Thinking from the End
It is necessary to have an end in mind for without it we drift rudderless on the sea of life. The meaning of life, our…
You have to Walk the Valley to get to the Mountaintop
Deny me the lessons of the valley and I will not learn the skills I need to traverse the highest mountains. Sometimes you find yourself…
Three Keys to Influence
Three Keys to Influence: A summary of the “Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change” Whether you’re eradicating disease, improving customer service, or engaging struggling…
Is Your Dog Happier Than You?
Probably! Let’s think about why that might be… Your dog isn’t dragging the past into the present. Your dog lives serenely in the present moment.…
Taking in the Good
There is a theory out there that our brains are hard wired with a negativity bias as a survival technique from ancient times. In a…
You Owe You
What do you owe you? To always be on your own side. To never, ever self-sabotage. To have your self-talk be positive, solution-oriented and act…
Four Traits of Happy People
1. They Choose Their Mindset They remain optimistic, solution-oriented, forward thinkers in all circumstances. They know that no matter what, a positive outlook will achieve…
A Subtle but oh so Sure Path to Failure
Want to try hard? Be Sincere? Really care? And yet achieve far less than you could? Easy! Pick vague, fuzzy goals! Develop Team Members! Grow…
Do the Words You Use Impact Your Life Expectancy?
If the words you choose to use are consistently positive (including your inner self talk), you most likely have an optimistic view of life and…
The Life Span of an Emotion
According to a Harvard neuroanatomist the life span on an emotion is just 90 seconds: “When a person has a reaction to something in the…
To Be Your Best Self, Don’t Do These 5 Things
Self-criticism: While one should always acknowledge and accept reality, getting down on oneself is a losing path. Failure to Release: Never waste emotional energy on…
Pssst! Want to Hear a Secret?… The Secrets of Success Are Dull and Boring
And what is more, you probably already know them! You just aren’t doing them! Why? Well, there are also lots of “secrets of success”; each…
Don’t let Life get in the way of Your Life
We can all get busy; very, very busy. The day to day can turn into a whirlwind of ringing phones, dinging messages, strident, urgent demands…
5 Simple Steps That Virtually Guarantee Success (Yet Few Do Consistently)
Goals: Written, Specific, backed up by Action Plans with Deadlines/Accountability Checkpoints; Reviewed Regularly to ensure what YOU want, reflect YOUR passions, not social/parental/peer programing. Yes,…
The Power of “Yet”
Three statements: I don’t know how. This isn’t working. There isn’t a way. Three statements, oh so slightly, yet so powerfully different: I don’t know…
Escaping the Solomon’s Paradox
Solomon was the king of ancient Israel ruling from around 970 to 931 BC. Renowned for his wisdom, his personal life was somewhat messy to…