Saying “it’s complicated” is just a big excuse
Do you have a special talent for making things difficult, overly involved, convoluted? In other words, for making life more complicated than it needs to be. Perhaps you’ve created a complex process for filing your emails, recycling the garbage, celebrating holidays or tracking your finances. And do you find yourself defending the complexity by saying, […]
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3 ways to simplify—and really enjoy—the holidays
The holidays are just around the corner. And for every Christmas carol playing on the radio, I hear someone complaining about crowds at the mall and stressing over finding the perfect gift. Don’t let this time of year wreak havoc on your serenity. Here are three ways to simplify—and really enjoy—the holidays. Don’t aim for […]
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The struggle between competency and calling
I sometimes ask clients to list all their competencies—all the skills they’ve acquired over the years. When pushed to brainstorm a little longer and dig a little deeper, most come up with quite a long list. Then I ask them to put a line through all those they don’t really enjoy doing. It’s amazing to see […]
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I’m an INFJ, and embracing that has made all the difference
I’m an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs personality assessment. What that means for me is… Alone time recharges me. Brainstorming is as natural as breathing. A 5-year plan excites me. I’m wired to find meaning and follow hunches. People come first, then facts. Loud drains me. I’m single-minded in pursuit of a vision. Potential and possibility […]
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Facebook said ‘No’ and I can’t stop laughing
Facebook disapproved an ad for my energy-boosting training series. They said my ad violated their language policies. It’s not unusual to have an ad flagged by their automated system. I’ve found when you let them know there’s been a mistake and a real live human being looks at the ad, usually it’s approved. But not […]
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Is your group of 5 dragging you down?
You’ve probably heard the expression: You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. While I’m pretty sure that’s not a scientific fact, it is food for thought. Another way to look at it is: Garbage in, garbage out. Of course, not that any person is garbage, but let’s face it: […]
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Did you see the bear coming out of the porta-potty?
In the past, I never would’ve clicked to read anything about a bear. Or a porta-potty. I was too busy and certainly didn’t have time for frivolous. Which makes me realize this: I’m so much less serious than I used to be. I laugh more. Play more. I don’t work as many hours. I take […]
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Learning to say Yes and No with ease
A client recently made a distinction about the type of speaking engagements she accepts. She’s not interested in creating content and traveling to deliver a presentation to grow the knowledge of an audience. Instead, it’s only worth her time if she’s building the skills of audience members. Which means at the end of one of […]
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It’s time to stop being bothered by undone To Dos
Recently I posted I walk into a room and see a To Do list. The basic premise: Your environment isn’t neutral. It’s either giving you energy or draining your energy. Which means when you’re in your home and all you see are undone items on a To Do list, your energy is being depleted. Here’s an […]
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Mini mission—Quit something
Today you’re going to quit something. That’s right, quit. Not start, but stop. Cease. Discontinue. Give up. Abandon. And boy is it going to feel good! We’re so used to starting things. Adding on. Beginning. But sometimes we need to create some breathing room. Our plate is too full. We’ve outgrown something. Said “yes” too […]
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What’s your type? Judging or Perceiving?
Of all the Myers-Briggs preference pairs, this one is the most challenging for many to wrap their minds around. Judging versus perceiving. Part of the initial confusion is caused by the terms themselves. Judging sounds like it means judgmental. Perceiving sounds like it’s about being perceptive. Neither is the case. So what are these two […]
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Are you hungry, angry, lonely or tired? It’s time to HALT.
I don’t remember the first time I heard the acronym HALT, but I do remember it stopped me in my tracks. I thought, Oh, that’s what’s going on when I make decisions that don’t serve me or my best life. When I take actions I later regret. Because when I’m hungry, angry, lonely or tired, […]
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My manifesto revisited: 33 ways to live
What do you believe in and stand for? What principles guide your daily thoughts and actions? How do you intend to live? I sat down one day last year and asked myself those very questions. An hour or so later, I had my manifesto, a declaration expressing my intentions and views. You can see the […]
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Will you take the energy challenge?
Often I hear someone say they wish they had more time. Maybe you’re someone who says this. But time isn’t always what people are really looking for. More than time, I think most of us want more energy to do the things that matter most. Wishing for extra time Recently a client said, I wish there […]
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It’s been a year. 10 thoughts about downsizing.
It’s been a year since Hans and I moved from the hotel where we lived for six months into our current apartment. All in all, we went from a house of 1400 square feet to a hotel room of 300 to our current abode of 733. What a journey it’s been. At the one-year mark, […]
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