Why do we make it so hard?
Why do we make it so hard? The “it” being anything and everything—our daily endeavors, To Do lists, relationships, jobs…our lives. Do we believe we have to struggle and suffer—that it has to be hard—for it to work? For us to succeed? That if we do it the easy way it means we aren’t trying? […]
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You have goals and things you want. Are you ungrateful?
I consider myself a grateful person. I made a decision years ago to actively choose my mindset when I wake up in the morning, and an attitude of gratitude is one I like to keep front and center. I’m also very much a goal-oriented person. I make plans. I want more. I have ambitions, dreams… […]
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Are you all about the worst-case scenario?
Do you regularly steel yourself for the worst? Does your mind take a little information and run with it into the future thinking about negative scenarios? When faced with anything new or outside your comfort zone, do you assume you’ll fall short, it won’t work out, or that something catastrophic will happen? My spouse says […]
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Why are you keeping your goals a secret?
I have a friend, let’s call her Sally, who won’t share her New Year’s resolutions until months into the year…when she confesses her resolution has fallen by the wayside. Three years ago her New Year’s resolution was to stop complaining. How do I know this? Because it slipped out in a conversation in May when […]
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Here are 4 steps for intentional living
I’m in the life design business. While I’m not an expert on anyone’s life but my own, I AM an expert at facilitating individuals through the process of intentional life design. Why intentional living? Because it’s a game changer. It’s a line in the sand between half living and a life fully lived. It’s the […]
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6 questions to ask when your resources are scarce
When you think about your goals, where is there a gap in your resources? Are you lacking the assets—the things or thoughts, actions or energy—you need? We need resources to accomplish our goals and be the person we want to be. But here’s the thing: Often we complain we don’t have the necessary resources and […]
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A good scientist doesn’t stop at the first failed experiment
I want to experiment more. I want to try things, experience how they feel, figure out what works, see what doesn’t. That’s a basic principle of experimentation: Paying attention to the cues and clues of discovery. Too often we quickly say,Well, that didn’t work, and simply give up. Be a good scientist In that sense, […]
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What do you want to learn?
A new language? How to knit? Ways to be more patient? How to network effectively? To be a better golfer? To laugh more? Improve your photography skills? How to do that DIY project you’ve been putting off? Tackle French cooking? Master a new yoga pose? How to start a blog? To be a better communicator? […]
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Here are 11 books that made a difference to me
Everyone has a list of books that have inspired them. I’d like to share a few of my favorites. Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman Martin Seligman is on my shortlist of people I’d most like to chat with over a cup of coffee. You’ll love reading about how optimists believe defeat is a temporary setback […]
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I’m grateful, but it’s not luck
I take a walk downtown a few days a week. Have a nice lunch. Do some people watching. Work from a cafe for the afternoon. Sometimes people say to me, You’re so lucky to be able to do that. I am grateful. But make no mistake: Luck has little, if anything, to do with it. I […]
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Your life has an expiration date
I think it’s important to have a vision for your life. To design your life rather than live by default. Not a week goes by someone doesn’t pull me aside to ask, What if I don’t know what I want? Well here’s the thing: The first step is admitting you don’t know. The second step is making […]
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How to avoid the same old, same old
A new year often signals new beginnings and fresh starts as January 1st brings the appeal of the clean slate. Are you thinking of setting a goal or making a resolution come the New Year? If so, will it be brand spanking new or a rehash of an old goal? I don’t have a crystal […]
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Are you waiting to hear back about something you really want?
It’s easy to wait for things to happen. Hope they’ll happen. Pray for them. Wait for better health and fitness. Less stress or more money. Wait for career fulfillment or a better job. Creativity and engagement. Wait for fun or some free time. Better communication and closeness. Wait for a spark of passion. What are you doing […]
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Two reasons I really hate this ad
I really dislike this ad. It bugs me every time I read: We all have to do 10 things at once. Perfectly. I have nothing against L’Oreal or Julianna Margules. But I have a lot against perpetuating the notion that we have to do 10 things at once. Says who? Isn’t it time we stopped buying […]
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What you resist has a sneaky way of persisting
What you resist, persists. —Carl Jung Sometimes it’s hard to look life in the eye. Maybe you’re feeling disappointed about where you are with your goals, your year, or where you thought you’d be at this stage in your life. And maybe you’re keen on making changes. You feel inclined to just get into action […]
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