What’s your type? Extraversion or Introversion?
Extraversion and Introversion are about how we get energized and where we direct our energy. Do you know which you’re wired for? Your preference sheds light on why certain situations are energizing or certain people draining. Why certain work environments bring out your best while others leave you distinctly out of sorts. For instance, if […]
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React vs. respond: Do you know the difference?
Have you ever thought about the difference between a reaction and a response? On the surface, they may seem similar, but the distinction makes a difference. A reaction A reaction is the knee jerk. Someone is rude to you and you react in a rude manner in return. We’ve all been there. Reacted, swiftly and without […]
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Will you take the one-a-day challenge?
We are a culture of stuff. Consumerism is a pastime. One of the most difficult questions to answer—and live—is: What is enough? Hans and I recently—and very intentionally—downsized to a 733 square foot apartment from a 1400 square foot house. While even our former home was perceived small by today’s standards, the thought of our new […]
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Everything has to be perfect
Everything has to be perfect. I can’t make mistakes. Failing is unacceptable. I have to be perfect. While there are many variations to only perfection will do, the perfectionist mindset creates this reality: Before you even swing your legs out of bed in the morning and put your feet on the floor, you know you’re going to come up […]
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Comparison is the thief of joy
The comparison mindset comes in many forms. Everyone has it easier than I do. Everyone else is better off. Everyone has more stuff. Everyone has it better. Comparison: It’s the mantra of separation and disconnect. Whatever the particular comparison, it’s them versus you—and you come up lacking. They have more money, better looks, more advantages… They […]
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If you believe you’re unlucky, you are.
The unlucky mindset comes in many forms. I’m just not really lucky. I can never catch a break. Bad luck follows me around. I’m never in the right place at the right time. I’m unlucky in love. She has all the luck. I just wasn’t born under a lucky star. Our mindsets become a self-fulfilling […]
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Are you open to owning less?
For me, owning less stuff has meant less energy. Less energy coveting and shopping. Less energy cleaning and maintaining. Less energy working to support overhead. Are you open to owning less? Would spending less energy on stuff mean more energy for what really matters?
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Mini Mission—Lighten your load by removing one thing
Sometimes we think major effort and grand sweeping gestures are necessary to create change in our lives. It’s true an overhaul is sometimes required. But other times change begins with the smallest step, the tiniest of actions. Take lightening your load, for instance. You could lighten your load by: Decluttering your house from top to […]
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Bend with life, but don’t break
Bend, don’t break. So easy to say. So hard to do when all that feels possible is breaking. Breaking down, not through. Breaking up, not out. Breaking apart. Bend, don’t break. Even though bending, bending, bending seems to take so much energy. While breaking seems easier somehow. Break and you’re done. But the living […]
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Keep moving forward
You may not know how or where to begin—only that it’s time to start. You may not know exactly what to pack for your trip, what you’ll need for the journey. You may not know the turn-by-turn route to your destination. You may not get from Point A to Point B in the quickest, most […]
Continued... Mini Mission—Deal with an unfinished project
It’s time to get into action with a mini mission. Do you have unfinished projects nagging at the back of your mind? Are unfinished projects, whether work-related or at home, a constant reminder of something you “should” be doing? As you think about each unfinished project, one of two things needs to happen: Commit to […]
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Sometimes when it’s not working you have to take it apart
Sometimes when it’s not working you have to take it apart. Sometimes you take it apart to look at all the pieces individually and see which ones are causing the problem. Which ones don’t fit anymore. Which ones need to be changed. Sometimes you take it apart just to look at what makes it up. […]
Continued... Mini Mission—Journaling for clarity
Are you unclear about what you really—really—want for the next chapter of your life? Is it difficult to quiet all the voices and outside sources telling you what you should do and should want? Here’s your mini mission Commit to journaling for a few minutes a day for one week. There are no rigid rules […]
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The “findings” from my unscientific study surprise me
Here’s the question on my mind lately: Is busy a choice? So I conducted an informal experiment this week. I paid special attention to what people said when I asked, How are you? Ten of 12 responded with some variation of busy. Oh my gosh, this summer is so busy I can’t catch my breath. I […]
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Thinking the worst and throwing a tantrum
Last week I received news: Something I wanted very badly might not happen. I would like to say I calmly sat down, said the Serenity Prayer, and did the work of teasing out what was in the change category versus the acceptance column. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; […]
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