It’s no fun being addicted to approval
I used to want everyone to like me. And I wanted everyone around me to be happy. More to the point, I was driven to be accepted, to be approved of, to be liked. To be considered a nice person. It wasn’t a pretty picture. Addicted to approval I said yes to client requests that […]
Is it hard to decide what to cut from your life?
Our To Do lists are long, we’re in a perpetual state of overwhelm, and it feels like too many days are slipping away. But when it comes to deciding what commitments to cut, what obligations to drop, what stuff to get rid of, and what routines to simplify, we get stuck. We won’t even take […]
Will this be your deathbed regret?
One of the most common deathbed regrets is: I wish I had let myself be happier. Doesn’t that thought just make you ache? I know it does me. It causes a near-physical pain. Because notice it says “I wish I had let myself be happier.” Had let myself be present instead of busy Had let […]
Warning: Your serenity and sanity are at risk
Are you so overwhelmed that you don’t have the time or energy to do anything about why you’re overwhelmed to begin with? It’s a maddening conundrum, isn’t it? Your To Do list is mostly undone, work has reached its tentacles way beyond an 8-hour day, and life keeps presenting you with unexpected hurdles. Most days […]
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, […]
No is a complete sentence
Here’s the problem: Saying yes too often and to the wrong things means you end up drained and depleted. Overwhelmed and exhausted. And, truth be told, feeling burdened, put upon, and probably a little resentful. We say yes to be needed, liked, and avoid disappointing others. We say yes out of guilt, out of duty, […]
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 […]
It all falls apart when you won’t decide
It seems everyone is trying to simplify some aspect of their lives. Their calendar, commitments, finances… Their commute, To Do list, expectations… Their morning routine, relationships, living space… The desire to simplify is strong. On the other side of simplified is more time and freedom. Less stress and anxiety. More of what matters and less […]
It was working…and then you stopped
You’ve experienced this, right? You were doing something that was working, getting the results you wanted, and so you stopped. What?! Maybe you were… Following a budget Keeping a food journal Turning devices off an hour before bed Meeting your quota of cold calls Writing for 30 minutes a day Laying out your workout clothes the […]
Organizing and managing are not the answer
We have too many things and situations in our lives we’re trying to organize and manage. Our closets overflow with clutter and we think, If only I could get organized. Our calendars spill over with commitments and we think, If only I could manage my time more effectively. Our lives are filled with tension and worry […]