Ritu Rao

The Key to Changing Your Life, Paulo Coelho, and Letting It Go

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  CLICK. After about a hundred doors over what seemed like a hundred years, the key fit into the lock. And the door opened. At least, that's what it felt like. It finally hit me: I don't need a reason to walk away, other than the fact that it just wasn't the right fit. No more trying to push, pry, knock or wait outside patiently, hoping. It just wasn't the right door. Or the kind of friendship that was going to last. Or the relationship that survived. Or the job … [Read more...]

How To Remind Yourself To Be Successful

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  JACK WAS VERY successful. He started his career as a teacher, but over time he worked hard and became a bestselling author, living in a gorgeous estate, with appearances on TV and a multimillion dollar income. He was doing great, to say the least. A few years later, however, he found himself in the midst of a tough divorce and on the brink of an ugly legal battle. Jack felt betrayed and fell into a depression. The stakes were high, both emotional and financial. A few weeks … [Read more...]

Why (Real) Change Is An Inside Job

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  IT'S HARD TO let go of seeing something in a way you've always seen it. I recently came across this story: Imagine that you go to a doctor and tell her about the pain you're having. She listens attentively, and then proceeds to prescribe medicine for your friend. You say, "That's great", and go on your merry way. How absurd is that? But that's what we do so often; we want something other than us to change-a friend, a spouse, a boss--then life would be great. When my day tanks, … [Read more...]

Are You Waiting For (Your Next) Crisis?

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AS MUCH AS I dislike having a personal crisis of any kind (I mean, who doesn't?), I admit most have done me a lot of good. Nothing quite transforms you like getting through your worst and most difficult moments. We’ve all heard about that drop in the ocean. One drop. What’s one drop? What’s one extra pound on the scale? That one bit of juicy gossip, that one small excuse. Does one really even count? Maybe not. One is no. big. deal. But what if I want to make one real change, even … [Read more...]

How Much Freedom Do You Already Have?

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I WAS HAVING a heart-to-heart with a trusted friend about an upsetting work situation. While relaying my frustrations, I caught myself spouting the words "I can't" ever so frequently. I can't do this, I can't do that because of this, that and the other. I was seeking advice on how to move forward, but my friend paused for a moment and slim-dropped a question instead:"Don't you know how much freedom you already have?" Not the question-answer I was expecting. My instinct was to … [Read more...]

Looking Fear In The Face

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  "TRY NOT TO look like you're going to kill me." That is what Henrik, my photographer, said to get me to loosen up. He was gracious enough to take some head shots for my book cover, and here I was, looking like I'm out to get him. I mean, it's one thing to take eight selfies and pick the best one and a whole another when a pro--one who's worked with the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Penelope Cruz, Harrison Ford--has set up lights and cameras and is waiting for you to … [Read more...]