Who doesn't love an A-ha moment? Somehow, somewhere, a burst of deep understanding sinks in, and your perspective changes. You see things in a new light, maybe forever. I love that feeling. I'm immediately filled with gratitude, so glad to have a tiny part of life make more sense. But I admit, sometimes I want to kick myself. Why have I been so blind for so long, says the voice in my head. I could've used this wisdom and insight, like, five years ago when I . . . Like I said, I feel extremely … [Read more...]
To You Who Wants More Energy (Because You Don’t Have Time)
I once read that we humans are so invested in making the “right” decision that even if we find we don’t like the path we have chosen, we hang in there for dear life. That’s how much we don’t like change, and resist it as much as possible. I found myself reading it a few times to let the meaning sink in, and because I like to be right as often as I can (okay, always). The author of that line, Susan Jeffers, continued on to bring up a good point - if something is not “right” anymore, there … [Read more...]
How To Work With Fear – 3 Plans of Action
What builds the bridge between knowing how to work with fear and actually doing it? Lately, in the talks I’m listening to, in the books I’m reading, I find myself zoning in on how to work with fear (because we all know there’s no such thing as getting rid of it all together, like bank fees or bad hair days). Here are a few things I've noted, things I'm tossing, turning, trying. Feels Like The First Time Jon Acuff talks about doing things like it’s the first time, over and over again. If … [Read more...]
How To Navigate The Seduction of Convenience
This change you want to make. The one you put off for a long while. It seemed simple, but somehow became a lot of work. You’re not sure how to make it happen, if you’ll ever succeed. It’s confusing you, testing you, asking you to show up day after day. It’s leaving you in a lull or feeling unsure, and making you work for it whether you like it or not. With no guarantees. Not that that matters. There are no guarantees, really, at least that’s what I’m learning. The world keeps changing, and … [Read more...]
When Is The Right Time For Change?
TWO WHOLE MINUTES. I was ecstatic. I couldn't believe I did it. I was on Week 3 of the Couch to 5K running plan, and I had just run for two minutes straight. It was a wonderful, proud moment. I smiled so big and felt like a badass. I looked around at the gym, and no one noticed. I didn't care. I was here, I was off that dang couch, and I was excited. Those 30 pounds were going to come off; I was going to make sure of it. Running changed my life. I didn't know it would, but when you're … [Read more...]
Why (Real) Change Is An Inside Job
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?
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...]
Looking Fear In The Face
"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...]