Make Time for Yourself
How to Be Who You Really Are, Beyond Your Ego and Fears
“Whenever something negative happens to you, there is a deep lesson concealed within it.”~ Eckhart Tolle
For much of my life, I was ashamed of how my classmates perceived me in my youth.
My chagrin and regret began in the spring of my senior year in high school when I opened our yearbook for the first time.
The seniors got center stage in the yearbook, as usual, with a big picture of each of us along with a four-year list of our activities and awards. I was proud of my list of five sports, especially my letters in wrestling and …
10 Ways to Make the World a Nicer Place
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept responsibility for changing them.” ~Denis Waitley
I was spending some time with my nephews not too long ago. This is one of my favorite things to do because we have a lot of fun together. They’re silly and loving and inquisitive, and it’s easy to make them laugh.
Spending time with them reminds me that fun and laughter should be a part of my everyday life, and also makes me feel like a kid again.
When we were together that day, I asked them …
Let Go of “I Can’t…” and Go After What You Want
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~Nelson Mandela
Do you wish your circumstances in life were different? Have you reconciled yourself to accept that you can’t achieve your goals? Do you think it would be nice to travel, but you don’t think you can afford it?
It’s time to change your mindset and learn how to take control of your own life.
Think Like a Child
Children don’t like to accept “no” for an answer. They question every refusal. “But why not?” they ask.
“Because we can’t afford it” is not an acceptable answer to a child. That has …
10 Habits of Unhappy People (And How to Fix Them)
“Ego says, ‘Once everything falls into place, I’ll feel peace.’ Spirit says, ‘Find your peace, and then everything will fall into place.’” ~Marianne Williamson
Have you ever felt that something was missing in your life?
Who am I kidding, everyone has.
I used to be unhappy. But not just unhappy—miserable.
I’d look at other people and wonder what they had that I didn’t. I was sick of living my life. And being sick of it was the tipping point that changed it all. It’s what got me moving in the direction of what made my heart sing.
As I moved …
The Importance of Kindness (an Animated Video)
Adapted from a graduation speech by George Saunders in 2013, this powerful little video reminds us that the only act of kindness we come to regret is the one we did not commit.
The One Thing You Need to Change If You Want to Accept Yourself
“Serenity comes when you trade expectations for acceptance.” ~Unknown
I quit Weight Watchers this week and I have never felt happier.
To be clear, quitting this weight loss program was not an act of defeat, nor was it an example of me running away from something difficult or painful. Cutting ties with Weight Watchers was truly an acceptance of self.
A couple of weeks ago I had a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend. I was feeling really down, and I confided to him that not only do I lack self-confidence in nearly everything I do, I also seem to not …
Do You Feel Stuck, Overwhelmed, and Dissatisfied?
“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” ~Andy Rooney
I was born and raised in Louisiana, where food, booze, and fun are the three most important things in most every social situation.
I had my license at fourteen, my first drink at fifteen, and I knew the owner of the local drive-through daiquiri bar by name. (Miss Billy, in case you were wondering.) It wasn’t out of the ordinary. We all drank a lot on the weekends…who doesn’t?!
In college, when my parents were going through a …
Why Positive Affirmations Don’t Always Work (and What Does)
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” ~Buddha
My final exam is tomorrow.
It’s a big one—one that covers a lot of material with a major grade component—and my body is clenched with anxiety.
I pick up my book, flick through my notes, and scan a few scribbles. The anxiety builds like a wave. Cresting on top of that wave? Negative, self-critical thoughts.
I’m never going to retain all this material during the exam. I won’t be able to answer the questions fast enough. I have to be a lot smarter to pass…
I …
4 Lessons from the Forest on Dealing with Difficult Times
“Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.” ~Victor Hugo
This week I revisited a favorite national park, some fourteen years after my last visit. Despite the long hiatus, the reason for both trips was the same.
When I last visited in 2000, my goal was to seek out the solitude and beauty of the rainforest, the creeks rushing headlong through shade-dappled gorges, and the vast rocky cliffs overlooking the distant ocean.
I had suffered a recent breakup and wanted to spend some time in nature, in solitude, in a place where I could …
How to Share Your Feelings and Be Heard
“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Not so long ago, a dear friend of mine approached me wishing to be heard for some overwhelming grief and anger she was carrying.
I gave her my full ear and attention, but as I listened to her, I noticed a worry begin to stir inside me—a worry surfacing around a great deal of violent intent I heard in her words. Could she really want to hurt someone I believed she loved?
After another …
Trying Things That Scare You and Trusting You’ll Be Just Fine
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” ~William Arthur Ward
They say traveling is the one thing you buy that makes you richer, and I couldn’t agree more. When my yoga instructor first told me about the retreat she was planning in Cabo Matapalo, Costa Rica, I just knew I had to go. What I didn’t know, however, was just how much this trip would change my life for the better.
There’s something so magical about going somewhere you’ve never been before, especially when that place happens to be …
Your Job Doesn’t Define You, No Matter What You Do
“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life.’” ~Maya Angelou
When I started working toward a life of freedom a year ago and dared to set my sights on my dreams, I never imagined I’d be where I am today.
However, if you took a snap shot of my life three years ago, you’d have seen a different person. I was a career woman, a high flyer, rising quickly from an office manager to the head of human resources for a fast growing, successful business, going from strength to strength.
I was living …
4 Things to Do When You’re Struggling with Your Dreams
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” ~Dalai Lama
Three years ago I was in the stressful process of applying to colleges. I had my heart set on this one particular school that, apart from being difficult to get into, was perfect.
I imagined myself wearing the uniform and feeling a sense of accomplishment. I’d finally be able to prove to people that I was clever and worthy of going to this amazing school.
A few weeks later I got a letter from the school. I remember getting excited and grinning like a …
Touching Strangers: Humanity As It Could Be
We all have a certain level of comfort with our friends and family that we may assume we could never feel with a total stranger. Photographer Richard Renaldi wanted to see what would happen if he created unlikely pairings and positioned them in intimate poses. The result was far from awkward and surprisingly touching.
Solve Your Problems and Set Yourself Free with Perceptual Language
“Use what language you will, you can never say anything but what you are.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Imagine using a new language that prevents you from blaming others, being reactive, manipulating, fearing anything in the outside world, needing social approval, being offended by others, and being controlled or controlling others.
Imagine that these problems were simply eliminated from your life because your new language makes them impossible. Welcome to Perceptual Language.
Refined by Jake and Hannah Eagle of Reology, Perceptual Language represents a major development in psychology, perhaps the greatest breakthrough since the days of Freud.
When you learn …
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