When nothing is certain, anything is possible! These are truly uncertain times as we do more with less. And, yes, it is an all-in juggle between work, family and other obligations. More women are stepping away from the workplace because of too many competing needs and the complications of prioritizing may be overwhelming. With the blending of boundaries, there is no defined start and stop to your day. For many introverts, they could not be happier than to be working remotely.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn Does this quote resonate for you? Given that COVID has changed the way you spend the bulk of your time, how have you been able to adapt? With whom are you spending your time and how does that affect you? Personal time has limitations and work time has been remote for many of us, so it’s a different model to examine. It really is a big deal. Do a quick calculation from your personal to your profes

“First say to yourself what you would be; then do what you have to do.” Epictetus Conversely, if the message you take forward as an adult is that there is a learning curve and it may be different for all of us, you may be more patient with yourself and with others. Taking proper safety precautions might include scheduling lessons with an instructor or ensuring that a facility is licensed. If you have limited your physical activities for fear of being injured or you lack confi

“First we make our habits, and then our habits make us.” – John Dryden What about BAD habits? Whether it’s mid-day snacking, skipping the gym or procrastinating, feeling helpless to change takes its toll on your self esteem. Yet, you feel helpless to change and so the loop continues and you become more discouraged and resigned to accept these behaviors as a given.  The good news is that you are not alone, nor are you a victim of genetics. Research breaks down the psychology d

“If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down.” – Buddha Sometimes, the whisper can appear with such consistency that we still ignore it even when the tone rises to a SHOUT!  Amid the life disruptions we are all adapting to now, how can you sort out which voices to attend to? More change may feel like a burden more than an opportunity. Unplanned and radical adjustment in our lives is here for an undetermined time. From the very real economic impact on employmen

Is there a dream you’ve put on hold and it’s time to revisit? Have you put a project on a backburner for a variety of reasons? How do you overcome inertia? To crush overthinking through procrastination, determine whether you focus on prevention or promotion. Prevention is avoidance to preclude a potential loss like squandering money or damaging your reputation; stay safe. Promotion is when you see an opportunity to advance or learn and you can’t get started. Analyzing the dif

Getting back on track means something different for everyone. Perhaps you simply don’t like the career path you’ve been on, yet the salary is good enough and the benefits are important and could be hard to duplicate elsewhere. You remember being inspired and excited about your career at one point, but the job market is tight and you think you are too old to make a change. According to recent studies, only 30-percent of Americans feel engaged or inspired at their jobs, which l

Instead of a resolution, each year commit to a New Year’s Kickstart! Here’s the idea: You start your year off with a big success by completing a relatively quick turnaround project that you’ve been putting off. It could be a website, blog, newsletter, new mini-business, or a presentation, podcast or webinar you’ve been wanting to complete. It’s Your Spark Plug: Whatever your project, your New Year’s Kickstart should be the spark that ignites your bigger picture strategy for t

What is your dream? Is your dream feasible? Can it become a career, a hobby or business? Are there any issues, medical/physical, that would make pursuing your dream unfeasible? Does following this dream require more education, time and/or money to achieve? Are any of your current skillsets transferable to your dream job? Are you financially able to pursue the dream using personal finances or student loans? Can you achieve this dream on a part-time basis while still working at

What do you think held you back? What does it feel like not to act even when later you wished you had? What does it feel like to go to the edge and to be pulled back by fear and self-doubts? What resonates with you about accountability and taking responsibility? Selling out refers to the compromising of one’s integrity, morality and principles in exchange for some personal gain or because at that moment, we lack the courage to take a stand, and thereby, stand out. Selling out

I am not suggesting that you tolerate any and all infractions, bad behaviors and personal affronts. Avoidance is not the solution. Rather, take a stand for yourself with respect to engaging with the challenging person or uncomfortable situation. How do you tend to handle confrontation? What is most important to you regarding the outcome? Notice when your buttons are being pressed and by whom How clear are your boundaries? Some situations are simply easier to manage. Some asso

Are you the person skidding into the reception area, out of breath and perhaps red-faced? Did you make it or are you already into your well practiced apology mode, offering lame excuses for your lateness? What’s the payoff and how can you shift your thinking and change your behavior to accommodate a less “thrilling” way to operate? According to a San Francisco State University study, 20% of the US population is chronically late. Lead researcher, Diana DeLonzor notes that it’s

Bringing on serenity can happen in various ways. Let’s focus on the 4-S configuration of smiling, singing, sweating and soothing for quick reference. Smile: Others are more inclined to mirror back a smile to you. It can lift your mood, increase serotonin levels in the brain and bring a sense of calm. People will respond to you in kind. Think of a smile as “paying it forward. Sing: Whether your vocalizing is limited to the shower or not, try out a new tune that’s all yours. Th

Yes, life is busy and it’s important to take time and reflect on the quality of how we show up, the contribution we make and the ability we have to engage honorably and embrace every day. The tenets we too often forget are offered up below in a beautiful way by the Dalai Lama in his writings. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. Follow the three R’s – Respect for self – Respect for others and – Respo

Habits, good or bad, make us who we are. The key is controlling them. If you know how to modify your habits, then even a small effort can create significant changes. Eating what’s convenient vs. what you know is healthier or watching TV because you are too tired to take a walk are the default behaviors that can be changed when you have a plan to short-circuit the familiar cause/effect patterns. We all learned early on that the “Three Little Pigs” had some construction challen

1. Create a Routine: Teach your brain that it’s time to exercise by devising a cue, like putting your sneakers next to the door, or packing your lunch the night before. “A routine gives your brain something to latch onto,” says Duhigg. Establishing a new habit is far easier than changing one. 2. Set Small Goals: You want to run 5 miles 3 x weekly? Week one; wear your workout gear. Week two; walk around the block. Increase slowly until you reach your goal. “Habit formation is

• Are there recurring patterns in your life and is this another attempt to fix something else? • What’s unsatisfying about your current situation? • Who’s doing work that you think you might want to do? Unless the situation is toxic, we don’t recommend quitting a job in the hopes that something better will appear. As part of our intake we ask clients the following: If we were to have an appointment at a local restaurant three years from now, what would have taken place in y

Life is imperfect and for some people, complaining is a way to get or even deflect attention. Notice your own behaviors: • Are they energy draining or energy building? • Are you feeling powerless in a situation or a relationship? • What is your typical response? Chronic irritability distances you from others. If only they would change, then you might not have anything to object to. Focusing on what others need to do rather than on your own actions avoids the possibility of

And then I began to consider what the consequences are when technology replaces something like the public pay phone. While it didn’t happen overnight, someone installed and maintained them, collected the coins and serviced the units. They were manufactured somewhere and aside from the very identifiable red phone booths in London; it’s unlikely that the need for production will increase. According to Brian Whetten, PhD, “Recent research shows that 65 percent of current prescho

First we make our habits, and then our habits make us. – John Dryden No one would critique your habit of going to the gym daily or preparing lunch the night before or limiting TV watching to specific programs. They might envy your discipline and wish they had the same stick-to-it drive. What they don’t realize is that you’ve gotten to this place through a series of steps and missteps, revising and working to find the combination that supports your goals. You are also flexible