Making Life Transitions Easier
I think my most difficult major life change was dealing with an empty nest. I knew the time when my youngest of two boys would be leaving home to start college was fast approaching. But in reality, it didn’t sink in until after it had happened. The emotional feeling caught me off guard. Suddenly, there… [Continue Reading]
It’s impossible to overlook the physical changes of pregnancy. But, as dramatic as those changes may be, the invisible transformations you experience en route to motherhood are every bit as far-reaching. The months before birth represent an opportunity for tremendous personal growth and development—an opportunity for you to become more in-tune with your body, to… [Continue Reading]
Any kind of major life change requires 3 things: 1. Acceptance 2. Forgiveness 3. A Transition period Whether going through a divorce, having your beloved Fido die, moving across the country for your dream job, or having a baby, any kind of life change requires the above 3 stages to happen before you can fully… [Continue Reading]
If you’re facing a career or life change, I hope my story inspires you, provides comfort by showing you you’re not alone, and gives you hope that all will be just fine. The older I get the more life changes I seem to encounter. Of course you expect major changes to take place when you’re… [Continue Reading]
Each and every step we take in this short little journey called life, we’re given opportunity to learn something, adapt that learning to new situations and grow into the people we really wish to be. And boy does life offer a variable learning environment. Life changes us, and often unexpectedly. In the last year my… [Continue Reading]
I do believe we can CHOOSE major life changes by asking… What else is possible here? What’s possible if beyond anything I ever dreamed possible? If I could have anything I want, what would I choose? What would really turn me on to be experiencing right now? If more options were available to me right… [Continue Reading]
We experience energy shifts, passing through active and passive cycles of darkness and light, transforming human consciousness, and where patience, humility, acceptance, compassion and truth all synchronize into one, which is love ~ Nivasha “Wherever pain seems to operate, the presence of God is.” I remember hearing this quote a long time ago; so long… [Continue Reading]
If we can do that, what else is possible? Life changing events are difficult certainly, however, once on the other side of the transition, most of us will feel like we’ve conquered something truly significant. Given time, we gain new clarity and wisdom. As you move through your time of change, let your organizational systems… [Continue Reading]
Life has a funny way of evolving, expanding and yes, changing. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, along comes something that mixes and shakes everything up. It can be challenging to deal with major life changes, especially when you’re not expecting them! Even the positive changes take some adjustment to get… [Continue Reading]
“Having a child is one of the best things that ever happened to me…and it almost ruined my marriage.” ~ Jessica, married six years To say that parenting is both a blessing and an enormous undertaking of epic proportions is clearly an understatement. Despite the planning and desire to become parents, couples are often unprepared… [Continue Reading]
Sometimes, you just want to go home; walk through that door, take off your shoes, and collapse onto the nearest chair. We all need to feel cared for, and where we live should be the absolute first place to start. When we go through difficult times, we often look for outside sources to help, when… [Continue Reading]
Some changes sneak up on you and others you see coming from a mile away. Both can be challenging to deal with, and I’d like to talk, today, about those big scheduled life changes that you put into motion. Maybe you’re pregnant…it’s exciting and scary and when the baby gets here, your life is definitely… [Continue Reading]
Any major life change, whether positive or negative, whether you initiated it or were blindsided by it, is going to create stress. It’s natural when going through change to feel unsettled or stressed because change by its very nature involves having to do, or deal with, things or situations that are unfamiliar. If you don’t… [Continue Reading]
It’s said that moving is one of the top stressors in a person’s life. I must be getting good at managing stress, because I’ve had eight moves in as many years. Yes–eight–and at three of the locales, we were there for less than a year before moving yet again. When you’ve moved that often–with a… [Continue Reading]
Do you know someone in your life who constantly complains? Think of a friend, your partner, a family member, or a colleague who usually complains about the same things. Got such a person in mind? Do you try to help them, give them support and offer advice? Are you truly empathetic, have a good listening… [Continue Reading]
Would you rather spend time with people you know, or meet up with a group of total strangers? Do you hide in the corner at events or parties? Have you ever passed on a great opportunity because you didn’t have a sidekick, or some familiar face to help you get started? You’re not alone. I… [Continue Reading]
Do you have someone in your life that is always spewing negativity or being overly difficult? Is this person always trying to bring you down, make you feel bad or looking to fight with you? Unfortunately, I have experienced quite a few of these people in my lifetime, some of whom I was able to… [Continue Reading]
Part of me wishes I could share with you, right here and right now, a list of all the people who annoy me, who upset me, who anger me. I’d name names and air very specific grievances. I’d tell you clearly why I am always right and they are always wrong. I’d get you to… [Continue Reading]
As a child, I hid behind my Mother’s legs, lowered my head, and stole glances at people that began to speak to me. The quiet child did not approach others or speak back, but she did hear them, as she observed from a safe distance. Interacting with new people takes a lot of courage for… [Continue Reading]
Certainly, we all are difficult at times, many times in fact! How do the people, especially spouses, feel and react when we are at our worst? It probably isn’t a shining moment for anybody. In my counseling practice, I often hear complaints about difficult family members. In-laws and stepchildren many times are the poster images… [Continue Reading]
Do you feel a sudden increase in stress and anxiety levels when faced with meeting new people? Are you experiencing this stress because you had to move to a new home location, away from everything familiar in your life? It doesn’t have to be a time of trepidation. Let’s consider that this transition is a… [Continue Reading]
Difficult people –The client you can’t please. The mother-in-law who interferes. The neighbour who lets his dog pee on your lawn. You know exactly who I’m talking about and you’re not alone in thinking IT. Sometimes people suck. And by “people,” I’m generalizing. Sometimes I suck, I’m sure you’re not perfect either. I work with… [Continue Reading]
I like to believe that most people are inherently good and are simply doing the best they can in the moment. Very often peoples’ actions are driven by fear or some other negative emotion, causing them to act in ways that feel difficult to us. We’re often quick to brand them as a difficult person…. [Continue Reading]
Nobody likes the idea of dealing with creditors. I know I never met a collection person who was either kind or nice to me when I was struggling to pay my bills. They usually approached the conversation in attack mode which of course put me on the defensive. It seemed that no matter what my… [Continue Reading]
Don’t. Don’t DEAL with them. Relate to them. Dealing with them is a battle before you get out of the gate. Relating to them means you start from center, from clarity, from grounded truth in how to create a solution. There is no outcome favorable for both parties when you start from “how can I… [Continue Reading]
Most of my clients are at mid or later-life. When some find themselves single again, divorced or widowed, shifts happen. What changes? Certainly the meaning of “our stuff” and what makes home comfortable, but mainly it’s clarity about the value and use of our time. Now single, she wants to be sure she has a… [Continue Reading]
Have you ever been in a situation in which your intentions and actions were perceived incorrectly by someone, your words were twisted and your actions judged wrongly by someone who refused to believe you did not intend to hurt? What if this person’s “truth” was not the truth and yet it affected you negatively leaving… [Continue Reading]
How do we deal with “difficult people” without losing ourselves in drama and emotion? Now, this is a question that I have been hoping to find an answer for. I’ve read all the books on how I should be seeing the love and beauty in everyone, even those people who appear to be “mean” and… [Continue Reading]
I don’t always get along with people. In fact, I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of times people just drive me nuts. And if I start looking, I can find faults left, right and center! But I’ve learned one very important thing about the people I come in contact with, especially those… [Continue Reading]
Difficult people…we all have to deal with them, right? Wrong. I am certain there is no such thing. Our approach to dealing with others is usually a direct reflection of our perspective, one that, for many, is based on a misunderstanding, or an incomplete awareness, of human behavior: People do not create problems because they… [Continue Reading]
At one time or another, we’ve all had to deal with people we find difficult, and I’m betting you’ve wished at one time or another that they’d make your life easier by just disappearing. Certainly, the easiest way to deal with any problem is to eliminate it, if possible, and the same is true of people we… [Continue Reading]
It’s difficult to be the new girl. I was reminded of this, recently, when I entered graduate school one semester behind my cohort and found myself attending classes carrying “this feels new and overwhelming” baggage, while the people around me were already close-knit and connected, with each others’ birthdays memorized, private Facebook groups created, the… [Continue Reading]
Relationships don’t exist in isolation. This is a good thing, or it can be, depending on your perspective and how you and your partner handle others. Couples are often unaware that their relationship is vulnerable to outside influences (especially the influence of friends and family)–it’s easy to ignore or underestimate the impact that outsiders can… [Continue Reading]
Do you ever call yourself names that you wouldn’t dream of calling someone else? Ever undermine your confidence with fatalistic thinking before an important event? Have you ever spoken to yourself in a way that is so hurtful, that if you spoke this way to a friend, it would damage, if not end, the friendship?… [Continue Reading]
When I hear about loss, immediately I think of death. But loss can encompass a multitude of things. From losing the love of your life through separation or divorce, to watching your bank account slowly dwindle down to nothing, to losing the place you used to call home. Never in a million years do you… [Continue Reading]
The other day I heard a friend’s father had passed away. I hope she will endure the experience and gain the same peace I have about the death of my father almost five years ago. It has been said in many places and in many ways, but loss has lessons to teach. Sometimes, the lessons… [Continue Reading]
“The only way out is through…” And so it is with loss. Tremendous, crushing, overwhelming loss. We’ve all experienced it: My greatest loss was losing my mom to suicide when she was 51 and I was almost 27. I was four months postpartum, already utterly overwhelmed by new motherhood and in denial about what I… [Continue Reading]
“Is it unhealthy for me to hold onto this Teddy Bear that my high school boyfriend won for me at a fair over 20 years ago?” asked my client. “Are you two still friends?” I ask. “Yes. We dated into our college years and eventually went our own ways, but we still keep in touch,”… [Continue Reading]
Have you ever felt like you would never be the same after losing that job, relationship or even money? I totally understand, because I’ve been in that dark place too! Heartfelt Heads up: If you are wanting a post that is just a feel good to keep on feeling bad for yourself, then this is… [Continue Reading]
Although anger is viewed as an expected and understandable reaction to divorce, it’s rarely acknowledged as an important part of processing loss. Whether it involves the loss of hopes and dreams, what could have been but wasn’t, the heartbreak of letting go or the fear of forging ahead alone, anger is deeply woven into the… [Continue Reading]
Loss is difficult for everyone. Whether you’ve had to release an uncooperative client, said goodbye to your family home, or buried your best friend, it’s important that you allow yourself to process the loss. Here I share tips for how to successfully let go. Kimberly EnglotKimberly Englot is the President & Founder of The… [Continue Reading]
I’ve lost many things in my life. Jobs. Grandparents. Pets. Money. A house. A business. Even my identity at one point. I’ve watched my parents lose their parents, my husband lose his father, my daughter lose teenage friends. I’ve seen that in the moment these losses feel insurmountable. Yet, I’ve also seen time heal the… [Continue Reading]
“…and yes, you will finally have to admit that who they are isn’t who you thought they were… Dying people can teach us this most directly. Often the attributes that define them drop away – the hair, the shape, the skills, the cleverness. And then it turns out that the packaging is not who that… [Continue Reading]
The reality of loss will affect all of us at one time or another. For some, the effect is minimal, but for others the veracity of loss can be catastrophic. The sense of loss is one condition that everyone on the planet will experience; it is universal. Loss has many faces and forms, but one… [Continue Reading]
Picture this: You’ve been unable to pay your mortgage for a couple of months. The bank sends you a foreclosure notice. Unable to find the money, the bank takes your home. Other than losing a loved one, I don’t know what’s more devastating to someone’s self-esteem and pride than losing their home. And for most,… [Continue Reading]
We all have experienced an end to a relationship-whether it is a friend, life-partner, co-worker, or even ties with a family member. Overcoming the feeling of loss is always a challenge, and depending on the situation and your personality, the experience can take many different twists and turns before settling into a concluding sense of… [Continue Reading]
Few things are as powerful as the change which occurs when one experiences a loss. Loss is a part of life, we gain, we build relationships and we ‘have’ what we value and trust. When that is taken away, a loss is suffered and each situation is unique. Every person grieves differently, and the grief… [Continue Reading]
“I once was lost but now am found. Was blind, but now, I see.” ~ Amazing Grace by John Newton As I sit down to write about loss, there is a huge resistance brewing up in the center of my chest. This is a topic that so many of us find painful. As I know so… [Continue Reading]
The first time I experienced loss was when Carlene came over… well she was supposed to come over with James, yet when she arrived at my cabin late that hot summer afternoon, she said very sternly, calmly, as if to convince herself…. James is dead. I remember thinking she was kidding, as those two were… [Continue Reading]
They are like dreams or flowers in air: foolish to try to grasp them. Gain and loss, right and wrong: such thoughts must finally be abolished at once. ~ Hsin Hsin Ming (606AD) Two years ago I was embroiled in a vicious lawsuit that started to turn me sour. I was freaked out by… [Continue Reading]
“The empty nester.” I’m talking with a client whose youngest child, in her 20’s, is about to move far away. My organizing client is excited, yet feeling the loss, deeply. The last years have focused on her daughter, getting her ready to leave home, working through college, and then making career choices. My client has… [Continue Reading]
You’ve made a conscious choice to initiate some positive changes in your life, and you’re excited…you’ve already begun to see the benefits and you feel amazing. You’re feeling energized and alive in a way that you haven’t for a very long time. Life is good. But…you’ve also begun noticing that some of the people in… [Continue Reading]
Being a business owner means dealing with the ups and downs that naturally occur in business, including losing clients (and income). While this is a natural part of running a business, it is also something that you can prepare for and minimize so that the loss of clients isn’t something that completely derails you when… [Continue Reading]
Ask couples about the essential ingredients of a healthy marriage/relationship and “communication” usually tops their list. In fact, most couples who come to me for counseling say they want to communicate more effectively. Many have identified that their relationship distress is either directly or indirectly linked to communication missteps. Often, this self-assessment is spot-on. There… [Continue Reading]
There you are–we’re walking through life, living it beautifully, radiant with joy or sitting with a deep sense of inner peace. Then something happens. Things are not the same. We grieve the loss. What we grieve most consistently is something amorphous, something no one can hold in their hands: the way things were. We grieve… [Continue Reading]
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For many children and families their first real experience with loss happens when a pet dies. When a well loved pet dies, children need consolation, love, support and affection more than complicated medical explanations. They need to have their feelings understood and supported. Your child’s reaction will depend on their age and stage of maturity, but… [Continue Reading]
Warning!! Although the articles I write are typically written to inspire and motivate, I want to delve into a deeper, darker aspect of change, which connects to this month’s theme: Dealing with Loss. So, if you are worried about being bummed out, I would skip this article. For the rest of you, I hope it connects…. [Continue Reading]
This is not a post about bad habits. But as I prepared to write it, I did ask folks on Twitter what their bad habits were. Here were some of the replies I received: • Being on Twitter when I should be doing something else. • Procrastination. If that’s a habit. [Note: I got a... [Continue Reading]
Breaking up with habits is hard to do! How about working WITH any of your “messy” habits, instead of trying to change them? This is one of the cornerstone pieces that I teach my private clients. To help you out, I’ll share three examples of how to work with those messy habits, so you don’t… [Continue Reading]
As parents, we often glide through a multitude of changes without so much as batting an eye. After all, it comes with the territory. Lauren wakes up with a fever so you adjust your schedule, make a couple of calls and work from home that day. Evan surprises you with a notice about baseball practice… [Continue Reading]
Abraham Lincoln once said,“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” and if anyone knew the truth of those words, he did. He struggled with depression all his life and was married to a chronically mentally ill woman. He had every reason to stay in bed and do nothing,… [Continue Reading]
As someone who has been there and who teaches women to eradicate their negative body talk, I am keenly aware how often women actually bash themselves without even batting an eyelash. This negative self-talk has become so ingrained in their being that they are no longer aware it even comes out of their mouth. Negative… [Continue Reading]
So you want to change your “nasty” habits, but you’re not sure what to do. Yep, been there. But good news: there’s totally a way to solve it. First, let’s look at what a habit actually is. A habit is a behavioral pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity… [Continue Reading]
Do you forage for food when you’re bored? Do you channel surf before you go to bed? Do you bite your nails when you’re worried? You may not even realize what you do when you are doing it. Habits are ingrained, repetitive to the point we’ve put our lives on autopilot. Worried? Stressed? Anxious? Have… [Continue Reading]
I’ve been on this new quest to lose weight and I’ve been applying the same principles I used to gain control over my money situation to my weight issue. So far, it’s been working pretty well as I’ve already dropped 21 lbs. When I started gaining control over my finances, I quickly learned that I… [Continue Reading]
Our daily living patterns are constructed around the habits we follow—whether or not we are even aware of them. The habits we follow often provide a sense of comfort—knowing what to expect as we navigate through our daily schedules. If you are looking to change some of your habits—a common goal at this time in… [Continue Reading]
“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” -Lao Tzu We spend so much time searching “out there” for just the right something or another that will make us happy, bring us to a state of peace, or simply bring some ease to our daily… [Continue Reading]
Do you want to change the scope of your relationship with your partner? Changing routines, styles, or habits can be a struggle. People usually want change when their relationship or marriage becomes so unsatisfactory that disillusion leads to disappointment. Before reaching that point, why not try a proactive approach to shake things up a bit… [Continue Reading]
One of my best friends, Cathy Yost from Canada, gave me this exercise about choosing a word for 2012. We’re getting up early tomorrow morning to talk on Skype to have our first delicious connection of the year, can’t wait to hear her word! Mine is choose. What I discovered over the holidays is that… [Continue Reading]
Do you have free will? How often do you exercise it throughout your day? If you really stop and think about it, you may realize that much of what you do is habitual—that is, a large portion of your time is spent doing routine activities. Habits are things we do regularly and often, to the… [Continue Reading]
While having coffee with a buddy from my high school years, he described a bit of his research in neuro-sciences to me. While much of what he talked about was a little above my head regarding his technical work with Alzheimer research, when we moved onto the topic of change, I was completely fascinated and… [Continue Reading]
I’ve got great news! You don’t need to wipe the slate clean and start over if you want to be eating healthier. You don’t need to make major adjustments in your life, get all your ducks in a row, or do everything better and different than before. You only need to begin. Here’s why. I… [Continue Reading]
You’ve heard it said before that “the only constant is change.” As true as that statement may be, many people avoid changes in their habits and routines, even if their current ones are not helping them to achieve the results they desire. As a goal coach, I have been blessed to work with people on… [Continue Reading]
Changing habits can be a tricky business and it mostly comes down to the fact that habits are, well, habitual. We tend to do them without thinking. Before we know it, a piece of chocolate is in our mouth or we’ve spent the evening watching television instead of going for a walk. The trick is figuring… [Continue Reading]
habit hab·it (hab’ĭt) n. A recurrent, often unconscious, pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition. Notice, that habits, by their very definition, are often unconscious. This fact can make attempting to change a habit more than a little challenging, and attempting to force yourself to change habits out of sheer willpower is often… [Continue Reading]
Change is around every corner. The question I have is, “Are YOU the one designing it or are you leaving it up to FATE?” Many people choose to wait on fate. Nothing wrong with that. It works beautifully…for some. But self-motivated individuals who crave, desire, or desperately want things to change in their lives, LOVE… [Continue Reading]
This month, while you contemplate making changes, give serious thought to the words you use to describe what you want. Your words have incredible power; they influence you, those around you, and the future you build. For example, when I moved my practice to a new area, I came up with a catchy, opening line to… [Continue Reading]
There’s no end to the list of tips, tricks and simple steps that are offered at the beginning of a New Year. Infomercials abound touting products that will transform you from the inside out. Blogs and online articles litter the web revealing a wide range of self-improvement strategies. Ready to shed those extra pounds that… [Continue Reading]
Recently, someone asked me about living with courage. “How do you work with fear?” they asked, then another variation on that question: “How do you handle XYZ? and ABC? But what about…?” After answering a few, I noticed that my answers kept prompting another question– “Well, okay–so how do you do that?” In that moment,… [Continue Reading]
What gives you a pain can also really inspire you! Imagine a really lovely, sunny day where you are having a really refreshing, chilled glass of white wine, sitting around a beautiful, blue swimming pool with your family and friends. You feel totally relaxed, very chilled and at one with the world. Suddenly, you… [Continue Reading]
Designing change or, put another way, designing your life is a big undertaking. Cool concept and one that always comes up as we enter a new year. People have made their resolution, which is great, but the real test is in the implementation. I read a statistic recently that 47% of Americans are vowing to… [Continue Reading]
Yes, it can, and with less effort than you would imagine. We’ve all heard a zebra can’t change its stripes – once a zebra always a zebra. Even a full coat of body paint won’t ever make that zebra a donkey, no way! True, or not so true? It’s true, that old zebra will always… [Continue Reading]
We know that change in life is inevitable. Things happen for good and bad reasons. Much of change is beyond our control. But how we handle change is within our control. With life changes, we most often experience stress. After all, change is often uncomfortable and the resulting outcome is often unknown. The best way… [Continue Reading]
Short answer? One choice at a time; It’s as simple as making better choices to live a better life. That means examining WHAT you are doing that is giving you your current results. (AKA: what isn’t working.) Do you immediately think, ‘That won’t look good on me’ or ‘I could never do that!’? Do you… [Continue Reading]
Every day is a new beginning when you’re a parent. Your child is changing and growing. And so are you. Each day you wake up with more wisdom and insights than you had the day before. (It may not feel like that some days, but it’s true. Being a parent offers ongoing opportunities for learning,… [Continue Reading]
The buddha said “Change is the only consistent thing in life.” Change is ever-present. So why do we resist it? Why do we crave it? Why do we deny it? No one likes change per se. It’s easy to get used to routines and the same ol’ same ol’, even when it’s toxic. As humans,… [Continue Reading]
If you want to grow your life, business or relationship, then you are going to have to face your fear and do it anyway. There is no way around this. Your fears are the doorways to your wildest dreams. Everything you want is sitting on the other side of your NO! In fact, if you… [Continue Reading]
Five and a half years ago, I became a stepmom. I had two young adult children from my first marriage and my husband gifted me with three wonderful, young adult bonus children and one very angry fourteen year old boy, Junior. Four months into our marriage, my rose colored glasses came off and my delusions… [Continue Reading]
It’s quite humbling to admit that for years I didn’t choose what I wanted, I reacted to the circumstances of life the best I could. It would go something like this, “Given what’s going on, what’s the best I can make of it? Lemonade out of lemons.” Except I was literally rearranging my limitations. Like… [Continue Reading]
All is flux, nothing is stationary…is what they say. And I can tell you from my experience that…well, it seems to be true. Change is inevitable, so why do we fight it? More importantly, why do we avoid being the changer, the one directing the flux? Well, we do this mostly because change is hard—it… [Continue Reading]
The New Year is often a time of setting new intentions, goals, and plans for the future. Many of us resolve to change something in our lives. We may want to decrease stress, lose weight, start exercising, start our own business, begin a new relationship, or do something we’ve never done before. No matter what… [Continue Reading]
Is getting healthy on your New Year’s resolution list? Do you have a goal to lose weight, eat more salad or exercise more? Most people do. The New Year inspires a sense of possibility and new beginnings. That sense of wiping the slate clean and starting fresh can be an effective motivation tool. Making a… [Continue Reading]
Change is a natural part of life. And yet, most of us fear change, to one degree or another. It’s the discomfort we often associate with change that freaks us out. And what is that discomfort exactly? It may be a little different for everyone, but in general, that discomfort shows up as nervousness, anxiety,… [Continue Reading]
Why is it so hard to make changes in our lives? I hear this question all the time and the truth is, if it were easy to make huge, positive changes in our lives, everyone would be doing it. But they’re not, are they? People still smoke, work at jobs they hate, have the same… [Continue Reading]
Most people are apprehensive about “change” in their lives, typically because the changes they have experienced were out of their control, and most often, not positive. As we enter the New Year, designing change in your life can, and should, be an exciting and rewarding experience. But where do you start? People who are looking… [Continue Reading]
Handling change is one of life’s greatest challenges and is a very important element in my work with parents. My passion is to empower parents and help them handle change positively and with clarity, direction and confidence. Change is inevitable and although it’s perfectly natural to resist the changes in your life and feel overwhelmed… [Continue Reading]
The holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year, and millions of people suffer from the holiday blues. These are feelings of sadness, tiredness, lack of motivation, decrease in energy and irritability. Sadly, it is not unusual for people to “crash” after the holidays. Here are a few ways you can revitalize… [Continue Reading]
There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ~Edith Wharton One afternoon as I struggled to gain creative ground on a new project, a dear friend reminded me that as far as she was concerned, I was pretty darn amazing. At the time, feeling amazing was a… [Continue Reading]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, unless…. …You’re newly pregnant and exhausted. The number one item on your holiday wish list this year? Finding the energy to deck the halls before the relatives arrive. …Your baby is teething. Committing to anything more gourmet than slice-and-bake for the office cookie exchange seems like total… [Continue Reading]
It only takes one person to give off a stress vibe before others are feeling the tension too. And, it only takes one person being mindful of a gathering space to prevent stress levels from rising into the air and spreading to those you call family and friends. 3 Mindful Space Practices to Prevent Stress… [Continue Reading]
The holidays bring excitement, joy and a sense of peace. They also bring in stubborn relatives, old grudges, stress and anxiety. Yes, the Holidays are a time for good cheer AND conflict! So how to deal with Aunt Helen who continually brings up why you don’t have a boyfriend yet? Or spending 3 days with… [Continue Reading]
As the holidays approach, the differences between how men and women think and act shine as bright as Rudolph’s nose. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, feeling stressed is as traditional as trimming the tree, lighting the Menorah, or kissing under the mistletoe. How many times have you vowed, “Next year will be different!”? Women,… [Continue Reading]
Don’t the holidays seem to keep arriving a little earlier each year? Talk about holiday stress—there always seems to be so much to do and so little time; even if you thought you had planned ahead. With time moving so quickly, it seems that the stress levels just continue to mount. Decorating, gift buying, holiday… [Continue Reading]
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” That really all depends. If you are someone who struggles with overspending or you haven’t planned for the holidays and will now rely on credit to make your holiday purchases, then it probably isn’t the most wonderful time for you. The holidays are frightening times for those… [Continue Reading]
The clock is ticking and already we are down to less than 20 days remaining in 2011. I am hoping to enjoy time with family and friends and clarify my plans and goals for the new year, of course mixed in with some time for laughter, fun, spirituality and healing. Sound familiar? The holidays are… [Continue Reading]
“You better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town…” (written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie) Do I really have to sit next to Uncle Joe at Grandma’s Christmas dinner? Does little Timmy really need an Xbox? Do we really have to drop… [Continue Reading]
Not that I’m promoting denial, avoidance or la la land… yet let’s be real people. The Holidays are a trigger for people. Triggers with family dynamics, unmet expectations for the year, chaos in malls and parking lots, stress about paying for it all, having to give give give when so many of us on empty… [Continue Reading]
Oh the holidays—a time for joy, and a time for stress. From office parties to last minute shopping, the holidays can be taxing to some. But the stress I observe the most in people passing through my health practice revolves around their discipline, or lack thereof, for moderation when it comes to indulging in the… [Continue Reading]
If ever there is a month heralding significant change, December is it. Most people are required to maintain the same busy lifestyle, meet year-end budgeting, close on business deals before the year end, provide employees, family and friends with small tokens of appreciation and still find time for the myriad of social invites, parties, obligations… [Continue Reading]
There’s no sugar coating it that you need to have a list of clients to have continuous growth in your company. In fact, that’s the #1 focus for you, as a CEO, to always be thinking about. However, you can get your products seen without a list. Personally, we’ve taken multiple actions to put our company on… [Continue Reading]
As the New Year approaches, you might think that most people go into it with great anticipation and excitement. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. The holidays can create high levels of stress for people, especially those who are not focused on their goals. New Year’s Resolutions are the most common form of goal-setting… [Continue Reading]
What do you do at the holidays that’s meaningful to you and your family? This is a question that I often ask my clients who have a tendency to over-do-it on the holidays and then pay for it health-wise during the following months. One client struggles with a health condition, and the demands she routinely… [Continue Reading]
Joe was at his wits’ end. Ever since his divorce, he tried to do everything he could think of to get along with his ex, Maria. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried, nothing worked. While they would go through periods where things were fine, it usually didn’t last for long. Eventually, Maria… [Continue Reading]
Along with the stress related to the ton of “doings” this time of year, there comes the inevitable conflicts associated with family events. Wait, aren’t the Holidays about joy? Isn’t a family gathering about wonderful things? Shouldn’t this all be happiness and smiles like the Norman Rockwell paintings we saw as children? Those images from… [Continue Reading]
Ever muttered these words? Ever heard them being muttered at you? “Your disorder is unbearable to me! I want a divorce and to live by myself. I can’t take this anymore.” “I feel so frustrated when I see your stuff stacking up in every area of the house that you walk in. Can’t you just… [Continue Reading]
Christmas, although a time of great joy and celebration, can also be the most stressful of times for even the best of parents, with the family home chaotic and often besieged by visitors. Throw into the mix, over-excited children who have weeks to sit around at home and the situation can quickly spiral out of… [Continue Reading]
The mind, body, stress connection has gained much attention. We now know that stress is not only detrimental to adults, but also greatly affects our children and teenagers. Unmanaged stress can present itself physically, socially, and emotionally. Holidays bring additional stress to everyone. Keeping an eye out for signs of stress will empower you to… [Continue Reading]
“That’s it. I quit!” my friend burst out. “I can’t take one more minute of having to deal with that %^&$ anymore.” I knew exactly who my friend was talking about. She’s complained to me before about a Very Difficult Person with whom she has to work. This person can be condescending, patronizing, and an… [Continue Reading]
You don’t have to go very far to find negativity and conflict. Just watch the news, listen to the radio, even on the internet and in social media, it can feel like wherever people gather, complaining, whining and negativity will follow. Some people actively seek ‘what is wrong,’ making conflict and control-issues inevitable. There is… [Continue Reading]
Overcoming conflict that happens in the workplace is one of the most frequent stress management questions that I receive. So, I have a couple of useful conflict resolution ideas for you to try when communicating with challenging co-workers. If you have worked in an office setting, then you probably will recognize these staff members. Consider the… [Continue Reading]
After months of anticipation, your baby is finally here. She’s healthy and she’s gorgeous (just like her mama) and she definitely knows what she’s doing when it comes to bonding with you. She’s been staring at you, wide-eyed, since the moment she arrived on the planet. And that was over an hour ago…. As you’ve… [Continue Reading]
Here’s a HOT topic that always gets me going: what are the benefits of conflict? Merriam-Webster defines conflict as: competitive or opposing action of incompatibles : antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons). Remember: conflict is tension. Tension breeds growth. Growth is necessary for your soul’s evolution. Let’s get to it… [Continue Reading]
Goals can be the most powerful driving force in your life! When you stop setting goals, you stop enjoying all of the amazing rewards life has to offer you. Important goals will also make life’s transitions less daunting. I know this first hand. In 1999, my wife was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Her oncologist instructed… [Continue Reading]
Men, this one’s for you…overcoming conflict. I mean, doesn’t it sound like a valiant endeavor? Overcoming conflict… surviving through the battle and ending victorious? Proving to yourself that you really ARE enough, you ARE important, worthy, valuable, cool. There’s overcoming self-created conflict… self designed to consistently give you the addictive high of winning… because you can’t be… [Continue Reading]
The biggest conflict lies in the desire to not have conflict. More than a part of life, conflict is a way of life. Everything from cells to stars must endure it, as conflict is necessary for all growth. Trying to avoid conflict is futile. Instead, by understanding its benefits, you can use conflict to your… [Continue Reading]
“A person however learned and qualified in his life’s work in whom gratitude is absent, is devoid of that beauty of character which makes personality fragrant.” ~Hazrat Inayat Khan Gratitude and the practice of being grateful is an important part of developing maturely. Learning to move forward and recognize the things in our lives that… [Continue Reading]
Not long ago, I was working for a company that seemed to be in alignment with my beliefs and values. I believed in the vision and concept. I was excited to be a part of something that would offer true transformation to people all over the world. There was just one thing – I kept… [Continue Reading]
Co-parenting is a term you become familiar with when you get divorced. As a re-single, it is important to not only learn this word, but realize how it is going to work for you and your now ex-spouse. But, what makes it so difficult to parent together while living apart when you were able to… [Continue Reading]
The pregnancy test just came back positive. You still feel the same—it’s too soon for most early-pregnancy symptoms to start kicking in—but you are already beginning to anticipate the changes that your body will begin to experience during the amazing months ahead. Pregnancy is a much more joyful experience if you allow yourself to accept… [Continue Reading]
How many of you have struggled to make modifications to affect your health? If all of you didn’t raise your hand, you are fibbing. The change could be physical, emotional, relational, social, cognitive, or something else; however, even small changes mean tackling habits. Ah, habits, those silly little things we often ignore. Unfortunately, they can… [Continue Reading]
It’s been said that the only constant in life is change. Whether anticipated or unexpected, welcomed or dreaded, we’ve all had those times in our lives when the demands of those changes have left us feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin. During those times, the urge to dig deep and push a little harder can be… [Continue Reading]
First, watch the movie “Peaceful Warrior.” It’s been my experience that many ladies with health issues reach out for help to get their belongings in order and re-arranged because they want to make daily life as easy as possible. I’d like to share the steps taken when 2 ladies coping with health changes said, “Get… [Continue Reading]
Sibling rivalry can apply to any child living in the same family, from step brothers and sisters to blood related brothers and sisters, and it refers to the jealousy, competition, teasing and fighting that goes on between them. Siblings fight for a number of reasons: • They want your parental attention. • They are jealous:… [Continue Reading]
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, nearly half of all Americans are considered “financially fragile.” What does this mean? It means in an emergency situation they couldn’t come up with $2,000 unexpectedly in the next month, or would have to resort to desperate measures to come up with the money. What I found most… [Continue Reading]
Research clearly shows that the effects of stress can be damaging to your health. Here is an example. My husband was a superintendent of a school district and was responsible for closing school in the event of bad weather. School closings were under his control. One early morning, after the buses began their routes, an… [Continue Reading]
No one likes to hear the words, “You’re fired.” Even if your boss sugar coats it with “I hate to do this, but I have to let you go,” or you were fired up to quit but they beat you to the punch. It always stings. Getting caught unaware can put you on the express… [Continue Reading]
When thinking about making physical changes, we set lots of goals and often have the best of intentions. So why is it so hard to actually make a change and stick with the goals we set? Watch this video to learn about what holds us back and how you can get started on the path… [Continue Reading]
“Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life’s change agent.” Steve Jobs Nearly eight years ago I was diagnosed with an illness that makes many women shudder. No one wants to hear the words, “you have breast cancer,” least of all on a dark, cold night six weeks after your… [Continue Reading]
I read and write about health every day. It’s my love. And I never stop thinking about the marvels of the human body. My research takes me into every conceivable subject revolving around health, which basically means everything. I see health all around me at all times, and I see the entire universe in the… [Continue Reading]
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~World Health Organization, 1948 A number of years ago, as I lay on a gurney staring at the overhead lights in the emergency room, nervous and frightened, I couldn’t help but try to analyze what… [Continue Reading]
“Your body hears everything your mind says.” –Naomi Judd For a good portion of my adult life, I silently suffered from anxiety. At times of increased stress and challenge, it would get worse, sometimes leading to complete panic attacks. The panic would come “out of the blue” with no warning whatsoever. I could be relaxed,… [Continue Reading]
It is helpful to put work into perspective for yourself. When you know how work fits into your life, any changes you make in your employment are more meaningful to your life. To round out the dozen started in an earlier post, here are seven more reasons you may work. 1. Work gives you something… [Continue Reading]
There are so many life-changing events that affect our health. Stress, death, taxes and divorce are among some of them. Depending on the type of personality you have, you can either have a net gain of weight or a net loss of weight. But, when you get divorced, it is especially important to try to… [Continue Reading]
If you’ve found yourself on the TLCN website, you’re probably experiencing a change in your life and you’re interested in learning how to better navigate your way through it. Another resource for you to consider during this process, is blogging. Writing about your own personal story is a very therapeutic activity, plus, your experience might… [Continue Reading]
Two of the most powerful words happen to be WHAT IF? When we ask the world, or ourselves, “WHAT IF?” we have the power to answer our own question with a positive outcome or a negative outcome. Unfortunately, we are experts at filling in the blanks with negative anxiety causing outcomes. Children are even more… [Continue Reading]
A staggering five million children’s lunchboxes are prepared in British homes every weekday, yet a Food Standards Agency survey discovered that three out of four of these were likely to contain foods that were too high in saturated fat, salt or sugar and almost half failed to include any fruit. Most of them included… [Continue Reading]
Other than sleep, no activity consumes as many hours of your time as your employment. Unfortunately, you may participate in those hours without giving much thought to what work means to you. You may have considered its meaning when you first were looking for employment or during a change in your job, but it is… [Continue Reading]
Adapting to a lower income seems to be harder than adapting to a higher income. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s kind of crazy how change in income, especially a loss of income, can affect your home environment. You may have heard the saying “inner chaos breeds outer chaos.” Or the opposite, “outer chaos breeds inner chaos.” … [Continue Reading]
We’ve all heard the sage advice when things go awry at work, “Don’t take it home with you.” However, what do you do when the stresses and worries of your home life follow you to work each day? While a “leave it at the door” attitude sounds good in theory, creating that kind of separation between your… [Continue Reading]
“An entrepreneur is someone who will work 23 hours a day for themselves, in order to avoid working 1 hour a day for someone else.” If you’re working for yourself, you know that this is one of those jokes that we both laugh at–and shake our heads at. Working for yourself, stakes are higher. After… [Continue Reading]
How to feel confident—or at least a little less uncertain—as you assume the job of being someone’s mom or dad. Congratulations on your new position: you’ve just become someone’s Mom or Dad. Whether you’ve been working toward this promotion for many years or you are a recent recruit to the parenting business, you’re likely to… [Continue Reading]
If you have a job (or life) that has you wanting to crawl in bed and stay there, try my favorite way to ensure that you wake up on the right side of the bed every day! Click here to get your FREE copy of “Dump the Junk.” Kimberly EnglotKimberly Englot is the… [Continue Reading]
Once upon a time there was a woman who ate stress for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She operated on caffeine and adrenaline from sunup to sundown. There weren’t enough hours in the day to take care of everything on her plate – her marriage, her children, and her career. In fact, she wasn’t even on her… [Continue Reading]
So many people have experienced a change in income levels since the recession started. Additionally, many of us have witnessed our retirement accounts dwindle to lows that make us feel nauseous. When I talk with people who have either been laid off from work or have seen the numbers in the business decline significantly, the… [Continue Reading]
I think one can achieve a very pleasant lifestyle by treating human beings, fellow human beings, very well. ~Rene Rivkin Studies in the past have shown that we are inundated with ads, over 3000 per day, add additional messages to that and our days are spent consistently fielding the communications we receive. A large portion… [Continue Reading]
Change can be a frightening experience sometimes. Especially when the changes taking place involve our livelihood. We wake up, head to work as usual, and the “big bomb” is dropped: “We’re downsizing and no longer need your position here.” Immediate panic flows through every cell. “Now what? How will I take care of myself, my… [Continue Reading]
I’ve always thought I knew why my beloved hasn’t shown up yet. I mean I’m an Intimacy Expert for crying out loud, I should know these things, right? I’ve decided it was because I hadn’t healed from my father (now healed- check) or because I wasn’t getting along with my son’s father (now getting along-… [Continue Reading]
What’s your life’s purpose? Have you ever really thought about it? Have you defined it? One very distinct advantage people have when they actually define their life’s purpose is that they become remarkably adaptable to change. Stress is the failure of an organism to adequately respond to changes; and in the case of humans, it… [Continue Reading]
You are a single parent now and that means that you either have to get a job or change a part-time job to full-time. Although the expense of living and income is important, the environment that is created by this work life change is sometimes harder to manage. Lee BlockAfter going through a long and… [Continue Reading]
As I began to write this article, I realized I need to put being responsible on the shelf for a little while. From an early age, I was taught to be “responsible.” I was expected to get good grades, be home by curfew, and keep my room clean. All of these make sense. However, these… [Continue Reading]
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us… It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission… [Continue Reading]
From the day you are born – actually, even before that – you arrive as a bundle of joy, along with a big, fat stack of papers. Your paper trail has officially begun. Paper will follow you around for the rest of your life, so you’ll want to have organizational skills to manage it. One… [Continue Reading]
Much as we’d like life to be simple, couples go through many responsibility changes over time. All changes affect the relationship for the good or bad. Below are two major transitions couples may see, marriage and children, and how to make them good for your relationship. Before we look at any type of transition, there… [Continue Reading]
Some people create bucket lists as a way to identify all the things they’d like to see happen in their lifetime. I, however, took a different approach to shaping the course of my life. By the time I reached my early twenties, I had constructed a fairly well developed list of all the things I… [Continue Reading]
The hurdles that career-minded women must overcome to penetrate the boardroom are well-documented, combine this with the difficulties that many of us face whilst trying to raise a happy, well-balanced family, and it’s easy to see that life as a successful woman in business is no stroll in the park. In order not to lose… [Continue Reading]
For many years, I worked as a nurse specializing in psychiatric care. Year after year, we would see the same patients coming in to the hospital. We called it the “revolving door syndrome.” No matter what treatment was tried, they would still come back. I thought perhaps this was only common in psychiatric care. That… [Continue Reading]
Your relationship with money comes with responsibilities. It needs to be cultivated and given the attention it deserves. Ignore it and it will get your attention in ways that aren’t so positive. Here are three tips to help you get responsible with your money starting today! Tip #1: Where You Put Your Bills Do you… [Continue Reading]
So you’re going along, living your life, doing your thing–and then, it happens: you are faced with a massive change in responsibility. Some of those changes are the result of unforeseen circumstances, such as caring for an elderly parent or a sick spouse. Other responsibilities are changes that you were excited to see–before they arrived–because… [Continue Reading]
It’s the summer when I first become a mother. I’m nursing my newborn on the couch, savoring each whisper of air that pass over the two of us. That’s what passes for a breeze during this summer of record-breaking high temperatures. My husband settles down on the couch beside us with a glass of something… [Continue Reading]
“It could happen to you – just like it happened to me there’s simply no immunity – there’s no guarantee I say love’s such a force – if you find yourself in it.” ~ Sting, Brand New Day. I was at a catch up lunch the other day with a dear friend. The last time… [Continue Reading]
How do you change your life? Short answer? One choice at a time. It’s as simple as making better choices to live a better life. That means examining WHAT you are doing that is giving you your current results. (AKA: what isn’t working.) Questions to ask: Do you automatically preface everything with, ‘I can’t afford… [Continue Reading]
Responsibility. The ability to respond to your environment, your circumstances, and to those within your circle of influence. It’s also the ability to respond to your thoughts, your words, your deeds, your choices, and your decisions. All too often you might find yourself overwhelmed by what you believe are your responsibilities. You’re late for work… [Continue Reading]
We normally think of change in responsibilities when the kids leave home, when we become divorced and have shared custody, when we need to pay totally our own way, when we receive support from a partner, yes? I want to provide another angle as a miraculous opening of possibility in your life. I had a… [Continue Reading]
Ah…time, the great humbler of egos and shatterer of illusions of human immortality. As we age, we often come to certain realizations about our beliefs, ideals, and expectations that perhaps don’t fall in line with the reality of the ticking clock. Not a bad thing, just a reminder that the activities we might have been… [Continue Reading]
All relationships change over time; when true, they are nurtured and fed by both sources creating a smooth, continual flow of communication and appreciation. But when relationships change, it can be awkward, sad and disheartening. One significant relationship change, particularly difficult for some, is when a worker transitions into a manager’s role. At first, the… [Continue Reading]
Life transitions can bring on a whole new level of responsibility. It is also true the other way around: Making new decisions in personal responsibility can lead to very powerful life changes. The most beautiful and empowering moments in my work with clients is when they decide to courageously claim their personal power and commit… [Continue Reading]
Imagine taking your life to the abyss of the last 10%? It’s that place that people like Oprah, Richard Branson, Marian Williamson, Wayne Dyer and some other respectively successful people in their field go. It’s a place that most of us will never know because we said so. I don’t mean that to discourage you… [Continue Reading]
There is a big difference between being a married parent and being a single parent, and with those differences, comes a big change in responsibility. This change is equal opportunity and affects both the mother and father, no matter what your custody situation is. Being a parent is hard, but being a single parent is… [Continue Reading]
A distinct change I experienced in my 40’s was an increase in responsibilities, and therefore, a heavier TO DO list. The love affair I used to have with my TO DO list was becoming toxic, and it was clear I needed to re-think time management. Re-assessing priorities and trimming the list down are effective strategies… [Continue Reading]
Our relationship with food changes all the time. It’s not that the basic need for life sustaining nutrients changes. Instead, it is the amount of food, the type of food, or our awareness around eating that alters. Some of us are aware of our relationship to food, cultivating it, maybe even becoming entangled in a… [Continue Reading]
In an ideal world, as a couple with children you work together to juggle the day-to-day needs of your kids. Getting homework done, monitoring how long they surf the web, shuffling them to appointments and football practices, all the while making sure they’re loved, fed, bathed and relatively safe. That’s the stuff parenting is made… [Continue Reading]
Becoming a Mom is a HUGE change in lifestyle, but there are additional challenges if you are an entrepreneur who wants to continue to run a successful business AND be a hands-on Mommy. When I became a Mom, I was forced to make some changes in my business – and it has turned out to… [Continue Reading]
Have you ever wanted something you think is a great idea; then you asked your partner, excitedly requested an immediate response, and got a “No”? Did you argue for your idea? Did you push your point? Were you confused because you knew it was a great idea and couldn’t see how your partner could say… [Continue Reading]
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” -Marianne Williamson Many of us don’t fully acknowledge what we’re capable of. We can be more interested in ownership of things than ownership of… [Continue Reading]
It wasn’t that long ago that parents were encouraged to put their newborns on four-hour schedules and to start sleep-training their babies by six weeks of age. Putting a baby on a schedule would be good for the parents and the baby, or so the experts of the day claimed. Baby would be comforted by… [Continue Reading]
Did you know that 5-10% of all disease is genetic? The rest is caused from poor thoughts, poor diet and poor lifestyle choices. I know it’s pretty shocking when you learn this for the first time. We are all creatures of habit and it takes a lot to stop doing anything, even if it is killing… [Continue Reading]
Saying “I Do” the second time around can be a complicated lifestyle change that doesn’t seem complicated through love goggle eyes. Kids from your previous relationship aside, what exactly are you going to do with three toasters, two blenders, and two full master bedroom suites? If you’re marrying for the second (or third) time, you’ve… [Continue Reading]
Several years ago, faced with the possibility of losing my home and filing bankruptcy, I had a financial awakening. Lucky for me I had it in the nick of time. Without that kick in the pants, that slap in the face, I would never have changed my ways. The ways in which I changed were… [Continue Reading]
It’s always a little surprising when someone says, “I leave my personal life at the door when I come to work.” While that may be what some companies want to hear, the reality is quite different. People’s lives are simply not compartmentalized; every thought, feeling and emotion felt permeates everything in a person’s day and… [Continue Reading]
I used to live at home, my own room, no rent, meals prepared, pretty cushy. Then I hopped on Uncle Phil’s 19 wheeler and headed to the US and lived on people’s floors, couches, spare rooms until I moved to Tokyo. There I shared a three tatami mat room with two other women, shared the… [Continue Reading]
Wondering how to live a better life? Here are 6 ideas to get you started. 1. Join a group of like-minded people Time is a precious commodity and life tends to get in the way of enjoying a full social life. But we all need and enjoy the benefits of being around like-minded people. A… [Continue Reading]
When an entrepreneur starts a business venture, the goal is to make money, reach specific goals and to either sell the business or create an amazing lifestyle. However, some entrepreneurs make the mistake of solely focusing on the monetary or ego aspects of growing the business which can quickly lead to big problems. Many of… [Continue Reading]
The biggest change in lifestyle when two people get divorced is financially, and it is also the most obvious. In fact, finances are often a reason that some couples stay together as long as they do. But, when it gets to a point where keeping the marriage together is no longer an option, the couple… [Continue Reading]
Recently my husband invited a friend, who was going through a messy divorce, over for dinner. At first glance his friend clearly gave the appearance of a guy who had it all together. Since his separation, he had drastically changed his diet, invested in a vigorous exercise program and dropped about fifty pounds. And the… [Continue Reading]
It’s one thing to want to have a baby. It’s quite another thing to become a parent. I learned that lesson the hard way within weeks of giving birth to my first child. Julie was everything I had dreamed of and so much more: a picture-perfect newborn who also happened to be colicky. I would… [Continue Reading]
I had a grandma come to me about a month ago. She had been referred by a doctor in Boston because she wasn’t feeling great about her life. She told me that she used to have such a passion for life, yet now, she was feeling disappointed, irritated with her family, and burdened by a… [Continue Reading]
My couples are often surprised when I tell them; “do the healthy thing because you deserve it, not because you want something from another person.” When you make a change in your life, even if it is a change in your relationship, it is imperative you change for yourself first. Why? What’s the difference? Because… [Continue Reading]
Want more freedom and flexibility? You simply need to change how you relate to your clients. Instead of working solely one-to-one, work one-to-many! Learn a few examples in this video, so you can help more people, make more money, and enjoy more freedom – without working more hours! Nika StewartNika Stewart, The Laptop Mom,… [Continue Reading]
If you’re a stepparent, have you ever wondered what your stepkids might be feeling as they transition between two homes? Have you ever wondered what they’re going through as they navigate the change from having two parents in one home to having to split their time in two homes because their parents’ relationship ended? With… [Continue Reading]
Have you ever found yourself dreading your weekly appointment or feeling frustrated with a client’s attitude or lack of motivation for weeks or months on end? These types of clients may express guilt, anger or sadness at their progress while you feel responsible. The relationship is not moving forward. You don’t feel like you are… [Continue Reading]
“Don’t ever change,” he said… perhaps as an expression of his love of who I am, who I was being… yet I felt instantly stifled… be this perfect way and I’ll be loved. Be just as he wants me to be and I’ll get approval. Careful not to stray or you might lose attention. Definitely… [Continue Reading]
When you get divorced, there are so many changes that take place in so many relationships it can be hard to keep it all straight. But, by far the biggest change is that of a husband/wife to a now ex-husband/ex-wife. How do you deal with this person that you knew and no longer love? You… [Continue Reading]
Dressing fashionably in your 40’s is about learning to work with who you are and what you have. You may be in super shape or perhaps you’ve put on a few midlife pounds (hey, it happens to all of us). Regardless of what your body type is, or weight, it’s important to know where to… [Continue Reading]
There’s a good chance your mind is running a mile a minute and sounding like this: I feel inadequate. What about my future? What about my career? Will anyone want to marry me or date me? My dreams are over. What did I do wrong? Could I have prayed more? Been nicer? I’m going to… [Continue Reading]
Most people try to avoid discomfort because, well, it’s uncomfortable. Who wants to feel uncomfortable? However discomfort has a story to tell you if you listen. Discomfort tells you something isn’t right. Discomfort tells you it is time to make a transition, to change, to do something differently, to expand. The good news is discomfort… [Continue Reading]
You may have heard that Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger are separating. Separation and divorce are such a challenging transition for couples. It seems like no matter who initiates the change in the relationship, it’s a tough time for both people, not to mention their families. In the video below, which does not address the separation specifically, Maria… [Continue Reading]
I’ll be back. Those were the words that I uttered to my divorce attorney at the courthouse when I went before the judge to have her stamp my divorce decree that announced me a single parent. I didn’t know when I would be back, but I knew I would be back. My attorney looked at… [Continue Reading]
Let’s face it. We are living in a highly toxic world and it’s wreaking havoc on our bodies. We have 400-500 times more heavy metals in our body today than our ancestors did. The longer we are alive on this earth absorbing, inhaling, ingesting toxins, the quicker our bodies will age and the higher our chances… [Continue Reading]
Several years ago (when I was pregnant with my second daughter and working in the pediatric unit of a hospital) I had an idea for a business that I thought would change the world. More children die from preventable injuries than from all childhood illnesses combined. I wanted to save every one of those children…. [Continue Reading]
Beth* emailed me a few months after the death of her Father. She was seeking some guidance around her pattern of emotional eating, an issue she felt she had dealt with in the past, and was discouraged to find it present again. For Beth, food was intricately linked to events in her life. Beth wanted… [Continue Reading]
Change the Diaper and It Will Please Me Remember these song lyrics by Billy Joel, “Don’t go changing to try and please me. I love you just the way you are?” Well, we may not have to purposely change for the ones that truly love us but change in our lives is inevitable. It’s a… [Continue Reading]
My mom was a great mom. She was one of those moms who listened when I needed to talk, cheered when I needed support and loved me no matter what I got myself into. I lost her recently to cancer and I’m still coming to terms with a world that does not include the physical… [Continue Reading]
A little over a year ago, we got the news. My dad, a normally chipper mid-western guy called and with a quiver in his voice said, “Your mom has a small growth on her lung and it is wrapped around a major artery. We don’t know if it has spread and it may not even… [Continue Reading]
Making a move from being married to being divorced is a big decision. It not only affects you, it affects your children, your spouse, your friends and your extended family. It also affects your standard of living, your self-esteem and even your sense of self and belonging. How do you know when it is time… [Continue Reading]
I’m the first to admit, I haven’t always made use of mind body relaxation techniques. However, once I was introduced to them, I was hooked! It is amazing how deeply relaxing and rejuvenating a few deep breaths can be. Here’s one of my favorite breathing techniques to use when you need a quick mini-break during… [Continue Reading]
I was one stressed out kid. I had a supportive family, great friends and teachers, I wasn’t bullied or picked on and yet every morning before elementary school I got a stomach ache. I don’t remember exactly when it started, but it happened sometime after my family moved from Wisconsin to Virginia. The remedy that… [Continue Reading]
The idea of an emotional bank, as popularized by Dr. Stephen R. Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a great way to analyze a relationship in a logical way. Of course, instead of money, we make deposits and withdrawals in the form of social currency. Through our actions and shared experiences,… [Continue Reading]
When you want to make a change, it’s good to start by getting an idea of what you want and setting some SMART goals. This is what you want to achieve and it’s a critical part of the process. However, it doesn’t tell you how you’re going to make it happen, that is where KINETIC goals come… [Continue Reading]
In a job interview, it is not uncommon for the applicant to say that they love to receive feedback. And for a lot of these people, what they really mean is that they like “positive” feedback. Or that they prefer “constructive feedback.” And, of course, positive and constructive feedback are not necessarily the same thing. While… [Continue Reading]
How do you know when it is time to make a change? A lot of times we know it is time to make a change when our boss or spouse tells us we have to make a change! Of course, telling us to change and making us do it are entirely different things. In… [Continue Reading]
Alright, so you know it’s time to make a change, but you’re not sure in what direction you want to move. If you’ve been there, you are not alone. People get stuck at this point in the change process all the time. Many times they have lots of ideas about what they don’t want…I don’t… [Continue Reading]
If you’re unhappy in your work life, you probably refer to your work as a “job”, rather than a career. You may make good, even great money working at this job, but something about it just isn’t working for you. Been there? That’s exactly where I was for seven years. Well, that’s not quite right, for… [Continue Reading]
You know that time in a relationship when you’ve been dating for awhile, you’ve committed to an exclusive relationship, but things are still new and in some ways tenuous, especially to changes. While in this delicate phase of our relationship, my now husband and I found ourselves in a long distance relationship when he got a job… [Continue Reading]
Next year, that’ll be the year I get my health together. Next year, I’ll have more time. Have you ever said those words? I know I have. And that’s what happens; we get caught up. We all know that health is important. We sometimes say that health is the most important thing, understanding full well… [Continue Reading]
If change is all around us and happening all the time, why is it sometimes so hard to make a change? I think it all comes down to one thing: habits. As John Dryden once wrote, “First we make our habits, and then our habits make us.” Of course, most of these habits were not… [Continue Reading]
Being pregnant is a huge life change for many women. One mom I talked with during her pregnancy, asked me about what she could do to support her baby mentally and emotionally during pregnancy. I told her that being happy, healthy, feeling positive about the baby and having good feelings about your partner are great ways to… [Continue Reading]
I think my most difficult major life change was dealing with an empty nest. I knew the time when my … Continue Reading
It’s impossible to overlook the physical changes of pregnancy. But, as dramatic as those changes … Continue Reading
Any kind of major life change requires 3 things: 1. Acceptance 2. Forgiveness 3. A Transition … Continue Reading
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Theresa Froehlich on How An Empty Nest Can Allow for Life Enrichment
Being an empty nest parent does open up a lot of possibilities just because of having more time and freedom....Lisa Wilder on How An Empty Nest Can Allow for Life Enrichment
"...shift the focus away from the negative aspects." YES! Such empowering advice, Ann. When my boys left home I very...Ann Anderson on Your Home, Your Haven
This is wonderful Wendy! So many timely tips and inspirational ideas. I love it!