I often hear people say that they can't do or it won't be good at something because they have never done it before. There are lots of things in life that you only do once or a handful of times. Few people will become an expert at buying their own home, helping a family member [...]
When we run away from the difficult decisions, the difficult conversations, the things that make us uncomfortable - then we continue to live in the world that is familiar to us. This world has little growth opportunity - for us, and for others. Tackling what's difficult frees us from our current confines. And, it might [...]
A friend recently reminded me of something our teacher said in a recent retreat/course/life experience. He said, when we think of something and decide that we "should" do it or not do it, what if we shift our own thinking and say to ourselves, yes, that is something that I "could" do. This replacement of [...]
Our river of life has rocks and other obstacles in the river. We have moments of tragedy. Moments of stepping out of the norm to deal with something. All right along side the moments of joy and love. This is humanity. Certainly some have more rocks than others, but for many reading us, we can [...]
Well that meeting was a waste of time, what happened? Sometimes people come in with their own ideas of what the conversation is about. Perhaps they each think the other wants what they want and therefore they think they are speaking the same language. Best to be clear before the meeting begins so as to [...]
When about to go into a situation we anticipate to be stressful, or maybe you anticipate that you could easily be less than your best self, we can take a moment to close our eyes and imagine the situation. Imagine what could happen that you would view negative. And imagine how you want to be [...]
I've started looking around the house after nearly 10 years of occupancy and it's amazing how many things I place somewhere and then no longer 'see' them. When we are in the day today, it's easy to lose sight of the big picture and what we have surrounded ourselves with. It is easier to see [...]
I used to feel guilty when I didn't feel that I was being 'productive'. Which of course was filled with all kinds of judgment as to what was and wasn't productive. But I am shifting that and recognizing the importance of play, whimsy, lightheartedness, and just spending time with people (all of which are completely [...]
How and when do you rise above? If someone blames you for something that wasn't truly your fault, there is a time and a place to point it out and not be taken advantage of. And, there is a time and a place to apologize and make it right because there is no explaining that [...]
A friend said "I stopped feeling anxious and stressed out about my to-do list and just saw it as a list of things. And what do you know I still got the same amount done." Sometimes our own voice in our head is our biggest enemy.
EJS' Blog 