In these modern times, we seem to be living in a culture of perpetual force. It’s a way of living that has become so prevalent that it just seems normal. We see numerous examples in business and our current political process. Force is a strategy that seeks a win/lose outcome. It’s expedient and usually backed up with the justification of “making the tough choices”. When one form of force doesn’t work, we escalate our tactics, creating another forceful reaction. Force commonly results in … [Read more...]
Human Nature vs. Grace
We spend the majority of our lives, eating, sleeping, releasing, and preparing to do it all again. These activities consume our days as they do all animals on our planet. At times, we get so caught up in these routines that we forget our unique ability to experience grace. We miss the beauty that’s all around, asking us to remember our choice between our animal nature and grace. This choice separates us from the animals and reminds us of our true human potential. Sometimes we come to this … [Read more...]
You Always Have A Choice
We all have times where our current situation isn’t pleasant and no longer seems to be working. This could be a job where there’s no life balance, a marriage dynamic, or your current financial situation. If you recognize situations in your life that don’t seem to be working anymore, remember you have a choice and can always choose something different. Find a new job, go to marriage counseling, or find a financial planning coach. Whatever the situation, you can choose differently. Changing … [Read more...]
Life Doesn’t Have To Be So Serious.
We all know people who see life from the perspective that their glass is always half-full and not half-empty. Their perspective defaults to an upbeat way of looking at life. Are you drawn to people like this or do you see it as a “Pollyanna” approach that’s annoying and not realistic? Your perspective will determine how joyful you are in life. You can choose to moan about reality or take the route Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) did in the classic film, Dumb and Dumber. It’s up to you. We … [Read more...]
Are Your Feeling Out of Control?
We all have periods in our lives where it feels like we’re emotionally out of control. It’s as if our emotions are running the show and others are responsible for how they play out. We’re simply at the mercy of our emotions. We are their victim. If you recognize this happening in your life, try grounding your emotions. Being accountable for your own emotional reactivity is tricky business. What do you do when the emotions just seem to overwhelm you and you don’t want to be reactive? You … [Read more...]
Are Your Emotions Frozen?
Emotional reactivity in our selves and those around us has a cost. It limits our abilities to choose differently. When you begin making your needs a priority, this change can create reactivity in others. You’re no longer predictable emotionally and your new inner strength can be unsettling. When we are anxious about how others will react,we don’t pursue our needs because we’re afraid of getting their reactivity thrown at us. It’s just easier to keep pleasing others. This is especially true … [Read more...]
The Cost of Blind Intolerance
We live in times where we can’t see our own intolerance - especially of our own inner needs. Our needs for rest, for nourishment, rejuvenation, for love, and peace. We’re especially intolerant of our need for change. We treat ourselves in ways that make these needs seem irrelevant. We often notice, but don’t address the expectations and intolerant ways of the employers we work with or the people in our lives. It’s as if we’re incarcerated and don’t even know it. In the movie The … [Read more...]
Life at The Speed of Technology
When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day? - George Carlin We all at times try to jam too much into every moment feeling irritated when the world isn’t fitting our timing. It truly feels like 24 hours isn’t enough and we just don’t have enough time. We get many opportunities to be aware of our impatience, be it the traffic jam when your late for work or an appointment, or the chatty checkout person at … [Read more...]