We all have the innate drive to survive and our brains are wired to make our chances of survival as good as possible. Our nervous system will create adaptations based on our experiences to support our chances of survival, but those adaptations can become hypersensitive and turn on when we don't really need them to. … Continue reading I Take It One Step At A Time
Yes, yes
In the realm of improvisational theatre, there is a well known and accepted mindset used by the players that involves saying "Yes, And..." in one's interactions with others and with the situation at hand. This concept creates a willingness to accept whatever is presented and to build on it when able. "No" is not often … Continue reading Yes, yes
Over and Over
Sometimes when we make up our minds to move in a new direction or to shift our habits in some way, we buy into the illusion that the intention to change is all we need to get the results we desire. We envision how it will feel once we are there and hope that the … Continue reading Over and Over
Vacation…All I Ever Wanted
Ah, summer. We often think of it as vacation season. Let's look at the definition of the word vacation: Vacation: noun. A period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday. According to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, it is imperative to take a vacation from everything going on during the summer to prevent burn out. Here in Memphis, the summer can … Continue reading Vacation…All I Ever Wanted
Here Comes The Rain Again
We all know the feeling...We had high hopes; we made plans and envisioned exactly how things were going to go in our mind. And then life does what it wants without even checking with us. Things end up going in a completely different direction and it's like a shot to the gut. The pain of … Continue reading Here Comes The Rain Again
Signal to Noise
Because our minds use stories to help us understand and interact with the world around us, and these stories are fed by the information we let into our minds, it is helpful to monitor what we let in and what we filter out. If we are most frequently listening to noise, which Shawn Achor identifies … Continue reading Signal to Noise
I Don’t Wanna Fight
We make plans for the future and we envision how we expect it to all look. Sometimes, almost immediately, life turns us in a different direction and we have to recalibrate. But other times, we get caught up in day-to-day living and years go by, and then one day, we have a vision of what … Continue reading I Don’t Wanna Fight
You Better Pay Attention To Me
In this age of electronic devices and media outlets, there are endless numbers of things vying for our attention. In fact, there is so much information coming in at such a high rate that our minds are truly overrun by stimuli. Our nervous system is consistently gathering information, but our brain has limits on the … Continue reading You Better Pay Attention To Me
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends
As much as we may hear stories in the news and see posts on social media around mental health and de-stigmatizing asking for help, many people in our culture continue to attach judgment when someone needs outside support to be able to cope or to thrive. Many of us have grown up with the expectation … Continue reading I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends
Nothing Fails
In our culture, we are often led to believe that some people are just "naturally great" when we see them achieve success. In fact, we even talk about how it all happened "overnight" for them, but this far from the truth. What we don't see is the hard work, years of effort and learning, and … Continue reading Nothing Fails
Doubt You
If we are committed to our own growth, we are open to trying new things from time to time. And when we try new things, we often experience discomfort and may even experience self-doubt. Self-doubt is a form of resistance that we can interpret as a sign that growth is possible if we keep moving … Continue reading Doubt You
Don’t Bring Me Down
Humans have the amazing ability to be aware of our own thoughts. This is called metacognition. When we can become aware of what we are thinking, we can see how our thoughts are creating the experience we are having in our lives. And we have the power to shift that experience. Our minds work in … Continue reading Don’t Bring Me Down
Within You Without You
Amidst the senseless acts of violence our country continues to experience and the fear that is created when our safety is threatened, it can feel like we, as individuals, have no power to make a real change on a larger scale. Yes, there are actions we can take when the timing is right like voting, … Continue reading Within You Without You
Check Yo Self
Our thoughts have a powerful impact on how we see and interact with the world around us. They direct both our emotions and our actions, and because of this, it is very important to take the time to notice what we are thinking. We can get stuck in thinking patterns and habits that we may … Continue reading Check Yo Self
Here I Am, Baby
In individual coaching and in leading group courses, I frequently work with people around the experience of vulnerability and how to process, cope with, and move through feeling vulnerable. The word vulnerability alone can bring up feelings of discomfort. We may run from it, deny that we are susceptible to it, or even feel the … Continue reading Here I Am, Baby