my two cents
recovering from setbacks: it’s the narrative that counts
This essay appeared in the September/October 2018 edition of the ATA Chronicle. Recovering from setbacks involves self-discovery: getting curious and noticing things about yourself to build self-awareness. Engaging thoughts, emotions, and your narrative—and rewriting it for better results—builds a strong foundation for action…
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Rekindling an old flame
It just hit me. Something told me to reconnect. I was missing this in my life, and I felt some regret that I had left it behind. As a coach, I always encourage my clients to pay close attention to their emotions. They are…
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Enlisting the Magic of an Accountability Loop to Tackle Your To Do List
I heard from a lot of readers after my last essay on integrating work and home. Many people seem to feel that if they don’t stand up for their personal time, they won’t get it. And yet, even claiming the time still seems…
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How to End ‘Downward Spiral’ Thinking
Benjamin Zander, the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and author of The Art of Possibility, began waving his arms and skipping across the stage in the auditorium where I was attending his talk. His energy was contagious. He seemed to be having the…
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What’s shame got to do with it?
Owning our own story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do. Dr. Brene Brown, from The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are (Center…
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How to Take Charge of Overwhelm
I heard a woman at a book group say recently: “I don’t want to lean in; I just want to lie down.” Sometimes I feel the same way. After I posted an essay about our culture of overwork and the epidemic of overwhelm,…
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Deprogramming from the Cult of Overwork
How many hours a week do you spend at work? More than 50? More than 70? You’re not alone. A recent Harvard Business School Survey found that 94 percent of professionals will work more than 50 hours per week, with roughly half of…
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Learning to Live More Fully: Remembering the Good Stuff
I used to suffer from selective amnesia. I would forget myself. All the ways I have shown up in the world in a big way. Things I have done that made me who I am. Things I could be proud of. Without noticing,…
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Why Not You
In a New Yorker article, one of my favorite medical writers, Dr. Atul Gawande, talks about coaching: “Personal Best, Top athletes and singers have coaches. Should you?” If you’re considering hiring a coach, or even just interested in coaching, this is fascinating reading.…
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Finding Your Voice
Ms. Evelyn Riddle, my seventh grade English teacher, would be so proud. Ms. Riddle was the one who first asked me to get up in front of a group and give a speech. I am sure everyone in the class was terrified, but…
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