If you’re prone to overwhelm like me, this pattern might sound familiar to you. It starts when the to-do list starts to feel never-ending. Then my ability to sort and prioritize goes out the window. Suddenly the urge to reorganize my cluttered desk is on par with my need to meet a writing deadline. When *everything* seems both urgent and important, Read More
Life
Creating Space for Wisdom Sharing
Along with spending more time in silence, another spiritual practice I’m cultivating is creating space for the wisdom of the room to emerge. At a basic level this involves talking less and listening more. Keeping quiet is a discipline I’ve had to learn. I was the type of kid who raised my hand to speak in class at every opportunity. One day in Read More
When Spirit Speaks
Though I couldn’t call myself a skeptic in general, I’m always a bit dubious when someone claims to have an audible connection with the divine. I’ve found sacred guidance to be more subtle than that, revealed slowly over time through snippets of conversations and on the pages journals and during walks in the woods with my dog. Revelations are Read More
The Work is Now
Last week I was driving home after teaching a group fitness class when I heard a voice clearly say: “You are already doing the work you want to do.” I’m not inclined to claim that I have an audible connection to the divine, and I’ll admit my inner critic tends to be loud and disarming. Still, something about this voice felt different, somehow Read More
Cooling the Sting of Disappointment
“Always a finalist, never an offer.” The disappointment of making it to the final round but not being selected is tough to stomach. When it happens repeatedly, it’s soul-crushing. Over the last two years I’ve experienced it enough times that it’s almost comical. Almost. Anytime we throw our hats into the ring, whether it’s for a new position Read More
Say Yes to Saying No
“We have a few more spots on this committee we need to fill. Are you interested?” Before I could ask myself if this was something I even wanted to do, I felt the impulse to blurt out, “Yes!” But just before I spoke, I heard my inner voice tell me to stop. And I listened. Volunteering for things is so ingrained that I’ll take on new Read More
Happiness Habits
Finding joy has never been a priority for me in terms of how I structure my life. A long-term goal? Certainly, yes. My path to getting there, however, has been misguided. I’ve held the common belief that if I can achieve and succeed enough, joy–or at the very least, contentment–will find its way to me. Sometimes I wonder if I was drawn initially Read More
Make Your Day (And Year!)
This December 31st I was more than ready to wave goodbye to 2017. I get the sense that many of us felt that way. From personal tragedies to political chaos, this past year was rough, to say the least. On New Year’s Eve as we toasted to 2018, I basked in the feeling of hopeful anticipation wondering what this new year might bring. Like many of Read More