Do you feel overwhelmed by your never-ending to do lists? You are not alone! These lists evoke negative emotions in most people. They seem like silent reminders showing us just how far “behind” we are and how impossible it is to ever catch up. It doesn’t have to be like this. There is another way to work with your to do lists that is much more fun and energizing and will [...]
This month I am celebrating a big milestone: the 50th edition of SPARK*, my online newsletter. On a personal level, John and I are celebrating our first anniversary this month. We are filled with gratitude and joy for our life in loving partnership.It is wonderful to receive comments on my blog and e-mails from SPARK* readers who feel inspired by my tips and stories. SPARK* really lives and thrives through being read, [...]
Often we stand in our own way of achieving and receiving what we most want. This happens when we believe that what we most want is only available in a bundled up fashion with something we don’t want at all. So we take one step in the direction of our dream and then we get scared because we feel as if we are also moving closer to a nightmare. With this [...]
My recent move to Victoria reminded me of the nature of life transitions with which I am intimately familiar through my work as a life coach and my own life experience. With each occurrence of change, we naturally receive the gift of open space. Now open space is something that tends to be avoided at all costs and so it can be very tempting to overstep this very important step and [...]
It is fascinating that the expression “to swim against the stream” is a metaphor for making choices in life that go against prevailing opinions. This is considered to be a challenge that is hard to attain. How interesting that we perceive natural phenomena to be difficult. When we think of salmon swimming upstream back to their place of birth or the thousands of miles birds travel to migrate, we see them [...]
A glass of wine is the perfect way to reduce stress and relax…or is it? While having a drink seems to have a relaxing effect, in reality our senses are simply numbed by the effect of the alcohol. As alcohol enters our bloodstream, we do not feel our internal tension and stress to the same degree. Our felt sense while in this numbed state creates an illusion that we are more [...]
Fall is in the air and as the birds are gathering for their migration south, I am preparing for my move west to the lovely city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. My partner John and I are looking forward to sharing our lives and creating a home together in Victoria. I am deeply grateful for my wonderful, "portable" life coaching business, which allows me to follow my heart and continue supporting my clients, no matter [...]
Chip and Dan Heath have written an excellent book, Switch, on how to make change easy. I found plenty of ways to apply their ideas and strategies to help you make the transition from a life on the treadmill to one with joyful intermissions of Mini-Retreats. The Heath’s borrow Jonathan Haidt’s analogy of three players that are involved in making and preventing change: The Elephant: our emotions The Rider: our intellect The Path: our environment [...]
It is accepted and expected to be plugged in at all times, connected with a constant stream of information. Entering a coffee shop in this day and age reminds me of walking into the computer lab in my university days. Everyone is silently typing away on their laptops, i-phones and other electronic devices. Coffee shops used to be a place to meet and talk. They have become a place to communicate [...]
The reason they always mention in the airplane safety procedure that you have to put on your own oxygen mask first and then help your kids, is that this simple survival skill doesn’t necessarily come “natural”. My friend Gwen shared with me that she recognizes in retrospect how very hard she was on herself through her working and child raising years. When she reached retirement, her immune system collapsed and she [...]
