You know how sometimes a word keeps popping up over and over, so much so that you have to stop a moment and wonder why? Over the past few weeks, my word-pop has been “fierce.” It’s not a word I’ve used very much, and I’ve certainly never used to describe myself or anyone I knew. I mean, really, come on… I’m an introvert!! One of my clients, though, is immersing himself in claiming his … [Read more...]
What “The King’s Speech” & “Black Swan” Have in Common
Note: This post contains no spoilers, nor do you have to have seen either movie to "get it." :-) As I sat in the dark theater last Tuesday night, enraptured by "The King's Speech" and emotionally engrossed in the stuttering troubles of King George VI - or "Bertie" - one line of dialogue jumped out at me. Speech therapist Lionel Logue (embodied superbly by Geoffrey Rush) said of Bertie, "It's like … [Read more...]
I Have Met the Enemy, and She is Me.
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a very competitive person. My early identity, before The Introvert Entrepreneur, before being a nonprofit executive, was being a musician. Life was full of contests, auditions and ratings. My first taste of being a successful competitor came in 6th grade, when I joined band 4 weeks late, yet won first chair clarinet within a week through a series of … [Read more...]
(Not) Hiding Behind the Introvert Card
Guest post by Patty K. Do social events and networking meetings put a little knot in your belly? Do you find yourself on the outskirts of the meeting, holding a drink and feeling too nervous to approach people? When you're chatting with someone, do you find yourself tongue-tied and worried that you'll say the wrong thing? Many people think that these signs mean that you're an introvert. I used … [Read more...]
Don’t Tell Me To Step Outside My Comfort Zone!
In the world of personal development, the phrase "step outside your comfort zone" (usually proceeded by the words "you have to") shows up so much, I've decided never to use that phrase again. After all, why would I want to step outside my comfort zone? My comfort zone is filled with dark chocolate, naps, kitty cats, my BFFs, spending a quiet evening at home and reading in my comfy chair. It's a … [Read more...]
Weekly Intention Meditation: Transformation
My Intention: Every day brings opportunities for transformation. It's my choice how I respond to change; I choose to respond with love, compassion and release. … [Read more...]
Living Transformation
It's been a challenging week. Last Monday, I received news from my vet that my 15-year-old cat, Fiona, was not going to live forever. On Tuesday, blood test results came back. It wasn't good. Her kidneys were kaput. He was forecasting that without intervention, she would live a month, at most. A transformation took place within me: I started to see Fiona as a cat that was dying, instead of one … [Read more...]
The Myth of “Self”-Help
Self-reliant. Self-help. Self-made millionaire. We are a culture that values independence and the "can-do" spirit of the individual. The words above are commonly used to reflect those values. I believe that by using such words, we are reinforcing an unrealistic and impossible expectation. While we are individuals, we are never totally "independent." The real heart and soul of life comes from … [Read more...]
Writing a New Personal Story
Growing up, the two best days of the year were the last day of school and the first day of school. It's always felt as though September - with classes starting, people getting back down to business, the change in the leaves, air and light - was a fresh start, akin to New Year's Day. I used to practice my handwriting in my new notebooks, trying to decide who I was going to be that school year. Fat … [Read more...]