self-care
How Resilient Are You?
I have always been fascinated with resilience. Why is it, in times of hardship and stress, some individuals thrive while others crumble? Is it our character, upbringing, or karma? I am relieved to tell you my research says resilience is not a personality trait you are born with, but a skill anyone can learn and…
Keep Reading...3 Words to Let Go of Your Ego
Two weeks before my hip replacement, I went to my pre-op appointment which included a group class. I didn’t think much about it until I walked into a room with 25 other people who didn’t look anything like me. They were much older, bigger, and in worse shape, with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. After the…
Keep Reading...What are you Resisting?
When I finally went to the orthopedic surgeon after experiencing 3 months of hip pain, I was expecting to discuss arthroscopic surgery for a labrum repair. Instead, he said, “I can fix your labrum, but that won’t take care of your problem. You need a hip replacement”. I responded in shock with, “OMG! Are you…
Keep Reading...Two Questions for Your New Year
How are you feeling today? I mean how are you really feeling, whether you are reading this January 1st or the 15th? If you are feeling a bit hung-over from the holiday, after too much sugar, shopping, or socializing, you may be highly inspired to make your familiar list of New Year’s Resolutions. Instead of…
Keep Reading...Breathing Space to Lead
I was honored to be a part of the VHAtv Nursing Leadership Series a couple of months ago to discuss how mindfulness can help us be better leaders. As it turns out, the traits that contribute to excellence in leadership are the same qualities cultivated with mindfulness. They include: – Presence – Focus and creating…
Keep Reading...The Wisdom of Patience
Jon Kabat-Zin says patience is a form of wisdom. It is being completely open to each moment, accepting it in it’s fullness, and acknowledging things unfold in their own time. Patience is remembering you can’t push the river—which I sometimes try to do when in unfamiliar or uncomfortable territory. Like when I am forced to…
Keep Reading...The One Thing You Need to Be Authentic
When I first started speaking professionally, almost 20 years ago, I wanted to be just like all the great speakers I experienced, such as Jeanne Robertson, with her side-splitting humor, Les Brown, with his engaging intensity, and my beloved coach, Lou Heckler, with his heartfelt ability to connect. Great speakers are polished and passionate delivering…
Keep Reading...Surprise Yourself this Holiday
I decided not to put up a Christmas tree this year. Not because I was bitter or in protest, but because I just couldn’t face spending the 4 days it takes to get the decorations out of the crawlspace, go through them, make room for them, and then clean up and put them all away…
Keep Reading...Its Not Too Late!
I was interviewed last month for the Healthy, Wealthy, and Enlightened Success Telesummit and one of the questions asked by Sylvia Coleman was, What would you tell your younger self about success and mindfulness that you know now that you didn’t know then? My immediate response was to enjoy the ride, the ups and downs,…
Keep Reading...You are Not Your Brain!
Last month I attended a mindfulness retreat, (which was part of a class I took in January and kept postponing because I was too busy). We spent the day in silence with various mindfulness practices of yoga, body scan and meditation. At lunch, we were encouraged to go outside and maintain our silence while practicing…
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