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Parenting

The Value of Wallowing

Have you ever been really disappointed about something and then had someone tell you to cheer up? How does it make you feel?  Generally speaking, telling someone to cheer up when they’re disappointed doesn’t work.  Instead of helping you cope with your emotions, telling you to cheer up is.

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Are you Measuring the Least Important Reality?

Organizations operate on two levels. There are the presenting facts and metrics, these are readily observed and measured.   Then there are the nuances, the attitude of the players, their focus, or lack thereof, the details and daily conversations.  These seemingly behind the scenes subtleties are what makes or breaks.

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It’s OK to Admit You Had it Rough

When it comes to bad circumstances.  There are two kinds of people.  The people who want to prove they have it worse than other people.  And the people who will tell you others had it worse than they did. I usually fall into the second group.  Telling yourself other.

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Why Participation Trophies Erode Confidence

You didn’t win, but here’s a trophy for trying. Go you! Participation trophies are emblems of millennial entitlement, a well-intended effort to make kids feel special, even when they lost. It’s time to call it a day on this ruse. Kids know when they lose! If you want to.

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Venting Doesn’t Release Negativity – It Rehearses It

It starts with the speeches. You know, the little speech you rehearse in your head, getting ready for the big moment when you finally let them have it. Perhaps you practice it in the shower or your car. Or perhaps you share your frustration with others. Maybe it’s the.

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Ignoring Data is Essential for Optimism

My daughter recently got married. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, I realized the act of getting married is profoundly optimistic. We’re all well-acquainted with the 50% divorce rate. Yet every day, we humans look these odds in the face, and say, we’re doing it anyway. As.

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Comparison: Does it Help You? Or Hurt You?

Humans have been called the comparing creatures. Our brains are hardwired to compare ourselves to others, and assess how we stack up. It’s how the human race evolves. We build on the accomplishments of others. Can you imagine one lioness looking at another lioness wondering, “How does she get.

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Why Humans Need to Think it’s Our Idea

Do you like being told what to do? Most of us don’t.  As humans, we want to feel in control of our own destiny, or at the very least, our day.  To thrive, we all need a sense of agency.  Without it, we’re powerless, flung about by the winds.

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How to be a Writer, if you must

We were the only non-writers in the room. We sat in the back, the waaay back, behind 25 other wanna-be authors.  My friend JoAnn and I signed up for the How to Get Your Book Published class believing we actually had a prayer.  Yet as we heard about the.

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The Bookcase Problem: Why good messages get muddled

This is why we can’t have nice things. Well, sort of. I call it The Bookcase Problem. It’s when people take something excellent, then pile mediocre stuff on top of it and ruin it. I dubbed it The Bookcase Problem, after an experience with my Dad. He was cleaning.

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