Month: August 2019

“Self-growth is tender”

Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.

Stephen R. Covey
Image by Marcus Spiske via Unsplash

Self-growth is work. It takes time, energy, focus. It can be tough, frustrating, infuriating. Progress is precarious. Backsliding, falling into old habits, coming up short – it happens. You’ll ask if the effort is worth it.

This is just a friendly reminder to be Gentle with yourself.

Be patient. Be understanding. Give yourself time and space. Because as Stephen Covey rightly observes, “There is no greater investment.”

Action:

  • When you find yourself being critical of yourself, speak to yourself like you would a good friend.
  • Celebrate succes. Focus on the progress you’ve made, not just on the way you still have to go.
  • What unrealistic expectations might you be harboring? How might you readjust your goals with more of a gentle approach?

How do you dream?

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.

Gloria Steinem
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

How do you dream? Is it with a notebook and pen, tucked into a backpack, out on a trail? Or on the back of a napkin at the bar? With your earbuds in at Starbucks? Or on an elliptical? Is it in a long , long distance phone call (aside…are long distance phone calls still a thing?)? Or with your eyes closed as you drift off to sleep?

The point is… it doesn’t matter how, but rather if, you dream.

That is, if you regularly give yourself space to get lost in the “excitement of possibilities.” Because it is here – in the “leaps of imagination” – that new ideas are born, connections are made, plans are hatched. Never, ever, underestimate the importance of dreaming.

Action:

  • Reflect on your preferred method of dreaming: where have you had some of your best ideas in the past? Where do you feel your most relaxed, clear-headed, inspired?
  • Consider how often you’re carving out time to dream? Do you feel you’re giving dreaming enough time & energy? If not, what is getting in your way?
  • Consider how you can create and automate more opportunities to dream. How might you hold yourself accountable? Who might you enlist to help?

What’s my ‘why?’

Photo by Ken Treloar on Unsplash

I’m intrigued by the idea of unlocking potential. Of being intentional in building a life I love. Of showing up, leaning in, and giving it my all.

And… of not being shy in sharing the journey, or asking for help.

That’s why I’m starting this blog.

I hope this will be a place where I can reflect on and expand on these ideas and inspirations, while also inspiring others to pursue their own intentional path.

I’ve created a framework to organize the “wisdom of the crowd” and make it easily accessible. These words have become my mantra over the past years, a sort of north star:

Curious. Choosy. Gentle. Bold.

  • Curious: Great insight begins with great questions.
  • Choosy: Purpose & intention sets direction and allows impact.
  • Gentle: Empathy, gratitude, and kindness fuel great deeds.
  • Bold: Confidence and courage to pursue & stay your course.

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t have it all figured out. Not by a long shot. But that’s the magic of it; a chance to be on this strange and wild journey, together. I look forward to seeing where it will lead. Let’s go!