The BOLD (A Timely Topic) I set the theme for March last June. I have a calendar that indicates the monthly themes on which I will write and the theme for this month is Succumb to Courage. Last June I could not have imagined how relevant this topic about courage, fear, discomfort, and hope would be. I’m grateful […]
The Fear Lesson: Learn From Your Fear, Grow Your Courage
The BOLD (Got Fear?) If you aren’t feeling fear, you are probably not risking big enough consequences. Of course, bad outcomes are as consequential as good ones. That is why fear is such a necessary part of any endeavor worth undertaking. We might fail. The consequences might be horrible. The consequences might be wonderful beyond anything we can […]
The Artist’s Letter: Self-Knowledge, Boundaries, and Kindness
The BOLD (Hopper at the VMFA) This past weekend, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts completed an exhibit entitled Edward Hopper and the American Hotel. Hopper is the artist responsible for the painting Nighthawks. I completed my third visit on Friday with yet another companion. I enjoy going to art exhibits with different people because the art […]
The Authenticity Paradox: Own Yourself and the Room Will Take Care of Itself
The BOLD (Own the Room) Own the room. It’s advice I’ve heard. But how do you avoid the overbearing presence of Nora Desmond making her grand entrance in Sunset Boulevard? Or, if you wish, the Carol Burnett version, the great Nora Desmond (she descends the stairs at moment 1:53). Perhaps we need to rely instead on owning […]
The Wall Effect: The Threat of Worry
The Bold (No Worries) Schools, churches and even some businesses have signs out front that feature a changing message. We drive by and are treated to an insight or a chuckle—or both. One such impromptu encounter in the mid-’90s had a big impact on me. The sign outside the school said, “Worry is the worst misuse of […]
The Pearl of Wisdom: Hiding and Finding In Words
The BOLD (A Tale of Two Gems) Two precious gems-pearls and amber. What can they teach us about protection, comfort, and hiding? When we examine the stories that we tell ourselves, we can discover whether we are hiding behind layers of pretty language or framing our experiences to inspire action. The Whisper (Get the Nacre) When I […]
The Thinking Arena: Setting Yourself Up for Good, Solid Thinking
The BOLD (What do you think?) “I need to think about that.” I hear it all the time when I work with clients. We will discover some insight, encounter some new awareness and the client will feel the urge to give it some thought. My question is often, “How will you think about it?” Do […]
The Verb Update: What If You Don’t Have To?
The BOLD (Get at It) Everyone seems to have settled back in now. My friend, Shanna Kabatznick, pointed out that Monday was the real New Year’s Day because it was when everyone returned—from time off, from holiday brain, from travel. Welcome to the New New Year. Our society tends to celebrate Friday and dread Monday (though distributed […]
The Annual Word: Setting a Theme for the Next Season
The BOLD (In a Word) This month our theme is Speak, Think and Create. This is the second principle of the Prospects of Possibility™, the framework for change that I help my clients navigate as they design their clarity. Language is generative—it is the tool we use to build new possibilities. The language that we use to think […]