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The Golden Mean
“Remember your Aristotle – Everything in moderation.” – James Harris, Haserot Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, College of William & Mary Professor Harris wrote that when he signed my copy of Single-Malt Whiskies of Scotland: For the Discriminating Imbiber. Initially, this served as a simple reminder not to drink to excess, and over the years, that reminder has…
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Meditation Has Gone Mainstream
Several years ago, I gave my doctor a list of things I could do to improve my overall health and asked him if I only added one thing, which would he prioritize? The answer surprised me: Meditate more. He said, “Little brain holidays are one of the healthiest things we can do, short and long-term.”…
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Building Resilience
I recently connected with a good friend who was processing the loss of someone close to her. A fellow coach, we were both comfortable holding space. She was grateful for that space. Many of her friends wanted to offer advice and tell her how to grieve – techniques she did not find helpful. “They don’t…
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Raising Awareness
When it comes to personal growth, there is no more foundational component than awareness. Our most significant opportunities for growth arise when we can unearth the subconscious aspects of our way of being and make them conscious. Only then can we examine them, challenge them, and identify new possibilities if they no longer serve us.…
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Coaching Ontologically
Last week I had a call with a potential coachee. He was talking to multiple coaches to decide which one would be the best fit for his journey. Early in the conversation, he said, “You describe yourself as an ontological coach – what exactly is that?” The question took me by surprise. Although I reference…
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Listening to the Universe
Last week I wrote about Teliodosis. It was a departure for me, and I’m grateful for all the encouragement I received on the atypical post. Today I’d like to spend more time on this topic with some stories. I want to illustrate how surrendering (or listening) to the universe led me to important life choices. I…
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All You Need Is Love
Many of us are in the midst of holiday preparations and celebrations. Hopefully, you have time now or in the coming weeks to rest, renew, and recharge. Today I’m leaning into courageous authenticity and practicing vulnerability with a post out of my comfort zone because this feels like the right time to write it. For…
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How Are You?
When someone asks you, “How are you?” how do you respond? For many years I would answer this question on auto-pilot. I was either “Fine,” “Busy,” or “Crazy-busy.” The phrase had simply become another way of saying hello. Once I became aware of my automatic response, I began to take the question more seriously. I…
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Paying Attention
Today’s message is one I expect you have heard many times before. It is easy to understand, and it is often difficult to do well in today’s society. It is essential to show support for your employees and colleagues and grow employee engagement. I’m talking about being fully present with others and whatever activity you…
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Unplug Yourself
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott In an earlier post, I talked about the importance of mindfulness and starting by simply focusing on your breath for 60 seconds. Today I’d like to revisit this area as it is so central to my own…