April 11, 2023
In truth, we all start, somewhere, within a family system. The experience is universal and lifelong. We all bring it – we all have it. It is a matter of degree – and awareness. In every interaction we have at work, we bring our internal and interpersonal dynamics to the table. Family, culture, generation and other demographic imprints with us. […]
April 10, 2023
The concept of “acceptance” is misunderstood. In cultures where progress and improvement are a constant quest, accepting what is seems passive. Those of us who grew up in fix-it, more-is-better cultures still bristle at the idea of “letting go.” For a long time I justified “arguing with reality” because I told myself I was a passionate, strong-willed person who was driven to […]
April 3, 2023
According to futurist and world sustainability expert, Alex Steffen, “Optimism is a political act.” The inner conflict between world views brings me back to exploring some basic questions about the nature of optimism, pessimism and the actions they propel. I’ve written before about cynicism and positive thinking but unrelentingly grim news compels me to revisit this territory. Steffens’ bold statement raises […]
February 6, 2023
In 1995, Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman was published. The introduction of Emotional Intelligence (EI) generated excitement and hope. It’s time to look at the progress and future of this work. As a student of psychology and social systems, EI (Emotional Intelligence) had immediate resonance with my experience and offered some of what I believed […]
December 30, 2022
Is there a more resourceful, useful and enabling emotion than patience? The act of being patient is most definitely behavioral – and it requires skill. But patience is also a feeling state – one with very specific (and beneficial) physiological markers. When we are patient, our mind is relatively clear. It is the opposite of a confused, jumbled state of thoughts. […]
October 20, 2022
More and more people are talking about living in “uncertain” times. It’s now called, “the new normal.” The anxiety over our predicament of uncertainty appears to be a new discovery. Our long-held assumptions about the future are being quickly rearranged. Collectively, our cultures are shifting so fast that we expect to live in an era of uncertainty. Along with the […]
October 4, 2022
‘We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.’~ Voltaire Pick an emotion – any emotion that characterizes how you feel during your workday. When you become aware of what you feel while you work, which emotion do you experience most often? Impatience. Frustration. That’s what many people I work with choose. If you were able to select […]
September 26, 2022
When I consider my past, I’m amazed at what I just did not see. I wonder – what was I thinking at the time? Experience is not only a great teacher in the moment, but it gives us a context that changes our perception going forward. Once you know what you know – about your own behavior, a job, a […]
August 11, 2022
“We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.” ~ R.D Laing The Scottish psychologist, R.D Laing wrote these prescient words in 1970. In our work we see an alarming increase of the effects of overwork and overwhelm on our clients. Many of the […]