Have you ever lost weight, been only pounds away from your goal, and then fallen off track? Did you train months for a race only to get injured the week of the event? Did you want a promotion at work but uncharacteristically missed an important deadline just before the promotion was to be announced? Some may call this self-sabotage, but I think differently and so do some neuroscientists. David Eagleman and Raymond Tallis said, “A person is not a single entity of a single mind: a human is built of several parts, all of which compete to steer the ship of state.” If this is true, then you may ask, “How do I control all the parts of my mind, so I can achieve my dreams?” Well, I believe it’s rather simple.  You just need to discover what the subconscious mind wants for you … [Read more...]

When I was about five years old, I took dance classes. I remember truly enjoying the ballet and tap lessons. Kick ball change, switch, kick ball change. What little girl doesn’t love to dress up and dance?  I only took one year of classes but not by choice.  My teacher politely told my mother at the end of the year that it would be best if she didn’t enroll me in class for the following year.  According to the teacher, I spent too much time dancing in front of the mirror. I was not able to stand in place and follow the teacher’s directions. Interestingly enough, when it came time for the end-of-year recital, I didn’t make any mistakes. This wasn’t the case for all the ballerinas.  Just saying. As an adult I’m at it again.  I choose to stand out, to go against the norm, especially … [Read more...]

Around and around and no sign of an available parking spot within ten blocks of my house.  Normally, I avoid putting myself in this situation, but tonight it had to happen – we needed toilet paper and other supplies for around the house.  My immediate reaction was to tense up and wonder how long I would be driving around. Then it hit me.  It was quiet and peaceful in my car – no baby, no dog, no email, and no husband.  This is a rarity in my life these days.  So, I decided to meditate.  I like to call it driving meditation.  While I drove around my neighborhood trying to manifest a parking spot, I began to quiet my mind and follow my breath.  It was pure bliss.  The result – a peaceful finish to my busy day, creative ideas for work and a calm, clear mind ready for bed. Five years ago, … [Read more...]

A few years ago I was introduced to the paradigm: the grass is greenest where you water it. Meaning that if you’re so focused on what others have and come from a place of jealousy and envy, it’s difficult to see and grow the beauty and abundance in your life. I have kept a journal for most of my life. It started as a diary when I was 10 or so, maybe even younger. It was electric blue, had Snoopy and Charlie Brown on the cover, and it actually locked! You know, back in those days, I couldn’t afford to have one of my sisters read my deepest, darkest secrets. Today, I have multiple journals sitting around my home, one on each floor, in my purse and now I even have a few apps on my iPhone. I use them very differently today than I did even just 5 years ago. I went from writing about … [Read more...]

My father was the only male in our household growing up; even the dog was a female. Maybe it was because he had all daughters that he treated us not as “girls” but as competent and unique individuals. Each of us had a special activity with my dad. I loved to golf. We would spend an afternoon at the driving range hitting buckets of balls. He would coach me on my technique in hopes that I would earn an athletic scholarship to college. (That didn’t happen.) My dad expected me to learn how to change the oil in my car, drive a stick shift and be able to afford my own auto insurance before I could get my driver’s license. We were assigned both indoor and outdoor chores.  I understood that girls can do everything boys can do. As a young woman, I knew I could do anything. I worked hard, … [Read more...]