“Between the stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.” – Viktor E. Frankl

This season can stir a lot. For some, it sparks joy and inspiration. For others, it awakens grief, pressure, or the subtle ache of “too much.” I sense many of us carry a mix. And when we’re stretched, our animal brains love to sprint ahead of our wiser selves. The truth in a pause helps […]

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“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

“Be kind”. I love seeing this on t-shirts. Yet I’m struck by lack of kindness we see and experience daily. Any one of us might be unkind without meaning to. When we notice it, we often see it began in an animal-brain moment, a surge of sympathetic activation. Stress narrows our awareness, the prefrontal cortex […]

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“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” – Rumi

As fellow humans and leaders we discover with time (and a few gritty experiences) the most meaningful shifts we may need to make start on the inside versus outside. When we slow down, reduce the noise, tend to the stirs and whispers from within, our decisions, relationships and presence naturally evolve. Growth from the inside […]

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Stand in your values and you’ll never need to contort to fit someone else’s mold.

I’ve noticed a recurring theme with clients where there’s a yearning for more self-worth. I’ve come to a place where I think this is a very common and deeply human phenomenon. These remarkable humans have so much to offer, they care about contributing immensely, they want to make meaningful moves or lead boldly. Yet sometimes […]

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“Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin

It takes serious grit to lead from one’s values in a world rumbling with significant noise. Staying true to oneself is a powerful move for development, confidence and leadership presence. What truth do you need to stand in more fully right now? How will your values guide you? From my values of courage and integrity, […]

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A humbling lesson in being present.

Ever sat with someone so distracted you wondered if they were really listening? Or worse, if your time together mattered? What if they were doing the best they could with the capacity they had, unaware of the impact on you? Rewind to an early leadership chapter in my executive career: I’ll never forget 360 feedback […]

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When control gets in the way.

Control and ego have been showing up a lot lately in my work with senior leaders. Whether it’s managing people, strategies, or emotions, control often gives a false sense of safety. And what many are discovering is when driven by fear, control doesn’t actually work. The tighter we grip, the more tension we create in […]

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When the brain says “go” but the body says “hold up…”

When your body whispers “please don’t” and your brain insists “but we must!”—do you press on, or pause? Pushing isn’t necessarily discipline, as I posted earlier this week in a humbling, personal share. Especially if your body’s in discomfort and your brain is running on fear. That could be disconnection pretending to be productivity. Been […]

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