“The gift of healing the woundedness of trauma is that it becomes a gateway to love, freedom, and healing.” – Tara Brach

In a world where so many are discovering more about trauma in their own stories and in others, I’m struck by this beautiful quote from Tara Brach: “The gift of healing the woundedness of trauma is that it becomes a gateway to love, freedom, and healing.” May this offer even a wee glimmer to someone […]

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“Love who you are when you’re with people.” – J. Lovitt

Do you love who you are when you’re with the people in your orbit? When I was 16, heartbroken and sprawled on the floor in pajama pants printed with red hearts, tissues surrounding me in a near perfect circle, a family friend asked me a question I’ve never forgotten: “Do you love who you are […]

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“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

Last night, my spouse and I were walking by the ocean, flowers blooming in a spectrum of colour. We found ourselves debriefing on something simple, yet vital to our connection years later: how to be present and really listen to each other without interrupting and judgment. I’m grateful we can talk about these things openly […]

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“A mistake is not a mistake if we can learn from it.”

We’ve all heard “there’s no such thing as failure, only learning.” But how that lands really depends on the culture you create. If we treat failure punitively, we: Undermine confidence and belonging Demotivate others Create fear Disempower ideas and perspectives Stifle creativity, productivity, and growth It’s a heavy toll to pay. But when we view […]

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Emotions at Work: What Are They Telling Us?

Crying at work happens. I’ve been there in my first career, and thankfully, I’ve had peers and leaders who made space for it without shame. Often, the tears came from frustration, stress, or overwhelm. In the past, I’d leave work, embarrassed. Now, I see tears as information that can sometimes lead to new awareness and […]

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International Women’s Day: Who will you inspire and impact for progress?

On this International Women’s Day, I deeply honour some of the women who have lifted me with their energy and grit over the years. ·      My mother: “Always learn… you can do anything you believe in.” ·      My Wicked Stepmother: “Edit yourself less.” ·      My late paternal grandmother of Honolulu: “Be independent, never rely on a (partner), have […]

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Trauma: It Doesn’t Define Us But Can Inform How We Choose to Live and Lead.

I believe we all come with a story that shapes who we become in the world, consciously or unconsciously. We never know what brought someone to this day, the trials and triumphs, and for so many, trauma. We have tendencies to judge and react to others when they get avoidant, controlling, emotive, or otherwise. What […]

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Pithy Musings Episode 17: “Human Interaction is a Vulnerable Activity” with Timothy R. Clark

Stretching comfort zones is how we roll on Pithy Musings. More and more, we’re inviting guests we believe are some of the wisest humans out there. Caroline Berglund and I just next levelled our courage in Episode 17 in what we refer to as one of the richest, enlightening, and humbling conversations yet with Timothy […]

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Pithy Musings Episode 13: “Call people in, not out,” a courageous conversation on DEI with Dionn Schaffner

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is on the minds of countless people who experience pain because of attacks, microaggressions and bias, and those who want to contribute to much-needed, positive change. It’s a complex topic that brings about all sorts of behaviours. Some avoid it, others lean into it with courage and empathy, and others […]

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