• Work is What We Do Not What We Are

    Years ago, while at a networking event, I met these two guys who were account executives for MCI, a phone company of the past. We were introduced during the meet-and-greet session and they asked what I was doing. They were curious. Back then being a life coach was still new. They were both married and had young children. They asked many questions and at some point, we got talking about being available to our clients. I told them that I kept a clear boundary between family and work time. After all, my corporate days were fresh in my mind and I wasn’t going to repeat the same mistake. Their response was…

  • The Courage to Be Happy

    Throughout my life, I’ve had the good fortune to meet people who inspired me and challenged me to grow into who I am today. Asimenia was one of my high school teachers. She taught Greek literature and philosophy. She embodied everything a teacher and mentor should be. She was strong and inspiring and I adored her. During one of the most vulnerable times in my life, she saw something in me I couldn’t see. She took me under her wing, became my mentor, and showed me what strength of spirit looked like. She continued being there for me even after I graduated high school. During one of our times together she…

  • Have a Stress-Free Morning

    How we begin our day can define how our day develops. Looking back through the years, I can see myself as a student, a corporate executive, a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, and a working-from-home mom. No matter what hat I wear, the rule applies . . . Stressful beginnings make for stressful days. The fact that humans are creatures of habit doesn’t help either. Over and again, I had to reach the end of my rope before I stopped to look at my daily routine and make some changes. Most of the time, a couple of simple changes had the biggest impact. If you find yourself spinning your wheels in…

  • Saying No and Meaning It!

    I never thought I had a problem saying no until I had kids. Along the way, I realized that my kids were born to not take no for an answer. It looked familiar . . . did they get that one from me? Nah!! It must have been a long-lost relative or something. One could argue that not taking no for an answer is a good thing.  It may even be one of the keys to success. Yet, knowing when to take no for an answer is also a sign of wisdom and respect. Perseverance and stubbornness are two sides of the same coin. One is good, the other foolish! I…

  • Time to Breathe: 3 Daily Habits

    Multi-tasking, for all its hype, is not what it was made out to be. The work-until-you drop system hasn’t paid off either. What good are you to anyone – including yourself – at the end of a long, non-stop day? You may not be ready for a dramatic change of pace, but what about experimenting with a few simple changes? What if you tried to: Remember that work never ends but your energy and ability to focus are not limitless. Keep a realistic perspective on what needs to be done daily.Know when good enough is good enough and let it be. You can always come back, to whatever it is you’re…

  • Expectations

    Expectations are inevitable. They point the way, help us make choices, pursue our dreams and recognize when we arrive at our destination. They serve as markers and define us. Of course, not all expectations lead to desirable outcomes. People let us down, life goes in directions other than we had hoped for, projects linger and fizzle, and timelines stretch. It may be that our expectations are unrealistic or the timing is not right. Life throws a curveball and we lose our orientation. Disappointment sinks in and our enthusiasm dwindles. For some people, that’s the call to making adjustments. Being flexible and changing our perspective can help us navigate obstacles. It allows…

  • A Season of Renewal

    Spring is a time of transition and renewal. Rituals of clearing winter clutter and making room for growth are associated with the onset of warm weather. De-cluttering has always been one of my favorite mental health exercises. If you have ever taken the time to go through your files and get rid of all the paperwork you have collected throughout the years, you can relate to what I’m saying. Clearing emotional, as well as physical clutter, gives one a sense of lightness and renewed energy and enthusiasm. Where to start? Choose one area of your life that has been at the forefront of your mind. What would you like done? Are…

  • Simplify

    Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life lies in eliminating the non-essentials. Chinese Proverb Living in balance is not about having myriad balls in the air and doing all you can to not drop any. That’s not balancing that’s juggling. It’s like running uphill hoping your legs won’t give while you’re running out of breath. To achieve balance, one has to be willing to drop some balls. It requires clarity and the willingness to put the important ahead of the non-essential. To be clear of what essential is, we need to get to know ourselves. We need…