Choose Your Word of the Year for 2026

Starting a new year is, metaphorically, like stepping over a threshold — entering a new space that is separate from where you have been. 

And transitions of any kind mean change — although many people drift across the calendar transition, maybe with a quick resolution in mind, and then keep living as they have been.

This moment offers all of us an opportunity to think more deeply, and focus specifically, on the life we want to live the next 12 months.

What do you truly want in 2026?

In this transition to a fresh new year, do you feel called to do something new? To do more of something you’re doing now? To let something go? To embrace a particular way of being in your day-to-day life?

I invite you to think of entering a beautiful expansive place filled with great possibilities, and choosing the way you want to live in the new year.

To help you sharpen your focus and live your best year, I am happy to offer you a tool that I have used for years. It helps you to get crystal clear about a focus and quality of life that will be meaningful, and be inspired to take aligned action.

I and many of my clients have found this to be a remarkably helpful tool to use at the start of each new year.

Choosing a Word of the Year is powerful

While it may sound surprising, a carefully-chosen word has proven over and over to guide me in more ways than I initially envisioned.

The key is to get quiet and then move through a process of discovery.

Start by listening

Begin by kindling a light from within. Connect to the desires in your heart. 

Ask your heart what it wants. Ask if there are things it craves.

Then sit and listen.

You may hear whispers or bold statements.

Whatever you hear, think next about something small you can do to respond to a deep desire that can be satisfied with ease.

Honor what you hear

If, for instance, your heart longs for quiet, set time aside in a peaceful place. Make it beautiful. Light a candle. If you have flowers, put them where you will be. Add a scent that pleases you. Then savor the quiet.

If your heart asks for connection, reach out to someone and make a date. Or call a special person who is far away. Or plan a lovely way to spend time with someone about whom you care.

If there are a number of things your heart yearns for, aim to satisfy those desires gently and lovingly. 

Next, use a focused process to guide you

It is my pleasure to offer you a process I have honed that will help you choose a word that aligns for you, and will anchor you to what you want in the year ahead.

The words I have selected over recent years have made a tremendous difference for me. Here are a few of them.

Several years back I chose DEPTH. I yearned to dive deep into learning more and also do deeper work with my clients. My word inspired me to create new retreats, to take women deep into their hearts and find satisfying paths forward. 

In 2024 I chose IMPACT. I aimed to keep a keen focus on ways my work could touch and support as many women as possible. The word supported me to do more speaking, and to create a new program to bring into organizations to help women thrive personally and professionally. 

At the start of 2025, I chose SPACIOUS to guide my year. I have looked at that word each day, where it is tacked to the wall next to my desk. It has reminded my to simplify, embrace play, commit to a lighter schedule, and get more help.

To guide you to find a meaningful word that fits you for 2026, click here to download my PDF. It will walk you through 3 thoughtful steps.

(You can also click on the image above to get the PDF.)

You may quickly find a word that feels just right, as I have in some years.

Or, you may consider a word or two for a couple of days, even explore a synonym that is more nuanced and inspiring, and then land on the word that’s just right for you in 2026.

(A few years back, a client had started with the word THRIVE, and came to realize that FLOURISH would be an even clearer guiding word.)

And give yourself bonus points if you add a sentence or two, as a reminder of the ways you want your word to support you.

Living your Word of the Year 

As you will see when you download the PDF, I suggest printing out your word in large bold letters, and putting it where you will see it and be reminded of it each day — so you gain the greatest benefit from this process. 

And I welcome you to share the word you choose for 2026! Email me

One last thing…To supercharge your 2026, consider joining me and an intimate group of amazing women at Creation Vacation! There’s still an open spot for this glorious annual retreat that starts January 19. Let’s talk to see if it’s the perfect fit for you now, or if there’s another path to your most rewarding, fulfilling future.

Kindle Light & Love This Winter Season

The dark sets in early each day of December in North America.

And for many of us, it is very cold now. At this time of year we particularly crave warmth and light.

And while being in a well-heated home and having ample warm clothes are essentials for which to be grateful, the power of light is sometimes overlooked.

Yes, it’s delightful to put up lights for the holidays. Yes, we lit Chanukah candles last week and marveled at their glow.

And there are many special ways to bring light into our lives — and the wider world.

Start by lighting up your heart

You can kindle light from within when you connect to the desires in your heart. 

Ask your heart what it wants, and if there are things it craves.

Then sit and listen.

You may hear whispers or bold statements.

Whatever you hear, think about something small you can do to honor a desire.

If, for instance, your heart longs for quiet, set time aside to be in a peaceful place. Make it beautiful. Light a candle. If you have flowers, put them where you will be. Add a scent that pleases you. Then savor the quiet.

If your heart asks for connection, reach out to someone and make a date. Or call a special person who is far away. Or plan a lovely way to spend time with someone about whom you care.

If there are a number of things your heart yearns for, aim to satisfy those desires gently and lovingly.

And think about ways to continue to honor what your heart desires.

Cultivate love to add more light 

Love, in every form, is a powerful force.

The more we love the more light we generate.

Start with self-love

Self-love is the foundation for all love, and for your capacity to spread love.

Listening to and responding to the desires in your heart was one great way to cultivate self-love.

Add attention to caring for your body. How are you nourishing it? Are you giving it ample rest? What are you doing to stay strong and flexible?

And honor your spirit. Make a point of doing things that bring you joy. Create in any way that will fuel your heart!

Show your love to people who are special to you

We often overlook ways to express love to family, friends, colleagues.

Small expressions of appreciation, like putting a note at someone’s place at the table, or bringing a cup of tea to someone who is stressed can make their day.

Affirming someone who you see is struggling can mean the world to them.

Chipping in to help, even in a small way, is a great way to show you care about someone.

Tell people you love that you love them!

Spread love to the wider world

When you are filled with love and are generous with love to those near you, you will naturally spread love in wider ways.

You will smile with ease, with those you know and strangers.

You will be more present and listen more deeply.

You will naturally feel and express gratitude.

Holding a door for someone — whether their arms are full of packages or they are simply moving through a portal behind you — will be your norm.

You’ll smile at someone who’s busy or frazzled and wish them a happy day.

You may decide to volunteer, or contribute to causes that align with your values.

Let’s all bring light into our lives and the world

In the midst of darkness and cold, this is a precious time to connect and celebrate — the holidays of this season, ourselves, and one another.

We can collectively bring light and love into the world in myriad wonderful ways, and make the world a better place. 

That focus on light, love, connection, gratitude and joy, has great power.

Thank you for joining me to build our enormous collective power.

Manage Holiday Stress With More Ease

The end-of-year pace is picking up for most of us now.

With the holidays coming, most people are selecting gifts.

You may be planning for gatherings you’ve been invited to (anything from what you will wear, to who can look after children, to considering how the dynamics of specific conversations will play out), or you you may be hosting a gathering or two.

Maybe you are figuring out activities to put on the calendar, whether you are seeing friends, family, or are far away from people who are special in your life. 

And you may be thinking about the start of a whole new year — with excitement or trepidation.

How are you feeling about the coming weeks?

Are you excited and eager?

Are you feeling frazzled, tired, stressed?

Maybe some worry is showing up.

Take a moment to close your eyes to ask the question. See what shows up in both your mind and your body.

Many of us believe that our thoughts give us all the information we need, and fail to pay attention to our somatic sensations.

What we physically feel can be remarkably revealing.

For example, if you sense a tightness in your belly when you check in with yourself, or if your neck and shoulders feel soft and relaxed, you can connect the physical signals to the thoughts you observed and gain clarity.

There may be a correlation between thoughts and what you feel, or you may find that the sensations in your body provide a clue to something other than what you were thinking, or prompt you to explore deeper awareness than you had initially considered.

When you gain clear awareness, you can move ahead and make the most of the weeks ahead.

How to leverage your emotional awareness 

Most women find a mix of emotions show up when they check in with themselves, and at this time of year that is especially likely to happen.

And having that insight can help you to move through this busy time with as much ease and grace as possible.

These steps can make a world of difference any time you have identified a challenging emotion such as tension, concern, or feeling overwhelmed.

1. Clearly name the emotion

By naming a challenging emotion, you can often remove some of the intensity you feel, which in turn will make it be easier to find a thoughtful, creative path forward.

2. Pause, rather than pushing ahead

It may feel natural to plow ahead and aim to get productive. Or you may be inclined to minimize the power of the emotion and try and push it aside. Instead, honor yourself and take a short pause.

3. Take 3 slow deep breaths

When you choose to briefly sit with the emotion and take a few intentional deep breaths, you increase oxygen flow. That activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which, among other things, relaxes you and gives your body the signal that you are safe.

4. Talk with a trusted person or jot in a journal

This step supports you by helping you reflect specifically on the current situation. Speaking or writing brings clarity, as you find the words to express what you feel and what brought on the feeling, as well as how you are considering ways to move forward.

5. From a calm, clear place you can move ahead with more grace

After you have quieted your system and expressed your thoughts, you can look at the situation with more perspective. You will be less reactive. And you are likely to be able to reframe the situation, and see your opportunities to move ahead in new ways.

Create peace and there will be more space for joy

By taking a few quiet minutes to assess and move through emotions that get in your way (like tension, struggle, annoyance or stress) with intention, you are able to access more creative thinking.

That thinking will help you see things with perspective, and chart new ways forward that would otherwise probably not have occurred to you.

And once you are feeling clearer and steadier, you will feel different — lighter, better, able to see new possible paths and outcomes.

And whatever way you find to move ahead, there will be space for joy — or space for more joy — that when you started.

Here’s to a holiday season filled with peace, joy and love!

Give Yourself the Gift of Seeing Original Art

Seeing This painting by Jack Whitten at MoMA, took my breath away

Do you visit museums and galleries?

Have you thought about the difference between seeing a painting, a sculpture or other work of art on your phone or laptop, or in a printed book, and what you see and feel when you are in the presence of a work of original art?

I am fortunate to live in Boston, where there are many wonderful museums and outstanding galleries.

I often go to a museum for just an hour, to see the work of an artist in a special exhibition, or to wander and make unexpected discoveries. I love seeing sculptures in natural settings. And I enjoy popping into galleries to see new art.

(Happily, galleries are free to visit, and many museums are open without charge on particular evenings and weekend days.)

What happens when you see art

Being in the presence of something that has been created by an artist can be thrilling. It may make your heart flutter, pique your curiosity, surprise you, make you feel awe, or disturb you.

Whether you feel delight, confusion, or decide you don’t like what you see, you are stimulated in significant ways.

And that stimulation — that can vary from moment to moment as you walk through a gallery — has a bigger impact than you may imagine.

Physically and neurologically, studies have shown that dopamine is released (that makes you feel calm and provides sensations of pleasure), bloodflow to the brain increases (that can make you feel loving), and stress hormones decrease (less stress is always a plus!).

And with frequent exposure to art (in all forms), depression, anxiety and even pain are reduced. Your view of the world is positively impacted. Emotions are heightened, and empathy, tolerance and critical thinking skills all tend to increase.

Why seeing original art matters

As good as a reproduction may be — and most often, reproductions fall short of being accurate to the color of an original work — there is a lot that is missed when leafing through a printed catalogue, or clicking though a museum website.

Because the color you see in reproductions is bound to be duller, or brighter, or more garish than what you see standing in front of an original work. Thus you feel something very different compared to the response you’ll have seeing the original art.

You also miss relating to the scale of the work.

Standing before a tiny canvas or a huge one, or in the presence of a towering assembled sculpture or a smooth marble bust sitting atop a pedestal at eye level, impacts what you see and how you feel.

You also get to take in the surface of a painting. It may be smooth and flat, or the paint may be thick. The strokes may feel powerful and energetic (think of Vincent Van Gogh's vigorous paintings of landscapes and sunflowers). Observing these differences can impact your emotional response to the work.

Much as it can be great to listen to a good recording of music, if you have had the opportunity to be at a live concert to hear that same orchestra or singer, you know that what you felt was different in ways that elevated and expanded your experience.

Give yourself the gift of small art dates

I invite you to seek out experiences to engage with original art from time to time.

Being in the presence of human creative expression is amazingly powerful.

Whether you visit a museum or sculpture park or gallery alone, invite close friends to join you, or take kids in your life with you, you are bound to leave feeling renewed and inspired.

You are likely to feel happier, find yourself considering new perspectives, and you may even see the world around you through new eyes.

Your creative power will certainly be boosted!

And, if your experiences are anything like mine have been, the joy you’ll feel when you engage with art will linger for a delightfully long time.

Seek Inspiration to Ignite Your Spirit

For many people in the US, last week’s Thanksgiving holiday meant lots of sharing with family and friends. Many traveled or hosted gatherings, and some started shopping for the upcoming holidays.

All of the busyness was likely to have crowded out time for slowing down, savoring some quiet, and doing a bit of reflection.

And while the stimulation around the holiday may have felt great, there’s another kind of stimulation I treasure, that most women skimp on.

Stimulation can take different forms

The stimulation I carefully make time for — throughout the year — is found when I seek inspiration.

I make time to fill myself with wonder. I take in beauty for the sole purpose of opening my heart and expanding my spirit.

Sometimes that means going for a walk on a lovely day and pausing to notice the way the clouds look in the sky, the textures in the bark of a tree, the colors of a beautifully painted house, or the joy on the face of an adorable child walking with a parent.

Sometimes, I spend an hour at a local museum to see the work of an artist I love, or to discover something unexpected made by an artist whose work I’ve never seen before.

Sometimes I travel to experience scenery, food, art, history or music that is unique or new to me.

Sometimes I meet with a friend I have missed, and share an especially delicious cup of tea or coffee in a cozy shop.

The gifts are bountiful and splendid

Each time I treat myself to an hour or day or weekend (or a longer excursion) that offers me something special that is not part of my routine life, I feel amazed at what happens.

My spirit is ignited by the delight I feel.

My energy is boosted and my curiosity is fueled.

I find myself amazed by the creativity I have witnessed, and my creative fires are stoked in ways that lead to new forms of expression, sparks of insight, bigger ideas, and better solutions to conundrums I am sorting out.

I am able to reflect on everything in my current situation with fresh perspective.

And I feel new levels of joy, deeper love, and more grateful for everything in my life.

I invite you to seek opportunities to honor yourself and light up your spirit. 

Email me to share how your joy is sparked and your creative power is ignited!

Try This 5-Day Gratitude Challenge

This is the week that people everywhere focus on gratitude and saying thanks.

And gratitude is something terrific to make your focus, as I have written about in the past.

And still, I continue to learn about gratitude.

There’s a deeper layer to explore

For most of my life, my thoughts about gratitude were like those of most people.

I was grateful for a wonderful family, for having a comfortable home, for delicious healthy food (especially when sitting at a Thanksgiving table), for great friends, and whatever recent vacation I had just enjoyed.

My recent revelation about gratitude came from a friend and colleague, Dr. Paul Jenkins, who is a prominent Positive Psychology expert.

To take gratitude to a deeper and more powerful level, you begin by thinking about something you never wanted to have happen.

For instance, you or someone you love may have been stricken with illness. Maybe you lost a job, or had a romantic breakup, or you were in the path of a natural disaster.

With such an event in mind, think about something for which you can be grateful, such as something that you learned, some new relationship you formed, some opportunity that showed up for you, an unexpected positive outcome.

It may be hard to find a kernel of gratitude, yet there is ultimately something in every event that can be appreciated.

And when you are able to find that gratitude, your heart opens wider and your outlook on life is boosted.

I have found that the old saying that when one door closes another opens, has proven to be true— though sometimes it requires some distance and perspective to be able to see that truth.

Dr. Paul Jenkins suggests that you look for five such moments of gratitude for things that didn’t go well, and do that every day for five days. He says that the benefits of identifying that much deep gratitude can significantly change your life.

Why not try it after yourself this Thanksgiving week and see what happens for you. Email me, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Small Changes, Powerful Results: Start Today

Most of my life, I thought that big bold action was required if I wanted to make a significant change.

And in some cases, that was true.

When I realized it was time to sell my first business (after 27 years!), having felt the call to make a major career change and become a coach, I certainly took bold action.

Several years later, when I created retreats for women to have experiences that ignite their creative power and help them discover the path to a life that fully lights them up, big action was required.

And, I have come to understand — and experience — that making extremely small shifts is remarkably significant.

It is those small shifts that have led me to insights about what I desired enough to take bold action and make them real. 

“It has to be hard” is a myth

I’d resisted the idea of small changes having a big impact for a long time. It seemed counterintuitive.

And living in a culture that is focused on hard work, striving, and no-pain-no-gain, I rarely even considered what small changes I might make that could matter in a meaningful way.

And, as I was guided by great coaches, and then explored, learned, and tested, I experienced that I could make intentional small changes and the impact could be amazing.

Start thinking small for a change

I just spent four days at a powerful retreat with my coach, where we focused on an array of very small changes that can be enormously significant.

One of the most meaningful things I am taking away from the retreat is to remember that making extremely small shifts to my mindset leads to small and powerful shifts to my energy.

And the energy each of us brings to everything we do impacts the outcomes we experience.

You can try it for yourself.

Something small to try

This is one of the best ways I suggest to start making small, meaningful shifts that will support your strongest energy. 

Notice the language you use.  

Pay attention to your words — in conversations and in thoughts about yourself.

Spot the word “should.”

Also notice when the words “I have to” show up. They are another way that “should” sneaks up in our thoughts. And they are damaging words, particularly when used frequently.

It takes focus to catch yourself and it is worth doing!

Once spotted, substitute new words.

Try out: I want to, I get to, or it would will feel good to.

When you reframe by substituting one of these new phrases, you open a gateway to a reframe of your energy.

You will feel different.

Your outlook will be different.

Your physical posture may change, to sitting or standing talker, with a more open chest and open heart. It will feel good!

With that natural energy shift, you will move ahead in new ways, and you will experience new outcomes.

And in time, with repetition, you can change old habitual patterns of thoughts and behaviors that have limited you.

Bringing a focus to small modifications will bring rich rewards.

An ongoing way of living

The opportunity to notice small things — like thoughts that keep you in a state of harshness towards yourself (as described above), or fear, or doubt — and then consistently endeavor to make small adjustments to the way you think, will change you. 

Start with awareness.

Be intentional as you make small shifts.

Repeat. (Repetition is the magic ingredient!)

Experience the new energy you bring into every aspect of your life.

And importantly, make this process integral to the way you live. The quality of your day-to-day life will be transformed.

Savor the Hidden Gifts in Your Harvest

This moment of gratitude at the Creation Vacation retreat last year has filled my heart for many months

Welcome to many new readers! Thank you for being here — whether you are new to my weekly Big Ideas, or have been with me for a long time. I am grateful for our connection.

Gratitude in this season

Gratitude is something I focus on daily. And as we are nearing Thanksgiving in the US, there is a collective focus on gratitude with family and friends.

In the autumn, bringing awareness and focus to gratitude is aligned with the rhythm of nature. 

This is the time we harvest what we planted — literally and metaphorically.

For those who grow gardens, there is a visible bounty for which to feel grateful.

And, because we all reap what we have sown in our lives, we can focus on more dimensions of the harvest.

Life is always a mixed bag

We each reap an array of outcomes in our lives.

Consider that you are harvesting now what you created in your work, your efforts to build relationships, the new offerings you put out in the world, your attempts to connect in new ways, and what has landed in front of you by happenstance.

It is easy to feel grateful for the bounty that went well.

Yet we all reap things that did not go as we had hoped, or things that showed up and challenged us. 

Finding and feeling gratitude for things that disappointed me, or felt hurtful, or were hard to deal with, never used to cross my mind.

And, I have learned that looking for and finding the gifts in everything that happened — and feeling gratitude for all of it — has been incredibly meaningful.

Try this two-step approach

Step 1

Take a few moments to list wonderful things in your life this year.

The big things will show up right away.

Be sure to also include small moments. Like the kind person who helped you by holding a door open. A laugh you shared with a coworker. The nice remark a family member or friend or colleague made out of the blue.

Look over your list and savor the feelings that fill your heart. 

Step 2

Now make a new list. This time, write down things that have not gone to plan, or hurt you, or were tough to deal with.

Again, the big things will show up first.

Your list may include an opportunity you didn’t get. A relationship that was rocky. A loss you suffered. An illness you endured.

Include, too, a small rude moment, or a missed train that changed your whole day, or a careless remark that someone made that stung.

As you look over this list, consider what was there for you in each situation.

What lesson did you learn?

What new perspective did you gain?

What better outcome came your way?

As you find a kernel of gratitude for each item, jot that down in another color, or in a separate column.

Your opportunity is to feel appreciation for everything you identified or uncovered.

Let appreciation fill your heart and savor the gratitude.

The gratitude effect is tremendous, all year long

As you sit in gratitude, something subtle yet profound is happening on a cellular level. Your brain releases feel-good hormones (serotonin and dopamine) that elevate your mood.

And as you keep this practice going — you might write daily in a gratitude journal — you are likely to view the world through a lens that identifies the positive in every situation.

When you live with a more positive perspective, you experience less stress and more hope, you are more resilient, your sleep and your overall health are likely to improve, and your energy supports you to create with more ease.

The gifts that show up for you as you make gratitude for everything a regular practice will keep building!

Email me and share your insights, questions, or outcomes. I am always glad to hear from you.

Stop Overwhelming Yourself — Ask "Why?" First

When I Experiment Freely in my studio I always feel inspired and find that fresh insights emerge.

I was speaking to a colleague last week. When I commented on all that was on my to-do list, and my efforts to trim it down, she gave me a great gift.

Her amazing suggestion was to add a simple question after each entry:

Why?

Not only has this small tip helped me get clear on the most meaningful things to attend to on my list — and things to defer, drop or delegate —  it reminded me to pay attention to the "WHY" related to everything in my life.

The most powerful question you can ask 

Most of us focus on “what” to do.

We’re often overwhelmed by long lists of things that have to get done, things we feel obligated to do, things we offered to do to please someone, and a few things (usually at the end of the list) we want to do for pleasure.

We also think a lot about “how” to do things.

This focus typically leads to one of two paths — letting go of meaningful things because we do not already know how to do them, or going down rabbit-holes of research and how-to’s.

I invite you to start with “WHY?” instead.

And make it a practice to ask “Why?” regularly — for the smallest of matters in your day, not just the big initiatives that Simon Sinek spoke about in his famous TED Talk.

Because when you skip past the “Why?” there’s a high probability that you will get mired in efforts that are not squarely in the zone of what is most important — for you. 

Meaningful clarity is likely to emerge

Adding the “Why?” to items on my to-do list has been enormously helpful for me.

Because I always have ideas, and I get excited by them!

And, I know (from years of overwhelming myself) that if I pursue too many of those interesting ideas, I’ll be swamped, exhausted, and far from living the spacious life I yearn for.

Asking “Why?” has helped me to clarify the most important things for me now, and release things that are not aligned.

I am focusing my time, energy and attention on:

1. Coaching great women who want to move past what’s in the way for them and powerfully create their best lives;

2. Speaking to great audiences of women leaders to help them ignite their creative power, and understand how that power can be ignited to change cultures and improve results in their organizations;

3. Leading great retreats for women to have experiences that are deeply inspiring and truly life-changing;

4. Creating to express what is in my heart — painting every day and writing from my deep voice;

5. Sustaining a daily practice to stay strong and healthy.

What will your “why’s” bring to light?

This process can be fun. It is easy to do. And what happens can make a significant difference — today and for your future.

If you choose to start with “Why?” and it sharpens your clarity, I would be delighted for you to share what shows up for you.

Email me, or we can hop on a call.

Magic From France: Create Your Own Wonder

I’ve returned from L'Aventure Française, the annual retreat I lead in France.

After all of the excitement of planning the retreat and then leading each day, I am resting as I savor more incredible moments than I can count.

The retreat was a remarkable experience — for the wonderful women who were with me, and for me.

Surprises and wonder filled each day as we immersed ourselves in the magic of art, food, culture and beauty in Paris, and then slowed the pace in the glorious French countryside.

We saw wonders all around us, created joyously, went deep in coaching conversations, played, and reveled in the magic of being in such a spectacular place, with hosts who poured love into each moment we spent there.

I am filled with gratitude as I reflect on so many moments and the many ways each of us was transformed by all we experienced.

It’s a delight to share images from the last days of the retreat in the Dordogne, when we explored markets and villages, ate wonderfully, and created joyously. 

As the insights continue to surface for all of us, we will share and process more, and I will share more with you.

Magic is available to each of us

My wish for you today is to find moments of magic in your midst, wherever you are.

Listen to your heart.

What is it asking for? What questions and insights show up in the quiet?

And let your imagination take you to places you want to explore!

Create visions for things that will delight you, in simple moments and big adventures that call to you

You are full of creative power that can be used in infinite ways!

Start with something today that will nurture your well-being and inspire you. That energy will be infused in everything you do.

Discovering Creative Magic in The French Countryside

The retreat continues!

I am taking a few minutes, just before the magical L'Aventure Française 2025 retreat concludes, to share some photos of the extraordinary places we have savored in the French countryside the last few days.

After our adventures in Paris we transitioned to living in central France.

As I wrote last week, the pace shifted. The air changed. It is exquisite and quiet here.

We have explored gardens, walked down lanes into the nearby village, and visited a picture-perfect town where we explored a subterranean monolithic church that was carved into a limestone cliff in the 7th century and expanded in the 12th century. 

We have soaked it all in, connected to deep insights as our hearts have expanded, and created joyously.

Dynamic creative power is fueling us, and as it lights each of us up, awareness and insights continue to emerge.  

I invite you to light up your heart today. Take time to savor beauty, share a meaningful moment with someone special, slow down, dream.

These are all ways to fire up your creative power! 

Activating Creativity from Beautiful France

A glimpse of our joy as we ventured to parks, museums, AND QUIRKY SHOPS, TRAVELED THROUGHOUT PARIS ON THE METRO, WALKED FOR MILES, and ate amazing food!

Bonjour!

It’s a thrill to be writing to you from France!

Having dreamed of bringing women to this magical country after many visits to my father’s native land, and living in Paris for part of 2023, I created the L’Aventure Française retreat last year. 

Being back here with another remarkable group of women is a true joy.

Inspiration in Paris

This precious time, away from the day-to-day of our lives at home, began when we filled our spirits with all that Paris has to offer.

We savored art, food, culture, beauty and history. We delighted in surprises as we explored and made discoveries!

Sharing many favorite, off-the-beaten-track places that most visitors never see, and guiding my clients to see and feel this city in meaningful ways, has been a delight, as it was last year.

Reflection in the lush countryside

After 5 days in Paris we have just traveled by train to the glorious Dordogne region, where we are living in a fabulous retreat center that offers a perfect mix of beauty, comfort, history and magic.

It is quiet here.

Our pace is slowing.

We are being fed by amazing hosts who cook with love — and are kind, funny and sweet.

We are creating and playing.

We will be exploring villages and markets, churches that date back to the 12th century, artist studios, and tucked away spots that offer sweet surprises.

As we reflect deeply on everything we have experienced, and discover layers of insight rising from our hearts, we are savoring this glorious opportunity for new ideas to appear and clarity to come forward.

Activating and expanding creative power

A lot has changed in the world since I led the first L’Adventure Française retreat last fall.

What has not changed is the enormous creative power that resides (often quietly) in each of us. This is power we can all tap and amplify.

We can each use that creative power to light up our spirits.

We can use it to shape the focus of the lives we want to live, and how we want to make our most meaningful marks on the world.

This unlimited power, when it’s unleashed, can enrich us in ways we may not even be able to imagine now.

And it will surely impact everyone and everything around us.

Wherever you are as you read this, pause to look for wonder. Take a few seconds to connect to your heart. Then do something new that’s aligned with a deep desire.

Violà! Your just activated some creative power!

Embrace Self-Love: You Deserve Better Care

Selfish.

It’s a characteristic that most of us dislike in others, and certainly one we want to personally avoid.

Sadly, putting yourself first is something that feels selfish to many women.

Our culture sends us mixed messages — while it sometimes urges self-indulgence, the messages we get frequently normalize, and even glorify, self-sacrifice.

Putting your wellbeing first is not selfish!

I invite you to think about taking care of your body and your spirit as being a key to being your best.

Bringing this focus to your life is a meaningful way to love yourself.

It’s also the foundation for loving others and being your best at everything you care about!

Attending to your physical and spiritual needs supports you to have your biggest impact in everything you do.

Who doesn’t want that?

What loving self-care looks like

A woman who nourishes herself with care is rested and strong.

A woman who fuels her spirit with things that bring her joy feels vibrant and shines brightly.

I believe that that woman is anything but selfish.

She is generous and loving to herself, and is able to have a big impact — that in turn makes the world a better place.

Easy ways to embrace self-love

If you are inspired to make space and time for more self-care, and yet it feels a bit hard to know where or how to begin, start by embracing you worthiness of exquisite care.

1. Get comfortable about deserving.

You might make a brief entry in a journal each morning. Remind yourself to love yourself, and list a few ways you can do that in the day ahead!

Next quickly list a few ways you are great — because all of us are! — and let that sink in.

Last, remind yourself that you deserve to have a day that does not exhaust you.

Then bring the upbeat energy into your day!

2. Choose something small and specific to do differently.

Think of a specific small thing to do to take good care of yourself each morning. Choose something that will bring you joy, peace, satisfaction, or all of those!

Maybe you will eat slowly at lunch instead of rushing.

Maybe you’ll take a short walk for fresh air and quiet.

Maybe you will call someone dear to you for the first time in a while.

3. Practice, practice, practice!

As you cultivate a mindset of deservingness, and do small things that are kind and loving to yourself, you will soon notice that it is easier to create opportunities for gentle, loving ways to do more things to support both your body and your spirit.

The more you get in touch with what will be the most nourishing for you — and what you most want for yourself — and then bring those things into your life (even in very small ways!) the happier and more energetic you will feel.

As you inspire yourself, you’ll inspire others!

When you push yourself when you are depleted, you cheat yourself and others.

You may have heard the saying that you cannot pour from an empty cup. I just heard a new version of that concept from a dear friend: if you bathe in a tub with two inches of cold water, you cannot expect to be or do your best.

I hope you feel inspired to shift into a better way to live.

The “icing on the cake” of cultivating rich self-love and practicing meaningful self-care is that you will show up in the world feeling great.

You will feel creative power course through you. You will shine with palpable energy that others will feel. And you will inspire people around you in ways you may never even realize.

As more and more women live a fully fueled creative life, our collective impact will make the world a better place.

Let’s do this together!

Take Stock: Your Fall Wellbeing Assessment

Now that we’ve shifted from summer to fall, life has become more hectic for most of us.

How are you feeling?

Do you perceive that time is racing?

How’s your focus?

Do you feel abundant in energy, or more like you are running on fumes?

Take a few minutes to take stock 

As you end your day today I suggest you reflect on the way you feel. 

Are you content, satisfied, eager for tomorrow?

How did time feel during the day?

Reflect on your ability to stay focused. Maybe you felt scattered rather than clear. 

What energy did you feel during the day? Was your outlook positive, enthusiastic, motivated and confident, or did you feel drained, stressed and irritable?

The observations you make can help you make choices — choices to do more of some things, fewer of others, and maybe start doing things differently.

Choose a starting point to make change

I created a simple assessment tool to help you clearly see the way life is for you now. And suggestions are included for making small, gentle changes so that you can live with more joy and satisfaction.

Download my free guide here.

See which suggestion most attracts you. Test it out, and see if you can incorporate the change a few times this week.

When you make even one small change, the impact can be significant.

Then look at other ways to make a small change and see if there’s another to bring into your routine.

Your choices and commitments to yourself to take some intentional action will be the start of a life where you can sit at the end of the day and reflect on feeling spacious, nourished, accomplished and happy. 

You can use your creative power in endless ways. I invite you to start with you and your wellbeing, so that you will have a great foundation for everything you do!

Take Small Steps to Achieve Your Big Dreams

If I asked you about your summer, and to recall a special event or moment, would something pop right to mind?

I am grateful to have had a special and action-packed summer. I lived in Montreal and also traveled — so I was inspired as I did a lot that was new and different. 

As I reflect on the numerous highlights of the last three months, the most recent is front of mind.

I was invited to speak to the NSA (National Speakers Association) Milwaukee chapter’s first meeting of the new season.

I led a morning program focused on guiding great speakers to identify their boldest possible dreams, and how to unleash creative power to make them a reality.

The afternoon session focused on ways to reduce stress to live your biggest life, without the sacrifice so many women (and men) face on a daily basis.

How big do you dare to dream?

Maybe generating bold big dreams comes easily to you.

For many great women I talk to, dreaming really big dreams feels hard.

Some feel it’s pointless given their lack of belief in themselves, or given life circumstances.

Some feel unworthy, or fear that they’ll be judged if they aim too high.

So they don’t dare to imagine big dreams.

I invite you to dream big 

Sit quietly and connect to the desires in your heart. Imagine what a huge dream could look like and visualize the way you would feel if it were real.

And if you know how to use the Discovery Dozen™, that’s found in my book, go ahead and use it to quickly generate a list of big desires!

Write down the dreams and choose one that stands out. Describe it as vividly as you can.

Then, speak that dream to someone you trust — someone who cares about and respects you, and who wants the best for you.

When you hear your own voice speak words out loud, and someone with a generous heart listens to you, a seed is planted for that dream to grow. 

And universal themes might trip you up…

A number of common concerns showed the day I spoke, that I often hear from women when they share their big dreams.

After everyone identified huge dreams and desires, I asked them to circle the top 3 on their list, and then choose the most exciting one.

As everyone buddied-up to share their dreams, excitement filled the air!

When I then asked the group to do another Discovery Dozen, this time to generate ideas for taking a small first step toward making that dream real, the tone in the room changed. 

Groans were heard as people asked, “You want us to get specific about taking action?”

I was not surprised!

As a coach and speaker, I help people dare to dream big — and also help them go beyond ideas and take real action. 

Because as hard as it is for some people to dare to dream really big dreams, overcoming the next hurdle — actually taking action — is where the biggest challenges surface.

• Self-doubt shows up.

• Fears of all kinds show up — fear of trying and failing, fear of rejection, fear of not measuring up, fear of being seen as an impostor, fear of possible shame, fear of people thinking they reached too high.

• The belief that huge steps are needed, and that those will be too hard to take, shows up.

• Worries show up, about knowing what to do, or about doing it “right” or well enough. 

And, taking your first steps does not have to feel so daunting.

How to get started

1. Lay your foundation.

To make it easier to do something new and bold, first reinforce belief in yourself. Shore up your self-love practices to do that. (Check out ideas for bolstering self-love here.)

2. Think small to go big! 

Next, plan a first small, doable step in the new direction — rather than aiming to do something audacious. It will be much easier to get started, and more effective than you might think.

Then commit to taking consistent, ongoing small steps. It will feel good! You will build confidence and momentum as you take baby steps, and those steps will quickly add up to significant progress.

3. Get support.

A great idea, when embarking on something new that matters to you, is to choose an accountability partner. You can each desire accountability for different kinds of efforts, or you can both choose to make a big dream real in tandem.

Set up a plan that’s easy for both parties — you might text at the end of every day, set up a weekly call, or keep a chart in a shared file, where you can each commit to actions to take, and then check them off as the actions are taken.

I would love to hear about your BIG dreams!

Reach out to share them, and let me know if you want to consider coaching support to help you accelerate your path to making those dreams a reality.

Turning Life Transitions Into Opportunities

While change can be exciting, people rarely find it easy to move through change.

Some changes are choices we make. When they are inspired by feeling open and excited, you feel ready for the change.

We can also choose to make a change because we face challenging circumstances and evaluate that making that change is our wisest decision, even if unwanted.

At other times changes are imposed on us. While these often feel distressing,  some can actually be a gift — even if only assessed that way in hindsight.

And when any change is underway at work, in the personal realm, or due to external conditions, there are easier and harder ways to move through change.

Choose the lens that will serve you best

When you are dealing with change of any kind you get to choose the way to view it. And you get to choose how to approach the process of navigating the change,

It’s easy to focus on what will be lost, and easy to understand why that is the usual response. 

And even when you are excited to make a change — say a relocation to a new city to live with a new partner, or to start an exciting new job — you can find yourself thinking about good things that will be left behind.

It could be a friend you hang out with on weekends, or a favorite bookstore or cafe that feels like a second-home, or a view you won't get to see every day after you move. 

And particularly when you face a change that is not your choice, you are likely to focus on what you will lose or miss.

And, it can be easier, even in worst-case situations. 

There are nearly always possibilities for an upside to the change — but you won’t find them unless you look for them.

One of my clients had to move from a beloved apartment she’d been in for 20 years, when the building owner decided to convert the building to a new use. The thought of quickly finding a new place and dealing with a move was daunting. 

After much sadness she chose to see it as an opportunity to find a home with more natural light — something she realized had been missing for years — and a small garden. 

She also realized she would get to touch everything she owned and take only what she really loved. Selling and donating things that were not truly meaningful turned out to give her great satisfaction. It also made moving and setting up in her sunny new place much easier and more enjoyable.

And in a situation where a client lost her job in a merger, after processing her emotions (hurt, resentment, fear), she was able to step back and realize that she now had new possibilities to consider. Asking, "What do I do now?" she asked herself what she really wanted.

With clarity about new possibilities, she was able to take action that led her to a a satisfying outcome she might otherwise never have reached. She now looks back on that layoff with gratitude.

There’s a creative gift embedded in change

When you look at change as full of possibilities, you can find tremendous opportunities to be a creator.

Once you choose a new point of view and frame of mind, new possibilities — including new possibilities for creative thinking — open up!

Rather than doing things as you always have, or as others you know have dealt with similar situations, you get to be curious and inventive.

• Ask yourself: Might there be other ways to move ahead or resolve this problem?
(Truth: other approaches are nearly always possible!) 

• Look for new directions that will bring you joy and satisfaction. (Consider: there may be something great waiting for you that you never imagined before.)

• Think of who else to turn to, to think creatively with you.
(Suggestion: think of optimists, creative problem solvers, people who are fun to "what-if" with. And consider having a coach to support you throughout your transition.) 

The more you activate creative thinking, the more energetic you will feel as you envision all the ways to make the most of every possibility, no matter what shows up for you. 

When you remember that you are filled with creative power, you’ll be unstoppable.

If you have a story about how you navigated change and thrived, email me and share it! 

Ready to delegate and reclaim your time?

Whenever I speak about the subject of delegating I hear about how hard it is for women to let go of the idea that they have to do it all themselves.

And I get it.

I lived that way for sooo long.

I was trapped in that thinking.

Trapped in the belief that asking for help or delegating tasks was a sign of weakness.

And my fear was amplified by my perfectionism. I believed that nobody else could do things as I would do them — or at the high standard I aimed for.

Are you caught in the trap of doing it all?

Holding a belief that you have to do it all puts you on a fast-track to exhaustion and overwhelm. 

Maybe you are there already. (Sadly, I lived that way for decades.)

Whether you realize you are there, or that you are heading that way, I invite you to consider that delegating and asking for help, are options that can positively impact your day-to-day wellbeing in ways you may not even fully imagine.

Look at the origin of the story you tell yourself

I know the origin of my belief that I had to do it all myself.

My father was an immigrant who was proud that he built a new life using his intelligence and hard work. He talked about it often.

The message I got from him was that asking for help would be proof that I lacked sufficient intelligence or was unwilling to work hard enough — or both.

And thus I drove myself relentlessly.

Perhaps your belief is that you don’t feel you deserve help.

Perhaps you don’t think there are people who would help you.

Perhaps, in spite of exhaustion, you feel pride in being the person who does it all, or the person everyone turns to and counts on.

If you can spot the way your misbeliefs took hold, it may be easier to see that they are simply stories — old stories that do not serve you.

Stories that can be dropped.

It’s time to shift your thinking

The opportunity you have now is to give more to you — to give yourself more space so that you can focus more on what you need to thrive.

Envision having more rest, easily taking better care of your body, having more time with people you love, and time to enrich your spirit by doing things that bring you joy!

Hold that vision clearly. It can be the engine that enables you to make change.

Delegating changes the game

The fastest and easiest way to live so that your vision becomes reality is to lighten your load. 

Now’s the time to focus on the benefits of delegating and how it will help you to be a better you.

Think about being able to make bigger contributions to everything that matters to you — in the work you do, the relationships you care about, and your ability to make the world a better place.

This will make the thought of delegating tasks, and reaching out for help, too, feel easier.

Next, think of one thing to delegate this week. 

Pay close attention to anything that someone else can do faster and/or better than you! That's a great place to start.

You can delegate tasks to:

• people you work with

• to family members and friends

• to people you hire

A great benefit of delegating — particularly at work, and also in personal relationships — is that people will become less dependent on you. The people to whom you delegate tasks get to build confidence and develop skills. It’s a win all around.

And consider who you might turn to and ask for help.

Most people love being asked to help. You might ask someone to be a sounding board for your new ideas. You can ask for help to do something around the house rather than doing it alone. Someone may be happy to pick up something for you on an errand they are doing for themselves.

As you gain more ease with delegating and reaching out for help, the benefits will become clearer and more satisfying.

The real you — the woman who creates the conditions to show up as her best self, and has the bandwidth to tap her rich creative power — will shine brightly.

We will all be the benefactors of your gifts!

Reclaim Your Energy Through Self-Love

Do you treat yourself exquisitely?

Do you nourish your body and nurture your spirit as they need and deserve?

So many women tell me how hard it is for them to make time for themselves to do things that matter to them.

They skimp on taking great care of their bodies. They sacrifice their well-being — often not pausing to even listen to what their hearts long for.

Some even doubt they deserve that time and space, as they focus on everyone around them and on a huge load of responsibilities.

Do you relate to any of that?

Every time I hear a woman share thoughts like these, my heart breaks.

We all deserve self-love

If you ever feel selfish for longing to have time to yourself — for quiet, to read for pleasure, for exercising in a favorite way (and not at 5:00am!), for excursions, for more time with people you love, for fun, for adventure — please think again.

Those desires are important. You are worthy of all of that.

Your spirit has every right to be cared for with the love and attention you give to others.

Because skimping on you takes a toll. You cannot be all you want to be without devoting time to yourself. You can’t impact the world in all the ways you desire to. You cannot fully shine.

Start focusing on you and see what happens

Imagine starting a small practice of incorporating self-loving acts such as these into your life: 

• making time to do things you love

• providing the nutrition, rest and movement your body needs to function well

• creating space to play and dream and be inspired

• spending time with special people 

• thinking lovingly about yourself and being gentle with yourself

Doing any of these will make you feel happier and more alive!

And in turn, you will show up with more vitality and magnetism. You will naturally have a bigger impact in everything you do. 

Going slowly is best!

Trying to make big change all at once usually backfires. When you start slowly, you can integrate a change and gradually build in more changes from there.

Choose one way to love yourself more this week.

To help you start:

• practice saying no to things that are not as important as precious time for yourself

• ask for help in order to create space for you 

• ask a trusted friend to encourage you and help you stay accountable to the commitment you made to yourself

You might find it helps to keep a small notebook where you can record what you do, when, and how you feel each time you do that small thing. Experiment until you find what works best for you.

And jot down how that effort satisfied your spirit and enhanced your wellbeing.

Without even trying you will show up with more energy. You will inspire others. And over time you are likely to notice the way your outlook on everything gets clearer and brighter.

And if treating yourself to a remarkable retreat in France feels like a magical way to love yourself now, let's talk. Your spirit will be lit with tremendous inspiration. You will experience yourself in ways you may not be able to even imagine now. And you will return with clarity about the future you want to create — and feeling fueled to step into that future.

Check out the retreat and book a chat here!

Turn overwhelm into powerful choices

Last week I spoke at a great event in Miami — the Superstar Summit. I was honored to be among a great line-up of speakers in front of a fabulous audience.

Preparing for the trip — doing everything from making travel arrangements to writing and preparing to deliver my talk, choosing what to wear on stage, making slides, sending a file off to be printed so I could leave everyone in the audience with a useful reminder of what I taught, and lots more details crowded out much of what I typically work on in a given week.

And now I am looking at the list of everything that waited, and things that arrived while I was away, that are all calling for my attention.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times like this.

In fact, my to-do list often feels like a lot, even when there aren’t special events that interrupt my usual schedule.

What I have come to understand about those long to-do lists has made a huge difference in my life.

It will never all be done — and that’s great! 

My life is ever-changing, with new opportunities (as well as typical obligations) and new ideas popping up frequently.

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I have embraced both the joy of that realization, which developed when I learned new ways to consider what is on my ever-changing list.

The insight I’ve made my new way to operate, is that I get to choose what matters most — what can be let go of, what to defer, and what to delegate to others.

I feel powerful and capable when I make those decisions.

And taking those steps frees me to love what I choose to do — including time I set aside for self-care, play, and creative expression.

I no longer want a completed to-do list.

Rather, I celebrate having a list that I created, that’s comprised of things I’ve chosen to make my focus.

Stay present to what is showing up now

It has taken me time to learn to relate to my life this way.

I’ve learned to trust myself, and trust that everything I continue to create in my life — including nurturing precious relationships and creating new relationships; appreciating the outcomes of my curiosity and explorations; generating ideas for new ways of sharing my ideas and tools and experiences with great women — are opportunities for joy and fulfillment.

I do love getting a lot done in a day — particularly when the things I do bring me so much satisfaction.

When I remember that being flexible and agile, thinking creatively and listening to my intuition, always guide my best path forward, I thrive.

If you yearn to be free from overwhelm, to learn to move past the pressures of a long list of heavy obligations and feel excited and grateful as you move ahead in your life, I’d be happy to chat with you about how you can start creating a new relationship with your to-do list.

Book a call here!

Craft Beautiful Memories Out of Today

When a lovely memory comes to mind out of the blue, it can be magical. 

You can be instantly transported to a special place and time by smelling something in particular, or noticing a flower, a style of architecture, or a feature in a landscape, A memory can come to mind in response to hearing a melody that takes you back to someplace special.

And it’s wonderful to realize that every day offers the possibility to create special memories.

Rather than living on autopilot, why not consider what to do today that can be special.

Where might you go?

What might you explore — in the real world, in a book, in your imagination?

With whom could you have a meaningful conversation?

There are unlimited ways to create 

When you embrace your creative power, you can use it in ways you may never have considered.

Think about what is possible for you today, that will elevate your experience, light you up, tickle your fancy.

How might you look at the ordinary through a different lens? Or approach a routine task or something seemingly dull with a fresh perspective?

How can you bring more playful energy into your day?

What new invitation can you extend to someone?

What new approach can you bring to the way you start a meeting, that will bring others into a fresh way of thinking?

What new idea might turn your usual evening routine into something enjoyable — and even memorable?

Meaningful memories can be created every day

It’s natural to focus in on the demands in front of you, to aim to blast through a long list of things to do.

By taking a beat to bring a bit of curiosity and creative thinking to mind, and approaching each day as one ripe with opportunities for different ideas and approaches, pleasant moments, and fun, you are likely to feel more satisfied (and even enthusiastic) at the end of typical days with set routines.

Taking that approach to your life will build positive energy that can take you places you may not be able to imagine now.

Speaking of memories, the incredible L’Aventure Française retreat last fall has been popping into my mind often these days. It’s not too late to explore this opportunity to create remarkable memories with us in October 2025. Check out the life-changing experience here.