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.

Free Yourself From Mental Blocks

I think a lot about thinking — particularly about the power of our thoughts.

When any of us worries, feels insecure, or is doubtful, we tend to think about the external causes for those uncomfortable feelings.

We worry about things like our bank balance, we feel insecure about a relationship, we doubt our ability to meet someone’s expectation. We easily default to feeling fear and scarcity, And we point to reasons those thoughts are reasonable or justified.

The truth is that no matter what is going on externally, it’s your mindset that’s the key to the way you think about and respond to everything — the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Your thoughts can pull you down — or lift you up

When you tune in to the power of your mindset, the lens through which you chose to see the world, you can begin to choose your thoughts.

You have the opportunity to look at the old, ingrained thinking that has long kept your thoughts running in a specific way. And with that awareness, you can actively start considering the same situations differently.

For instance, with some focus, you can identify old stories you grew to believe, that drive thoughts that get in your way.

You stories and beliefs might be like some of these:

• You have to mind every cent you spend, because money is hard to earn and hard to keep

• You have to work really hard to prove that you are smart enough or talented enough.

• The world is unfair.

• Only having many degrees and certifications will prove you are smart.

When you continue operating without awareness that stories like these are coloring your outlook — or running the show — you are at the mercy of your thoughts.

The good news is that you have the power to begin to think differently.

How to start shifting stuck thinking

To begin to change old engrained ways of thinking, first identify the stories and beliefs that have been on automatic pilot in your head.

Pull out a journal and start jotting notes.

• Recall what you always heard a parent say about money.

• What did they say about love?

• What were their warnings about the world?

• Did they teach you you had to sacrifice yourself for other’s wellbeing?

• Did they judge your looks, your intelligence, your quietness or brashness?

• How about what you heard from teachers?

• Did a sports coach impart a way of thinking that has limited you?

See what shows up on the page. 

Then choose ONE thing to consciously be aware of for the next few days.

Spot when that belief or story shows up. (And congratulate yourself each time you spot it!)

Once you have noticed it, choose to consider the situation, in that moment, as if that old belief were not there. 

As you gently practice reconsidering and reframing a situation (like moving your thoughts from scarcity to abundance, or from feeling shame to ease —or even confidence), you will be making important mindset shifts.

Stay with it and watch how your life changes

Having made one limiting belief your focus for a while, you can begin to bring awareness to other old limiting beliefs you recalled in your notes.

The key is to be patient with yourself as you spot and reframe. You are doing deep inside work, and it takes time.

Thoughts that have been embedded for years will not disappear in a flash.

And, they will shift with consistent awareness and conscious efforts to see the world in a new light.

When you consistently believe in the real you — the woman who is remarkable in so many ways — without the doubts and fears that had been in your way, you will notice how much easier it is to move through each day.

You will relish feeling freer. Things will move more smoothly and be easier. You will naturally feel happier.

And if you want a guide to help you let go of old entrenched beliefs, book time for a call with with me here.

I’ll be happy to chat with you.

Simple Tools to Reclaim Your Energy

It’s always a joy to speak to audiences of great women — women who are committed to doing important work in the world and show up as their best selves — as I did last week in a program I led for women working in healthcare in Sydney Australia.

In addition to their efforts at work, they carry the loads of family responsibilities, volunteering, getting new certifications, sometimes caring for aging relatives.

Maybe you can relate to the feelings of overwhelm that were shared in this session, as they so often are when I speak.

When I guided the attendees through a Discovery Dozen™ exercise (which you will be familiar with if you have a copy of my book), things women shared that they yearned for in order to take better care of their bodies and their spirits, included:

• focused, quality time with their children

• time to spend in nature, to swim, to exercise 

• more confidence, belief and trust in themselves

• the ability to set boundaries with ease

• being kinder to themselves

• booking and planning time away

• more time to have fun with their pets

Being able to connect to deep desires like these is a key first step to bringing positive change into your life.

So, here’s a question for you:

What things would make a difference in your wellbeing each day? 

I invite you to sit with the question and see what shows up.

(And if you want to use a Discovery Dozen to explore that question, reach out and I will provide a prompt and explain how to use this amazing tool.)

When I speak to audiences, coach women, lead retreats, and offer programs for organizations to support the great women in their companies so that they thrive, my focus is always on offering small yet power steps that make a significant difference — that help women access and amplify the creative power they possess.

I have many tools and approaches that help women to connect to and unleash their abundant creative power, so that they create the truly fulfilling lives they yearn for. 

Let’s connect and talk about the changes that will be transformative for you to make.

We can also talk about ways I can help you build a culture where the women in your organization are supported to make their biggest, best contributions, while living rich satisfying lives.

Book time with me here.

I look forward to a great conversation.

Break Routine, Embrace New Growth

It’s always easy to stay in your comfort zone. It feels safe — and comfortable.

Staying in your comfort zone related to work and career can look like not requesting or applying for an opportunity that will stretch or challenge you. Or it might look like tolerating something such as a toxic culture, or being undervalued.

Your relationship comfort zone might look like not reaching out to connect with someone for fear of rejection. It could mean staying in a relationship with someone who is chronically inconsiderate because you have become dependent on that person or cannot fathom ending the relationship. It could be feeling disappointment or unhappiness with someone over a long period of time, and staying quiet, because you don’t want to — or know how to — have a difficult conversation.

Your comfort zone might keep you staying in a location in spite of drawbacks, because you feel scared to make a change.

It may have been recommended, or you may have a desire to take care of your health in a particular way, and you’ve resisted. Or you may love the idea of trying something new and challenging, such as running a 5K or learning to play a new sport, and instead you sit it out because you don't want to try and fail.

You may have thought about learning something new, like playing an instrument, speaking a new language, or taking a course in a subject that fascinates you, but didn’t move forward because it felt daunting, or you did not want to change your routine to fit it in.

Routines and structures that are familiar feel comfortable. That can be fine in many cases.

And there are other cases where you pay a price for staying comfortable.

Always staying in your comfort zone is a trap 

While you can draw on past experience when you stay in your comfort zone, when you always do things the same way in spite of feeling a desire for something new or different (or even having a solid reason to make a change), or you resist doing something you have been curious about or desired, your complacency takes a toll.

You miss out on a lot: growth, progress, possibilities, discoveries, expansion.

And your comfort zone — that can grow when you try new things, learn new things, dare to test and explore, open yourself to new experiences — will not have the opportunity to expand!

Choose one way to expand your comfort zone

Start by observing yourself today. What shows up that’s related to staying in your comfort zone?

Maybe you will notice that

• you are in a rut about your lunch routine

• you stay quiet when a part of you wants to speak up

• you feel excited about an idea and then talk yourself out of pursing it

• you shop for a blouse and pick a style or color that you always choose

• you spend your evening like you always do, even though it’s a bit boring

• you skipped taking a long bike ride with a friend and did extra work instead

When you have observed one or more ways you stayed comfortable or safe, choose one thing on your list to begin to strive to change.

I suggest you consider the least intimidating thing on your list, and make that small thing your focus for bringing a bit of change into your day tomorrow.

Don’t go for making a huge change all at once.

The idea is to start with stretching a little bit beyond your comfort zone at the start, so you can appreciate yourself for a successful effort.

Then take that farther, or bring another thing on your list into your focus for making a small change.

And celebrate yourself for each effort you make!

Remember that when you try something new and it does not go as you’d hoped, or it takes continued practice to achieve, you can make adjustments to your approach. You can get help. Or you can put that aside, try something else on your list, and come back to it.

In time you will be able to take on bolder efforts.

See what happens as you bring change to one way you have stayed in your comfort zone each week, and as you continue to do that for a while.

As you reap the benefits, you are sure to enjoy the process.

You are also likely to see that you will naturally feel good about taking on new things and making bigger changes. And your confidence and self-trust will grow.

That’s a wonderful way to live big! 

Share your dreams, a tiny step or two you’re taking, and how it feels. Schedule a chat here.

How to Build the Future You Desire, One Step at a Time

I invite you to dream a bit. Right now, right where you are.

Close your eyes for a minute or two and imagine being the best version of you in a year — or 5 years — from now.

Dare to dream big, as you imagine what that version of you will look like.

Imagine waking up each day, and how you will show up in the world.

Maybe you will be leading at a higher level. 

Maybe you will be bolder, more confident.

Maybe you will make a big change — in location, in a relationship, in the field in which you work.

Maybe you will be creating something new and amazing.

Dreams can excite you and challenge you 

Quickly jot down the vision you imagined.

Then breathe and feel the emotions that have surfaced.

I venture to guess that the vision you imagined may feel both exciting and daunting.

After all, when we dare to dream big, a part of us tends to step in and say things like:

• Who are you to dream that big?

• That idea is way too scary!

• You can’t do that! 

• You can’t be that kind of person!

• You don't know how to do that thing!
  
  

What will you choose?

It is easy to shy away from big dreams. It feels safe to stay the same.

You know the status quo, even if there are aspects of who you are now and what you do now that you wish were different.

And, its important to know that living a static life, while it may feel comfortable, takes a toll.

• When you tolerate stress…

• When you stay in a situation that is less than satisfying…

• When you fail to try things that your heart yearns to experience… 

• When you stay quiet in spite of knowing there is more of you to show the world…

you stay in a state of being that’s a smaller version of who you truly are.

I know this from personal experience. I lived a very small version of my true self for decades.

What I learned, when I dared to dream big and begin to make small changes, changed my life!

As I slowly stepped into being a more fully expressed, confident woman, I was able to slowly let go of beliefs that had relentlessly dogged me — that I was not good enough or capable enough to do big new things. That I could show up authentically and feel secure in who I was. That I would be able to discover and pursue new and meaningful work and ways of living.

I learned to believe in myself. I learned to connect to my heart and I heard what it was asking me to try and be and do.

And I dared to begin to test out new ways of showing up — and kept going.

Hold your big vision! 

Staying the same means you miss out on tremendous possibilities, great satisfaction, and knowing that you are making the most of your one precious life.

Not only that, staying the same means the world misses out on receiving all that the big, fully expressed version of you has to contribute. We miss out on your genius!

I invite you to hold your vision with reverence.

Type it out, edit it to be full and vivid.

And read it every day — when you wake up and before you go to bed. 

Then, as you start each morning, think about one tiny step you can take to move toward the vision that you conjured. 

Each day holds great opportunities for you to do something just outside of your comfort zone, like:

• showing up with more authenticity

• sharing an idea you have held back on

• proposing a small change

• reaching out and inviting someone into a conversation

• creating simply for the joy it brings you

These small, consistent kinds of actions will move you forward, in ways that will compound over time.

Why not take a tiny step in the direction of your dream now?

Share your dreams, a tiny step or two you’re taking, and how it feels. Schedule a chat here.

Overwhelmed? Here’s How a Simple ‘Mini-Reset’ Can Restore Your Energy

We humans are complex, and women who are committed to doing their best — at work, at home, and in the world — can easily overload their nervous systems.

We plan, we strive, we feel deeply, we push — often to the breaking point. Sadly, this way of living becomes “normal” for so many of us.

Even on weekends and when we take vacations, we can struggle to fully unplug and rest.

And it takes a toll.

I often say that we are not machines, but many of us live as though we were. And most of us do not even pause for routine maintenance (which we would never skip for the cars we drive!). We do not think about protecting ourselves from future breakdowns. We just keep grinding away.

What if you shifted gears?

I invite you to appreciate the vital importance of taking a break.

While it’s great to pause and breathe with intention during a busy day, I am suggesting something that will have a bigger benefit.

I call it mini-reset.

Consider setting aside a weekend day (or more time if you have a vacation planned). And to make it really interesting skip the planning.

Yup. Even if you love to plan in advance, give this a try!

Whether you are alone, with a friend, or surrounded by kids and family, imagine starting this unplanned day quietly and slowly.

Ask yourself

• what might be fun to do?

• what would bring me joy?

• how might I play?

• where might be a fun place to explore?

• what would be a great way to surprise myself?

Consider ways to spend time with no agenda other than pleasure and ease!

Maybe you’ll get in the car and take a winding country road to a town you haven't explored before, or for a while. When you get there you might try a cafe, window shop, walk through a park, meander on side streets.

Maybe you’ll head to a museum without a clue about the exhibitions on view, to follow your nose as you move through galleries and make discoveries.

Maybe you’ll choose a spot close to home and sit and watch the world go by. Look at the sky, people-watch, look closely at things you usually rush by and make a point of finding small moments of wonder.

Whatever you choose to do, notice what's around you — the sights, sounds and smells.

Take note of how you feel.

Memories may show up.

Curiosity is likely to be peaked.

New ideas may pop into your head at random moments.

Commit to periodic dates for mini-resets

Just as you would not miss your semi-annual dental appointment or annual physical, commit to regular dates for resetting your nervous system.

Remember, whether you choose a date each month or each season, you can gather up the crew or go alone. You can stay put and read something you have not made time for. You can putter in your garden if that brings you pleasure. You can cook something you've been curious to try.

These periodic mini-resets will help your complex, overworked brain and body get the preventive maintenance — including minor repairs — to function optimally.

And as you reap the benefits and continue to choose dates for resets, they will likely become a normal part of the rhythm of your life.

So pick a date for your first mini-reset right now!

And remember, as tempted as you might be, don’t do any advance planning!

Let yourself make a choice that morning and see how the day unfolds!

I’d be delighted for you to share your mini-reset experiences with me. Schedule a chat here.

Overcoming Doubt: Embrace Your Authentic Self with Confidence

Being myself — authentically and unapologetically me — and feeling completely comfortable showing up without pretense, is one of the hardest things I’ve learned to do.

It was not so many years ago that I thought I had to dress and speak the way others expected me to.

I almost always compared myself to other women I admired (and often thought I did not measure up).

I worried that I was not smart enough or capable enough, and had not secured enough degrees.

I frequently felt that I was not good enough.

All of those feelings amounted to a heavy load to bear.

I lived with doubt. I lived with a lot of shame. And I was pretty sure that almost all of the great women around me had it all together — that they were fully confident being their authentic amazing selves.

It also seemed to me that the way I thought about myself was something I would always have to live with. 

What I learned that surprised me

I started to work with my first coach about 15 years ago. I wanted help with my business at a time that the economy was brutal. In short, I wanted strategies, and nothing more.

Much to my surprise, my coach probed deeply and asked me lots of uncomfortable questions about how I showed up in the world (or didn't), and those questions brought me face-to-face with truths I was embarrassed to acknowledge.

And, I could not deny the truth — that I was operating as a smaller version of who I really was, for fear that I was not good enough.

With loving support, I was able to fully face realities I had not dared to look squarely at before. And that support from my coach enabled me to begin to show up more fully, even though it felt terrifying at first.

I eventually decided to sell my business and dove into studying the mysteries and power of creativity. After training to be a coach, I started coaching other great women who yearned to create truly fulfilling lives where they could show up as their brilliant selves, without doubting that they were not enough.

Do you feel good enough?

If you can answer that question with a whole-hearted, “Yes!” I am thrilled for you.

Your next step into creating a future that will light you up will begin with a foundation that is strong.

And if your answer is something like mine was not so long ago, or you know you had that confidence at one point and for whatever reason it has slipped away, I get it.

It can feel sad, scary, shameful or a mix of all of those emotions. It can feel daunting to imagine yourself owning your greatness without the need to fake it or struggle.

And I know that you can get there.

I did it, and I am honored to guide women though their journeys to standing proudly in their unique greatness.

Begin with taking baby steps

It feels daunting to attempt big changes all at once — and pushing yourself to make those efforts can lead to overwhelm and shut-down. Why not take a small first step instead — and why not give one a try today?

If you tend to dress in ways that feel “safe” at work, you might add a dash of color or add an accessory that expresses a facet of yourself you typically don’t show. 

If you don't have a headshot that reflects your warmth, humor, or any other aspect of your personality, consider engaging a photographer and then update your LinkedIn profile. 

If you have something to contribute and have held back for fear that your ideas are not good enough or may get shot down, think of someone you trust and test out ways to offer your suggestions with that friend or colleague. With some feedback, practice and encouragement, it will be easier for you to choose a time and place, and feel comfortable, speaking up.

Getting help makes a world of difference. Having help enabled me to move beyond my limitations — and do it with more ease and more quickly than what was possible on my own. 

It would be my pleasure to speak with you so that you can explore the ways coaching can help you to fully embrace your specialness and share it with the world.

Schedule a chat with me here.

Manage Stress with These Powerful Techniques

Few would disagree that when we operate in a stressful environment we are unable to be our best.

And few of us are free from stress these days.

The current external environment often changes by the hour, and in ways that are unsettling and even frightening.

And day-to-day, normal stresses arise at work, in relationships, in our communities.

Even the “good” stresses of welcoming a new baby to the world or moving to a new home take a toll.

How to manage your energy in the midst of stress

It may help to consider that we are all connected — we are connected to other people and the natural world through an energetic web. We do not operate in a vacuum.

This web of connection — that may sound obvious to you, or may sound a bit woo — is something we can tap in meaningful ways, especially when we feel unsteady.

If you are willing to accept that concept, try these approaches when you find stress interfering with your ability to think clearly or take action without fear.

1. Get quiet and connect to your heart 

When you take a break of just one to five minutes to sit quietly and breath, your nervous system will settle. Sit in a comfortable position, preferably in a quiet place, and put a hand on your heart. As you breathe slowly, send loving thoughts to your heart. Sense the connection in your heart to people you love. Think of people you admire. Imagine a beautiful place in nature. Sit and savor the feelings.

2. Remind yourself of all the ways you are special

The benefits of thinking self-loving thoughts are more meaningful than you might imagine. Studies show that self-compassion, and self-loving thoughts and practices, decrease anxiety, depression, and loneliness, and that stress is reduced at a cellular level! Remind yourself that you are wonderful. You are resourceful. You have help and love all around you. Think and speak lovingly to yourself, and know that the more you feel love and share love with others, the more love will expand in your life.

3. Connect to others

We are social beings, and while many of us think it’s best do things on our own, and that doing things alone proves that we are capable, the truth is that we are stronger — and more is possible — when we choose to be connected socially, choose to collaborate, choose to ask for help. Making these connections is a powerful way to live with less stress.

You can leverage your invisible connections

When you bring consciousness to, and adopt practices that connect your elevated, self-loving spirit to other people — and to the natural world — you are likely to find that your life gets better.

Things will feel — and be — easier for you.

You will speak differently. You will listen differently. You will likely notice subtleties and ways to connect to others more deeply.

As you share both energetically and in real-time with others, and appreciate the wonder all around you, your connection to your deep desires will surface more easily, your spirit will soar, and you will live with more joy.

Imagine what can be possible for you when you bring a focus to all the ways you can fully love yourself, and to making true energetic connection with others.

If you want some personal guidance for how you can build self-love or tap into the energy of love with more ease, schedule a chat with me here.

Clarity comes when you focus on what’s possible

We are hard-wired to look back — to review, evaluate, and process past events.

And, while there are often great lessons to be learned when we look back, there are also traps that we can easily fall into:

• We replay past failures

• We relive disappointing moments

• We get mired in resentment, often blaming ourselves or others

• We sink into regret

Consider where you focus your attention

Whenever an outcome is less than ideal, you have the opportunity to make a conscious decision about how you will reflect on it and what to do once you’ve done that.

When you take stock of a situation, ask questions like:

• When I look at the matter clearly, is there something I can learn from it?

• Did I make clear decisions at the start of the process?

• Did I miss seeing something at the time that is apparent in hindsight?

• What would I do differently knowing what I now know?

• Will this matter to me a month from now, or a year from now?

• Can I laugh about this?

The answers to these questions can be valuable. And when you focus on the insights you gleaned, and can even find humor to tap into, it will be easier to stay clear of the urge to rehash the events or suffer regret.

Next try asking these questions:

• What does my heart desire now?

• What is the next step I can take to move ahead positively?

• Have I asked good questions related to taking my next move?

• How do I want to show up and feel going forward?

You get to choose the way you’ll show up

When you remember that you always have the opportunity to choose your frame of mind as you move ahead, you can make a choice to: 

• believe in yourself

• be courageous

• be bold

• approach what is next with joy

Keep your focus on where you want to go — and be propelled by the desire you have connected to.

And trust yourself to make wise decisions, based on what you have learned and based on the desire that is propelling you.

The past does not define your future!

Every day is filled with possibilities and opportunities.

You can always tap the vast resource of creative power you possess.

You can always move boldly toward a vision that shines bright for you.

Or simply taking steps to make the next hours and days the best that are possible is fantastic! 

Even when you have experienced a letdown, made a misstep, or failed miserably — and all of us have! — when you embrace the truth that you are powerful and you are brilliant, you can bring that energy to everything you do.

What is possible for you is truly limitless.

You were born to shine. We all were.

This is what taking time for yourself can unlock

How do you show up for yourself? 

Do you prioritize your health?

Do you make happiness a clear focus?

Do you also make space to deeply explore what you desire, what your heart yearns for?

And if you have connected to a deep passion, purpose or desire, have you taken the time to create a clear vision for your future where those desires will be a focal point in your life?

The last two are questions that many women fail to consider. In the midst of a busy life, they focus on what needs to be attended to and squeeze in a bit of self-care and things they enjoy where they can.

And, as the days, months, seasons and years roll along, they often come to realize that something has been missing.

What can happen when you take time for you

Last week at my annual Live Big Live! Retreat, an intimate group of remarkable women came together to explore their biggest desires and create powerful visions for the next part of their lives.

These women made rich connections. As we moved through a 3-day process that included exploration and creative experiences that opened them to insights and awareness, they supported one another to bravely go into their hearts and mine for what matters most to each of them now.

These three examples illustrate what can emerge when you devote a few days of your life to yourself:

One woman…
surprised herself by realizing she is ready to do something bigger and braver than she ever has before. And, even as she shared that she was intimidated by that audacious desire, she declared that she was going to move forward with “baby steps” rather than pull back from fear.

One woman…
realized that her passion for helping other women who are moving through, or are on the other side of abuse, is something she wants to combine with her professional work. She’s not yet sure of how it will happen. She is sure that she will explore and get help and find a way to have the bigger impact she feels is her life’s purpose.

One woman…
discovered that while she came to the retreat with one intention, she realized a need to significantly build self-love — and that learning to fully love and appreciate herself will facilitate her ability to bring her other desires into the world without doubts or struggle.

Here is what one of the retreat participants told me:

“I found what I truly want to create in my life. We all only get one!
And I am ready to articulate it clearly and make it real now.”

Are you ready to create your biggest life?

Choosing yourself — to experience the deep impact of going on a retreat, or to work with a coach — can help you move forward with clarity and focus, to live your best, most satisfying and meaningful life.

The photos below will give you a glimpse into what the Live Big Live! Retreat looked like.

The next retreat I am leading with be L’Aventure Française. It’s a 12-day experience in Paris and the French countryside that was a life-changing experience last year and will be spectacular this fall, October 7 through 20.

I would be delighted to tell you all about that, or explore other ways I may be able to support you to step into all of your creative power and live the passionate life you dream of

Schedule a chat with me here.

The Power of Setting Personal Standards (and why they matter)

Many women operate with so much intensity, aiming to do their work and manage a range of responsibilities in their lives, that they feel triumphant every time they make it through a day having checked off all, or most of, what was on their to-do list.

I see, time and again, that when living at that pace they often skimp on thinking about how they set personal standards — standards for the way they treat themselves and standards for how they expect others to treat them.

Being deliberate about defining and standing by your standards has a huge bearing on the quality of your day-to-day life.

Why set standards?

Whether you do it with careful attention or not, you set agreements with yourself about how you conduct yourself in the world.

Well-considered standards keep you clear as you navigate each day. They also help you to communicate clearly, so others know how you want and expect to be treated.

Clear standards impact the actions you take.

They also help you make decisions such as deciding not to interact with people who are inconsiderate, or otherwise fail to meet your standards of integrity.

When you set clear standards you know when you are willing to compromise and what important matters are non-negotiable.

Having clear standards also enables you to make decisions with ease.

What standards can look like

You may set a standard to treat yourself with respect and kindness. This standard will impact how you take care of yourself and whether you make time for the self-care you define as important to your wellbeing. It also influences the tone and content of your self-talk.

You may set a standard to treat others with honesty, respect and integrity that are in alignment with your values.

You may set a standard that entails creating healthy boundaries — in personal and professional situations.

You may set a standard to be a learner, to build skills or expand your mind. 

A standard you set might focus on what excellence looks like for you, and what you strive for.

The benefits of setting standards with care

When you take the time to think about setting standards that matter to you, and begin to live by those standards, you will feel grounded and clear as you move through your days.

That clarity will also support you to feel confident. You will notice feeling more sure about the actions you take, and that having what likely felt like a challenging conversation in the past is now far less uncomfortable. 

In time, having clear standards supports you to have stronger relationships and to find more satisfaction in your life.

Today’s the perfect time to set a clear standard

While it might feel daunting to consider this topic, you can simply devote a few minutes today to considering one thing you want to establish as a personal standard.

After you put that standard in place you can think about additional standards to bring into your life over time.

The rewards of honoring your clear standards will be felt quickly.

And as you experience the meaningful impact, you will be inspired to continue to clarify and implement new standards.

This is a powerful way to create a spacious, fulfilling life.

What’s stirring in your heart right now?

Maybe you are celebrating a significant life moment this spring.

Families are sharing photos of graduations — from 5th grade into middle school, all the way to PhD completions at universities.

It’s a season of weddings and baby showers, family reunions and birthdays.

My grandchildren turned 6 and 10 in the last few weeks! And I just returned from a family wedding filled with glorious love and joy.

I am also feeling especially delighted about my work now.

I have been leading the prelude to the Live Big Live! Retreat for the last 5 weeks.

Over these weeks I’ve witnessed tremendous insights emerge and special new friendships form as we’ve moved through the virtual portion of the program. This lead-up to our 3 big days together — happening this week — was designed to provide a strong foundation of clarity for each woman, upon which she can build at the retreat.

As we have moved through a weekly sequence of Discovery Sheets, we have shared deeply on group calls. And I have had private coaching sessions with each woman in this fantastic cohort.

I followed my heart

When I created this retreat in 2020 (this is the 11th Live Big Live!), I had a big goal in mind — to provide great women with a process that would guide them to deeply connect to their hearts and desires, and based on that clarity set a compelling vision for the next part of their lives. And, I designed a structured process for each woman to create a personalized way to start making that vision her reality, so that when she left the retreat she would be clear about how to truly live into her vision.

I knew in my heart that we needed more than 3 days together to bring this way of supporting significant change into reality. Thus the idea to meet weekly in advance of the retreat was born.

What do you yearn to create?

I trusted my intuition and my heart when it signaled me that everyone would get her biggest outcome if she came to the retreat with a solid foundation in place that she could build on. 

Other people told me that the additional component of the process was not necessary. They said I did not need to do one-on-one sessions either. They advised me to keep it simple.

And, while that advice might have been fine for others, it was not right for me, and what I wanted to offer the women about whom I care deeply.

Do you have a deep desire to create something new?

Do you feel like there is something more, something bigger you want to pursue?

Even if you do not yet know exactly what that looks like, I invite you to keep the desire alive.

Journal freely and see what emerges. Imagine possibilities and talk about them with people you feel close to.

And get support to accelerate your movement forward. I know that had I tried to create Live Big Live! on my own, it would have taken much longer and would likely have entailed more trial and error than the way I shaped it with the help of my own coach.

Your dreams matter!

When you honor your heart and take a fresh new step toward living a purpose-filled, spacious life, you will find satisfaction and joy.

And all of us will benefit from your energy and contribution.

So connect to your desires and hold them with reverence.

Create ideas, create opportunities, create small steps forward. With every step you will build momentum.

I cannot wait to celebrate you!