Contrary to popular belief, effective stress control isn’t about eliminating adversity altogether. You and I both know that’s impossible. So what can we do? Society’s Acceptable Stress “Fixes” — A Tarnished Gold Standard Reclaiming our power over our stressful lives requires emotional energy management for intentional stress relief. We must release the standard go-tos which, surprisingly, do more damage…

If I had to sum up the overall vibe of the past three years in a single word, it would have to be “rollercoaster.” We’ve experienced clunky “ups” and stomach-dropping “downs.” We’ve been hit with emotional stress at every turn. In tumultuous times like these, we have two choices: we…

Sneaky mental health hurdles lurk in the shadows of our everyday lives. They hide in simple work tasks. They enshroud many social situations. We gravitate toward them in habitual stress responses. Yet they secretly sabotage our happiness at work and in life. They even threaten productivity and profit. …

Want to improve your life as a high achiever? Of course, that’s why you’re here! But what did you expect to find when you clicked the link to this article? A fellow high achiever, I’ve struggled with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and anxiety. If you’re like me, I’d guess you…

A brief case study on the power of mindful habits. Sue was struggling with busyness, overwhelm, and wobbling priorities. She wanted to improve her professional achievements and reach big life goals, but lack of energy was keeping her stuck. Sue was so reliant on caffeine, she was drinking 14 cups…

After decades of misuse, quitting alcohol taught me how to heal generational patterns and stop escaping the parts of life that actually make it rich and fulfilling. — I got drunk for the first time at the tender age of 14. My dad was a closet alcoholic. My mom was rigidly religious. He was rebellious and hid from life. She strained to contort to pious rules of acceptance. Buried in the fallout from their discordance, my feelings were…

Abortion isn’t just for people who don’t want — or aren’t ready — to have a baby. I had an abortion when I was 30 years old. I was happily married. I had a great job. I was terrified about becoming a mom (which is a deep-dive conversation for another…

These taboo actions actually support mental health and happiness. — We’ve all felt buried by life at some point. Even the most got-it-together of us are vulnerable. Mountains of overwhelm can smother our happiness and mental-emotional wellbeing. They come avalanching down from all directions– work, home, family, community. It’s suffocating. …

Nurture self-confidence and self-trust in others through human-centered leadership — I remember it like it happened yesterday– trembling on the edge of the diving board, staring into the cobalt depths of the pool below. I heard the voices yelling, “hurry up and jump already!” I wished I could, just so they’d stop. I was so embarrassed about being afraid to…