New Testament or Old, Facebook fan of Moses or Jesus, you don’t have to be a religious person to extract some nuggets of truth from any of them.

As someone who founded an organization with the tagline “Recognizing Our Unity; Celebrating Our Diversity,” I’m always trying to see the things we share in common that are in places we often think are so different, especially if you look at it through the right lens with the right attitude.

This time of year we are reminded of some good ‘ole fashioned foundations of personal growth – trust (in oneself, others and in something bigger than oneself), faith, perseverance, forgiveness, liberation, rebirth.  Without their official branding, the Ten Commandments and Golden Rule can offer you some guidelines for a happy and fulfilling life, if you just think of them as good advice from a friend or coach.  Or even a TV commercial.

Be open to wisdom and inspiration no matter what form they take, and like wearing those 3-D glasses at the movie theater, learn to view things from many perspectives.

This is one of my personal specialties; I can look at the same thing that you do and see something completely different, turn it upside down, or see how it might be more or less significant than you think it is. I can connect all the dots between things that might seem totally unrelated and help you understand whatever epic journey you’re on.

Not sure how to get started? Give me buzz and I’ll put the Spring back your step, help you cross your Red Sea, own or reclaim your personal passions, and feel refreshed and ready to take on the world in a wholy-er way!

(Today’s PGG was originally posted on March 30, 2010)

Want to make 2018 the year you transform yourself but not sure how?

Contact me today and I’ll help evolve you both personal and professionally!

***Click here for my special Spring Cleaning private coaching offer – good through May 15th!***

Text CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to be added to my mailing list and be in the loop with my coaching and workshops as well as have these essays delivered to your inbox!

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CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “WHO ARE YOU & WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH YOU LIFE?” GIVEN ON 1/31 AT SIBL

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “AUTHENTIC BRANDING: LETTING THE REAL YOU SHINE IN ANY SITUATION” GIVEN ON ON 3/1 at SIBL

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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts.

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Check out this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)” In this excerpt covering the final ten minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life, maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.

Click here to watch video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!   Click on above links for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today. 

Read over fifty 5-star “Yelp” style reviews here

Join Mailing List

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself 

One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others .~ Nelson Mandela

Revolution is the evolution of humans into a higher humanity. ~ Grace Lee Boggs

Those of you who know me or have been reading PGG for a while are aware that my passion and mission in life has always been to contribute to world peace, mostly through my work best expressed in my mantra that personal transformation is the key to social transformation.

So it should come as no surprise that I profoundly relate to and revere the lives of these two nonagenarians, Nelson Mandela who died last week at age 95, and the 98-year-old* activist and author Grace Lee Boggs. They literally embody this philosophy in every cell of their beings; they have demonstrated it externally with their activism and sacrifice for racial equality and social justice, and internally by the wisdom they have gained and generously share from nearly a century of experience, observation, and, most importantly, reflection.

Both started out as “radicals”, and were branded as terrorists with the requisite FBI/CIA files (Mandela was even on the US terrorism watch list until 2008!) because they initially saw the only way to overthrow the entrenched power structure was by employing the more literal and sometimes violent tactics of revolution through organized movements and a spirit of rebellion. But through trial and error, incarceration, and maturity, they eventually evolved; they gave themselves permission to change their minds, learn and grow in light of new information, experimentation and once again, reflection – ultimately coming to the conclusion that in order to change the world, they would have to change themselves.

They came to understand that indeed humanity is made up of humans and that humans were going to have to deal with other humans in order to get anything done. So we’d better be the best we can be as individuals and try to get along and get past our differences and disagreements, because the reality is that we must co-exist harmoniously – whether in a racially divided African country, a rundown bankrupt American city, or in your very own household.

We are living in extraordinary times, and it is no accident that you are who you are at this moment in history.

What does your humanity mean to you?  As our world continues to go through turbulent changes and upheavals, it will be up to us individually and collectively to do our part to “tear down” where necessary and rebuild a more enlightened society that reflects our evolved humanity.  But we have to start with ourselves and do what we can in our immediate environments to demonstrate our own revolution – which, by the way, does not happen overnight or with a magic pill, silver bullet, or special app.

Only through keen observation, deep reflection, and inner and outer sweating effort and energy over a long period of time directed towards improving ourselves and serving others that true transformation can take place. Then, if we’re lucky, by the time we reach our 90’s we can look back and see how our journey has positively and productively unfolded in both a personal and political way, and be proud of what we accomplished and the legacy we will leave behind.

Wondering how it will all go down if you take up the cause? Give me a buzz and I will incite a riot in your heart to make the most of what you got, so at the end of the day you know it’s gonna be alright. 

(Today’s PGG was originally posted on December 11, 2013)

Want to make 2018 the year you revolutionize your life but not sure how or where to start?

Contact me today and I’ll help evolve you both personal and professionally!

Text CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to be added to my mailing list and be in the loop with my coaching and workshops as well as have these essays delivered to your inbox!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “WHO ARE YOU & WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH YOU LIFE?” GIVEN ON 1/31 AT SIBL

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “AUTHENTIC BRANDING: LETTING THE REAL YOU SHINE IN ANY SITUATION” GIVEN ON ON 3/1 at SIBL

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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This past June I had someone film parts of my New Attitude Summer School series, which resulted in this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)”

In this excerpt covering the final ten minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life, maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.

Click here to watch video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!   Click on above links for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today. 

Read over fifty 5-star “Yelp” style reviews here

Join Mailing List

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself 

In the year 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue…Whether or not we approve of the outcome of that fateful voyage of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, we can all learn from Columbus’s extreme act of faith and belief in himself when he left to explore a New World despite all odds.

Albert Einstein believed in intuition and inspiration, saying “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.  The greatest discoveries in the world are often based on hunches by people with a vision and certain knowingness, who then move forward with courage, determination and perseverance and set out to prove it.

People may think you’re crazy, want to dissuade you, say your theories are wrong; even those closest to you who have the very best of intentions can only project their version of the truth and what they think is right.  But they simply may not understand, and at the end of the day, you must be the captain of your own ship.

Once you embark on that journey, you will always encounter stormy skies, dis-ease, and potential mutiny, whether from external sources and naysayers, or internal voices of doubt and despair trying to capsize what your heart and gut knows to be true. Your proof and evidence may not yet be in existence, but you must remain steady as she blows!

We each have an internal compass, our own North Star, which may very well lead us on a different path from everyone around us or society as a whole.  We are all unique beings, so only you know what’s right for you and ultimately the direction you want to be going.  And if you’re wrong or it doesn’t work out the way you planned, at least you will have tried and will learn and grow along the way. You may even find something better than what you originally envisioned…

So if you need a little adjustment of your inner GPS, require an experienced cartographer, or just want some help handling what Mother Nature throws your way, give me a buzz and I’ll be the wind that gives lift to your sails, assists in navigating those uncharted waters and supports you in staying the course!

(Today’s PGG was originally published on October 12, 2010)

Want to make 2018 the year to begin to your epic journey but not sure how or where to start?

Contact me today and I’ll get you on the right path in your career and life!

Text CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to be added to my mailing list and be in the loop with my coaching and workshops as well as have these essays delivered to your inbox!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “WHO ARE YOU & WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH YOU LIFE?” GIVEN ON 1/31 AT SIBL

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “AUTHENTIC BRANDING: LETTING THE REAL YOU SHINE IN ANY SITUATION” GIVEN ON ON 3/1 at SIBL

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This past June I had someone film parts of my New Attitude Summer School series, which resulted in this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)”

In this excerpt covering the final ten minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life, maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.

Click here to watch video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!   Click on above links for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today. 

Read over fifty 5-star “Yelp” style reviews here

Join Mailing List

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself 

If a human being dreams a great dream, or dares to love someone…If a human being dares to be bigger than the condition into which he or she was born, it means so can you… I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me. ~ Maya Angelou

And what a human she was! Dr. Maya Angelou possessed and cultivated a creative and brilliant mind, a powerful and compassionate heart, a flair for the dramatic, a serious sense of humor, and a thorough appetite for all aspects of life. She was a phenomenal woman who spent every breath of her 86 years consciously striving to express the fullest embodiment of what it means to exist as a spiritual being in this physical world.

To me, this is her greatest legacy. Like my other six foot tall heroine Eleanor Roosevelt, she walked her talk, and therefore we all benefited. She served as an example for all she stood for and knew to be Universally true; she espoused the unity and dignity of people of every race and creed, recognizing that “we are more alike than we are unalike.”

And she was very aware that she was indeed human, and knew how dangerous it is to make people, like a Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, or Mother Teresa larger than life — they were all human beings and when we idolize or put them on a pedestal they become inaccessible and we think we can never be like them. Instead they should inspire us to be extraordinary in our own way.

In our youth-obsessed and advertising-driven culture, it is unfortunate that we give so little airtime to our elders like Dr. Angelou, Nelson Mandela or Grace Lee Boggs, because when we listen to the wisdom that nearly nine decades of being a person who has chosen to love, forgive, learn and grow, who allowed themselves to reflect, observe and evolve, they teach us how to live. They are lighthouses that remind us who we really are and where we should be going — and these days especially when one is extinguished it feels like an even bigger loss because they are rare gems and we wonder who is coming up the rear to replace them.

In my work I have the honor and privilege of helping you discover that no matter how old you are or where you are from, you have a unique way of leaving our planet a little better off than when you arrived — even if it is simply by virtue of your own healed life.

Some of my clients, as a result of our meeting, have already gone on as a result of our meeting to win Tonys and Fulbrights, or are on their way to becoming a media moguls, best-selling authors, cutting edge inventors, or warriors for justice; whether they have an Ivy League background, were formerly incarcerated or are a ninth-grade NYC public school student, every one of them has something to offer, an opportunity to improve their own world, a way to be the most human they can be.

Not quite convinced that you, too, can be a giant among us? Give me a buzz and I’ll show you how like those Redwoods of California, you are one of hundreds of special trees that make up a forest of awe-inspiring majesty and beauty, living in harmony with one another and Earth, and the very Nature of Life itself.

(Today’s PGG was originally published on June 4, 2014)

Want to make 2018 the year to begin to express your greatness but not sure how or where to start?

Contact me today to be a giant in your career and life!

Text CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to be added to my mailing list and be in the loop with my coaching and workshops as well as have these essays delivered to your inbox!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “WHO ARE YOU & WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH YOU LIFE?” GIVEN ON 1/31 AT SIBL

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “AUTHENTIC BRANDING: LETTING THE REAL YOU SHINE IN ANY SITUATION” GIVEN ON ON 3/1 at SIBL

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for up to date posts, helpful articles and inspirational thoughts.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This past June I had someone film parts of my New Attitude Summer School series, which resulted in this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)”

In this excerpt covering the final ten minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life, maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.

Click here to watch video

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!   Click on above links for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today. 

Read over fifty 5-star “Yelp” style reviews here

Join Mailing List

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. ~ Jimi Hendrix

If you have been receiving PGGs for a while, worked with me individually or come to one of my group sessions, you know that I talk a lot about love. But the love that I talk about is not some airy-fairy, namby-pamby, hippie-dippy notion one that has been misused, watered-down, misunderstood, or simply lost its meaning with lip service.

Real love is the real deal. As Mahatma Gandhi says “Love is the strongest force the world possesses, and yet it is the humblest imaginable.”  Fifty years ago we witnessed an era where our civil rights leaders and all those who were part of that struggle dug deep and called upon this force within themselves to withstand the immense opposition and cruelty they experienced on a daily basis in order to transform society as it existed at the time.

More recently we could not have had a more immediate, direct and tangible example of this phenomenon when one single woman, Antoinette Tuff, used it to save the lives of over 800 people, most of them children, from a lone, heavily loaded mentally ill gunman in Decatur, Georgia.  If you do not know the story, or haven’t seen this extraordinary woman talk about what happened, you must learn about her. (Google the numerous stories, or watch one of many interviews and listen to the entire 911 call)

As humans we are all built from the same stuff.  Love doesn’t know race, sexual orientation or religion – if you are human you can love.  If you are human you respond to love.  As Antoinette and Michael Stipe say, Everybody Hurts sometimes. Everyone needs connection and affection. Compassion and empathy are palpable and are the best antidotes to fear and pain.

If you’ve seen me speak, you know I am always mentioning the fact that the root of the word for courage is Latin for ‘heart’.  Which means that  true bravery is about connecting to that part of yourself, knowing its innate power, and having faith in a force greater and wiser than yourself (or beyond your ego/brain).

So the next time you find yourself in a challenging situation or being attacked in some form, whether it be mental, emotional, or yes, sometimes even physical, instead of using violence to counteract violence, why not call upon the most powerful weapon at your disposal: L.O.V.E.

Need a little help harnessing the heft of your heart? Give me a buzz and I will show you how to give it a good work-out, because at the end of the day love like is a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it will become – and who knows what miracles will occur in your life or the lives of others because of it!

(Today’s PGG was originally published on August 28, 2013)

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Want to make 2018 the year to pump up your love muscle but not sure how or where to start?

Contact me today to have more courage in your  career and life!

Text CLEARLYKRISTINA to 22828 to be added to my mailing list and be in the loop with my coaching and workshops as well as have these essays delivered to your inbox!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “WHO ARE YOU & WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH YOU LIFE?” GIVEN ON 1/31 AT SIBL

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF MY TALK “AUTHENTIC BRANDING: LETTING THE REAL YOU SHINE IN ANY SITUATION” GIVEN ON ON 3/1 at SIBL

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Last June I had someone film parts of my New Attitude Summer School series, which resulted in this very-roughly-edited-not-the-best-quality video of uninterrupted remarks wrapping up the workshop “Lead Yourself to Success (in Work & Life!)”

In this excerpt covering the final ten minutes, I summarize my thoughts about confidence, being a leader in your own life,  maintaining your individuality and humanity in the times we live in, and why the world is relying on you to be successful.   Enjoy & Stay Tuned for Fall Classes!

Click here to watch video

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you like what I write, you’ll love what I have to say in person!   Click on above links for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today. 

Read over fifty 5-star “Yelp” style reviews here

Join Mailing List

Read more about me and my work in these past PGG’s:

All Roads, Same Place | And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor | Strong Medicine | 10,000 Hours | A Decade of Doing What I Do | Express Yourself