Two weeks ago today my mom was on the operating table for almost five hours while an amazingly skilled surgeon replaced a valve, bypassed a main artery, and did some serious zapping in order for her heart to function properly. I am more than happy to report that she is well on her way to recovery and know she will be better than ever as a result of the ordeal.

Since finding out she would have to go through this, and realizing I would be the primary caregiver especially those first two weeks, there were several things I knew I would learn, re-affirm, understand, and most importantly, practice, as we embarked upon this journey….so lord knows these PGG’s will be chock full of my ‘take-aways’ this summer!

Let’s start with first things first: witnessing the simple yet miraculous fact that the body is built to heal. Our natural state is one of health, healing and wholeness and we are always trying to get back to that place even with little or no conscious effort on our part. When given enough time the body will adjust so it can live – like the main artery the docs said had been so clogged and calcified it had to have happened over many years because her body just naturally created its own way to get blood where it needed to go, and how quickly she was functioning less than 24  hours after the extensive operation she endured.

I’m a huge proponent of alternative medicine and holistic/mind/body wellness and believe that most illness can be prevented and/or cured by diet, exercise, sleep, positive thoughts, understanding and healing the emotional roots of the disease etc….But when it comes to fixing broken stuff, there is nothing like modern Western medicine for surgery – and it’s pretty amazing what we can do these days.

Unfortunately I’ve had to the opportunity to visit and know intimately many hospitals over the years.  My mom was in a place that is known for its superior cardiac care, but what struck me about this particular hospital is that besides its excellent doctors, nurses and technical/medical reputation, the atmosphere of healing permeates the premises and radiates through just about everyone we interacted with.

It was a Catholic hospital, and I had never been in one of those before, so wondered if perhaps that has something to do with it.  There is a genuine feeling that they are there for patients as whole people, not numbers or cases, (I knew we had chosen a great place when I noticed signs everywhere that say “Please be quiet…healing in process“), and almost as importantly, to keep the family and friends of those patients as relaxed and stress-free as possible.  In other words, I felt equally cared for as my mother. They totally acknowledge that the caregivers are very much part of the patient’s experience and are integral to their healing as well.   

As a career/life coach and speaker on employee engagement, I am always talking about how aligning your work with your life creates the most fulfillment not only for yourself but also serves others.  I was impressed how the staff seemed to share a common purpose, a deeper meaning to what they do and why they were there, and my guess is that it comes not only from ‘management’ but an inner connection to their work. And man does it show!

Of course this is heightened by the fact that many have jobs that are quite often literally dealing with matters of life and death, and I’m sure they have their bad days and issues with co-workers, but nothing is perfect and we should all strive to have workplaces as cohesive as that, regardless of the industry or business.

As I say in all my talks, we are living in extraordinary times; change and upheaval abound, causing us to confront our own versions of dis-ease in one or more areas of our lives. Wondering how you can create an atmosphere of healing and purpose wherever you need it?  Give me a buzz, and I will perform my own version of open heart surgery on you….minus the anesthesia or rehab and with an extra dose of heart and soul!

This week’s PGG is excerpted from an article I was featured in both The Huffington Post and Psychology Today. Enjoy!

I’ve always over analyzed situations growing up. I was a Psych major for that very reason. Well, that plus four years of free therapy. Women are infamous for over-thinking, obsessing about “Why didn’t he call?” Or “Should I buy these shoes?” Or “I hate these shoes I bought but all I can think about is why didn’t he call!”

Life coach Kristina Leonardi puts it this way: “Our guts and hearts are like hard drives, our minds the software. We need to let our centers do the heavy lifting and lead the way. But like any other muscle, you need to exercise love, intuition and trust in yourself on a regular basis. Then, little by little you grow stronger and more confident in order to let that part of you run the show, instead of your brain.”

Just listening to her say that makes me feel better and lighter. So, I recently attended Leonardi’s support group for people in career transition. They all had the same issue: ruminating about their next professional move.

Leonardi explains that becoming totally present allows us to know what feels right as a next step at any given moment. To get there, she recommends doing the following at least once a week:

• Do something physical, preferably an activity that requires some concentration and skill, or even simple manual labor.
• Be creative with your hands: paint, knit, cook or throw pottery.
• Journal to get the thoughts out of your head and out onto the paper.
• Play with animals or small children.
• Disconnect from technology and spend time in nature.

These are all doable ideas, yes? So today, I’m going to sun it up at a friend’s pool, not thinking about what I should be doing tomorrow.

Instead, I’ll concentrate on my breaststroke…and lead with my heart.

Click here for the full article either on Psychology Today or The Huffington Post

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. ~ Unknown

One of my current clients has done a tremendous amount of work in a very short time – she has had major revelations in noticing past patterns, stripped away unhealthy relationships and is beginning to tap into who she really is, not who she became to please everyone else.  It takes an immense amount of effort to do this.

For the caterpillar, transformation literally means disintegrating its old form to become ‘goop’ while protected in the cocoon prior to emerging as a butterfly.  You can imagine the energy required to do so, and it can’t be very comfortable being formless and not able to see much, if you can see at all – it’s not easy being goop!

Conscious or not of its eventual destiny, the old self, having served its purpose, is dying a type of death and there is natural grieving process that occurs. In consoling my client about letting go of her past, I mentioned how Cher had a hard time because intellectually she had grasped what was happening, but she became very upset when she realized the voice of her child was changing, as her daughter was now becoming a son. And although the person that she gave birth to was very much still there, she was losing Chastity in order to welcome Chaz.

Chaz Bono, and anyone who is transgender, has to deal with perhaps the most extreme of identity issues.  The amount of courage  it takes to make such a transition, especially in the public eye, is truly inspiring. Not only did he have to know and be comfortable enough with himself to make such a seemingly drastic decision, but to then be able to articulate so graciously and effectively how and why he needed to do what he did is a lesson for us all in ultimate self-awareness and love. 

No matter how you identify yourself, Chaz’s story is an important and powerful one, as we all go through various forms of transformation throughout our lives -some more internal and others more external -in order to evolve into the best and fullest versions of our own humanity. His experience teaches us to be true to ourselves, accept and honor all of who we are, and trust that those who sincerely care for us will do so as well, even if it does take some time to adjust.  He is more content in his new body and his new life than he has ever been; the more of us who get to that place, the better off we all are.

Whether you want to find your voice, be more comfortable in your body, or express more of your Sal or Sally, I can be a mirror and guide for you in the process, peeling back the layers and providing a cocoon of support and space for you to go from goop to glorious, like a Butterfly!

(Today’s PGG was originally posted on May 17, 2011)

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the article featuring yours truly in Forbes.com:  What I Learned Working with a Career Coach and be sure to share with your friends and followers 🙂 

The unofficial start of summer is traditionally accompanied by a more relaxed, go-with-the-flow kind of attitude.  Years ago there were only re-runs on a very limited number of TV channels and no internet to entice/distract/constrain us from being outside enjoying the warmer weather and longer days.

With our 21st century 24/7 lifestyle, this means that we have to consciously take time to disconnect with technology and re-connect with Nature, and ourselves.  

Like that cool special effect in big blockbuster movies of our recent past and present,  we need to pause midair and get a full 360 degree view of what is going on around us so that we can take the precise action to defend and/or advance who we are and what we want.

So while in the park or at the beach, be sure to take a moment to reflect on where you really want to be going and why, rather than just moving unconsciously from one activity to the next, day after day.  If you’ve been feeling too anxious or not in control, give me a buzz – I’ll take the remote out of your hand, put it on slo-mo, and guarantee you’ll be feelin’ groovy in no time!

(Today’s PGG was originally posted on June 1, 10)

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the article featuring yours truly in Forbes.com:  What I Learned Working with a Career Coach and be sure to share with your friends and followers 🙂 

There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. ~ Leonard Cohen

I recently had my apartment painted, which is basically like moving without actually moving. The main reason I did it was to force myself to go through all of my belongings and see what should stay and what should go, clean all the nooks and crannies that never get looked at and rearrange things in a better way.  Well, it’s working, but for various reasons has been happening s-l-o-w-l-y….and I just need to be okay with that.

In my post The Present of Presence, I mentioned that out of chaos comes clarity.  And I’m always talking about process, how patience is a virtue and the consistent effort needed to make lasting change, One Step at a Time.  I’m certainly getting some good practice right now!

It’s been a great exercise to dismantle my external life since most days I live and work on the internal side of things.  Just like with physical surgery, sometimes you gotta literally open up, get in there, dig around and rid yourself of and/or fix whatever is not working in order to begin healing and functioning more optimally.  Like my client’s ostrich with its head held high on her Vision Board, we have to deal with what is and take action, instead of keeping our heads buried in the sand expecting things to change.

With all the graduations, series, season and competition finales, and loss of some famous folks, it’s  a reminder to say goodbye to life as a student, to an era, to characters and storylines, and perhaps jobs, people, places and things, and especially old personas that we’ve outgrown. There are just times in our lives when we need to let it all go to make way for the new.

What needs to be opened up, dismantled, re-examined in your life? What is old and tattered and/or has served its purpose and should be released? What can be put back together in a new and improved way so that you can more easily integrate ALL parts of yourself and more effortlessly move forward in the most positive way on this journey called life?

Whatever area you feel stuck in, be sure to Ch-Check it Out – because only when we look at things from a different perspective can we make different decisions.  Having a hard time letting go of anything that’s not Hot Stuff?  Give me a buzz and I’ll help you face the music and get you Stayin’ Alive in the best version of yourself now and beyond!

P.S. In case you haven’t seen it yet, I was featured in the article What I Learned Working with a Career Coach now on Forbes.com! Please feel free to share /post /tweet to your peeps. 🙂

A rabbit’s foot, four-leaf clover or that certain pair of underwear – we all have things in our life that we consider good luck charms. Objects that we hold near and dear to serve the purpose of bringing us a little special magic in whatever scenario we need it.

But what about your inner charms, the things that make you YOU, those little quirks, sayings and even physical characteristics that come together in a combination uniquely yours? That is where your true luck lies, and by using them and trusting where they take you, doors that were previously closed can start to miraculously open.

We spend more time and energy than we realize trying to fit in and conform to certain standards of acceptance. Whether it be in our work, family, relationships, appearance or lifestyle, most people bury to varying degrees the very substance that will make them the most appreciated and successful. So if things aren’t going your way right now, why not ‘let your freak flag fly’ and see what happens?

Not sure what little treasures you possess or how to use them in the world? Give me a buzz and I will help you uncover those special gems that will lead to your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted in March 2010)

P.S. In case you haven’t seen it yet, I was featured in the article What I Learned Working with a Career Coach now on Forbes.com! Please feel free to share /post /tweet to your peeps. 🙂

“A human mind is a wandering mind, and a wandering mind is an unhappy mind,” was the conclusion of a new* Harvard study using an iPhone app. It is a sentiment that many religions and philosophies have proclaimed for centuries that can best be summed up by the popular phrase, ‘be here now.’

If someone had a window into our minds, they’d see that we are almost never fully engaged in what is right in front of us, whether we’re thinking of something in the past or future, or simply not focused on the task at hand, and that causes unhappiness.

According to Andrew Bersnstein’s  The Myth of Stress, it’s not the activity or situation itself that is a stressor, but our mind’s perception and reaction to it that causes the stress.  So by recognizing the reality of the situation at that particular time, and really see why it is happening is a way to greatly reduce your adverse response to whatever is taking place.

I am always talking about process and ‘understanding where you’re at.’ Most unpleasant situations we find ourselves in are impermanent; by simply accepting the fact that they are temporary, you can greatly increase your sense of inner peace and balance.  Because life is constantly in motion we need to learn how to just ‘go with the flow’ and know that ‘this too shall pass’.  

Remember that if you show up, in your mind and also physically to that meeting or event or participating in that conversation, you’ve already done half the work and the Universe can meet you half way to create whatever it is you want or need.

Out of chaos always comes clarity.  Need a little help living in the unknown and keepin’ it in real time?  I can be your personal iPhone app that checks in to show you how to make sense of and get the best out of anywhere you happen to be!

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on 11/16/10)

For related thoughts on this topic, check out my post One Day at a Time

P.S. In case you haven’t seen it yet, I was  featured in the article What I Learned Working with a Career Coach now on Forbes.com!

Today is the last day for my special Spring Cleaning coaching discounts & offers! Click here for more info.

For this week’s PGG I thought I’d share an excerpt from an article about a talk I did that was featured in The Huffington Post. Enjoy!

5 Simple Steps for Finding Your Life’s Purpose  

Today, times are a changin’. Our generation has learned that we have no choice but to find jobs in line with our true purpose. “Where is the job security today? Even the most traditionally ‘secure’ jobs can no longer make that claim. Bankers, lawyers, top executives, hospital and government employees and educators are losing jobs, and struggling to find new positions in their fields,” Kristina said.

She emphasized that this turbulent economic time, more than ever, is forcing us to dig deep, do more soul searching, find meaningful work that meshes perfectly with who we really are and create the life we want — no matter what our family, friends or colleagues think. Boy, can they chatter!

Kristina offered the group some amazing tools for staying focused and finding your purpose:

Get to Know Yourself: We are so influenced by external forces that many of us are out of touch with our deepest desires and passions. The ancient Greek philosophers advised, “Know Thyself.” Seek out classes, mentors and coaches to help you reach the core of who you are.

Get Paid to Be Who You Are: Think of Oprah, Rachel Ray and Dr. Oz; they all get paid to be themselves and do what they love. Maybe you’re not cut out for prime time, but it’s integral to realize that people are finding success just by being true to who they are.

Think Forward, Then Back: Not to be morbid, but how do you want to be remembered when you kick it? Take a few minutes to think about your legacy. What do you want to leave behind after your time in this world? Your answers will give you more clues to your purpose.

Take Advantage of Your Effortless Skills: Don’t knock the things you do well, big or small. The skills that come easily and effortlessly are the ones you should value the most. For example, are you an amazing listener? You might be surprised that listening is a valuable skill that many people don’t have. Don’t take your gifts for granted; they were given to you for a reason.

Have Courage: The universe rewards risk. Take a step in the direction of your passion and purpose, and opportunities will start coming your way. You first have to make a commitment to go for the gold in your life. Apply for a dream job you never thought possible. Meet with a mentor who lives your fantasy life. Take one step and watch the fun — and your future — unfold.

Most importantly, Kristina reminded the group to be patient! Don’t live like that high-roller on Wall Street looking for a quick fix and instant gratification; we all know how that story ends! Digging deep and finding your purpose takes time, perseverance and some elbow grease. Love the journey, because it will definitely be the best part.

Click here for the full article and share with others!

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts:  Work It, Money Makes the World Go Round, At Your Service

P.P.S. In case you haven’t seen it yet, I was also featured in the article What I Learned Working with a Career Coach now on Forbes.com!

Work With Me, People!  Special coaching offers now until May1st 

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~ Viktor Frankl 

I recently read about a pill being developed that would erase unpleasant memories, kind of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-ish. Of course I was appalled.  It’s bad enough the American public is seduced by quick fixes to deal with many physical ailments that a simple change in diet and exercise, a reduction in stress, self-love and a little mind/body/spirit elbow grease would take care of.  Now they want to get rid of negative memories?!?!  We’re already a society who over-eats, over-drinks/drugs, over-sexes, over-technologizes, over-works and over-realityshows to avoid what we’re feeling!

There’s a saying that many athletic coaches and trainers use: No pain, no gain. Yes, that can certainly apply to losing 20 pounds or training for a marathon, but it applies to our inner workouts as well.  As humans we like to avoid pain as much as possible, but pain can be a very useful tool if we let it.  Emotional, mental, physical or spiritual/soul pain shows us where we’re out of wack and where attention needs to be paid and adjustments made in order to learn and grow in any area of our life.

To the extent that you are ‘asleep’ is the proportion in which the Universe is going to use some big ‘ole version of its alarm clock to ‘wake you up’ and give you a big kick in the butt to do something about it.  And a kick in the butt doesn’t feel too good, but we all need one now and then to propel us into action. Most of us don’t want to endure prolonging suffering, so the pain forces us to take action. In other words, as I mentioned in the Well & Good.com article I was featured in, we often need to have a breakdown in order to have a breakthrough.

And remember that without pain we wouldn’t know joy.  When we are experiencing something akin to the ‘dark night of the soul,’ think of the caterpillar who thought the world was over just before it became a butterfly, and that ‘it’s always darkest before dawn.’  Sometimes we just need to ‘go there’ – these are the times that are meant to test our mettle and force us to rise up like the phoenix from the ashes in order to evolve into a better version of ourselves – and who wouldn’t want that?

So if you’re feeling like you’re about to crack, have been sleepwalking a little too long, or need someone to push you off that diving board, just Let Go, jump in, what are you waiting for? Give me a buzz and we’ll find the amazing beauty in whatever type of breakdown is occurring in your life.

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts: Fear Factor,  And S/he Was,  The Roof is On Fire

P.P.S. In case you didn’t see it last week, I was featured in an article What I Learned Working with a Career Coach now on Forbes.com!

Work With Me, People! Special coaching offers now until May1st 

Click here for special Spring Cleaning coaching discounts & offers! 

Massive quakes, record rainfall, perilous flooding, topsy-turvy temperatures. There is no doubt that Earth – displaying her power with last week’s volcanic eruption* as a kick-off to her special “Day” on April 22nd – is going through something. Whether you think of it as climate change, global warming or that crazy concept Al Gore invented, shifts happen.

If you think of each human as his or her own self-contained world, you could say our North Pole is our mind with its thinking/rational way of doing things, and our South Pole the heart and gut, our more intuitive, creative M.O.

We have always looked to the North Star to lead the way, but what about the Southern Sky? There would be no North without the South! One is not more important than the other. And what if the North is a little tired of doing all the heavy lifting, and is starting to pass the baton to the South?

In honor of Earth Day this week, think of yourself in the process of shifting and changing, just like the planet – be aware, take care, go with the flow and notice what happens. The Earth is crying out for ways to heal, and if you have been living a less than balanced life, so will you. I’m here to help, so think of me like Mother Nature with a super-special compass that can reset the magnetic North and South within you.

(*Today’s PGG was originally posted on April 20, 2010)

Visit your own personal  ‘South Pole’ this Saturday at TWM’s Visioning Workshop!

 P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts: Tiptoe Through the Tulips,  Leap of Faith,  Just Go With It,  A Fool’s Errand 

P.P.S. In case you didn’t see it last week, I was featured in an article What I Learned Working with a Career Coach now on Forbes.com!

Work With Me, People! Special coaching offers now until May1st