Habits control our lives whether we recognize it or not. If you’ve ever tried to overcome a bad habit, you’ll relate to the power of habits.

From the moment you get up in the morning, your activities are on cruise control: brushing your teeth, showering, eating breakfast, exercising (or not), checking Facebook or your email inbox, rituals once you’re at work, etc. Whatever you repeat enough and do routinely, the brain will create a habit. Why? Because the brain is a superhighway of efficiency.

Estimated reading: 4 minutes

"Forgiveness" is a term used so often that few people question its intrinsic value. You'd probably agree that asking for and offering forgiveness has become common practice. Just like many others, I was taught growing up that when you hurt someone—even accidentally—the right thing to do is to say you're sorry and ask for forgiveness. Children quickly learn when adults expect an apology, even when a child may have lacked the skill to respond differently.

Have we erred and put too much emphasis on behavior and not enough attention on understanding the person and their needs?

Estimated reading [...]

Whenever I teach emotional intelligence classes or facilitate women's groups, I am reminded how difficult it can be for people to allow themselves to feel. Yes, emotions can be overwhelming, especially the heavier feelings, but with practice, they can be a great resource for happiness. But first, we need to feel.

Give yourself permission to feel. But how?

Giving yourself permission is vital to be happy. But how? 

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

There is a lot of talk about creating a life you love, the law of attraction, and tons on overcoming anxiety and depression. The internet is a smorgasbord of information. You can read and learn about any topic! They range from “How to Attract Your Soul Mate,” to “How to Overcome Anxiety in 5 Easy Steps” to scientific articles like “Change Your Brain and Transform Your Life.”

We don’t have a shortage of virtual advice. Yet, just like overeating at a giant buffet, if you consume too much, the result is indigestion and brain fog. People often come to me for coaching with severe indigestion of [...]

Are you struggling to get motivated or unable to lose weight? Does it feel like you’ve tried everything with no results?! It is discouraging, isn't it!?

You’re not alone. It’s difficult for many people, including myself, to stay dedicated to a lifestyle that promotes health and fitness. Our schedules are crazy busy, and it takes discipline and consistency to develop healthy habits.

Or does it? Is that all that’s going on?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Let’s first get this out of the way—life in modern times is demanding, no matter where you are in your life and career. The escalating demands on our time and attention are astronomical, especially with so many forms of technology pulling on us.

If you thought that it was only you feeling frazzled, it’s not! All of us need to mindfully keep ourselves encouraged and learn to stay motivated in purposeful action, not just get busier. And procrastination is a real problem for many with the added challenge of chronic stress.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

For many, stress continues to build until a hair-trigger is released by an unexpected letdown. Changes in plans or inconveniences are met with impatience and emotional over-reactions. Sometimes another's negative mood or criticism can ruin entire days.

The antidote to this inner turmoil is emotional resilience, an element of emotional intelligence that allows one to adapt to and recover from stress and negativity more easily. The good news is that you can actively improve your emotional resilience and noticeably increase your happiness.

With all the daily ups and downs and the moment-by-moment challenges that arise in our lives, it's easy to forget that we have a say in how we feel. We have the ability to choose our response no matter what happens (and things do happen). It's called being intentional, and when setting intentions, we bring more joy into our life. We can begin to create the quality of our experience mindfully, even when it doesn’t feel like we have any choice. This is why mindfulness is so powerful.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes