Cocooning
For those of you wondering where my blogs have been, I must confess, I have been cocooning. According to Frederic M. Hudson, author of The Adult Years, there are many times in life when we are called inward to transform old thoughts and beliefs into new capabilities. The process, which may take weeks or months, helps us to align more fully with our truth and focus more clearly on what is important. While in our cocoons, we can attend to life. I [...]
Pruning Our Olive Trees
I am on a small island in Croatia today. I have come to visit a friend who moved from Southern California to tend to an olive orchid that has been in her family for centuries. It is quiet here. On the island, time and priorities slow as activities are directed primarily by nature. As we walk the orchid this morning, my friend explains that the green olives now hanging in abundance on the branches will turn black in just a [...]
Helping Each Other Succeed
Two friends from China decided they were stronger together than they were as individuals. Their story is unique in that Wenqi was a double amputee and Haiza was completely blind. Yet, despite their handicaps they wanted to be productive and contribute to generations to come. Finding it difficult to find work, they went to the local government and proposed a plan to plant trees along the riverbank. They were granted support and the two men went to work. At times [...]
How to Ask for Feedback
We all need feedback. By understanding how people experience our style and performance, we can better align our efforts with what is truly needed. But how we solicit feedback can create its own perception that goes beyond our performance. In most cases, it is best to be direct, courageous and specific. Go in strong after a project or important meeting and ask your boss or co-worker for one or two things you did well, and where there was an opportunity to be more effective. Your boss or co-worker will appreciate your quest for self-mastery and the [...]
A Lesson from Shakespeare
I’m not sure what prompted me, but the other night I looked up the quote “To thine own self be true.” My search reminded me that the famous phase was spoken by Polonius in the play, Hamlet. However, what I found most interesting was what it truly meant when placed in the context of the full sentiment. “This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any [...]
What Retired People Wish They Would Have Done While They Worked
Not long ago, I meet with a group of retired women. Some were thriving with their new freedom, others were struggling with identity loss, and a few were dealing with medical issues. Many of the women shared that they were so consumed by their work that they neglected to maintain and create friendships. Those were the lost and lonely ones. Another woman was recovering from her cancer treatments and was now practicing yoga daily. She told me she wished she [...]