Written Reflections

Feeling stuck, disconnected, or uncertain about what comes next? Sometimes the discomfort we experience isn't a sign that something is wrong—it's a sign that something is ready to change.

In Martha Beck’s recent book, The Way of Integrity, she explains her “Year of Not Lying at All” self—challenge and the shifts it brought about in her life. Honestly, I nearly jumped out of my chair when I read that. I felt absolutely electrified and that's why I keep talking about this. Lying is ultimately not about the stories we tell others but, at its very core, the stories we tell ourselves. And whatever we tell ourselves just ripples out to others like goo. How do we fix

Pause for a moment and imagine yourself as a really small child. We're generally raised to be nice people, to fit in and strive for socially acceptable goals. But what do you do if what you want is different from what those big people (parents) want for you? (This isn't about blame. There's no right or wrong. This is just what happens.) As little children, we realize that our parents are our world and our safety. But the flip side is that in order to continue to feel safe, w

I simply can’t say enough about this book. As I listened on Audible, I realized early on just how significant this book was going to be in my life. Inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, Martha meets the reader where they are and masterfully shows the impact that living inauthentically can have on our lives. You can say that when we’re being inauthentic that we’re lying to ourselves. We are. The topic of duplicity fascinates me, especially when we can finally detect it within our

Sometimes I appreciate the inspirational quotes that are posted on social media. Other times, I don’t. It depends upon my mood, mindset, perspective, which direction the wind is blowing and what’s going on with my hair that day. Today, I was in the mood to crack up laughing but my tea bag had other ideas. I thought this was amusing because my teabag tripped me up. That little message caught my attention. In all the years of drinking this tea, I rarely noticed what was written

I've called this nonconformity November because of the deeply embedded patterns we typically develop in childhood. We protect ourselves from situations that are new and/or frightening to us by learning to either fit in or act out. Ultimately, we find ways to adapt to our surroundings and can wind up with our joy and creativity locked up inside of us, too. Rather than looking back at what's happened in the past and retelling "the story", look forward. Where are you going? If a

This laughing Buddha has sat on my desk for over 9 years. I bought it as a remembrance of wonderfully fun week at the Omega Institute. I couldn’t tell you what was so funny. And if I did, it wouldn’t seem funny to you. It rarely does. Those stories we try to retell are rarely as comical to anybody else. I brought the laughing Buddha home as a happy memento. It’s a reminder of the freedom of unrestrained hilarity rather than the rigidity of socially polite laughter. But as wit

Once upon a time there was a fair maiden named Moon Goddess who lived in the outskirts of a lovely village. Her quiet home was surrounded by an array of beautiful trees. The most magnificent tree of all, Sir Beech, towered high over her dwelling and wide across the yard. Sir Beech, with the gentle grace of a weeping willow, became the focal point of Moon Goddess’ attention. She knew there were many other trees that surrounded her dwelling, but with Sir Beech occupying so much