Simply Enough

Have you ever felt safer behind a mask, or emboldened by wearing one? We definitely have, and that’s ok! Self discovery can occur by donning masks, or by lifting them, and can affect how we show up in the world.  Masks can free and liberate, or can confine and hide, like a barrier to connection.  It all depends on how we use masks as a tool, rather than a permanent facade or shield to remain unsee...

Have you ever felt like life is all work, no play?  Now more than ever, we all need a little more play.  Declare your recess time - go bananas, choose your walk up song, and grant yourself permission to play!  Play is a language, to communicate and learn, and is integral to the human experience.  With wonder, curiosity, and creativity, lean in to the opportunities to regain the joy of the sport, t...

Have you ever felt like you didn’t know enough, or shamed for not knowing more? Have you ever made yourself small, afraid the Know-It-Alls might expose you? We know that feeling, and you’re not alone. But learning isn’t  always about having the “right” answer (as if there’s always only one).  Enjoy the expanse of learning, as opposed to the limits of knowing “for sure”! We can keep a sense of yout...

Have you ever been voluntold, instead of asked?  We can recognize the moments when a decision is taken from us, and also avoid doing that to someone else.  Rather than allowing someone to think for you, invite a person to ask, and use your voice to answer! And when we ourselves think for others, with a litany of disclaimers, as a way to “protect” us from rejection, embarrassment, or disappointment...

Have you ever felt like you were constantly chasing "more"? Yet, we are more than our possessions, acquisitions, accumulations, and titles, and Enough is actually a choice we control. Looking at what we have rather than what we're missing frees us for living and experiencing, instead of numbing and buffering.  We can be mindful and sensual, to experience the fireworks in our lives....

Have you ever felt uncomfortable receiving a compliment? Or wished someone expressed just a bit of gratitude? Beyond etiquette or social graces, expressing thanks is an opportunity to connect with others and personally with one's self.  There is a continuum from approval to appreciation, and ultimately to gratitude.  Being open to receiving is a skill to be practiced, and a Thank You is the g...

Have you ever regretted holding yourself back, or kicked yourself with the thought  “if only I had …” ? Delete the narrative you tell yourself that keeps you from being bold!  A missed opportunity is a bigger deal than the fear of a little temporary awkwardness, embarrassment or rejection. Practice recognizing the opportunity of Now, and embolden yourself, to ask and go after what you want. Weigh...

Have you ever been afraid to try something new? Don’t wait to be invited— invite yourself to possibilities, and create new opportunities! Impress yourself for your first impressions.  Celebrate your courage to show up, and your daring to be in the room or to stand in the arena, to be a part of what’s New, because that where life is meant to be lived.

Have you ever avoided or anticipated something with dread? Life isn’t a dress rehearsal; it’s lived in the moment. Rehearsing fear, sadness, or dread brings more drama than peace, experiencing emotions that don’t have to be felt in advance! Consider what we bring to the present by worrying about the future.  Why rehearse the suck? Instead be open to any experience, just to be in the moment as it’s...

Have you ever felt an emotion like anger, and then felt guilty about it? It's okay to be angry! An emotion, like anger, in and of itself isn't bad. Have it, recognize it, release it, and move forward. It's not whether to express it or not. It's the choice of how to express it that heals. Whether it's by what you do or what you say, make the choice to express yourself for y...

Have you ever felt like "just" a bystander? Have you ever felt, in this perfect-selfie world, like you're the only one struggling? Know you're not alone. We can connect instead of distance, relate instead of isolate, and rather than lead One-to-Many, we can lead One-to-One, many many times. Like Dear Evan Hansen, "when you don't feel strong enough to stand, you can re...

Have you ever felt hurt by disappointment by a friend, colleague, or partner? Rather than letting the disappointment fester, pierce it to express it, and then heal.  Recognize what's in front of you the entire time.  By seeing something as it is, rather than the idea or wish of what we'd like to believe, we can have memories and present experiences without tainted emotion, to wisely navi...

Have you ever felt the weight of expectations, not only of yourself but of others? Do your expectations change how you show up in every situation? Connect, rather than separate, by recognizing interpretations over translations, to create a network out of individual operating systems.  Since we can only control ourselves, we can self-check and turn the finger back to own and be accountable for how...

Have you ever believed your age defines you? You can choose if a number imprisons you or liberates you! There are different seasons of life, so don't envy youth, or apologize for lessons learned and wisdom earned. Order the chicken fingers and tater tots! Taste, save and enJOY the hot fudge sundae! You don't have to always strive to be "adulting", and you can definitely take yo...

Have you ever felt in need of a pick-me-up? Y’know, “adulting” and play are not mutually exclusive.  You have the choice of which lens you see the world! There are no rules; make up a holiday and spark a celebration.  Let loose, woot-woot, chee hoo, laugh like Chewbacca, and the lasting memories make the celebration a gift that keeps on giving.  Celebrate along the way and then life itself becomes...

Have you ever felt excluded or marginalized?  Or, had difficulty empathizing with another person or group, because you haven't shared their experience or agree with their views? Not everything has to be adversarial.  Curiosity is the glue that binds us, and there is more that connects us than separates us.  We're all more similar than different, and awareness is a step to inclusion.  If...

Have you ever been in an imbalanced friendship? More giving and the other taking? Rather than feeling you need to prove or earn your value, listen to your inner GPS, and don't go by their voices and measures of your worth to them.  What they think of you does not matter more than what you think of yourself.  Weed the garden and flourish amongst those who love you, not for what you can do for...

Have you ever stayed in an environment or stuck with an idea that  hurts you?  What’s the price of the struggle, when your gifts and talents are so taxed?  Honor what makes you sing, rather than be the canary who suffocates in the coal mine. Your self worth doesn’t have to be wrapped up in the status quo, and you don’t have to fear being unravelled.  You can choose to let go, release control and s...

Have you ever felt you had to be all-or-nothing? Or if you're not The Best, then it's not worth doing?  Recognize that there is Joy and value in the middle, and a mission can still be served from there.  Give yourself permission to have joy by releasing extreme standards- Things don't have to be just right, or best ever.  By getting out of our own way and being present, then the mid...

Have you ever felt pressure to become The Best, or to maintain being The Best, or felt like a complete failure because of not being The Best? But being The Best doesn't always equate with happiness.  Instead, realize that One's Best is fluid rather than static, and isn't all-or-nothing.  Don't beat yourself with the ruler that only measures the mark that you missed.  The measur...

Have you ever wished you could believe in yourself more?  A belief is just a thought you keep thinking, and self belief can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Limiting beliefs are learned, not inherent, so rather than focusing on what you lack, believe in what you can practice and build upon.  Your past doesn't have to infiltrate your present.  Move in the direction you choose, and if you ca...

Have you ever thought you'd "die from embarrassment", so you opted out of a moment? It's the power we put on our belief of what embarrassment is that keeps us hamstrung from doing anything.  Instead, laugh about it, learn from it, and enjoy it! Let's not take ourselves too seriously, and let's live every moment in the moment, and recognize the moment passes.  Find lau...

Have you ever felt that someone has made a wrong assumption of you? Rather than worry about what others might reduce you to in their estimation, stand in a place of self-compassion.  We can't control others, especially their assumptions they choose to formulate.  You can't take on every battle, and you get to decide if it's even worth it to engage.  You don't need to defend, pr...

Have you ever wished you had more confidence? Confidence isn't blind arrogance, or thinking you're infallible.  Honor the blooper outtakes as much as the highlight reels, because confidence isn't about the ability to succeed in a task.  It's about the mindset going into it, regardless of the outcome. 

Have you ever felt stuck? What's familiar isn't always good for you? Don't take things lying down and let people wipe their shoes on you.  State your name, stand up, and step forward, to the edges of your comfort zone, just as you are!