A Good Time to Chat

Send us a text Is AI a tool or a crutch? Are we looking to use AI to produce super-human results and maintain a schedule NO ONE should endure?  When computers were introduced and widely available, experts expected that increased productivity would mean less time needed to complete the same amount of work, allowing employees to have more leisure time and better work-life balance.  How's THAT going...

Send us a text Some of you just got sweaty at the mere mention of the word!  If we know every human is unique and that conflict is a natural part of interacting with other humans, then why does the idea of it make some of us clench our fists, run for the hills, or freeze in our tracks?! Shout out to Pump Up the Mind for the theme music: "Bright Horizons"

Send us a text Can we chat about GROWTH?!  Specifically, I want to explore how the early stages of growth can be hard--and cause us to question whether or not it's worth it. What if knowing some key truths--UNIVERSAL TRUTHS--about growth could reassure us? Shout out to Pump Up the Mind for the theme music: "Bright Horizons"

Send us a text Can we chat about FEAR?! I don't want to talk about CAP-LOCKED fear, but lower-case "fear." Not the oh-crap-run-for-your-life FEAR, but the oh-crap-I-don't-think-I-can-do-this variety. Is the fear you're feeling alerting you to danger or is it an indication that what's ahead is BIG and AWESOME? Shout out to Pump Up the Mind for the theme music: "Bright Horizons"

Send us a text Can we chat about PROCRASTINATION?! Yeah. I said it. It's a filthy, ugly word we despise, yet we continue to invite it into our lives--creating disruption and chaos in our progress and growth. What if we think we are just putting off a task that is 😣 DIFFICULT 🫤 UNCOMFORTABLE 😳 CHALLENGING 🥱 BORING But what if we are REALLY preventing ourselves from reaching our potential? Shout...

Send us a text Can we chat about CURIOSITY?! We start the human experience, curious. As children, we ask TONS of questions, because everything is NEW! Then, at some point, we get so confident that we know it all, that we just hide behind our convictions. Do you think you're doing life correctly and those who are different are doing it wrong? Do you spend your days wishing others would think and be...

Send us a text Can we chat about ACCEPTANCE?!  In a world where we are conditioned to stay HUNGRY, always want MORE, and NEVER be satisfied--is it a wonder that we sometimes think ACCEPTANCE means we have just given up?  What if ACCEPTANCE is really the key to unlocking greater joy and personal growth?  "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Maya Angelou  Shout out to...

Send us a text Can we chat about MIRRORS?! Though a mirror is designed for us to view ourselves, is it possible I spend more time holding mirrors up to OTHERS--so THEY can take a good look at and fix their behaviors--than inspecting myself? If I'm working overtime to show others the reflective, dynamic side of the glass, how much time do I spend starting at the dark, dull surface on the back? What...

Send us a text Hey--are you in there? Can we chat about OPENNESS? We protect ourselves with walls of our own creation, but are they really keeping us from the connection and growth we crave and deserve? What if the first step in establishing true, authentic connections with others involved taking some emotional risks on our end? If everyone waits for others to put their shields down first, what ho...

Send us a text Can we chat about DETOURS?  How often do we find the need to adjust our plans, our approach, and next steps? Like...EVERY DAY. Why do we attempt to convince ourselves that encountering a challenge in our pursuit of a goal or going through some unexpected life changes is reason to label ourselves a "FAILURE?"  What if we were to find gratitude in the detours and look for the unexpect...

Send us a text Can we chat about EXPECTATIONS?  Have you ever muttered these words?  "I make it a point to NEVER have expectations--then I'm NEVER disappointed."  So cute...but I'm not buying it.  Are you ready to stop lying to yourself and increase the value of your relationship with your expectations (because you have them, you know)? The sooner you do, the better off you'll be...  "The source o...

Send us a text Can we chat about SOCIAL TOURISM?  I know--it's not a familiar term. I may have even made it up (don't fact-check me, though).  Whatever you call it, it's critical that I'm aware of how I behave when I enter your emotional and mental space. In this chat, I outline THREE WAYS I know I have been (and can still be) a terrible guest in your psychological space. "One night well say that...

Send us a text Can we chat about HELP? Why is it is DIFFICULT for so many of us to ask for help when we need it and receive it when it's offered to us? Join me in exploring my own "TOP 5" reasons I find it difficult and make a commitment to seek and welcome help fro now on! Not sure you can make the commitment? No worries--I'm here to HELP! "We are at our most powerful the moment we no longer need...

Send us a text Can we chat about BAD DAYS? The alarm doesn't go off. I didn't sleep well. I'm out of coffee and my toast burned. I can't seem to get my footing and EVERYTHING is going WRONG! Sound familiar? Substitute some of your own drama and I think you can tap in to the feeling quite nicely. What if we asked ourselves some simple questions in times of challenge? Could we re-set our perspective...

Send us a text Can we chat about BOUNDARIES? I get fired up when I feel a boundary has not been respected, but is my setting and maintaining boundaries game on track? Understanding what we need to feel safe is only the first step. Let's chat about the OTHER important parts of taking care of ourselves as it relates to setting and maintaining boundaries. "Boundaries are, in simple terms, the recogni...

Send us a text Can we chat about GRATITUDE?  The idea that I will be okay if only life is more gentle with me is a bit unrealistic. Life is going to happen on LIFE'S TERMS, so the adjustment needs to be within ME!  Gratitude in times of challenge, change, grief, and other down-swings can be difficult, but it just might be the KEY to joy!  "The way we see determines what we see." Martha Beck Shout...

Send us a text Is this a good time to chat about EMOTIONAL TORNADOS? (Spoiler: It's ALWAYS emotional tornado season...) We all have encountered emotional tornados--sometimes they happen TO us and sometimes, they happen WITHIN us. What can we do when the feelings begin to swirl into a funnel cloud? Let's look at FOUR TIPS to stay safe(r) in an emotional storm. "In short, out-of-control emotions can...

Send us a text Can we chat about EMOTIONAL SCABS? I know...gross. But we all have them and when we neglect to encourage healing, they impact how we interact with the world (and people) around us. What can we do to ensure OLD HURTS don't derail us as we experience things today? "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." Sigmund Freud Shout...

Send us a text Is this a good time to chat about TOXIC POSITIVITY?  We mean well, but when does optimism become toxic? Dig into THREE challenges toxic positivity introduces and the detours you can take to avoid inadvertent destruction. "We cannot selectively numb emotions. When we numb painful emotions, we also Brené Brown Shout out to Pump Up the Mind for the theme music: "Bright Horizons"

Send us a text Is this a good time to chat about STINKIN' THINKIN'? Our inner voice can use its power for good--or not-so-good. Do YOU know how to tell the difference?  Does your inner voice give you encouragement or criticism? Confidence or shame?  While I'm pretty sure my inner voice is never going to go away, it's CRITICAL that I ensure our partnership is PRODUCTIVE and adds VALUE.  "Let yourse...

Send us a text Sometimes it feels like everyone else has it all figured out--that only WE are the fakers.  Take a moment to join me in exploring some TRUTHS about ourselves. We are NOT imposters--we can be confident AND imperfect! "Cupcakes are just muffins with big ideas and a commitment to growth." Courtney Macha Shout out to Pump Up the Mind for the theme music: "Bright Horizons"

Send us a text You want to grow, but are you willing to expand the SPACE you occupy? What if the key to that growth spurt you crave is found in space you haven't explored? "Stop shrinking yourself to fit places you've outgrown." Furaha Joyce Shout out to Pump Up the Mind for the theme music: "Bright Horizons"

Send us a text Ah...the moving target of MOTIVATION that has been perplexing humans for ages!  Motivation differs from person to person, so how realistic is it that it's a leader's job to constantly be ahead of the motivation curve for every individual? Is the goal of motivating other people achievable or just a fool's errand?  I offer up this alternate perspective. What do you think?  "You have b...

Send us a text Is this a good time to talk about SOCIAL ECOSYSTEMS?  We are part of many ecosystems and it's important that we understand how they can influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors--and how our actions can create ripples for those around us.  I can say NO, but is the people-please calling the shots in my head capable of accepting the reactions to that? Practice makes progress......

Send us a text Is this a good time to chat about STRUGGLE?  For most of my life, I thought every challenge was accompanied by struggle. That mindset put me in a space where I not only attracted #drama, but generated it.  Today, my truth is that when I get stronger by leaning into the challenges life puts in front of me, my struggle disappears. And, it would be a surprise to "old Courtney," but it...