Simple, proven strategies that deliver huge results.
How do you think about yourself? Do you believe that you are capable, competent, pulled-together? Do you wonder if you’ve got what it takes, question your ability to reach your goals, or avoid taking chances? Do you typically see yourself in a positive light or a negative one? As worthy or not? The answers are a reflection of your level of self-esteem — what you think of yourself.
Self-esteem is a complex construct, but generally refers to a self-evaluation of our worth, goodness, or success in various aspects of our lives. …
The secret of getting others to stop talking and start listening
The other day I had a kick-off session with a new coaching client, a talented, bright young man who never stopped talking. He would interrupt me — and himself — head off on tangents so far afield even he got lost. When he was quiet, I could tell that he was at least 60-seconds ahead of me in the discussion, preparing what he was going to say next while I was speaking. I chalked this up to nervousness, his eagerness to improve, and an inability to listen, yet, I began to wonder.
Why do we chatter and fail to truly…
How to work with a writing coach to grow and prosper as a writer
Generally, you hire a writing coach to help you improve a skill or solve a unique problem in a specific area, such as blogging, content marketing, grammar and punctuation refresher, structural issues, and other types of writing challenges you are facing.
A coaching program might be right for you if you are eager to grow as a writer, and you:
- Need one-on-one, focused attention to improve your writing skills.
- Wish to improve your writing skills to create articles and guest posts that expand your audience and influence
- Need to refine your written communication skills to advance your career.
- Want to…
Expert advice for banishing self-doubt.
Most of us at some time have doubted ourselves. Maybe it was a decision we were faced with, a challenge in our life or work, or an inability to take a risk. It’s human nature to pause and wonder: Can I do this? What if I fail or make a mistake? Do I have what it takes?
There’s a scene near end of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indy faces a yawning chasm with no way to cross. Yet, he needs to reach the other side to save his dying father. He hears a voice, “Step…
What’s the big deal about one day? The average lifespan in the United States is a little over 78 years, or about 28,470 days. What’s so special about 1/28,470 of a life? Depending on our age and health, maybe nothing. At age 20, each day represents 1/21,228 of our lifespan; at 40, it’s 1/13,870; at 60, it’s 1/6,570. The value of each day increases as the number of our days decreases, and the fewer we have, the more valuable each is.
This spring represents a change, an awakening from a year-long pause in our lives. A hibernation, if you will…
Expert advice on how to eat better to feel better
Food is a great comfort when we’re in a bad mood and feel anxious, sad, disappointed, or other negative emotions. We want to curl up with a quart of Ben & Jerry, a heaping plate of French fries, a box of Godiva, Mrs. Fields’ cookies, a six-pack, or that bottle of cabernet we were keeping for a special occasion. For many of us, food is our go-to when we’re in a bad mood.
“Comfort foods are typically energy-dense, high-fat, and sweet, such as chocolate, ice cream, and French fries. They provide pleasure or temporarily make us feel better….Highly palatable foods…
Letting the process flow makes our writing easier and better
When I teach writing or coach clients, most of them want quick, easy formulas for writing. Take 3 paragraphs on this, add 2 paragraphs on that, and toss in an intro and conclusion. Voila. Done. We have a completed article. Over and over and over again, we have a completed article albeit something similar to all the ones that went before it.
I believe that each article needs its own process that we, as writers, need to follow. When we let the material guide us instead of forcing it into…
How to know when fine is truly fine and when it’s very far from the truth
We all do it. Someone asks us how we’re doing, and we automatically reply, “Fine” even when we are obviously upset. Our life is fine, your life is fine, the family is fine, work is fine, everything is just fine.
Fine doesn’t always mean fine. It’s a word that we all use to avoid telling others how we actually feel and what’s really going on. We believe that they don’t want us to dump our woes on them, so we are fine. Just fine. All’s fine.
So, what is fine? What do people mean when they respond with fine?
It…
You could be lying.
How we talk to ourselves plays a major role in how we feel. Engaging in negative self-talk, falling into all-or-nothing thinking, or catastrophizing about what may never happen is our brain trying to keep us safe and driving us crazy at the same time.
We have a built-in brain mechanism that is vigilant in every aspect of our lives at all times and is wired to notice any potential danger. Because of our evolutionary need to quickly recognize and respond to potential danger, research done by John Cacioppo, Ph.D., …
Immediately boost your self-confidence with the words you use
Put a watch over your words since they influence how we feel about ourselves. Choose words that express confidence and assuredness and avoid these words that diminish our power.
- Can’t: It sets us up for failure before we begin by undermining our belief in our abilities. We may not know how to do something, but we can learn how to do it if we are willing to put in the effort.
- Should: It creates a sense of guilt that we aren’t doing something we should be doing. We either do it or don’t. …
Patricia Haddock
Sharing practical, actionable information to help you grow, prosper, and achieve unstoppable success. Writes for The Startup, Curious, Mind Cafe, and more.
