Reader I wonder how often you find yourself needing some courage. Needing courage because the situation you face is too
This past week I spent much time reflecting on courage. It began with my presentation to over 100 people at the TN SHRM annual conference, continued in a private facilitated session with a group of leaders, and ended on the pickleball court yesterday. The heart of each—our continuous need as human beings to make meaning of our circumstances through storytelling. I'm walking up to packed courts at the park and I only see one person I know. Immediately I am fearful, watching the play and wondering if I am good enough to join in. There is a court of men in the most aggressive play I've ever witnessed. I know that isn't for me and so I focus on the court where my friend is playing. No beginners here. Everyone has game. In that moment, my internal story I continually battle reared up—you are not good enough and you are going to let your partner down. I want to say that I had to find a little courage to walk onto the court. But the truth is that I had to change my internal narrative about my worthiness. How fitting is that after speaking all week on the topic. Reader, fear is generated by the other person or the circumstance. Fear comes from the story you tell yourself about that person or circumstance. Granted, there are legit times when that fear is warranted. Equally true, there are many times when it is only your unreliable narrator trying to protect you. So how do you break free of the tyranny of the unreliable narrator? There are four steps:
Your unreliable narrator makes you a victim in a story where you are limited by others or circumstances. Reader, challenge that narrative and permit yourself to prioitize what matters to you over safety & security. You will find that your agency is enough once you get out of your own way. Cheers to a bold and beautiful week. PS - Welcome Nebraska State Council friends The BEST Review of Show Up Positive Ever
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Catch Up on 'the story i'm telling myself' podcastGive us a 5-star review and share an episode with a friend: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music Episode 1 with Karen Laos: Are You Enough? Finding your inner powerEpisode 2 with Gail Kraft: Is Your Fear of Abandonment Running the Show?Episode 3 with Sandra Adeyeye Bello: Am I Worth It? A question too many are afraid to answerEpisode 4 with Leslie Minchin: Are You Busy or Just Avoiding Your Life?Episode 5 with Srivatsan Aravamudan: Broken, Dirty, Not Enough? The journey to self-acceptanceEpisode 6 with Vivian Blade: How Do I Say "I Lost My Job?"Episode 7 with Angie Redmon: Who Am I Letting Down? The hidden costEpisode 8 with Debbie Potts: I Refuse to Settle: Rewriting my story after a life-changing diagnosisEpisode 9 with Tandra Price: Can I Do That? Unleashing your inner powerEpisode 10 with Ronda Berns: Am I the Prey? Overcoming fear and mastering salesEpisode 11 with Carmen Alvarez: Can Joy and Grief Really Co-exist?Episode 12 with Melissa Robinson Hussain: Who Do You Want to Be? Coaching Yourself to Radical TransformationEpisode 13 with Tiersa Hall: Is This Risk Too Big—Or Just the One You Need to Take?Episode 14 with Gary Spencer: Why You Should Pause Before Your Next Big Move (A Million-Dollar Lesson)Episode 15 with Susan LePLae Miller: Did I Abandon Myself Again?Episode 16 with Sharon Summerfield: I'm being undermined, now what? Episode 17 with Misha Safran: Am I Just a Wilting Flower? Episode 18 with Elisa Juarez: If Not Me, Who? Episode 19 with Leanne Elliott: What's Really Stopping You From Asking For Help? Episode 20 with Susan Collins: Will I Be As Good? Episode 21 with Tracy Borreson: From Leavable To Limitless Episode 22 with Kelly Charles-Collins: What If You Stopped Leaving Yourself Behind? Episode 23 with Karen Taylor: Am I to Blame? Episode 24 with Sabrina Victoria: Go Big or Go Bigger?
The Story I’m Telling Myself is for anyone who wants to overcome the limitations of self-doubt and live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Through candid conversations, you'll discover:
Real-life stories of courage and resilience: Gain inspiration from everyday people who overcame their negative self-talk to live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music. |
My weekly emails are for you if you want a transformational SHOT OF POSITIVITY that makes you think, gets you laughing, and sparks a positive change. Start each week inspired.
Reader I'm just checking in to let you know I'm thinking about you. Last week was the one year anniversary of my father's death and funeral. So I am having a little grace for myself. I've taken a few weeks off from writing this weekly blog because I couldn't find the focus in words or even message. Grief is funny that way It shows up and sucks all the air out of the room, while simultaneously honoring life and love. Tomorrow I join a room of over 50 people at the SHRM Tennessee 2025...
Reader I'm not a big Marvel fan, but this line from the Toby Maguire Spiderman movie has stuck in my brain: "With great power comes great responsibility." Last Thursday I taught my Human Operating System model to a group of nonprofit leaders. The punchline is simple: You have tremendous power and influence over the results you get. Much of your thinking is habitual and keeps you stuck You can intentionally disrupt this habitual thinking You can replace your self-limiting thought with an...
Reader do you ever get that sinking, heavy, fluttery feeling in your stomach? It's July 13th, my oldest daughter's 16th birthday. She just passed her written drivers test and now we are headed to Florida with her former gymnastics coach and my good friend, Rebecca. Tomorrow morning we must be at the New College in Sarasota by 1PM to drop my daughter at her two week Duke Tip marine biology program. We stop in Atlanta for some fun, then continue to the Georgia/Florida border to spend the night....