Self-Honesty and Self-Love

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Evelyn graciously asked me to share some thoughts about self-love for a compilation of posts she’s putting together.  I thought I’d start by sharing a story about a moment just a few days ago when I showed myself some love.
I must have looked a little mopey, because my friend asked me whether I was all [...]

Growing Into Our Humanity, Part 3: The Myth of the “Ego-Free Project”

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

I haven’t been on the internet much lately, because I’ve been deeply engaged in a new project.  I’ve been creating a computer game with a friend.  It’s built around an adventure story, as many games are, but the main focus is my ideas about what the spirituality of prehistoric people was like.
Being a reflective sort [...]

Embracing Writer’s Block, Part 5: Emptiness Is Fleeting

Monday, April 4th, 2011

I do something kind of unusual when I’m writing.  (I know, shockingly enough.)  I keep a journal of what I’m feeling and thinking when I’m faced with writer’s block.
To an outside reader, this journal would probably seem painfully repetitive, because it talks about the same worries again and again.  Some common themes are:
* “I think [...]

Growing Into Our Humanity, Part 2: The Myth of the “Bulletproof Life”

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Once upon a time, my goal was to lead a life that was completely criticism-proof.  Once I had the “right” job, credentials, relationship, and so on, no one would ever accuse me of falling short in any area.  I’d get nothing but respect from everyone I worked with and knew.
Of course, this plan didn’t quite [...]

Guest Post at The Change Blog: Why Craving “Results” Gets Us No Results

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

I’ve published a post over at The Change Blog, “Why Craving ‘Results’ Gets Us No Results,” about how the fear of “not getting results” in our work can limit how much we accomplish, and how we can let go of that fear.  I hope you enjoy it, and I’m looking forward to your feedback!

Growing Into Our Humanity

Friday, March 11th, 2011

I used to be in search of a book, workshop or practice that would, in a matter of hours or days, change me forever.  I’d stop doubting myself, my relationships would always go smoothly, I’d become courageous enough to always say how I felt, and so on.
I had this goal in mind, consciously or not, [...]

Seeing Life As A Celebration

Saturday, November 27th, 2010

You may have heard the old story of Sisyphus — the man condemned by the gods to push a boulder up a hill, only to see it roll back down and be forced to start over, for all eternity.
I think this story is a wonderful illustration of how human beings often suffer.  We’re convinced that, [...]

The Crap Is The Gold: Embracing Suffering

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

Robin recently said something, in one of her many uplifting comments, that really got me thinking.  She asked how I came to be so insightful about human nature.
I agreed with her that I do have a pretty good sense of what makes people tick, and I pondered for a bit how I got that awareness.  [...]

What Would You Create If No One Could See It?

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

To help us find a compelling direction in life, self-development writers often tell us to ask ourselves “what we’d do if we couldn’t fail.”  For example, we might ask, what kind of book would we write if we knew that whatever we produced was destined to be a #1 bestseller?
I’ve taken to asking myself basically [...]

Work Consciously Audio Course Now Available

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Ready to get off the “time management treadmill”?
You’ve tried all the usual productivity advice:  make to-do lists, reorganize your e-mail, color-code your folders, and so on.  You’ve probably bought more than enough books, CDs, planners, special notebooks, and “apps” as well.
So why do you still find yourself procrastinating, getting distracted, feeling anxious, and not [...]