Courage to be Curious with Adina Tovell: Recent Episodes
Adina Tovell
Which question will be the one to transform your life, your leadership, and your most precious relationships for the better? After feeling shamefully frustrated at the age of 43 that I could not answer the simple question, ‘What makes you happy,’ I went on a quest to find the answer. I couldn’t locate it in the many books I read, people I talked to, or adventures I pursued. Rather, the answer was revealed over time as I asked myself a simple question again and again and had the willingness and patience to discover the answer. Since that moment, I have embraced Courageous Curiosity as a way of life and this podcast is where I - along with my valued guests - share how we engage with courageous curiosity. It has absolutely transformed our lives, our leadership, and our relationships, and we are excited to see how it will transform yours for the better as well.
Today, on Courage to be Curious with Adina Tovell, I dive deep into what parents of resilient kids DON’T do and what they DO do. Over the past 2+ years we have gotten the message that we cannot spare our kids all hardship and discomfort. Unfortunately, attempts we may have made to spare them may have actually made them less confident to confront challenge, failure and hardship. So in today’s episode, I offer some alternatives to trying to keep our kids happy all the time. Alternatives that I hope will help us all feel stronger in the face of challenge and adversity.
For more on raising resilient kids, see the blog: Please STOP Trying to Raise Happy Kids.
And to build your own resilience, check out Curiosity Crusaders, our community of practice for those seeking to live, lead and love with intention.
When was the last time you wondered about your life purpose? What is it? How do I find it?
What is important enough? And when life gets turned on its head, as it has been for the past few years, many of us become more introspective about the path we are on. In this episode of Courage to be Curious with Adina Tovell, I discuss where we typically go looking for our purpose and the very unlikely place it may be hiding in plain sight.
My mind, like yours, can easily become seduced by the idea that there is time and room for everything. Like an already overstuffed suitcase, we believe we can always fit one more thing in.
And honestly, we can keep trying, but to what end? What does our life end up looking like when we continually try to fit in just ‘one more thing?’ And what can we do about it if we have this exhausting habit of trying? This is what I am talking about in this week’s episode of Courage to be Curious with Adina Tovell.
What do we do when things simply don’t make sense. This might describe a lot about the world we live in right now. In Today’s episode of Courage to be Curious with Adina Tovell, I look at the nature of COHERENCE… How it creates the world we live in. How it can help us re-create the world we live in when we grow and are ready for change. And what we can do when the world feels incoherent, and we cannot make sense of things.
On today’s episode, we begin our season exploring the nature of the SELF. Who are you? What does it mean to be you in the world? What defines you and what does not define you? How do you care for you? With so much happening in our lives every day and with so many things constantly vying for our attention, it is easy to lose track of the SELF. Hold on as we dive deeply into this spiritual and existential conversation. And if you want to explore more, check out our Curiosity Crusader program, a spa-like experience for mind and spirit.
How do you reflect on a year? If you typically take stock of what went well and how you can improve, with more attention to the latter (!!), let’s try something new. Tune in to learn more about our Courageously Curious approach to reflecting on this challenging and unusual year!
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This is a special tribute to the guest of our most widely received podcast of 2021, Will Wise, co-founder of We and Me and co-author of Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter. Will transitioned from this world in November, less than two months after our conversation with him was released. Join us for this tribute episode in honor of an amazing teacher and man.
Something new is brewing at Courage to be Curious! A new endeavor. A new opportunity. A new way of serving. A new way of cultivating curiosity. A new way of experiencing you. Tune in to learn more.
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What does it mean to be mentally healthy and spiritually fulfilled? In this week’s conversation, we talk with Shelbie Fishman about her journey from high achieving perfectionist who continuously wrestled with stress and anxiety to a first-year medical student who is approaching this new chapter with wisdom, balance, perspective, and joy. Tune in to discover how she is transforming the state of her mental and spiritual well-being.
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What happens when a relationship is out of balance? The experience is intense: anger, frustration, blaming, and exhaustion. None of us like to live this way, but how do we get a relationship back in balance? On today’s episode, we talk with Ecotherapist, Lauren Kahn, about a model she developed called: Relationship Rebalancing… and it's just in time for the holidays!
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What happens when a content expert becomes a leader? What happens when a professional who is known and respected for what they KNOW moves into a role where they manage people? On today’s episodes, we speak with Dr. Wanda Wallace, business coach, author of You Can’t Know It All, and host of the podcast Out of the Comfort Zone who helps us unpack this transition and the role that appreciation and gratitude play in doing it well.
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You may be familiar with the 5 Love Languages, but what is the application of this to the workplace? Dr. Paul White and Dr. Gary Chapman teamed up to create the 5 Languages of Appreciation at Work and in this episode we speak with Dr. Paul about how learning to appreciate each other at work is not only a caring thing to do, but may be the single most important thing we can focus on to create a workplace where people want to work.
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When we think about appreciation and gratitude, we often think about others. In today’s episode, I talk about the importance of appreciating yourself…. Something that can feel awkward or even inappropriate to some people. My goal… to inspire and motivate you to take the time to appreciate YOU every day!
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What if every person knew … deeply knew… in their heart of hearts that they mattered? What might our world be like and feel like? Our guest today, Cheryl Rice, founder of the You Matter Marathon and Cheryl Rice Leadership, is doing everything in her power to find out… and she wants us to join her. Listen in to hear what she is doing and how you can become part of this powerful movement.
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With Halloween only a few days away, our question is not “What mask will you wear?” but “What mask will you take off?” In today's conversation with Matt Mead - wedding, portrait, and branding photographer - we talk about the impact of trying to ‘look perfect’ on ourselves and others and what we can do to show up genuine and real, both on and off the camera.
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Growing up a reluctant prima ballerina, our guest, Paulette Rigo, put on her costume and her dutiful daughter mask for decades. Every time she tried to take them off, both her mother (founder of the dance studio) and those who had come to know and love her in that role, would have nothing to do with it. They needed her to be who they imagined her to be. But one day, Paulette had the courage to lay down her costume and the facade she had been upholding once and for all. Would she still be lovable? Tune into today’s episode.
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In the classic movie, Annie, the Boylan Sisters sing, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” But what about a leader? What does the leader need to be ‘fully dressed’ for the role? In today’s conversation with Patricia Omoqui and Amy Steindler, we unpack what leadership looks like, whether leaders have to don a specific way of being in order to be effective.
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How do you know if you are wearing a mask that is hiding the most authentic and powerful version of yourself? And if you are, how can you remove it? In this theatrical and poignant conversation with Susan Sandler, we literally reveal how you can know if you are being the most authentic version of yourself and what you can do if you discover that you aren’t.
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Clap your hands if you agree… We have a Curiosity Deficit and it is impacting how we connect and relate to each other! In this episode we speak with Chad Littlefield, co-author of Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter. Together we explore how to transform conversations from those that simply take up space to those that create meaning and build connection.
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I wonder about why people who love each other fight so much. Caring is easy, but relating on a regular basis to people we care about can be very complicated and messy. Divorce rates are high, couples counseling offices can often be a revolving door. What’s the problem? In this episode, we explore something we know is often missing and can make a huge difference.
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In our hearts, what most of us want is to be seen, heard, known, and understood. But do we engage with each other in ways that allow this to happen? Regardless of how many ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ we have, many of us feel quite alone. Don’t miss this extraordinary conversation with Will Wise, co-author of How to Ask Powerful Questions: Create Conversations that Matter. Will will inspire and guide you to consider creating conversations that matter in new and extraordinary ways.
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How "miracle producing" are the questions you ask? Questions are one of the most overlooked tools of communication. They have the ability to shift perspective, change an outcome, release stress and anxiety. Join Amy Steindler and me as we unpack the power of questions and how we can unleash miracles with the right question asked at the right time.
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What actually happens when you love yourself and how do you get there?
Download the Journey to Selflove Guide here -- https://files.constantcontact.com/429e4631601/a29d6ee5-1e09-40de-b027-7a7b1719f50f.pdf
Self-love is all the rage now but what does that actually mean? How do you know what it feels like? And how do you get there? In this week’s ‘not to miss’ episode with Amy Steindler and Rena Rachar, experience some incredibly poignant, funny, and drop-the-mic moments as we break it all down. And stay tuned for our bonus Surprise Questions at the end when we all get really personal and revealing!
How to turn your arguments into opportunities for deep connection.
Arguing and fighting are a part of life. And despite how uncomfortable it makes most of us feel, it is an incredibly important and healthy part of life IF we know how to do it well. In this episode, I will share some powerful tips for making your moments of conflict productive so that you end up feeling even more connected at the end.
**How to lead in a way that creates agency and engagement!
Download the Core Values Workbook here -** https://files.constantcontact.com/429e4631601/60abcbac-16c2-4321-b051-a97eb3a63aa5.pdf
Getting the promotion is the easy part, leading effectively is one of the most challenging pursuits of the professional world. For whatever reason, one of the most familiar approaches to leadership is ‘command and control’ despite the fact that most people will say that they don’t like being led this way. In this episode, we look at three invaluable strategies for shifting perspective on leadership to a style that is more collaborative and responsive.
Closing the gap between expectation and reality.Why do we keep creating more discomfort and frustration in our lives than we actually need? We THINK that it is the outside world that does things to frustrate us, but in reality, one single practice that all of us engage in fills our lives with discomfort and frustration all the time. In this week’s episode, I share with you what this is and a powerful way to reduce or eliminate frustration and discomfort that doesn’t actually serve us.
How can curiosity liberate us in our lives, leadership, and relationships?We all get stuck, feel shame, become paralyzed by fear, and shrink under the weight of insecurity. But what if one pursuit could free us from all of these maladies? What if we could learn one approach that could - like eating the cookie in Alice in Wonderland - make us feel strong, confident, and free? We think we have the answer. Tune in to today’s episode.
How can we receive love fully and give love freely?How free are you to love and be loved? We think of love as a natural instinct, but very often we can neither receive love fully nor give love freely because something gets in the way. I was 43 years old before I finally began to unpack the baggage that was getting in my way. In this week’s episode, we look at what gets in the way of love and what we can do to embrace love more completely.
How can you free yourself to lead authentically?Download the Core Values Workbook here - https://files.constantcontact.com/429e4631601/60abcbac-16c2-4321-b051-a97eb3a63aa5.pdfHow do we learn how to lead authentically? There are myriad books and theories on leadership but while they can all provoke interesting reflection, none of them can direct you as to how to be the most authentic and impactful leader YOU can be. Each of us has our own unique form of leadership and in this week’s episode, I discuss how to uncover what’s at the core of your unique and brilliant leadership identity.
What if you could break through decades of suffering with just one question? As a kid and then through my adult life I was incredibly good at ‘giving the right answer.’ I was a people pleaser, a great student, and knew how to play the standard version of the ‘success’ game. But none of that meant that I was happy? I didn’t even know what happiness was and I lived in constant shame because I was so disconnected from an experience of happiness and fun that others seemed able to experience. In this week’s episode, I talk about how one question turned all of this around for me.
In this final episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant for 2020, we take a look at the value of ritual in marking time. All cultures have rituals to mark time, make it sacred, and bring meaning and connection into our lives. The wonderful thing is that we do not have to wait for Hallmark, a religious event, or graduation from school to have permission to engage in ritual. We can create rituals and create meaning at any time that we feel moved to do so.
This week on Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we take the next step of reflecting upon the year by asking the question, “How does this past year seem to fit into the bigger picture of my life?” To begin to answer this question, you need to zoom out from the specific events of 2020 and begin to look through a wider angled lens. Where are you on the journey of your life? How has this year moved you forward or propelled you in new directions?
December is here and this is a great time to begin our year-end reflections. So, on today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I offer Part I of a three-part series on reflecting on this most unusual and unexpected year. We can exist and survive through chaos, but as Marianne Williamson teaches, it is when we pause and take time for honest reflection, that our wisdom emerges and we grow.
“The greatest test of faith is when you don’t get what you want, but you are still able to express Gratitude.” This year’s Thanksgiving holiday and weekend are unlike any other we have experienced in recent times. We are in the midst of a global event that, at best, historically, has taken place every 100 years or so. Needless to say, there is little way to mentally or emotionally prepare for... no gatherings or small gatherings, perhaps being in isolation or grieving. Most of us are not having the experience we really want. So, on today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I offer the 10Gs of Giving Thanks... 10 Guideposts for experiencing this time.
Relationships take work and commitment and I believe that this is a muscle that has weakened for many of us because we have SO MANY ways of avoiding the hard work! When someone is annoying us, we can escape into our phones, close a door, put on headphones, etc… When we get angry or upset, we can find an emotional conspirator somewhere online to validate our position and protect us from having to do the real emotional work of reconciling. All of this has made us emotionally weak in dealing with differences and conflicts. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I share a simple - but not easy - formula for strengthening our muscles for dealing with disagreements and differing perspectives.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, for the third year in a row, I speak with Cheryl Rice, founder of the YOU MATTER Marathon: No Running Required. Cheryl has begun a global movement to spread the message - YOU MATTER. With an estimated 2M cards distributed in over 80 countries around the world, The YOU MATTER Marathon has now become a new November tradition. Tune into the episode for fun ways to share the message, even while social distancing!
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant join me for a pre-winter ‘cleanse and prepare’ for your mind, body, and spirit. Walk away not only with an understanding of what ‘the call’ is for the winter months in terms of nourishing our spirit, but an incredible number of practical tips and strategies you can start putting into action right away.
We are doubling down this month on Wonder Your Way to Brilliant to think about how we can wonder our way to a brilliant winter! On today’s episode, I draw from my childhood experiences at overnight camp, the wisdom of friends and family, and my own creative mind to suggest ways we can pack our calendar this winter with experiences that can keep us engaged and energized.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I take on the Productively Curious Question: “How can we approach the change in seasons and months aheadin a productive and healthy way?” Today’s show is highly practical. Let’s not get taken by surprise… let’s get ready. Let’s be creative and curious. We need each other more than ever to remain resilient.
If January is the New Year on the Gregorian Calendar, September is the new year in a practical sense (for many of us) as well as in the religious sense for those of the Jewish faith. This week’s message and podcast are about setting our intentions for this new year. Join me for this beautiful practice. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I examine the gematria (a Jewish form of numerology in which the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are substituted with corresponding numbers) for the new Jewish Year of 5781. In other words, I have taken the Hebrew letters associated with the numbers 80 and 1 and connected them to Hebrew words that help to focus our attention. One of them is the Hebrew word for mouth. Join me to see how we can intend better around what comes out of our mouths.
How well do you listen... as a leader? As a friend? As a spouse or partner? As a parent? To yourself? I may be biased, but I honestly believe there is no more important skill we can learn. And as much as I love my questions, neither the questions we ask others or the questions we ask ourselves are much good if we don’t really know how to listen to the answers. Tune into today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant where we explore the question: How can I listen more deeply?
Are burnout and stress on your mind as we begin September? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I take on a question that I really needed: “What energizes you when you are feeling burned out?” Here’s hoping that my own self-help explorations will have benefits for someone else as well. So, tune in for this raw and unedited exploration of how to beat the burnout blues.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I have the privilege of speaking with Rabbi Lynnda Targan, author of Funny You Don’t Look Like a Rabbi: A Memoir of Unorthodox Transformation. Like many of us, there were seeds planted early on in Lynnda’s life that may have pointed to such a choice, but without pausing to heed the call, she might have missed it. With Courageous Curiosity, Lynnda made the choice in mid-life to pursue an unlikely path for a woman with her life profile and has found meaning she never dreamt possible by traveling this ‘unorthodox’ path.
What’s going on in the hearts and minds of college students as the fall semester begins amidst the COVID-19 pandemic? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant Courage to be Curious intern, Amelia Winger of Temple University, gets deeply curious about how the COVID-19 pandemic and period of social unrest has personally impacted the education, college experience, and lives of college students. Join us for this powerful conversation with three students, where Amelia looks at how the pandemic has personally and collectively impacted university students across the nation as well as at how this moment in history is catalyzing college students, the future generation of activists and political leaders, to find solutions for the systemic inequities in our society.
One of the things the current moment most assuredly reminds us of is the fact that change is inevitable, it is constant, and we have little control over its coming and going. So how will we respond? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, Mary Marz, Director of Organizational Change Management for Erie Insurance, a Fortune 500 company, as well as Owner & Image Consultant of Perfectly Poised offers insight into why change can feel so stressful and strategies for both overcoming the overwhelm and learning to embrace it in our daily lives.
Join me for this week’s conversation with Leslie Richards, General Manager of SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority). Having risen through the ranks of Township Supervisor, County Commissioner, Secretary of PA Dept. of Transportation to General Manager, Leslie has modeled a path of leadership for women that has consistently focused on raising up others, advocating for equity, and facilitating real and lasting change. Tune into today’s episode to hear more about her journey through leadership as well as how she is showing up to her current challenge of serving as the white female head of the region’s transit system that employs 60% minority workers two months before the outbreak of a global pandemic and the killing of George Floyd.
Join me for a powerful conversation with Dr. Priyam Mammen, Emergency Physician and Public Health Specialist, MOUD Physician, and Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Pennsylvania. During the conversation, we reflect on the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the inequities in our healthcare system and how the healthcare system as a whole is a mirror reflection of our biases, prejudices, and - consciously or unconsciously - determined values as a society.
Gender equality begins with ALL of us. People of all genders need to demand change if we want to break down inhibitive gender norms. Sharon Kelly Hake and Robert Ford have been equity advocates for decades. Tune in as they discuss the role of men and women as allies in the equity conversation.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I have the privilege of speaking with Elba Pareja Gallagher, Director of Finance for UPS and President of ShowMe50.org, a social impact organization that she founded to advance the representation of women in senior leadership roles across the United States to 50%. Although I first met Elba almost 5 years ago, her name popped up again when I read her post: My Open Letter to the CEO’s: Please stop talking and do this where she calls upon CEOs to stop putting out messages that ‘sound good’ and actually take the practical and necessary steps to achieve real and lasting equity within their companies.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I speak with Elmer Dixon, President of Executive Diversity Services, a Washington state-based diversity training company. Dixon’s background growing up in an unusually diverse neighborhood in Chicago uniquely positioned him for this later work and his affiliation with the Black Panther movement certainly honed his fierce determination to advocate for equity and fair treatment. Get Courageously Curious with me and listen in to this episode in which Mr. Dixon not only deepens our understanding of the Unconscious Bias problem but offers very practical steps that we can all take to advance our own growth.
I was reading an article about protests in New York. A woman joined the protests as they were passing her house and shared with the reporter that she joined because I want to be able to go to sleep at night and not worry about whether her black son will be safe each day. When I read this, my mind immediately went to the notion of Freedom… and what does it really mean to be Free... As a society and as an individual? I invite you to tune into today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant and explore with me what Freedom means for you. There are no answers, simply a lot of provocative questions.
We are living through historic times. Everything is shifting around us from the way we live and work to (hopefully) how we treat others, how we create equity, and what we choose to value - individually and as a society. As productive as it is, this energy can also make us feel like ‘storm-tossed ships,’ a phrase offered by my guest on this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant. Join me for a great conversation with Lauren Yellin Weinberg of Lasting Change Wellness as we talk about how to make the shift from overwhelm to purposeful action. What steps can we take to find our way through the chaos and get really clear about how and where to focus our energy.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we talk about WHAT we mean by connection, WHY it is so important and HOW to create it in ways that feel good. As we know, not all encounters with other humans feel good. What makes for those connections that cause us to lose track of time and let go of our negative thoughts and feelings? What makes for those connections that truly nourish us and touch our hearts?
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we discuss how and why we can fall into the blame game, especially during periods of high stress. Oftentimes, it is those we are closest to who get the brunt of our blame and fault finding and if and when we do, it can be difficult to find our way out. We discuss how to catch ourselves when this begins to happen and how we can stop this downward spiral and change directions.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant. I have the privilege of speaking with Lauren Kahn, a Licenced Marriage and Family Therapist and an ECO-THERAPIST. In this episode, she introduces us to how she journeys with clients into nature to harness the extraordinary healing powers of the natural world as a support to our complex and profound human experience. She also offers us ways that we can all tap into nature in a deeper way for support and guidance, especially during this time of sheltering when many of us have more time to spend outdoors.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant. I have a fabulous and fun conversation with my friend and colleague Sue Abuelsamid, founder of The Curiosity Project and Coach at Constant Journey Coaching. Our topic… What else we can talk about besides COVID! Sheltering at home, there is not always that much NEW happening in our day so connecting in meaningful ways and staying out of the quicksand of the virus conversation can be tough. We offer some fun and profound alternatives to deepen connections at home, at work, and with friends and family on the other side of the computer or phone. Take a listen and get creative with us!
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant. I get curious about STRESS responses. Do you know what yours looks like? Are you tuned in to how it is showing up right now? We are more than a month into quarantine so it is virtually a guarantee that all of our stress responses are showing up in some way. Tune into today’s episode where we get curious about these responses and how to stop them in their tracks!
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I am posing a question I think EVERYONE should be asking themselves regularly during these times. For the vast majority of us, life has changed significantly over the last 4 - 6 weeks and adapting to these circumstances - that have no clear end date - demands that we reflect deeply on this question. In my experience, this single question can help us find our grounding, can activate our most creative juices and can help maintain stability in relationships that can feel stressed. Tune in to hear the question and my tips on how to use it most productively.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I am honored to speak with a colleague who has been in my life for about 18 years. Gabrielle Kaplan-Meyer is an educator, author, and speaker… and one of the most ardent seekers and creative people that I know. In our conversation, Gabrielle shares what she has learned about living in response to the unexpected as well as how we might explore our relationship to mortality.
So, there is seemingly no denying it… even if we were not convinced before or were simply not ‘tuned into it’ before… COVID-19 has made it undeniably clear that we are all interconnected. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant. We look not only at the teaching of our interconnectedness, but also at the role that our self-preservation and self-care play in restoring and preserving the health and well-being of ourselves, humanity, and Mother Earth.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I explore seven disciplines or practices that help us to remain grounded during these unprecedented times of uncertainty. Without some discipline, it is easy for us to become consumed by anxiety, which is neither helpful for our physical or mental health and well-being. Taking on even one of the seven disciplines offered in the podcast can provide profound grounding support.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we explore why it is important to get curious about the ways we have been re-shaped by the outside world and how to relocate the authentic version of ourselves. We look at why it is absolutely critical for each of us to live a unique and brilliantly authentic version of ourselves… and how the world literally needs for this to happen.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we explore life as a chapter book. From the moment we take our first breath until we take our last, we will pass through many segments, each one important in its own way. Each one part of the unfolding story of our life. Each one having value. And yet… How often do we pause to consider what the value of THIS moment is rather than remaining stuck in one from the past or speeding ahead trying to get to some time or space in the future?
Many of us are so busy because we believe that our value and worth comes from what we do or achieve. And while many people are in leadership roles because they were good at getting things done or solving problems, this is not often what makes them most valuable as a leader.
So, where does our worth come from it is not from doing or solving?
And what value do others have that we may not recognize if it does not show up in the form of a ‘product’ or achievement?
You can only paint a wall blue if the paint in your can is blue. However, most of us want to be loving and kind people in the world, but we often fill up our proverbial paint can with either traces of or masses amounts of criticism, disgust, judgment, and/or pessimism. Unfortunately, when we fill ourselves up with negative self-talk, this is what fills our paint can. Whether consciously or unconsciously, this is the paint we will put on the walls of our lives. On today’s episode, we talk about how to fill our ‘paint can’ with the colors we wish to use the paint the world.
How do you know when you are in the presence of a yogi? It is not something you read or see, but something that you feel; the energy is compelling. On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I speak with Dr. Christine Kiesinger, a friend, colleague, speaker, writing, teacher, coach, and yogi. When Christine described the first yoga teacher she ever took a class with, she acknowledged, “From the moment I saw this woman, I knew I was witnessing yoga.” Tune in as she shares how the practices of yoga helped her to overcome panic attacks and anxiety and how she now lives yoga every day of her life.
At some point, each of us gets curious about the existential questions: Who am I? What am I? For Henry Yampolski, yogi and founder of the Living Peace Institute, yoga is about pursuing these answers. On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant Henry shares some reflections about how we can go about thinking about who we are (and who we are not) and what we are (and what we are not). Henry’s teachings are powerful and can help us transcend the limitations we often impose upon ourselves because of our limited notions of who and what we are.
Let’s just say it, life is complicated! There is so much to figure out about ourselves, other people, how the world works... And where pray tell, is the manual for how to find our way? On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I have a spectacular conversation with Kilkenny Tremblay, Yogi, and Founder of Sanctuary Yoga and Mindfulness located in Philadelphia, PA. Having grown up in the yoga tradition from a very young age, Kilkenny shares the inner technology she learned that provided her a way to navigate all the complexities of life.
On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I have a spectacular conversation with Kilkenny Tremblay, Yogi, and Founder of Sanctuary Yoga and Mindfulness located in Philadelphia, PA. This was an amazing gift for me as Kilkenny is magical. Having grown up the child of yogis (how many of us can say that?!), yoga has been the foundation of her entire life. We have been exploring Ishvara Pranidhana, the final of the Niyamas, as the call to surrender. But surrender to what? Kilkenny offers a powerful response to what can feel like a challenging question or call to practice.
As we head into Thanksgiving week, we tend to have gratitude on the mind. There are many beautiful reminders for us to pause and remember all that we have in our lives to feel grateful for. On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I invite you to broaden your typical thinking about the things that make it onto your gratitude list. What would it mean to not only express gratitude for the things that make you ‘feel good,’ but to embrace and truly experience gratitude for that which feels challenging? And why would you want to do this anyway?
On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I offer up a poem by Rudyard Kipling, “If”, which speaks to what Surrender is and what it promises on the other side. If you are like most of us humans, you may be resistant to the concept of surrender or still feel unclear about what it looks like from moment to moment. If this is the case, take a listen to the powerful and instructive words of Rudyard Kipling.
On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we talk about how we respond to the way life responds to our plans. There is a rare day when just about everything goes according to our plan, but how often does that actually happen? And how much suffering occurs in our lives when the plan is disrupted? On this episode, we explore what it means to plan and then surrender… what it means to stop fighting the way life unfolds and how to begin skillfully navigating the mystery that is greater than us.
In the past, I have talked about Newton’s 1st and 2nd laws of physics and their relationship to coaching as I see it. This episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant relates to Newton’s third law: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” What I have come to realize about the practice of Svadhyaya (self-study) is that the more intense an experience is for us, there is going to be an equal and opposite reaction. If the experience is difficult for us, then we may first feel an intense amount of struggle, suffering or resistance. However, as we master the practice of Svadhyaya, we learn how to transform this energy so that it can be wildly instructive and often times propel us forward in ways we never imagined.
When we look through a pair of tinted sunglasses, it makes sense to us that if the glasses are tinted brown, everything we see through them will have a brown tint. What we may not be aware of is that even if we are not wearing sunglasses, we are all walking through life with ‘tinted lenses.’ On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant find out how you can discover the ‘tint’ of your world lens? How are your lenses shaded? How does it impact not only what you see in the world, but your experience of the world as well? This is a powerful exploration into Svadhyaya or self-study. Come and take a deep dive with me.
Have you ever wrapped a very precious gift in a box and then placed that box inside another, which you then placed inside another box and so on? This episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant begins to explore the Niyama of Sadyaya or Self Study, a process that can often feel like the ‘hoax’ of opening all of those boxes. Listen in to today’s episode as we explore ‘what’s the point’ of this self-study. And then journey with us throughout the month as we look at HOW to do this productively.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we take a final look at Tapas, the Niyama of Self-Discipline and what the point is anyway. As much as we like to think that we can control any part of our world, THIS is assuredly the illusion. The unexpected is around every corner; we never know what is coming next. Join me for this week’s episode where we discuss turning moments of disappointment, frustration or crisis into moments of grace.
What is the purpose of self-discipline? Whether you are someone who embraces discipline or you are someone who struggles with it, what is the point? Sometimes self-discipline is mistaken for control. “If I am consistent about something, then I can control my environment.” But I do not believe control over the external world is the treasure hidden within the practice of self-discipline. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we unpack both the purpose and practice of self-discipline and peak at the treasure that awaits on the other side of this spiritual practice.
It is a truth of nature that sometimes things need to die in order for new life to blossom. Leaves fall and new growth appears on the trees. The trimming of bushes gives rise to healthier growth. We shed thousands of cells every day from our bodies making way for new, healthy ones to grow. While the shedding of what no longer serves is a regular part of the natural world, we can have a very hard time when it plays out in our human world. Relationships end, jobs end, children, grow and leave home, we age… and many of us suffer. On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we begin exploring the Niyama of Tapas, the practice of self-discipline that enables is to encounter the shedding with strength, resilience, and wisdom.
What keeps us from experiencing contentment? On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we explore the six most common barriers to contentment and offer a powerful strategy for overcoming any and all of the six. If you have chosen a life path to align yourself more with Santosha/Contentment, tune in.
On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant,I am grateful to be speaking with my friend, colleague, and teacher, Henry Yampolsky. Henry is the President of the Living Peace Institute and a truly earnest practitioner of yoga. If you have any question about what ‘contentment’ really is, whether you have ever really felt it, and how you can expand your access to this experience, you will want to listen in to this conversation. Find out on today’s episode.
What do the following phrases all have in common?
I just need…, As long as…, If only…, What I really need…, If ___ would just…, Why can’t…, Why don’t…, If I could…, All I need…, All I want…
What do they have in common? Find out on today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we dive deep into the Niyama of Contentment. Even more than happiness, isn’t this what we really want? Why is it so elusive? Why do we spend much of life seeking it? How do we claim it? These are the questions we explore in today’s episode. If experiencing contentment is important to you, you will want to listen in.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we explore what it means to be pure with ourselves. As I was reading Deborah Adele’s words, I was struck by how masterful we can be at hiding from ourselves. We create distractions, lie to ourselves, cover ourselves up, wear masks, and the list goes on. What would it actually mean to be honest with ourselves; fully pure with ourselves? Please join me for this final exploration of Saucha (purity) and let’s walk the path together of seeing how honest and pure we can be with ourselves.
Today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant is quite special.
I recently spent a week on retreat at the Sivananda Ashram and Yoga Ranch in the Catskills, NY. It was my first time there and I had no idea what to expect. As grace would have it, it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life and I had the good fortune of being enrolled in a class called: From Asana to Stillness with Arjuna, my teacher. Arjuna, a 40+ year practitioner of yoga and 37-year veteran teacher with Sivananda agreed to join me to talk about this month’s Niyama, Saucha or purity. Enjoy this special treat, the opportunity to learn from a true spiritual teacher and to explore an answer to this question, “What is the true purpose of our lives?”.
On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we begin talking about the Niyama of Saucha or Purity... Purity of body, mind (thought), words, and energy. What does it mean to purify ourselves? Why is this important? And HOW do we do this? These are all topics we begin to explore in this episode and continue to explore throughout the month. Please join me for the journey.
As humans, we are faced with a challenging paradox… we are designed to love and care deeply, and yet we can only be free if we learn how to let go of that which we love and care deeply about. On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we continue to talk about Aparigraha or the Yama of non-attachment. We explore deeply this paradox of caring deeply about people, things and experiences, and at the same time, being called to continually practice non-attachment and letting go of these same things. Why would we do this? How do we do this? What are the consequences if we fight the letting go?
In ancient India, when monkey catchers wanted to catch monkeys, they did not chase the monkey. Instead, they put a banana inside a cage with narrow bars. When the free monkey reached their hand in to get the banana, they were easy to catch because they refused to let go of the banana! On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we talk about the ‘bananas’ we cling to that keep us imprisoned in a state of fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, exhaustion… oh, the number of prisons we can create for ourselves is vast! Tune in and explore the path to freedom. In essence, all we have to do is let go of the banana!
When a trapeze artist swings from one bar to the next or from the bar into the hands of a waiting circus artist, there is a moment when she or he is suspended in mid-air. For the acrobatic act to work, they must fully let go of the old secure bar BEFORE they are able to connect with the new bar or be caught by the hands of their partner acrobat. As the audience, this is typically the moment when we gasp, but the circus artist is not nervous. If they were, they would not succeed. They are not nervous because they have rehearsed and learned to trust in the unfolding of the act. They know the rhythm and timing of the letting go, the suspension in mid-air and how to connect on the other side. Join me this week on Wonder Your Way to Brilliant as we continue our discussion of the YAMA Aparigraha - non-possessiveness or letting go and explore with me how we can cultivate some of this trust for being suspended in mid-air.
This month, on Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we are discussing the YAMA of Aparigraha - non-possessiveness or letting go. The Yama of Aparigraha presents us with a mindfulness challenge of major magnitude. Can we engage in life fully, love deeply, cherish whole-heartedly, enjoy deliciously, care passionately... and then let go? Can we take in each moment, relationship, experience, possession… and then let it go? Can we have and enjoy without becoming attached? Can we have and enjoy without becoming dependent upon the having and the experience for our contentment or happiness? This is a very tall ask, and we are taking it on this month.
How can we reduce or stop the drain on our energy to achieve a greater state of balance and centeredness? How can we achieve a sense of balance and calm? We all encounter times in our life that tax our energy. Sometimes, however, we can over-exert energy to deal with this situation. We can take a minor problem and put the energy appropriate of a major problem towards it. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we continue to talk about the Yama of Brahmacharya from a slightly different angle - ‘energy moderation.’ Join me for an exploration of mastering our right use of moderate energy.
Finding the sacred is easy when we look at a blossom that has just opened up or glimpse the smile of a young child. But how willing are we to seek the sacred in moments that are difficult when we feel inclined to indulge in complaining, feeling bad for ourselves, lashing out at others? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we continue to talk about the Yama of Brahmacharya - non-excess, walking with God, or the right use of energy. This commitment to the right use of energy calls us to both lift our eyes and be present to beauty as well as to seek the sacred in what may feel challenging. How intentionally can we direct our energy, regardless of what is happening around us?
Why do we reach for one more drink than we really need, one more helping after we are full, another hour of work after we have put in a full day… Why do we excess? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I talk about the Yama of Bramacharya - non-excess or walking with God, or right use of energy. Having too much, eating too much, working too much is never helpful for us, yet we can be seduced by them. Why does this happen and how can we turn toward mindful living? How can we step out of the fog of habitual behavior and onto a more intentional path? Some thoughts today’s episode.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I talk about a topic near and dear to my heart… the non-stealing of energy. Have you ever been really excited about something only to have someone not notice, not care, or even worse, burst the bubble of your enthusiasm? Or have you ever felt bad the moment after you inadvertently stole the wind out of someone else’s sails? I am super sensitive to both of these and invite us to think about them as ‘stealing of energy.’ How do we raise our awareness about it and how can we get better at showing up to every moment, rather than stealing energy from a previous moment?
Monday is Earth Day and as part of our month-long exploration of the Yama of ASTEYA or NON-STEALING, this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant explores our relationship with the earth. As a species, we have stolen both from the earth and from the future of the planet, yet we can also find amazing sources of hope. Please join me in this atypical episode in which I share a powerful speech by Paul Hawken, renowned entrepreneur, visionary environmental activist, and author in which he shares a question Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked, “What would we do if the stars only came out once every thousand years?” Listen in to hear how he describes the state of our relationship with the earth as well as how we can reconceive this relationship into the future
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we begin our exploration of the Yama of ASTEYA or NON-STEALING. This Yama challenges us to look at the ways in which we steal from our relationships with others, from the Earth, from our future, and from our own happiness in our attempt to fill the gaps of lacking inside ourselves. It is a deeply powerful exploration and one that I have found to be transformative in my life. So, do a check in with yourself…. Do you feel courageous enough to take on any patterns or behaviors that you may have that stem from your own sense of internal inadequacy? The Curiosity Coach in me hopes you will, either now or when the time is right! :)
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we continue to explore the Yama of SATYA or Truthfulness. We look at the fluidity of Truth by getting curious about what our truth is built upon. In other words, at all times, the things we know and believe to be true are based upon our current knowledge, set of experiences, and understandings. What happens when our knowledge, experience and understand expands? Does our truth change? Would we be willing to let go of a truth and make room for a new one? Let’s discuss on today’s episode.
Struggles with time management...
Lost time...
Not enough time...
Time flying too fast...
On today’s episode, we explore the ways in which we are truthful and not truthful in our relationship to time. Time is the one resource that we can never get more of… Once it is gone, it is gone? Given how precious it is, do we treat it as a sacred resource or do we squander it on things that really do not add to the quality of life? Tune in to today’s episode and let’s great real about our relationship to time.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we explore the struggle that often arises when we find ourselves torn between something we want to do or we feel is good for us and what others want or feel is good for us. In our exploration of SATYA or Truthfulness, we recognize that acknowledging our truth can be difficult especially when it feels like following our path distances us from others we care about. We want to belong and we want to grow, but sometimes these goals come into conflict. What do we do? How do we figure it out? Join me on today’s episode for a powerful exploration of the tension between growth and belonging.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant we explore what it really means to live in truthful relationship with ourselves and others. Non-truthfulness often doesn’t look like a lie, but rather like pleasing, self-sacrificing, remaining silent, hiding, or avoiding. Non-truthfulness means showing up as who we believe others want us to be. Non-truthfulness means withholding information or expression that is important for us and for relationships. And non-truthfulness has impactful consequences. Join me on today’s episode for a fiercely honest exploration of the many ways we consciously and unconsciously avoid truthfulness and how we can move closer to Satya.
This week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant is the final one in our series on AHIMSA or Nonviolence. It takes on a very challenge idea - Can we honestly love others when we do not fully love ourselves? If we are hard on ourselves, can we freely and selflessly really care for others? It is a powerful question and challenges us to look very deep inside. Please join me for this exploration. It is honestly a reckoning that has changed my life.
This week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant continues our exploration of AHIMSA or Nonviolence. It explores how accepting, ignoring, or indulging our own powerlessness leads us to states of violence toward ourselves and others. There are so many ways that we experience powerlessness in relation to the world around us as well as in relationships. In the end, remaining in this state will always keep us from love - love of ourselves and others. Take a deep dive with me this week… Let’s peel back a bunch of layers of that onion… and in the end, access more aspects of love.
This week’s podcast begins our exploration of AHIMSA or Nonviolence. In Eastern thought, non-violence is so valued that it stands as the very core foundation of all yoga philosophy and practice. Ahimsa was the foundation of Gandhi’s approach to changing the world But what does Ahimsa, non-violence, actually mean. It cannot - and is not - as simple as not hitting or physically harming another person or even another creature. In this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we begin the exploration of what Ahimsa is and start to reflect upon the micro thoughts and almost undetectable lifestyle practices that can be infected with traces of unintended violence.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I introduce the concept of the Yamas and Niyamas: Yogic Ethical Principles, why I have selected this as our focus and offer some queries to begin the journey. If you are ready to be guided on a deep dive into living consciously and authentically, tune in and join me. I can’t wait to journey with you!
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I offer some guidance on one way to marking this moment in time and bringing closure to another year of precious life. As it is said, how we do anything is how we do everything. If we want to be more present, take some time to be present in this transitional time. If you want to feel more loving, take this moment to experience all the love that is present in your life now and that you have been gifted over the course of the year. Whatever it is you want more of in your life, take the time to revel in that experience. Let this podcast guide you through a beautiful process of doing this.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I offer some teachings from Deborah Adele’s The Yamas and Niyamas to help guide and center us when our hearts can feel heavy, closed or burdened. How can we engage during the moments that typically trigger those draining emotions and have a different experience? How can they become energy giving instead of energy-sapping?
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, my colleague and friend, Jodi Silverman, founder of Moms Who Dare Communities, and I debrief the month-long You Matter Marathon. We exchange stories and experiences related to handing out YOU MATTER cards and discuss subtle and highly conscious ways we can all continue to let people know they matter - all year long.
During the month of November, we have been exploring Courageous Connections with food. In this episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, dear colleague and friend, Dr, Christine Kiesinger and I decided to get very raw in talking about our complicated relationship with food and eating over the years. At this time of year when we are surrounded by food, we talk about how complicated our relationship with food and eating can be, how it affects us emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. We talk about the really hard stuff, what we have learned along the way, and how we are currently navigating our relationship with food. Christine offers some beautiful practices for becoming ever more mindful in the relationship with eating.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I had the privilege of speaking with Samantha Retamer, Communications Coordinator and Elizabeth Sanon, Manager of Food Acquisition Partnerships at Philabundance. Philabundance provides food to over 90,000 people per week in the greater Philadelphia area and does incredible work to drive hunger from our communities and end hunger forever. What was amazing to me was how much I did not know about the organization and the amazingly innovative and entrepreneurial strategies they are engaging in to address this issue. I am also truly grateful for their guidance on how we can all make a meaningful difference!
It is amazing that an act that we perform so many times a day (and that is essential for our survival) can be so complicated, but as our guest on today’s podcast will share with us, the choices we make around food are at the center of our wellness. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we talk with Jessica DeLuise, founder of Eat Your Way to Wellness, a holistic wellness practice committed to educating people about the power of food and guiding them to make choices that support health. We cover everything from why our relationship with food is complicated, what makes figuring out the food landscape so complicated, and how we can educate and empower ourselves. And for the Hungry Harvesters out there, she teaches us how we can get the most out of our Hungry Harvest boxes.
Today’s podcast kicks off our month-long exploration of courageous connections to food. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we talk with Vanessa Paige, Philadelphia Market Manager for Hungry Harvest, a company on a mission to end food waste and hunger. As Vanessa shares, we regularly throw away huge amounts of perfectly good food while so many people live in a state of food insecurity. Tune in and learn about Hungry Harvest’s innovative approach to addressing both issues and how you can get involved.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I share about a concept that I found absolutely curious, fascinating, and powerful: The 5 Year Marriage. When I first heard the phrase, I was confused. Curious, I listened more deeply. The 5 Year Marriage not only offers a framework for a deep, intimate relationship but a model way of thinking about all aspects of our lives. Enjoy!
This past week of the hearings on Kavanaugh nomination was extraordinarily difficult for most of us individually and was further fracturing to us as a society. We are in a no-win situation at the political level - one that is pushing us full steam ahead in the direction of amplifying divide and battle. It literally feels like it is fracturing the foundation of our united states.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I do not discuss the nature of the hearings, but rather what all of this demands of us. Specifically, I invite us to think about who we are going to be in this and what role each of us has to identify as ours to play. No answers, but hopefully the provoking of some courageous inner curiosity.
This week, I observed the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the annual Day of Atonement and the conclusion of a 10 day period dedicated to reviewing who we have been over the previous year and clearing the path to showing up with even more intention and goodness in the coming year. A major theme in these 10 days is forgiveness and atoning for any times we have missed the mark in acting in treating ourselves and others with loving kindness. But forgiveness is not always easy. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I explore what I believe forgiveness is really about, how we can think about it, especially when opening to forgiveness feels hard, and steps we can take to move closer to expanding our forgiving hearts.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I am beyond excited to introduce you to Courage to be Curious’ new swag - 156 Game-Changing Questions to help us Live Lead and Love courageously. Three decks of cards, 52 questions in each, dedicated to Living a conscious life, Loving and connecting deeply, and Leading with intention and influence. Listen in and explore this new opportunity to ‘pause worthy’ questions!
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I have the immense privilege of talking with Cheryl Rice, Coach, Speaker, Social Entrepreneur, and creator of the YOU MATTER MARATHON! The You Matter Marathon is a simple and powerful way to create a never-ending ripple of positive connection. You don’t want to miss this episode because listening to it can change how you show up in the world today. By introducing you to a single action you can begin performing right away, you can transform your relationships, magnify your impact, and transform the world.
Vulnerability is scary and uncomfortable. That’s the definition of it, right? So why would we do it? Why would we put ourselves out there in a vulnerable way? Well, on today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I do my best to make the case because I honestly believe that it is through the sharing of our vulnerability that we create courageous connection. Having had an amazing experience at a seminar where I had the privilege of watching people share their vulnerability on stage, I know first hand that this is a potent ingredient for the kind of connection we are all craving.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, part IV of this series on the Unexpected Adventure, I take you deep inside my own inner world. After spending a week with Jerome in Atlanta, interviewing him so that we might gift him and his family a memoir of his life, I asked myself the question, “What was this about for me?” As you know, this endeavor was not part of my ‘work,’ but rather a pursuit of my heart. So I got curious with myself… Why did I feel called in this moment? What was this experience about for me? In today’s episode, I will share what I have arrived at so far and ask that you receive this exploration as a gift from one heart to another.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, join us for Part III of the Unexpected Adventure. After following a Courageous Connection formed on a train ride, I had the privilege of interviewing Jerome Dorn from IndaHouseMedia about his extraordinary life for the purposes of writing his memoirs. On today’s episode, I share the ‘Unexpected Doors’ that Jerome began opening for me as well as a glimpse into what defines the life of a person. What defines our life? What directs our life? Jerome gave me (and Lisa) the gift of delving deeply into these questions through his eyes.
We are two days into the Unexpected Adventure and our heads are spinning. What began as the seedling of an idea to explore the life of a fascinating man I met on an Amtrak train has turned into an adventure with surprises and twists and turns we could never have anticipated.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, Part II of the Unexpected Adventure, my courageous co-traveler Lisa and I share how the experience of delving deeply and curiously into the life of someone else unleashes the power to transform three lives.
This is totally new and I hope you will join me on this Unexpected Adventure!At the end of April, I met a traveler on an Amtrak train, someone absolutely fascinating. To be honest, I often meet people on trains or waiting in line somewhere or on planes, etc… And it is not even the first time I have exchanged contact information with someone (not in a romantic way!). But this one ranks as something more of a Courageous Connection leading to an Unexpected Adventure because never before have I booked a plane and set aside 5 days to… Listen in and find out.
When is sharing silence the most powerful way we can connect?
We are so acclimated in our culture to fill space with words and time with doing, that moments of silence, particularly during a conversation or when spending time with friends and family, can feel really awkward. However, in this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I get curious about the opportunities for deep connection that lie in the negative space of silence. Whether you are someone who feels completely uncomfortable with silence or you value silence, I invite you to join me this week in thinking about and experimenting with connecting through silence.
This past week I was in Costa Rica and had the humbling experience of not having the words to be able to communicate effectively with native speakers whose language is different from my own. There is so much to learn from this space of feeling humbled. On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I get curious about what it would mean to bring this level of humility into our everyday communications? What might we do better if we did not assume that someone who shares common vocabulary actually understands us or we them?
On this week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I am taking on a topic that is very close to my personal world right now. Having just experienced the loss of my father and noticing many people around me who are also navigating the loss of loved ones or difficult times, I wanted to discuss what it means to courageously connect during times of loss. It is not an easy time for many of us and it has taken me a number of experiences of loss to find a means of connecting courageously. I hope this offering is of service to you or can be for someone you know.
This week’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant is inspired by one of the courageous young leaders who participates in one of my corporate Leadership Development Programs. She asked, how do you create Courageous Connections? Her question was in fact inspired by personal experience with someone she knew who was very skilfull at this and she wanted to know more about how she could advance her own practice of connecting deeply. This episode is dedicated to this amazing young woman. In it, I hope to provide some of the tools that I am aware of and use (in my best moments) to create Courageous Connections.
I used to feel very awkward when people around me would be sad, angry, frustrated, filled with shame, or disappointed. I could give them a hug, but beyond that, I either wanted to get far away from them and their dark space or I tried all my tricks to get them out of the ‘bad mood’ they were in. None of this was really helpful for me or them. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant I not only provide some useful strategies for showing up in these challenging moments but also discuss how we can transform them into moments of courageous connection.
The month of May is always filled with lots of celebrations… Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, reunions, and more. The celebrations are great times for friends and family to come together, but in my experience, it is easy to just go through the motions of meeting and greeting and never feel connected to anyone. On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I offer an alternative. Questions are one of my primary tools for igniting a meaningful connection and in this episode, I suggest the type of questions we can ask at celebratory events to connect more meaningfully.
On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, we begin to discuss HOW we decide which connections to have and keep in our life and WHERE to place these connections in relationship to ourselves. The truth is that we do not have the same level of connection or relationship with each member of our family or everyone in our circle of friends and acquaintances. Much frustration can come when, for example, someone who brings out the worst in us or frustrates us occupies a lot of space in our lives. Today’s episode offers thoughts on how we can think about this and how we can manage our network of friends and family connections to achieve a happier and more fulfilled life experience.
Are you online? Are you proud - or uneasy about the number of online connections you have? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant ,I am totally unconcerned with how many connections you have but the ways in which we create Courageous Connection online. What are Courageous Online Connections? What can be transformed through the formation of these connections? Curious….?
Are you a dreamer? I mean actually… do you dream at night and are you curious about what the sorted fragments of your dreams mean? On today’s episode of Wonder Your Way to Brilliant, I talk with Sharon Pastore and Cara Imperato, co-founders of Dream Girls, a private group dedicated to dream interpretation and enhancing one’s connection to self and life through dreams. In this dynamic conversation we discuss everything from how to form an affinity group among people who share a common interest to how you can train yourself to remember more of our dreams and receive guidance from them.
On today’s episode I am talking about those precious LIVE connections that await us beyond the screens of our cell phone and iPads. For me, some of my most beautiful connections happen when I am traveling and this is the case this week. Join me on Wonder Your Way to Brilliant for a journey through a series courageously beautiful connections formed on my recent travel to Colorado.