Mother’s Day is a special day set aside to declare your love and support of your key female role model in your life.

Hopefully, your Mom was a positive influence.  Sadly, a few clients have told me that wasn’t true of their relationship with their Mom and I encourage them to send a prayer to her for her healing, whether she’s alive or passed.  And if this is your situation, then maybe you too can think of someone who has filled that mother role or been a positive support for you in your life.  It might be a teacher, a friend, maybe a work associate.  Whoever that may be, now is the time to give them appreciative thoughts and loving words.

If you’re able to celebrate your “Mom,” here’s a few suggestions:

1.  Make your time with Mom count.  There may be plenty of distractions or other activities, but let her know she’s the Queen Bee and listen to her and acknowledge her fully.

2.  Ask her to tell a story about her life that has meaning to her.  It may be her talking about memories with her own Mom.  When those distractions around you happen, bring the conversation back to her so she can fully communicate her story. (more…)

My in-laws live in a senior home and are currently experiencing their second lockdown in a two month period, — no residents can leave their rooms or receive visitors.  Food is delivered to their rooms and all group activities are on hold.  This lockdown is due to a few of the senior residents contracting a severe flu and the Director deciding to control the virus from spreading.  While this seems like a well-reasoned prevention method, especially as it only lasts a matter of a few days, certain residents complain that they shouldn’t be so inconvenienced.  Some family members are unhappy about the lack of access to their healthier loved ones during this time.

This reminds me of so many other group imposed policies, including job site regulations, which are put into affect for the benefit of the greater population, but can cause hardships on certain individuals.

The reality is we live in a society, which Google describes as:

• “The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.
• The community of people living in a particular region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations.”

We are a network of individuals whose choices impact each another. (more…)

A few past clients commented they were unfairly treated during job performance reviews or received criticism they felt was unwarranted, from their clients.  Maybe those comments seemed to come out of left field, when things were thought to be going well, or my clients have said criticism was delivered too harshly and not enough was offered about what they were doing right.

Get ahead of this happening, beat employers or clients in this feedback by requesting they review you more often and help them do it constructively.  Here’s an approach I’ve encouraged my professional and entrepreneurial clients to take:

Managers, Employees and Staff
Be sure to have clear benchmarks set for your work.  If it’s not clear, ask that these be reviewed with you.  At these different benchmark stages within the project or work requirements, interview any working partners and talk with your boss or supervisor for their periodic feedback rather than wait for semi-annual reviews. (more…)

Whether Christian or not, some of St. Patrick resides within each of us.

Patrick showed endurance following the raid of his family’s estate in his youth and his following six years in captivity by rebels.   He felt very alone during the years when he worked as a shepherd and was away from people, yet he learned self-reliance.  During those years he dreamt of big changes for his Irish people and rather than be defeated for his unfair treatment, he desired to help others.

Patrick stayed loyal to his internal guiding messages and escaped captivity.  He walked 200 miles to the Irish coast where he entered religious training and then returned to his country of birth to apply it with his countrymen.  He met others on their familiar terms, incorporating their Irish traditional practices and symbolism into the lessons he helped them learn about the Christian faith. (more…)

Susan Caine, “The Power of Introverts”  TED.com talk  19:04  (click on the link to view and hear this powerful presentation)