I lost my way. I had cared so much about what this person thought about me that I let it override my own self-perception. I tried every which way to reconcile and justify their words, and I cried more tears and more times than I care to admit, but what I didn't do was stop and question what they had said. I just took it as truth. It wasn't.
I've been gathering a lot of inspiration in the first couple days of 2021. It feels exciting and terrifying, brave and vulnerable. What we do matters.
"What are you ready for, Paula?" It was a simple question that was asked of me gently as I was talking with a friend. I had been spinning in a story I was telling myself: I wasn't yet ready to launch. The question she posed, rooted in curiosity, was one that didn't even cross my mind. What AM I ready for?
I've spent a lot of time thinking about stories recently. With their heroes and villains, plot lines and plot twists, stories create meaning and connect us. Stories give us a reason to love, a reason to loathe, and a reason to listen. However, not all stories serve us well. How many times have you gotten… Continue reading The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Let's just start right here: It's ok to not be ok. A myriad of emotions, the last couple weeks have rocked and unsettled most of us. Many of us are struggling with the physical distancing we have been asked to practice. Here in Minnesota, our stay-at-home guidance was just extended another 3 weeks. It's become… Continue reading Navigating Uncertainty
Whoa mama. Who would have thought literally nothing, and everything, could change in the blink of an eye? By now, we've all been personally impacted in some way and it's easy to get swept up, so I invite you to take a deep breath, pause, and give yourself a break from every news source for… Continue reading Be Not Afraid
The power of words. We underestimate them. I've been thinking a lot about language and semantics lately. How having the courage to take unedited thoughts and synthesize can influence and inspire. How taking unrelated topics, identifying themes, and categorizing can turn stream-of-consciousness into a manifesto. It's insanely powerful. On my drive in the other morning,… Continue reading Starting Again vs. Starting Over
According to Brené Brown, the number one reason people feel resentful is lack of holding boundaries. This is a reminder to practice good boundaries this holiday season. We will all be bombarded with advertising promising a joyful season if we have the latest, greatest toys, appliances, fashion, technology. I invite you to remember that going… Continue reading Resentment
Do you have the courage to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart?
Cultivating Insight and Influencing Change 