May the New Year Bring You FLOW: Embrace Your Anxiety!

I woke up this morning full of dread. Or, more precisely, I was full of anxiety, which feels a bit like dread. The New Year has begun. The vacation days are over and the list of things to be done feels mountainous. Anxiety Stems from the Unknown Some of the items on that list are simple and I know how to do them. Some of them are big and complicated and I’m not sure how to do them or if they will succeed. Those are the projects that make me anxious. You probably … [Read more...]

Overcoming Fear: A Personal Letter to Lizard Brain

Do you know that feeling of a sort of tickling in the pit of your stomach?  It's a feeling of excitement and anxiety combined. Those feelings are so close that that you can literally feel excited one minute and panicked the next. It doesn't take much to tip the balance. That's the way I'm feeling right now. A huge excitement that I'm on the verge of doing something big... and then with the next breath, a huge anxiety that maybe I won't succeed. Whew. One minute I … [Read more...]

Autumn Anxiety: Build a Head of Steam to Get You Going

Do you know the physical symptoms of anxiety? If you pay close attention the next time you get anxious, you might notice these things: You start sweating. Perhaps your face even gets a bit damp. Your heart rate goes up a bit. Your mid-section feels -- well -- like it's got a cluster of butterflies in it. You're uncomfortable and out of sorts in a general, ill-defined way. Something just doesn't feel right. And you'd be happy to do almost anything to make … [Read more...]

Walk Yourself Right Out of Anxiety

Have you ever wake up feeling anxious? From the first moment you open your eyes, you sense that something's not right. You may not know why you are anxious or what it's about. You're just afloat with unwelcome angst. Your Lizard Brain's on high alert even though there's no specific threat. You can probably tell that I'm describing my state of mind today. You may wake up feeling anxious some days too. Here's my strategy for getting rid of the unwelcome … [Read more...]

Stress: Good or Bad? You Might be Surprised

Do you hate stress? What if you could grow to love it? Recent research findings might surprise you. I've always had a sneaking suspicion that the uncomfortable feeling of stress was an important part of the creative process. Think back a bit... Haven't the most important things in life -- your creative triumphs, your most meaningful accomplishments, your proudest moments -- been preceded by stress? You know the signs and symptoms: rapid heart rate, dry … [Read more...]

Lizard Brain and the Courage to Ask for What You Want

Yesterday I asked a former colleague, who is also a friend of mine, for a favor... I was hoping he would feature my recent post on intentional conversations in his newsletter, a very popular publication with more than 10,000 subscribers. But before I could ask the favor, first I had to deal with a huge amount of inner resistance. In fact, I almost didn't ask at all. Why not? I was afraid he'd feel I was being pushy or inappropriately infringing on our … [Read more...]

TRY THIS… a Blog of Ideas and Mind-Play for a Fascinating Life

My heart is racing. My chest tight. It's all I can do to write this inaugural post. In fact, I’ve spent days....even weeks...avoiding this moment because my anxiety is so high. Do you know that feeling? I recently left my business, Asking Matters, because I wanted to broaden my exploration of human behavior beyond fundraising, the business that has occupied me for nearly 30 years. But now, as I face the blank page of this new blog that willy-nilly launches tomorrow, … [Read more...]