Home Archives for Increasing Awareness

Washing Away Unnecessary Anxiety and Unwarranted Blame

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I tossed and turned much of last night worrying that an email I sent to someone had been too critical. You know the feeling that starts just after you press the send button and immediately wish you hadn't? But this morning I found a genuinely appreciative email from the guy, thanking me for my unvarnished opinion! Also this morning, I got an email from a colleague I had been trying to reach but who hadn't been responsive to my call of several days ago. I figured I must … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Managing Stress Tagged: , ,

Witness Your Cycle of Energy from Inaction to Action

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Have you ever watched water boil? I mean, actually standing over the pot and watching. It really does boil, even when you watch it! If you do, here's what you'll see. Water Boiling is Like Your Own Energy First, teeny bubbles form at the bottom of the pot. The surface, though unbroken starts moving. Then, gradually, the bubbles grow and merge and rise, breaking the smooth surface until it's roiling and dancing and cratering. As the water boils, the bubbles break. … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Managing Stress, Productivity Tips Tagged:

Finding Meaning in Life by Processing Simple Observations

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How often do you pause to look at some aspect of life or the human condition? And when you make a mental discovery, no matter how big or small, how do you process your observations? Do you share your thoughts with a friend? Do you paint a picture or compose a song? Do you make a simple note in your phone or add an entry to a journal or diary? Writing to Find Meaning in Life You may have noticed that I've taken a vacation from writing this blog for the past six weeks. … [Read more...]

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What Happens When You Reach a Milestone or Benchmark?

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Do you set benchmarks to track your progress?  If so, what do you do when you reach one? Do you celebrate? Do you pat yourself on the back? Do you take some time to reflect on what you've accomplished? Or do you just reach ahead and set another goal? I've Reached a Benchmark This is the 200th TRY THIS post! I began writing it in June of 2013.  Since then, 64,681 people have viewed the blog and joined me in learning little life lessons from the South … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Planning Tagged: ,

Are You Willing to Make Your Resistance to Trump Public?

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Since the election, I’ve been working on creating something people can wear to indicate their disapproval of the new administration. When dealing with bullies, it’s tempting to pull back and hide rather than standing up for what you believe in. But the more we hide, the more power you give a bully. I admire people who have the courage to confront and act up in strong and public ways. But for me, simply wearing a public sign of my disapproval feels like what I can … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness Tagged: ,

Stand Tall and Power Up, Mentally and Physically

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When my mother got old, her back was bent like the top of a cane. She looked curled even when she stood. Like a drying leaf that's fallen from a tree. Gradually, her body pulled in, shoulders and neck forward. Head canted down. She became smaller and smaller until one day she wasn't there any more. Do you know people like that? People who, when you see them after a few months apart, look noticeably smaller? Shrinking and curling are common patterns of aging -- … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Overcoming Challenges Tagged: , ,

Question Your Assumptions – They Can Be Very, Very Wrong

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It's easy to make assumptions about people. I do it all the time and you probably do too. We All Make Assumptions Assumptions help you make short-hand sense of the world.  You expect people in a certain place to look and dress a certain way.  And when that's not the way they look, you make assumptions that are sometimes just flat out wrong. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that my husband and I are friends with Clemetin Allen. Clemetin's life has … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Making Better Decisions Tagged: , , ,

Use the Cycle of Creation to Get Things Done

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Months ago, on the glass wall behind my desk chair, I wrote the following words: Hope Disillusionment Pragmatism Renewal I'm sure I pulled those words from somewhere. They probably represent somebody's well-known cycle. But for the life of me, I can't remember where I first saw them. So while I'm not the person who coined this series of words, I'd like to borrow them and present them to you as the cycle of creation. Let's compare that to another well … [Read more...]

Categories: Getting What You Want, Increasing Awareness Tagged: ,

The Anti-Trump Armband Project Takes Shape

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I couldn't shake it from my mind.  And I can't let it go. I'm in mourning for the ideals I hold dear -- the ideals of my 70+ year lifetime. I've gotten lots of thoughts and suggestions from friends and acquaintances.  And I've gotten help.   Help thinking through and designing an image. Help in figuring out the message.  Help in finding a url that'll make sense. The First Prototypes My friend created a preliminary logo in record time.  I've ordered iron-on decals … [Read more...]

Categories: Increasing Awareness, Overcoming Challenges

One Word Makes a World of Difference

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When I was growing up, I knew I was expected to go to college.  Everyone I knew went to college. I understood early that going to college would be likely to shape my life.  I would meet new people, learn new things, and when I got out, people would think of me differently. Here's the same paragraph with only one word changed: When I was growing up, I knew I was expected to go to prison.  Everyone I knew went to prison. I understood early that going to prison would be likely … [Read more...]

Categories: Building Relationships, Increasing Awareness Tagged: ,