7 decisions... er... intentions

I love books. They often change my life. Some of my favorites are:
The Gifts of Imperfection – Brene Brown
The Alchemist – Paulo Coehlo
Here if You Need Me – Kate Braestrup
The Forty Rules of Love – Elif Shafak
And The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.

I know, Andy Andrews is a tiny bit cheesy and a lot bit conservative and “inspirational” and “motivational” and I tend to shy away from those types. ((Ok, I don’t tend to shy away. I’m decidedly motivated and inspired by those types.)) Although I haven’t liked any other of Andrews’ books, The Traveler’s Gift was the first one I read and I loved the ideas it held. Part of the book was the Seven Decisions. Because I take things from books and integrate them into my

Shame – it’s what’s for dinner (at my house, anyway)

As some of you know, I’ve recently discovered Dr. Brene Brown (aka the Albert Einstien of the 21st century). She has a Ph.D. in Social Work and has spent her life studying shame, vulnerability, fear… basically all the things that get in the way of happiness, joy, and abundant life.

I’ve spent the past few weeks listening to her talks and reading her books and, well, dealing with my own shame. I’ve been, as Dr. Brown says, “wading in the swampland of the soul,” ...

shame (sssshhhhhh! we don't talk about that)

What IF...
...we lived our lives with authenticity? What if we weren't afraid to face those forces that motivate us? What if we looked at Shame in the face and defied its hold on our lives?

What if we simply acknowledged shame exists?

Shame is something everyone has. It is the most primitive human emotion. It is that voice that tells us we aren't good enough (pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough), so we try to be everything to everyone, we try to be perfect wives, perfect mothers, perfectly balanced inside and out.