Category: Entrepreneurship
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Why Highly Intelligent People Struggle With Anxiety
For years I blamed modern conveniences and comfortable living for the epidemic of anxiety we see around us today. When we were running for our lives from predators or wild beasts…we knew fear. Today, our threats look very different. We’re not running from predators, we’re trying to reconcile bank accounts, meet deadlines and navigate complex…
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Why Success Sometimes Makes Life Feel Harder
“Everything looks successful from the outside… so why does it feel this hard?” Over the years I’ve sat with many highly successful professionals, physicians, founders and leaders who experience this stage of success. I spoke with someone this week who gave me permission to share. Their business is thriving. Growth is strong. Receivables are up.…
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Why Overfunctioners Attract Underfunctioners
“The tragedy of the overfunctioner is that the stronger they become, the less support they receive.” Why the Strong One Always Ends Up Carrying Everything One of the most common patterns I see in couples, families, and leadership teams is this: The more one person overfunctions, the more the other underfunctions. And in this scenario…
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If My Life Is Changing, Why Are My Struggles Always The Same?
Many of us are startled to arrive at a point in life very different than where we imagined we would be. That realization can feel disappointing, confusing, frustrating, discouraging– especially for the highly motivated person, reaching for the stars. You’ve done the work:New relationships.Career growth.Expanding awareness.Therapy.Coaching.Personal development. And yet, somehow, here you are again. Experiencing…
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The Real Work of Balance
Four Practices That Restore Your Energy Professionally and Personally We talk about balance as if it’s a destination — somewhere we’ll arrive at once our lives slow down, the calendar opens up, the inbox empties, or our lives becomes less demanding. But balance isn’t a finish line to cross. Balance isn’t frantically filling your schedule…
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The Martyr Fractal
Why Overgiving Becomes Identity — and How to Pattern Something New “Martyrdom is not a virtue. It’s a pattern. One that repeats when your needs are unmet, your disappointments unspoken, and your boundaries abandoned.” We all know the archetype: The one who sacrifices everything — time, energy, health, joy — for everyone else.The one who…
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Using Declarative and Imperative Thinking to Improve Your Life
True Confession I’ll start by acknowledging something about myself: I naturally lean toward a declarative approach to life rather than an imperative one. There are times when the imperative approach is absolutely necessary — but for me, it’s a place I visit, not a place I live. Understanding the difference between these two mindsets can transform how you set goals, make…
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Living With “Should’s” vs. Living With What You Truly Want
We all carry a backpack full of “shoulds.”I should be further along by now.I should say yes to that opportunity.I should be more like her. Sometimes those “shoulds” are so ingrained, so habituated, that we stop recognizing where they came from. They often begin as someone else’s expectations—family, culture, mentors, partners, even social media. Over time, they can feel like our…
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Boundaries vs Ultimatums: One Protects, the Other Controls
There’s a subtle yet powerful difference between setting a boundary and giving an ultimatum—understanding this difference can improve the way we relate to others and deepen those relationships. Boundaries are rooted in self-awareness. They are what we need to feel safe, respected, and whole. Boundaries are not about changing someone else; they’re about protecting and honoring…
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When It’s Never Enough: Breaking the Cycle of Endless Striving
I regularly hear from high-performing professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives and healers who struggle with endless striving or the “moving goalpost” syndrome. The pattern is universal. You set a goal.You work hard. You meet the goal, often even exceed it, but instead of feeling the gratification of a job well done, you feel let down. You can’t…