Don’t Fight The Universe; Surrender To Resistance
By Amanda Linehan on January 5, 2009
photo credit: Hamed Saber
“When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it is best to let him run.” - Abraham Lincoln
Many people think that “surrender” is a dirty word. But, there are situations in which surrendering is your best option. You give up control of a situation, only to gain it back.
Have you ever tried to do something, only to find yourself failing? So you try harder, but find yourself getting farther and farther away from where you want to be? That’s what it feels like to meet resistance. Typically, when we meet resistance we push harder, only to find that we create more. This is when it’s time to surrender.
Topics: Power | 1 Comment »
See Yourself As Others Do
By Amanda Linehan on December 29, 2008
photo credit: Felix Francis
Looking within yourself is an essential part of self awareness, but without the ability to see yourself as others do, you won’t be able to manage what you communicate about yourself to others. The ability to connect what’s going on inside of you to how you appear on the outside is essential for communicating the right things about yourself, rather than leaving it up to the interpretation of others. The following steps will allow you to see yourself as others do.
Topics: Ability, Connection | 12 Comments »
How To Embrace Your Worst Qualities
By Amanda Linehan on December 22, 2008
photo credit: *madalena-pestana*
“To confront a person with their own shadow is to show them their own light.” - Carl Jung
As you learn about yourself, the discoveries you make about your personality, your passions, and how you want to live are exciting and energize you for the journey ahead. But, inevitably, you will also learn things that are unpleasant or downright ugly. What you do with these “ugly” discoveries is more important than what you do with your pleasant discoveries. Knowing and embracing your worst qualities is the key to being your whole self. Here is how to embrace your own worst qualities.
Topics: Self Worth | 6 Comments »
The Joy of Desire
By Amanda Linehan on December 14, 2008
photo credit: Untitled blue
“One of the reasons why so few of us ever act, instead of react, is because we are continually stifling our deepest impulses.” - Henry Miller
Have you ever been around children for any significant amount of time? If you have, as a parent, or teacher, or coach, or in another role, you know that getting them to do what you want is difficult. You want them to sit quietly and complete their math problems, or you want them to get in line for the next drill you are going to run, or you just want them to clean up after themselves and come into the kitchen to eat. But, they don’t want to do what you want. They want to do what they want.
Topics: Passion, Vibrance | 4 Comments »
Letting Go Of Others; Give The Same Space You Would Want
By Amanda Linehan on November 11, 2008
photo credit: HAMED MASOUMI
Think about all of the people who have come and gone from your life. (It’s a lot, isn’t it?) Have you ever tried to stop an important person in your life from going? Maybe your best friend at work has accepted a new job and you are worried that you will be lonely. Or, your long-distance boyfriend or girlfriend has decided that the distance has become too much and they want to end the relationship even though their feelings for you haven’t changed.
Topics: Connection | 14 Comments »
Discover Opportunities You Never Imagined; Embrace Uncertainty
By Amanda Linehan on November 4, 2008
photo credit: Untitled blue
Do you know what’s going to happen to you tomorrow? The answer to this question is inevitably “No.” Even if you have the best plans and schedules, you can’t predict for sure what’s going to happen.
So how do you deal with uncertainty? By accepting it.
Uncertainty is Stressful (But it doesn’t have to be)
Letting uncertainty happen is stressful. It scares us when we don’t know what’s going to happen because we imagine all kinds of bad and undesirable things that might occur. We feel that we can’t leave too much up to chance. But when we try to eliminate all uncertainty, not only do we block out the bad stuff that could happen we also block out the good things that could happen - things that we never guessed might occur.
Topics: Vibrance | 4 Comments »
Lost? Find Yourself Again.
By Amanda Linehan on October 19, 2008
photo credit: BotheredByBees
Do you find yourself feeling harried and rushed throughout the day? Are you desperate to rest, but can’t seem to sit still? Does it seem that there is a never ending stream of activity that you must respond to?
This is an uncomfortable way to exist, but once you get started it’s hard to leave it behind. How do you leave it behind? Come back to your “Center” regularly.
Topics: Peace of Mind, Power | 9 Comments »
The Joy of Walking
By Amanda Linehan on October 6, 2008
photo credit: atomicpuppy68
Do you ever reach a point in the day when you feel like you just can’t think anymore? Do you want to exercise more during the week but find it inconvenient to do so? Are you too tired and stressed to hit the gym or go running after work? If so, consider taking a walk.
Even though walking may seem slow and not painful enough to bring you any real benefits, walking is an activity that is not only beneficial, but can provide several benefits at once. Next time you need a break or some exercise, take a walk. Not everything needs to be punishment.
Topics: Peace of Mind, Vibrance | 13 Comments »
7 Ways To Excel At Resting
By Amanda Linehan on September 29, 2008
“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgement will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.” - Leonardo da Vinci
Do you think that you get enough rest in your life? I don’t just mean sleep either, although that’s part of it. I simply mean downtime, time to relax and rejuvenate, time to think and just meander along.
Topics: Ability, Peace of Mind, Vibrance | 6 Comments »
Use Self Reflection To Get Some Direction
By Amanda Linehan on September 5, 2008
Have you ever done something and then thought to yourself, “Why did I do that”? Have you ever wondered to yourself how you will ever get to where you want to be, or even where it is that you want to be?
Taking the time to properly reflect on your life is a practice that will help you understand yourself. Not taking the time to reflect is like going through life with your eyes closed - voluntarily blind.
Spend some time on a regular basis reflecting on your life. Here are some things you need to do that.
Topics: Ability, Purpose | 8 Comments »