In order to grow, you must give up the struggle to remain the same, and learn to embrace change at all times. – Michael A. Singer The only thing more frightening than believing that nothing will ever change […]
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It’s late at night, and you’re about to fall asleep. As you drift off into dreamland, your mind wanders to that one thing you really want to do with your life. Maybe you want to start your own business. Write a novel. Travel to foreign places. These long-standing dreams put a smile to your face.
Until you hear “the voice.”
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There has always been an undercurrent of anxiety running through my life. Even though I am a pretty laid back guy, I find it hard to sit still or just be. Over time, I’ve become used to my anxiety. Like a refrigerator that runs quietly in the background, sometimes it’s not until it starts making noises that you notice it.
Surfing was one such noise that reminded me of my anxiety. Here’s how it reared its ugly head and and how I kept it at bay…
I was in a café the other day, and four ladies were having coffee at the table next to me. They were chatting merrily about social things, when a couple of them noticed a man they knew walking into the café. The man took several steps in their direction, and suddenly pivoted around and walked out the door again.
The ladies were aghast. One by one, wide-eyed, they chimed in:
Really, It Wasn’t You Read More »
The power of the alarm clock is remarkable and the level of irritation it can induce is astonishing. We all know that feeling; fast asleep on a cold Monday morning when the alarm clock deity plays the excruciating
The Journey that Defeated Depression Read More »
Sometimes the only thing you can do is to just stop searching. Making it look like you’re after the feeling is not the same as actually having the feeling.
I was at a point in my life where everything looked great from the outside. I had just graduated college with Honors and two Degrees; I had my own apartment that I could afford; I got a new job plus multiple freelance opportunities. But still… something was missing.
Why I Stopped Searching for Happiness Read More »
If you are not happy here and now, you never will be. – Taisen Deshimaru When I was young, I had big dreams. I wanted to live an adventurous life, follow my heart, be fearless and passionate… and
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I am so non-confrontational that the thought of saying anything to anyone that might rub them the wrong way has always given me instant anxiety.
I have suffered from this syndrome of wanting to keep the peace at all costs since childhood. And now that I am just a couple of years shy of 50, I am really sick and tired of carrying around this burden of having to keep the peace. I want to speak my truth!
5 Ways to Overcome a Fear of Confrontation Read More »
I will readily admit that I haven’t always been a particularly positive person. I think cynicism is in my genetic code and I used to genuinely believe that it was better to expect the worst in order to be prepared than to allow high hopes be dashed.
I’m also the biggest chicken imaginable. There was a time when I was truly scared of everything and the thought of acting courageously seemed impossible. I still find myself fearful and anxious at times but I’ve come a long way.
To top off the “Negative Nelly” trifecta – as if you weren’t already convinced that my redeeming qualities might be lacking! – I often tend to be driven by logic versus emotion and struggle with compassion at times. It has occurred to me that all of these aspects of my personality are likely interconnected and probably support and feed off of each other.
How to Keep Your Glass Half Full Through Courage & Compassion Read More »
I have a dog, and walking is something I love to do. When I do, I feel at peace with nature. For the past three months, I’ve been travelling alone in France and northern Italy. Every day I like to go off exploring. Where I am currently staying, there are acres upon acres of forest and beautiful little walks along the pilgrim’s path that weaves its way through the region.
As I have gone along my journey I have become more confident on my walks and have felt braver to explore further afield. My fears have abated. At the beginning, I was afraid of getting lost, which I have faced by getting lost twice. Both times, I was OK.
How to Stay Open to Life, Even When You’re Afraid of Getting Hurt Read More »
I had been recommended for promotion in my job in IT. I had a great track record, enviable feedback from peers and customers and had attained all the technical achievements that were required to move up the ladder and gain a substantial increase in pay and recognition. So what was stopping me? In order to gain that promotion, I would have to present my case before a board of executives, but the very idea made me feel physically ill.
I had struggled for years with panic and anxiety, and as soon as I pictured myself in front of those people, I could feel all the old symptoms rising up: the sweaty palms, the racing heart, the dry mouth. Over the years I had found ways to cope with most of the anxieties that affected me on a day-to-day basis, but public speaking was still unthinkable to me. It was something I was going to have to face if I wanted to get on in my career, but I knew that I was going to need help to get over this major hurdle.
Overcoming the Fear of Giving Presentations Read More »
