I had a call this morning with a client who told me “It’s Monday, and I’m already feeling burned out and depleted!”. I get it. Can you relate too? Mondays can be overwhelming. This is in part because people tend to think about things that need to be done as soon as they get back to work and suddenly we’re overwhelmed. What to do? Pause and reassess to  recognize the signals your body and mind are sending. Are you feeling unusually tired, irritable, or detached? Is there anything else that is taking space in your thoughts right now? Whose sense of urgency is this really? Does this have to ..read more

If you’ve considered bringing conscious business practices to your workplace, you’ve probably heard of Scott Shute. His work is well-known in  leadership, entrepreneurship, operations as well as sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator and author of the award-winning book “The Full Body Yes“. He blends his experience as a Silicon Valley executive with his lifelong practice and passion as a wisdom seeker and teacher. In his most recent role at LinkedIn, Scott was the Head of Mindfulness and Compassion programs. He has been a pioneer in creating workplace mindfulness programs and advan ..read more

In our personal and professional search for success, sometimes we glide right over small victories. In my practice as a coach and CEO, I’ve witnessed firsthand how appreciation for these minor achievements is not just a step toward our goals but a crucial exercise in mindfulness, self-care, and resilience. Celebrating Small Successes Our lives are a mosaic of moments and achievements, with each tiny fragment vital to the big picture. We don’t always see it when we are in the moment, though, do we? For example, I once started a project that seemed technically over my head. At first, I felt ..read more

This week on the Mindful Social podcast my guest is Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier (MH) MBA, PhD. In her book The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health she offers real-world and actionable steps to be more resilient in a turbulent world and to optimize how you take care of your wellbeing at home and at work. Throughout her career in business management and psychology, Dr. Pelletier has spearheaded a dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and workplace health. Drawing on her extensive background in corporate, ins ..read more

As we step into the fresh beginnings of 2024, it’s a perfect time to reflect with gratitude on the year gone by. At first, we see all the negatives, but if we look closely we can see that each year brings its blend of joys and challenges, successes and lessons. Even tough days and setbacks are valuable – they’re lessons that teach us to continue to grow and build resilience. Last year was tough for many of us. The emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress has been a common refrain with clients and friends alike.  Rather than get caught up in rehashing all that ..read more

Life is a roller coaster ride full of different feelings. Two feelings that we often hear about are guilt and shame. They might seem similar, but they’re actually quite different. Understanding these feelings can really help us feel better about ourselves and make better choices. Which is it, Guilt and Shame? Guilt is like that little voice inside you that says, “Oops, I made a mistake.” It’s about doing something wrong and knowing you can fix it. When you feel guilty, you’re thinking about a specific thing you did that you wish you hadn’t. Shame is a bit tougher. It’s when you start thinking ..read more

Burnout – it’s a word that resonates with many of us, especially in today’s fast-paced corporate world. We often don’t realize we’re burned out until we’re “crispy around the edges,” and by then, it may already be too late. Why wait until someone on the team, a boss, or a client calls you out on it? Taking action sooner can help you accomplish your tasks with far less agony. Recognizing Burnout Burnout can sneak up on all of us, even the most dedicated and passionate professionals. When we’re sure we’ve got a handle on everything we miss the subtle signs – increased irritability, fatigue, a se ..read more

We humans are complex beings. From the time we are children to in the working world, and much later in life, there are many factors shaping who we are and what we do. One of the many challenges of leadership is understanding the capabilities, talents, and potentials of each individual on our team so we can help them reach their full potential, which of course translates to the success of the company and the leader! We can take strength tests and personality tests, but these often don’t get the full picture. For example, are we analytical thinkers, rational thinkers, social thinkers, or a combi ..read more

We often hear about compassion in the context of being kind to others, yet we don’t often talk about how it’s a vital ingredient in self-care and leadership. Compassion for oneself is where it all starts; it’s the soil in which you can grow all other virtues. When you extend compassion towards yourself, you cultivate a mindset that is nurturing, forgiving, and less likely to hold harsh judgments. This inner sanctuary acts as a reservoir of resilience that helps you navigate the ups and downs of life gracefully Isn’t compassion showing “weakness”? Yeah… NO it is most definitely a strength. Let ..read more

With so much going on in the world today, many of us are feeling the desire for human connection, healing and awakening to self-care, and developing the inner resources we need to thrive. A client recently asked me: “Can we as individuals really create change when we are in such pain as a society?”. If you have that question too, you really should spend some quality time with yourself and Oren Jay Sofer’s new book “Your Heart Was Made For This”, available now for preorder. Drawing on great teachers through the centuries as well as Oren’s own experiences this is a readable and relatable book de ..read more