"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."

This is a famous quote from Stephen Covey that can change your life when you start to live by it.

In the areas of my life that have been going really well, time and time again, it’s because I kept the focus on what mattered most.

With my husband and kids, that is our strong relationship and connection.

With my boundaries, it’s not working evenings and weekends so I have space for my family and my personal time.

With my clients, it’s being fully present in our sessions (and taking care of my energy so that I can be present).

Where things didn’t go as I had hoped or I got a bit off-track in my work or rest of life, I see now that my attention was not as consistent.

Of course, there will always be more than just the main thing or one thing.

But when you are crystal clear on what matters MOST.

When you let that guide your daily priorities and choices.

When you go all in by putting your time, attention and...

What stood out to me the most from a recent study by Deloitte on workplace well-being (Report: https://community.thriveglobal.com/lessons-from-a-groundbreaking-new-report-on-well-being) is this . . .

"One of the statistics showed that while 80 percent of executives say well-being is a top priority, nearly 90 percent of workers think their work life is getting worse."

THIS is something to pay attention to.
THIS is urgent and important.
THIS is why I do the work that I do.

The good news is there is a path forward.

But first, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture for a moment.

Your life is happening right now.

Not when you retire. Or your kids get older. Or you finish that big project.

Right now.

And if your work life is getting worse – or not any better – it’s time to pay attention.

Because the stress, frustration and overwhelm with your work life . . . impacts your connection with your partner and kids. Your relationships with your team....

Who is responsible for well-being?

We all have a role to play.

This was the key lesson from a recent study by Deloitte on workplace well-being.

The report highlights the need to broaden how we think of well-being at work.

That it is a shared responsibility of organizations, leaders and individuals.

And that work has a huge influence on every aspect of our physical and mental well-being, so it’s time to re-think how we approach it.

I have my own perspective on responsibility that I share below. But what stood out to me the most is that . . .

One of the statistics showed that while 80 percent of executives say well-being is a top priority, nearly 90 percent of workers think their work life is getting worse.

THIS is something to pay attention to.
THIS is urgent and important.
THIS is why I do the work that I do.

The good news is there is a path forward.

First, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture for a moment.

Your life is happening right now.

Not when you retire....

“Resilience and balance go together like peanut butter and jelly!"

This came out of my mouth (unplanned) as I was facilitating a resilience workshop with a leadership team.

I had never made that analogy before, yet it is such a perfect, simple way to think about it.

I see resilience as your flexible ability to deal with the negative experiences you face.

Both the big, tough setbacks that happen in your life AND the small daily stressors.

Well, guess what?

It is WAY harder to navigate the setbacks and daily stressors when your tank is empty.

And when you are balanced, your tank is definitely NOT empty.

To be more resilient, you’re going to need to take better care of yourself and what matters to you.

To be more balanced, you’re going to need to get way better at navigating the ups and downs.

Especially those small, everyday stressors!

Resilience and balance – like peanut butter and jelly – just go better together (and overlap).

So, what does this look...

"I can’t do this anymore".

"Work is awful".

"I'm exhausted".

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

I hear comments like these in coaching sessions with leaders and professionals at ALL levels.

I get it. I said the same things back when I was working 60-80 hour weeks.

It took me a long time to figure out that I HAD A CHOICE.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE too.

Here’s why it’s time to step into this empowering mindset . . .

Comments like these are often the result of being short on team resources and facing high expectations from your company.

The constant pressure to keep up with all the demands with too little support.

The expectation to do (way) more with less.

And if you’re a caring leader who doesn't want to overburden your team – you end up taking on way too much yourself.

Which leaves you feeling exhausted, spread thin and sacrificing your personal time and mental health to keep up with it all.

THIS ISN'T NEW.

I remember early in my corporate career, sitting...

On a recent family trip to Toronto, we decided to only pack carry-on luggage.

It would be quicker to go through the lines at the airport and eliminate time waiting at the baggage claim. Plus, we’d have less to tote around the city as we hopped from trains to hotels.

Not to mention that we would also be in control of our luggage (which sounded very appealing after hearing so many stories of lost baggage at airports lately)!

It also meant a bit of extra thinking and planning about what to pack.

As I was packing, I started thinking about how taking a carry-on on a trip is a lot like prioritizing your work week.

Most people’s work weeks are an overstuffed 50-lb suitcase. Maybe even two suitcases!

The traditional thinking is that, in order to keep up with all the demands, you have to work harder and do more (and more).

But this often leads to being overloaded and exhausted, which hurts your performance, mental health and relationships.

You might feel like you don't have...

"I just want to stop thinking about work all the time!"

I remember having this thought a few years ago while watching my kids’ swimming lessons, stressing about a big work presentation on Monday and wishing I could JUST BE PRESENT.

Only once I started practicing mindfulness a couple of years later did I realize just how NOT present I had been most of the time, both at work and at home.

I thought it was just the reality of being in a demanding position and busy life.

But the truth is that a lack of presence is not about how busy you are. Presence is a choice and comes with intention (and practice!)

Being present in the moment can seem like a challenge in today's fast-paced world, however, taking a step back to focus, be mindful of your thoughts and emotions, and let go of worries about the past or future make all the difference.

"One of the simplest ways to stay balanced is to stay present in the moment." - Unknown

Because the present moment is where we truly live.

So the real...

One of the most powerful ways to create change is to look back at the situations in your life – what's working, what's not working, the good and the hard moments – and see what the lessons are for you.

This is something I do each day for the little lessons and, as I head into each New Year, I look for those bigger, important insights that can help shape how I move forward.

This past year (really the past 18-months) has had more ups and downs in my life. I am learning to accept, let go, trust my intuition, focus on what matters, find the joy and be grateful every single day – no matter how it goes – at a whole new level. 

Living with this intention makes all the difference in showing up in your life in a way that’s aligned with your values and who you want to be – even with the messiness.

I’m hoping that sharing these lessons will help you to be more of your best self and live with more happiness, balance and focus on what matters, as...

Happy New Year!

One thing I have learned is that it's important to do what feels right for me -- and for you to do what feels right for you.

Especially this time of year. With all the conflicting advice out there about resolutions and goal-setting or what to focus on, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

The value of any advice depends on where you're at in your life and what feels right for you.

(I recognize the irony that I'm giving you more advice – my point is if it feels right for you, pay attention, and if not, don’t force it).

For me, the start of a new year is a time for fresh starts and renewed energy, while reflecting on the lessons.

Here’s something I have noticed about myself: setting goals feels like pressure.

I often don’t hit my ambitious goals in the timing I set, or I fall into the trap of tying my happiness and self-worth to hitting a goal.

So, while goals are helpful for guiding our choices and direction, it's even more helpful to focus on who we...

Are you doing the basic things that set you up for success?

I recently shared how to navigate work and kids with more ease and presence. Ironically, a couple of days this week have felt NOTHING like ease!

We are coming off a four-day trip with the kids to Toronto for a Raptors game. It was a fun weekend getaway, action-packed, and went smooth for the most part. It was also late nights, early mornings, and a delayed flight home that got in after midnight.

And with Christmas break right around the corner, we decided to do school and work the same as usual Monday morning. But things have been anything but smooth since then and I have not been getting the small everyday moments right.

By “right”, I mean aligned with my values and how I want to show up in my life.

We were all grumpy, running behind and arguing about silly things. When a friend asked me Monday night at the school Christmas concert how our week was going, all I could say was “not good” – with my...