Empowering people to make strengthening choices
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Oscar Wilde In the mid-1980s, a number of psychologists and cardiologists studied 120 men from San Francisco who had recently had a first heart attack. The researchers provided training to change the personalities of these men from type A (aggressive, […]
I’ve written about Martin Seligman, the father of “positive psychology” in the past. He didn’t begin his career writing about how to be positive and happy but rather studied depression and became known for his studies on “learned helplessness,” a term he coined. Seligman found that when people perceive they don’t have control over a […]
The following excerpt from my book, The Hero’s Choice, tells the story of when Hal (main character) started thinking about his guiding principles. Donald, Hal’s coach and mentor had taken him up a mountain trail and left him with a task of pondering his life in an old, forgotten cemetery.
Moments after Air Florida’s Flight 90 left the runway at Washington’s National Airport, it was clear that the Boeing 737 was not going to fly. As it shuddered and stalled, the co-pilot said, “We’re going down,” and the pilot answered grimly, “I know it.” With a deafening crash it slammed into the Fourteenth Street Bridge […]
I recently watched the 1982 movie “Gandhi.” What an incredible story about the power of integrity, living from ones deepest beliefs, even in the face of severe opposition and danger. Standing for Something In one poignant scene, early in the movie as he is just beginning to rally his fellow Indians against the tyranny of […]
In my last newsletter/blog, I talked about the importance of the “why” aspect of your personal vision. Your “why” is your personal purpose. It is the reason you exist and a crucial key to finding meaning and joy in your life. Your Purpose and Meaning You may be familiar with the name Victor Frankl, author […]
Three Levels of Vision There are three levels of a personal vision or rules to define your purpose, all equally important—why, how and what. “Why” do you exist? What is your personal mission or your purpose? As you step back from your day-to-day routine, how do you define what your life is about? Answering this […]
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high and hope and work remembering that something noble once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone, will be a living thing, reasserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Daniel H. Burnham […]
As a counselor, I found the insights and strategies to be incredibly valuable. The knowledge and skills have not only deepened my understanding of effective parenting but have also enriched my ability to support other families in navigating the challenges they face. I was particularly impressed by your emphasis on fostering open communication and building strong relationships within families. Your strategies for effective communication, active listening, and conflict resolution are not only applicable but also transformative. With utmost enthusiasm, I wholeheartedly recommend this course to fellow counselors, parents, and anyone invested in fostering positive family dynamics
Student Counselor AKES program, and student in Parenting to Raise Responsible, Mature Children
Thank you does not express the emotion I feel when I think of you! You have taught me so much and I live you and thank you for all you have done for me and my family. Thanks for the love and guidance when I thought I was lost. Thanks for validating my feelings and supporting me in my life.
student in Making Things Happen Seminar and a number of online courses
The Hero’s Choice is a very powerful and compelling story. It will make you smile and it will also move you to tears. The writing style and story line reminds me of Og Mandino’s books. If you love his books you will surely love this one
mentor and coach; founder of Teach the Soul and top Amazon reviewer
As a counselor who uses positive psychology, this has been a very enlightening course; not only for use in future sessions, but also on a personal level as I did the exercises. My only regret is coming to the end. Loved the engaging teaching style.”
student in Claiming Your Power to Live a Happy and Abundant Life
The course is short and concise as the author defines a process with actionable steps and guidelines for handling difficult conversations. In the last sections, there are some common scenarios in which you can see how the whole process comes into play and recognize the notions outlined in the first part. Before taking the course, I was clueless on how to even approach such a discussion, but now I feel like I have the notions and the tools to improve my confrontational skills.
student in Performance Management: Confronting Poor Performance
Prior to your training, I had success, but felt trapped in a life that was void of meaning and purpose. But this experience changed my life. It brought about a fresh perspective, a view that I had not seen before. That was four years ago. My journal and workbook are still with me all of the time, and I reflect on the goals that have been accomplished since the retreat. My long-term vision remains, clearly in front of me as I continue to create new goals that are congruent with this vision
consultant and participant in Life Quest Seminar
