Stop me if you’ve heard this one… There’s something you want to do. It’s very important to you. You can see a ton of potential benefits for doing it. You’ve made plans to do it. Maybe you’ve even spent money on tools or supplies to help you do it. But […]
Author: Cara Stein
Happiness, depression, and feeling like a fraud
Hi everyone, I want to apologize for disappearing for the past four years. I didn’t realize it at the time, but what really happened is that I felt like a fraud, so I stopped. After all, I wrote the book on how to be happy (literally!), and then I wasn’t […]
What if your Dig Deep button broke?
I know I’m not the only one who seems to get around to solitude, creativity, and recharging only after all the “serious work” is done (i.e., never, in some cases). What if you broke your Dig Deep button and put coming alive first?
What do you need right now?
Have you ever been so tired, you find yourself wailing despairingly, “I just want to go to bed!” …when you’re already on your way there?
Two days of inspiration in one small burst
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you say to someone when you’re being uncool.”
— Almost Famous
Celebrating an Ecstatic Goodbye + 50% off Beyond Fear
It’s a year ago today that I gathered the last few things out of my office, took my name plate off the door, and walked out for the last time–a free woman. Here’s the secret most people won’t tell you: exciting = terrifying + awesome.
How to transform someone’s day in 2 minutes or less
Once upon a time (a.k.a. this morning), I woke up feeling grumpy, anxious, and overwhelmed. (Also, fat and whiny–just to complete the picture.) Around 9:00, the phone rang…
On quitting my job and freedom
I sat at my beige desk, surrounded by beige walls and beige bookcases. The ceiling vent inexorably blew cold air on my neck, as it had every day for four years. I felt the beginnings of my daily boredom headache taking root as the afternoon stretched on, snagged and stuck on the eternal 2:33 pm.
Creativity, passion, fire–the mysterious ways of The Pull
Sometimes, you’re so fired up, your energy feels like a big glistening color-filled bubble in your chest, pulling you irresistibly toward creativity and success. But then there are the other times. If you’ve experienced The Pull, and then experienced the lack of it, you know what a slog it can be to try to work when it’s gone. So, what can you do?
Are you highly sensitive?
I used to think something was wrong with me. I need to eat frequently or I get grumpy, then stupid. Shrill noises give me a headache. I can’t think when there’s too much going on or if there’s a loud environment. A scratchy tag in my shirt can ruin my whole day. If someone makes a careless remark, it can bother me for days afterward. Sound familiar?
On cubicles, a death wish, and how I bought back my life
I stood frozen, watching the car speed toward me. It was a deer-in-the-headlights moment: I knew I had to get out of the way, but there I stood, rooted to the spot as the car got closer.
How do you approach fear? Fun quiz
How do you approach fear? Take this quiz!