What if your Dig Deep button broke?

shovel digging a hole

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?

Celebrating an Ecstatic Goodbye + 50% off Beyond Fear

happy couple waves goodbye out the back window of an old car

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.

On quitting my job and freedom

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.

On cubicles, a death wish, and how I bought back my life

A car speeding toward you--the first step to overcoming fear?

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.

Warning: Are you running from the wrong thing? (I was.)

overcoming fear: standing on the edge of a cliff

I’m afraid of lots of things: car accidents, getting mugged, running out of money, being laughed at, getting rejected, failing. I’m kind of used to those fears. But this was something different.

Want to follow your dreams? Here’s what I’ve learned from an experimental year.

Birds fly in front of a gorgeous sunrise

A lot of people are unsatisfied with their lives. The big question is: can we really change our lives, and will it really be any better if we do? Over the past year, my life has been a grand experiment to answer this question. Here’s what I’ve found.

You are being unrealistic. Tedium is part of adulthood.

how to get unstuck movie--screen capture

We know nothing is likely to change unless we act… yet we keep putting it off. It’s too hard, too scary. Maybe tomorrow we’ll figure it out. That’s how it is when you’re stuck. If you wouldn’t want to live your last year as you are now, help is on the way.

Doing what needs to be done + last call

my cabin in the woods

If anyone else out there is feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain tired, don’t do like I did and wait until you’re so fried you can’t function. Take a few days off. And above all, listen to yourself! What’s the point of giving yourself great advice if you don’t take it?