Best of Ourselves

The shadow, as defined by Carl Jung, are disowned parts of ourselves.  Becoming conscious of our shadow is an important part of our journey to wholeness. 

Instead of New Year's Resolutions, try setting intentions to focus your attention on what matters most. Create the intention as a question and then learn how to live into it.

During stressful times, it helps to savor the postive moments in our day.  This week, Marcia used www.positivityratio.com to help her focus on the life-giving moments in her day.

In turbulent times, it is hard to find words to ease the journey.  Blessings, according to John O'Donohue are "a circle of light drawn around a person to protect, heal, and strengthen."

Feedback does not always feel like a gift and usually it is. It helps us see what we don't see. It helps us see choices and grow.  How can we learn how to receive feedback more gracefully.

Story telling connects us to each other. Even if we have very different conclusions about life, if you tell me your story, I will listen.

Many of us deal with extra stress during the holiday season. What are some ways we can create a more joyful holiday season?

Giving feedback is a critical skill. And we should do it judiciously.  What triggers us often says more about me than about you.  And feedback is not as powerful as self-observation. 

Quality conversations are critical for healthy families, communities and work places. Lessons from Brene Brown's new book, Daring Greatly.  Her list for "Engaged Feedback" can be found on www.brenebrown.com.

Learning how to receive is inextricably linked with giving.  There are benefits to learning both sides of the equation.