Category: Life Skills

Learn how to focus on the soft skills, the people skills like good communication, effective leadership, positive motivation, and managing your emotions.

Shame Resilience: The Antidote to Shame Is Vulnerability

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Emotional Intelligence, Life Skills.

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” ~ Brene Brown

We long to fit in, to belong, to be accepted. Yet this very longing can keep us from making the deep connections we crave, because we’re afraid to be seen, to show our true selves for fear we’ll be rejected. On a deep, very personal level we’ve judged ourselves as unworthy, so we’re ashamed that something about us isn’t acceptable, “normal” or perfect. This shame, this fear of disconnect, is powerful. But we can shine a healing light on it by cultivating vulnerability. Yes, we can build our shame resilience!

Excellence is a Habit that Prevents Self-Defeating Beliefs and Behavior

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills, Self-Leadership Skills, Stepping Forward.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Will Durant

Habit is one of the strongest forces in our lives. And that’s a good thing because if you had to stop and make a brand new decision about every little thing in life, you’d never make it out of bed, let alone get to work. While most habits are behaviors that save you a great deal of time, not all habits are helpful. Some actually get in your way of making progress toward desired goals. However, if mindfully striving for excellence becomes your overriding habit — your preferred way of being — then your other habits will be beneficial. Yes, the quest for excellence is a habit that feeds success!

How Changing Your Identity Makes Desired Behaviors & Attitudes Stick

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Change Your Life, Self-Leadership Skills.

“One of the main reasons we don't stick with habit changes is that we don't tend to the thoughts, beliefs, and words that go along with these actions we so want to change.” ~ Jen Sincero, Author of You Are a Badass

“Little girl, who do you want to be when you grow up?” Often we’re left in no doubt. Little Amy wears her version of nursing scrubs and says, “I’m nurse Amy. You need a shot.” She becomes the person she wants to be by dressing up, play-acting the role, and identifying with stories about nursing. We, also, have this powerful talent for changing our identity, if we know how to reawaken and unleash it. Are you ready to use this super power to change your life?

Especially now, people are in a transition state. There are things we’re learning about ourselves during the pandemic. Maybe you liked working from home and having more flexibility, but now your boss wants you back in the office 40 hours a week. Are you ready to make the leap into a new career to make that happen?

We often have an idea of what we want to do or who we want to be. We’re told that the way to success is to take new steps to ’start’ or ’try’. However, to change your life and make it stick, do something different! What is it?

Take Charge of Your Life and Make this the Best Year Yet

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Fearless Mindset, Life Skills, Stepping Forward.

"Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you're interested in fully living life in the year to come." ~ Melody Beattie

Do you feel like you're barely keeping up? That you’re not making any progress forward? It can be discouraging if past attempts at changing something in your life have failed. If you’re wondering how you can take charge of your life, this post is for you…

To begin with, does your usual list of New Year's Resolutions look something like the following?

Feel Hopeless? Keep Your Sanity By Doing One Real Thing Daily

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Controlling Stress, Handling Change.

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ~ Barack Obama

If you want to keep your sanity, make sure you do one real thing every day. That’s what the character Jethro Gibbs of NCIS and all great leaders teach us. When Gibbs needs to decompress and become grounded, he turns to woodworking in his basement. Think about it…Winston Churchill had his painting, J.F.K. went sailing with his family, Condoleezza Rice loves golfing, Maya Angelou danced, and Angela Merkel loves to hike. Do you see a pattern? Effective leaders make time to do something real, some sort of physical activity that makes them feel their bodies and minds connected within themselves and with the earth, to be grounded.

Category: Life Skills

Shame Resilience: The Antidote to Shame Is Vulnerability

Excellence is a Habit that Prevents Self-Defeating Beliefs and Behavior

How Changing Your Identity Makes Desired Behaviors & Attitudes Stick

Take Charge of Your Life and Make this the Best Year Yet

Feel Hopeless? Keep Your Sanity By Doing One Real Thing Daily

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