Blog
Sara's musings about how to age happier
Women only leadership development programs
I went to nursery school (now pre-school) and public elementary school with boys. I have two brothers who are younger siblings. I was taller than my brothers and my male classmates until I was 14 or 15. I was smarter than most of them, too. I like men. I like the...
Rule 8 for Flourishing: LOVE someone or some being
I love my grandson, Lachlan. He is 7. Since he was 2 he has come to California from Minnesota for two weeks in the summer. He is an only child and used to getting all of his Aunt Blake (who lives nearby) and his grandma's attention. I love to listen to him talk to...
Rule 7 for Flourishing: Control Your Decisions Rather than your Wishes
I've been a chef and a stockbroker, a non-profit director, and a bank vice president. I am now a teacher and a writer. For as long as I made decisions because I wished to please someone else, or wished to make more money, or wished to have more control, I was happy...
Rule 6 for Flourishing: Value the Unexpected
In many areas of my life, I haven't been one to go with the flow. I'm more the dam builder type. When I go on vacation, alone or with someone else, I want to plan most every minute. If driving across the country, I want to reserve a motel room for each night before...
Rule 5 for Flourishing: Expect pleasure. It counteracts negative emotions.
I'm going to tell a story on myself. It is a bad example of this rule. My birthday is next week. For the last few years I have visited my mother and brother on the Eastern Shore of Maryland over my birthday week. My husband does not celebrate my birthday and I like...
Rule 4 for Flourishing: Attention= Enjoyment
Focusing on something with all of our attention brings enjoyment. This may not happen instantly. I need to focus right now on two things I really don't want to do. The first is taxes. I know, I'm late but I did get an extension. Problem is, my schedule is...
Rule 3 for Flourishing
Focused activity almost always leads to positive feelings. This is the principle of FLOW (see Csiksentmihalyi). Positive feelings allow a “broaden and build” approach to achievement. When I write—anything from a PowerPoint presentation to a blog—I lose myself in...
Rule 2 for Flourishing
Focus on what you want—See it in your mind’s eye. Make a neural path for it. Act toward it. Part of focusing on what I want is creating for this new iteration of my website. I speak, teach, and consult about coaching—and I’ve gotten clearer over the last 3-5 years...
Activate your Mind and Body to Flourish
Neuroscience tells us that it is not enough to be brilliant. We must also be fit. I’m not advocating an impossible ideal here, not even a goal for anyone but you! What I am advocating is actively pursuing something that interests you deeply. My husband has applied...
Eye on Coaching
University of British Columbia Have you ever wished that coaching was available to everyone or anyone in your organization? The University of British Columbia believes that this is so important that they have made coaching a significant and indelible part of their...