Balance

When people ask me what I do, and I tell them I teach a course called Designing a Balanced Life, longing invariably smears across their faces. “I need that,” is often the response. But then, when asked to conjure an image of balance, they think of a scale or a stack of rocks. I don’t believe we are seeking a static state of equilibrium these images represent, or eternal peace, or even a life without conflict.

Then, what is it we seek when we yearn for balance? Or maybe a better question is this:

If it’s true, in an ever changing world we will never achieve balance, why even try?

Are You Facing Big Change?

I’m going through one of the biggest changes in my life, and I’m kinda scared. I’m losing my home, my wife, my business partner, and the community I built around my beautiful household. I’m not afraid of what will happen next. I’m a little concerned about finding a decent place where my daughter and I

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The Fast Path to Credibility

At a recent neighborhood meeting a Local Entrepreneur proposed to open a small restaurant where a liquor store once operated. He was well-prepared with arguments for why this was a great thing for the neighborhood: creating a local meeting spot with fresh food prepared by local experts cooperating with and supporting local businesses; brightening up

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Betwixt & Between, Flesh Needs to Be Loved

Thresholds are places to linger. At a graduation, for a time, a student is no longer a student, and not yet a graduate. During an engagement, the question of coupling has been asked, but not yet answered. Rites of passage provide liminal experiences, at least they are meant to, and the practice of creating these

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Embrace Many Identities; Be One Self

When you divide your life into different roles, do you lose sight of your Self? Maybe, and I suggest that during the time it takes to understand your different roles, losing your Self could be a good thing. If you are trying to make a big change, clinging to the story you tell yourself about

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Why It’s So Important to Plan Your Week

Today I looked back at my last Week’s Plan and laughed. (In other words, I panicked.) I had an ambitious week mapped out and nothing of my plan came to be. Nothing. Monday started off pretty well because I had an early meeting scheduled, but by Tuesday I was procrastinating and chasing random distractions and

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Balance Takes Root in Love

These past few weeks have been extremely stressful for me, but they would have been much worse if I wasn’t surrounded by loving, trustworthy, and well-balanced humans. This article is one part diagnosis, two parts appreciation, and a half part warning. Here’s the bumper sticker conclusion: Balance attracts balance. Diagnosis Last month I got sick

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Just Think About it Enough!

I’m going to paint this onto the ceiling over my bed as a reminder of one of the few rules in life that always works, because bedtime is the best time to figure things out, especially when I’m sleep deprived, which I’ve been for the last two weeks, so why not take advantage of such

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Would You Feel Relieved to Get Sick?

I write the articles I post on Sundays to help you plan your upcoming week. This one starts with a story. Eric Cutter is a skilled cyclist, and this particular Saturday morning’s jaunt with his brother and friend wasn’t particularly challenging. After two and a half hours of vigorous pedaling over rolling hills and through redwood

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When Darkness Illuminates

Supposedly, we use to sleep more— we humans. In the centuries before electricity (and before productivity), when the world outside got dark, we came inside and went to sleep. And we dreamed. Now, everything has changed. We light up from the moment we wake to the moment we go to sleep. Inside, our world is

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The Attentionometer™

How would you like to make it glaringly obvious what gets too much of your attention— and what doesn’t get enough? Even more enticing might be the idea of foisting their own version of that dark truth on your friends and lovers. The great thing about the Attentionometer is that the pain, despair, and disgust

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