I’ve had a particularly hard life. I grew up in poverty and experienced trauma at an early age. I had to fight, and work hard, and earn for everything I have. I bootstrapped my life and my success. My life story has taught me life is hard, and it’s true, life IS hard. But what if life is easy? What … Read More
Be true to you
I went to a writing retreat in Hawaii and had a terrible time. My experience was terrible because I wanted a different experience than the one I had. I thought I SHOULD have a different experience. I had a terrible time because I didn’t allow myself to be true to my actual experience. I didn’t allow myself to be true … Read More
Does It Work To Fake It ’til You Make It?
Can you “fake it ’til you make it” in life? What about your career? Fake it ’til you make it is a practice that suggests you act “as if” something is true until it is true. The idea of fake it ’til you make it is similar to positive affirmations. You repeat a positive message or statement, giving that idea your … Read More
3 Words That Create Connection and Momentum
In my marketing work, I help clients choose the right words to say to their customers to get them to take action. However, I have often found that what’s really holding these leaders back are the words they say to themselves and to those closest to them. And that makes sense – the messages you hear most – even from … Read More
The perfectionist problem
The perfectionist problem Hi, my name is Chrysta, and I’m a perfectionist. A recovering perfectionist, that is. If only there were a twelve step group for this. I’ve been a perfectionist since birth. As my mom tells it, I was the most perfect little girl she ever knew. With porcelain skin, blue eyes, and blonde curls, I even looked the part. … Read More
5 myths about work-life balance
When I started writing this blog five years ago, I desperately needed work-life balance. I was stressed out and had suffered a series of stress-related health issues. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I read about work-life balance. I wrote about work-life balance. I immersed myself in a whole new way of thinking and relating to … Read More
I got fired and I’m feeling fine
I was fired from my job last week. I packed up my desk and drove straight to my Toastmasters meeting. My fellow members were surprised to see me considering I was just fired. “What am I going to do,” I asked them, “go home and mope?” No, truly there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than in the company of my … Read More
So, what’s your story?
Imagine you are writing the story of your life. Every day is a new page, a fresh start. Your life is a “choose your own adventure” book. What adventure will you choose today? Taking responsibility and ownership of your life and your choices is paramount to happiness. You write your story. But it’s easy to lose focus and forget you … Read More
Change one thing, change your life
A few weeks ago I went complain-free. Now I’m not one to complain a lot but I have legitimate frustrations and concerns and, well, sometimes they get the better of me. I didn’t even voice most of my complaints- it was my thoughts that were the problem. I thought about things that were unfair and how unhappy I was about … Read More
8 ways to feel better about yourself
Life goes a little easier when you feel good about yourself. Not only that, your relationships with other people are improved when you have a healthy sense of confidence. What so many people get wrong is confidence doesn’t come from the outside in, it comes from the inside out. Feeling good about yourself starts with you and you alone. It’s … Read More