#personal-growth

#personal-growth

The first time I got on a plane was memorable - not because I was heading to a fancy vacation spot, but because I was going to boot camp for the Marine Corps. From the moment I arrived at the recruiter's office, the energy was intense. Family members were calling to wish me good luck, and my nerves mixed with excitement. I'll never forget when the pilot announced, "Let's give a round of applause for the future Marines on board."

Then, last year, a friend invited me to her birthday kickabout a casual game of football, I gathered. (I believe some call it soccer.) Had we been less close, I might have made my excuses. Instead I turned up to the park, determined to keep as far away from the ball as possible. To my great surprise, I enjoyed myself. Instead of running down the clock on the sidelines, I got swept up in the game, rooting for my team to score.

Think about the last time you ran into someone you hadn't seen in years, maybe a school friend. You remembered them a certain way, maybe loud, always joking, the kind of person who filled a room. But when you met again, they seemed quieter and more thoughtful than you remembered. For a second, you wondered if time had traded them out for someone else.

This book is dedicated to you, my darling. Curious, hopeful, determined, you.

I've often written on this blog about the complicated connection between money, purpose, and happiness. Some studies suggest that income relates to happiness up to a point, but the most enduring research tells a different story. The Harvard Adult Development Study, which has tracked participants for over 80 years, concludes that personal connections-not money-are the true key to fulfillment. Still, the question remains: Can we spend our way to happiness?

"Time is a thief." I learned this phrase in elementary school. It was regularly uttered by an administrator who, on the first day of school, would wistfully greet the student body, marveling at how much each child had grown over the summer. As a 10-year-old kid, I didn't put much stock into the musings of a middle-aged vice principal. Decades later, however, I better understand and appreciate the sentiment of her words.

Joy has the unique potential, compared with happiness, to foster well-being derived from living in alignment with one’s values, purpose, and personal growth.

Therapy is a powerful platform for learning and healing that eases emotional distress and jump-starts your ability to move forward and make intentional decisions.

"When it comes to others, I see light and love. I see confusion and fear behind their misguided actions. I see mistakes as learning opportunities."

Being too rigid or stubborn can sometimes get in the way of people doing what's in their own best interests. These individuals can use 'trust but verify' systems for adopting advice without losing autonomy.

Scientific American tells us that "inspiration, creativity [and] discovery all come from a place of uncertainty. When we admit 'I don't know,' we open ourselves to explore possibilities."

Gail Galusha experienced significant life events, including a car accident and family losses, prompting her to reassess her career and prioritize her family.

"You don't have to feel guilty for cutting someone off to protect yourself. Sometimes estranging someone is the healthiest thing you can do. It was for me."

Wholeness is not formed by cutting off a portion of one's being, but by integration of the contraries. - Carl Jung