All Eyes On Me

One dinnertime when I was 6 years old, I agreed to try a baby carrot. Looking back, I'm surprised I agreed to it because I was very against trying any fruits or veggies. But that night, something in me agreed. And the moment I did, my parents were shocked. Thrilled! They stopped everything and got out the camera to document this momentous occasion. While I was smiling big for the camera with the carrot close to my face, a million thoughts rushed through my head... What if I don't like it? What if I throw up? What if I do like it? What if I love it and feel stupid for not trying it all this time? ... And as soon as the camera flashed, I had made my decision. That carrot was not going in my mouth. There was too much attention on me now. And that attention meant pressure. All eyes were on me and not in a good way.

A lot of kids love being in the spotlight. I certainly did. I wanted everyone watching anytime I was doing a cartwheel or jumping into the pool. But not when I was trying a new food. Every time someone cheered or commented on me trying a new food, I felt pressure. It's what built up a wall for me not wanting to try new foods. Be aware of the attention kids are getting when it comes to trying new food. Even if you have to pretend you're not looking, do what it takes for your child to feel room to explore on their own. But when it comes to cannonballs into the pool, make sure you're all eyes.

A short clip of me telling this story at a recent talk for parents of picky eaters in Needham, MA.

Everyone is Winning the Game They're Playing

An important part of the framework for coaching and positive changes is this:  Everyone is winning the game they're playing. Everyone is working perfectly to produce the results they're seeing. It makes so much sense, right? The past few weeks have been absolutely chaotic and everything has been crazy in my life. I found myself putting my priorities on the back-burner and justifying it because there were so many other things going on. Looking back, I was hiding from those priorities. I was afraid to confront them incase I failed. I won the game of being distracted. Honestly, I nailed it. 

Now that I've acknowledged my loss, I'm going to start round 1 of a new game. The game of success. I sat down and clarified exactly what that looks like for me. Now I know what I'm playing for, and if I score every metaphorical goal along the way, there's no chance I won't win.

If everyone is winning the game they're playing, what game would you like to play?

Silence Really Is Golden

Life is crazy. It's also really loud. Think about it, typically we listen to music or podcasts in our cars, are talking to people throughout the day, watch TV, listen to crying babies on the subway, check the latest YouTube videos, etc etc etc. Yesterday, on my traffic-y drive home, I was so frustrated with the same old songs on the radio and out of frustration I hit the power button. 

Silence.

It was so unfamiliar and calming that I wanted to share it with you. Sitting there with my thoughts was one of the most relaxing and present things I could have done in that moment. It gave me energy to get through the rest of my busy day. Next time you hear a song that you're even a little bit sick of on the radio, or you automatically go to turn on the TV, opt to shut it off completely. It's worth your sanity.

Shut Up Your Critter Brain

“Critter Brain.” We all have it – it’s the part of you that is HESITANT right now to change. Let me explain what it does and why it does it.

Imagine you’re about to invest in something that you need and want so that you can improve your life in some way. Without fail, our Critter Brain pops up and asks us questions like “Is it really worth it?” “It’s expensive so maybe you should wait until you have more money” “It’s going to take a lot of your precious time” etc, etc. The reason your critter brain is saying this is because it’s trying to protect you. It thinks anything new is a threat. Our CB is often what stops us from our full potential. When investing in myself, I had to acknowledge my Critter Brain and tell it to shut up. My REAL brain and my heart know better. So if you’re considering any sort of change and know how amazing it is going to be, try to shush up that Critter Brain who is telling you that it’s not worth it. It’s trying to keep you in your comfort zone but I can tell you that your comfort zone is NOT where the magic happens. Know that you have more control than your Critter Brain and that it can shut the hell up!