August 12, 2010

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In This Issue

Featured Article: Are You Choosing Unhappy Over Uncertain

Announcements

Daddy's Little Girls

Hey there!  I hope you're doing well.  As you may or may not have noticed, for the first time in about a year and a half, I didn't send out a newsletter last week.  We spent the week in Southern California celebrating Michelle's 40th birthday with some fun at Disneyland.  The girls had a blast - and so did we!  I decided to take the week off completely and not send out a newsletter.

Michelle and I both appreciate the many emails and messages we received on my blog in response to my article from two weeks ago, "The Power of Getting Real," in which I shared about our recent miscarriage.  We are grateful for the kind words, thoughts, and prayers.  Thank you!  We are doing well and learning a great deal from the experience.

If you'd like to read that article, you can do so on my blog or on the Huffington Post.

Have a great day, rest of your week, and weekend.  Thanks for being on my list!

With Gratitude,



P.S. If you live here in the San Francisco Bay Area - I'd love to see you this Sunday (8/15) at the East Bay Church of Religious Science in Oakland where I'll be speaking.  For more info, click here.



Are You Choosing Unhappy Over Uncertain?

(For this week's audio message, click here.)

I've been re-reading Tim Ferriss' great book The Four Hour Workweek, which has been expanding my mind and giving me lots of great ideas.  In the book, Ferriss states that "most people choose to be unhappy rather than uncertain."

As I began to reflect on this bold and somewhat critical statement, I realized how true it is for me in certain aspects of my life and work.  While I like to think of myself as someone who boldly takes risks and tries new things, there are clearly places in my life where I avoid change, suffer with "how things are," and allow fear to stop me from doing things differently (even if the way I'm currently doing things isn't really working).  Can you relate?

Change is a funny thing.  Most of us seek it and fear it at the same time.  Especially in the past year or two, with so much change and fear swirling around us - at work, in the media, in our families, and more - it seems as though many of us have gotten even more risk-adverse.  And while this makes sense given the nature of the economy and other circumstances, our risk-aversion isn't making us happier and more fulfilled, in fact it usually has the opposite effect.

Ironically, wherever we find ourselves on the risk continuum (i.e. someone who takes lots of risks, someone who rarely does, or somewhere in between), we all have had lots of experience with risk, change, and stepping into uncertainty.  And while we often dwell more on the times we've taken risks and failed (and use these "negative" experiences as justification for not doing things differently or being bold), most of us have way more successes than failures when it comes to change.

Think of some of the things you've done in your life that felt risky at the time, but in hindsight you're so glad that you did them (i.e. they really worked out and/or you learned a great deal in the process).  Things rarely seem as scary when we reflect on them in the past - it's the stuff that confronts us in the moment or the things we worry may happen in the future that cause us the most anxiety.  However, looking back at our past risks, successes, and even failures can give us confidence as we move through our lives in the present moment.  As the saying goes, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger."

Right now for so many people, teams, and organizations I work with - as well as many of my friends and family members (including myself), what's necessary and essential for us to live lives of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, is to consciously step out of our comfort zone, take more risks, and be willing to be choose uncertainty over unhappiness.

Can taking risks be scary?  Yes!  Will things work out?  Not always.  Is our level of fulfillment in life directly connected to our ability (or inability) to lean into uncertainly?  Absolutely!

Where in your life are you choosing "unhappy" over "uncertain?" What could you do to boldly lean into uncertainty and in the process claim more of your power, passion, and fulfillment? Share your thoughts, action ideas, insights, and more on my blog here.

To listen to this week's audio message, including additional thoughts, ideas, and tips, click here.




Life, Love, and Relationships - Teleseminar Series

I'm excited to be a part of a new teleseminar series starting next week called Life, Love & Relationships.  This series has been put together by Anne Pustil - a therapist and coach, who works with individuals and couples to become more powerful and fulfilled in their lives and their relationships. Anne will be joined by 23 thought-leaders, including Dr. John Gray, Marci Shimoff, Dr. Mark Hyman, and me.  My interview with Anne happens on August 19th at 11 AM PT.  This series will shine a light on your path so that you can see what's getting in your way and then learn new strategies and tools to live your best life - a life of good health, fulfillment and great relationships.  For more info and to learn how you can participate in this teleseminar series for free, click here.


Great New Book - SuperCompetent, by Laura Stack

Laura Stack's new book just came out.  It's called SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best.  After 18 years of studying the art and science of personal productivity, Laura reveals the six behaviors high-achieving professionals demonstrate over their lower-performing peers.  To find out more about this extraordinary book and the valuable bonuses you'll receive when you order copies today, click here.


Women's Health Empowerment Telesummit



I will be a part of an amazing, health-altering event that also begins next week, August 17th: The Women’s Health Empowerment TeleSummit. This free telesummit features some great experts including: Judith Orloff, Dr. William Sears, Deborah King, me and many more! Together we will reveal simple tips and tricks to that will bring your wellness to new levels! Join me as we explore many facets of wellness and look at the keys to physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual well-being. You will have the opportunity to blast through unhealthy mindsets, see yourself as whole and complete, learn practical ways to improve your health and finally give yourself some love! The event is live, but if you are unable to attend, recordings will be available for 1 week after the call. My interview takes place on August 17th. For more info and to register for this free event, click here.

"We always try to choose 'happy' -
especially when we're at the 'happiest place on earth'!"
- Samantha and Annarose Robbins

To see more photos of us and
our mommy and daddy, click here.

And, if you’d like to see some new,
special photos of us, click here.