Some days, when we have lots of fuel in the tank, GSD is a breeze. Other days, when we have less, it’s tough. That’s when just the right comment can make a BIG difference, reminding us that we have the ability and the energy to get it done. One of the best places I find my fuel is what I read, and of everything I read, watched, or listened to last year, one book stands out in terms of impact: “Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life,” written by Fr. Richard Rohr. For my first blog of the new year, I selected twelve quotes from Fr. Rohr’s book that added soul nourishing fuel to my tank, for which I’m grateful. Here’s hoping they do the same for you!

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Earlier this month I had the opportunity to put a giant exclamation point on 2018 when Bronwyn Saglimbeni, host of the hit podcast 20 Minutes with Bronwyn, invited me to join her show. Our nearly 20 year relationship—and the experience jamming with Bronwyn on this podcast— connects deeply to my ‘true north’ of meaningful relationships, meaningful experiences, and meaningful work. Most importantly, the work we did when Bronwyn stopped by my office with her energy and two very impressive looking microphones was meaningful in ways that still resonates with me. Of the hundreds of positive shoutouts we’ve received since the episode aired, this tweet from a client is a favorite: “How do visionaries and people who #JustGSD think and talk? Listen to this podcast and find out.”

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A friend recently remarked, “I bet when you get overwhelmed you just muscle your way through the situation.” While taking action is one of my favorite ‘go to’ techniques to work through a situation, there’s something important that precedes the action: becoming grounded, regulated, and in the flow. My ability to successfully GSD is directly correlated to being in the flow! And getting in the flow starts with my morning practice.

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I just returned from a trip to Hawaii. Included with all the things I love about Hawaii was something self-generated that I didn’t love. My ITG (Insane Thought Generator) conspired with my ISG (Insane Story Generator) to create a narrative that I didn’t just attach to—I sunk for my teeth into it! That’s when I thought of a recent conversation where someone asked, “What superhero power would you like to have?” I thought about the question for a moment before answering: “I wish I had the ability to instantly let go.” It wasn’t instant, but I was able to eventually let go - and relish the spirit of aloha - using these three techniques.

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Curiosity is a great tool to help us come back into the present moment — where we can view a situation from multiple angles and perspectives, putting us in position to make optimal decisions. One of my favorite techniques for coming back into the present moment is to reframe a challenging situation with questions that allow me to observe the situation without attaching to it. When we attach too tightly to a situation we naturally inhibit our curiosity, pushing us to accept the first, and sometimes least optimal, answer. Here are three tips to activate your curiosity — and a fun story about the time I tried to buy a pinball machine at age 10.

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What takes you out of the present moment? One distraction that instantly takes me out of the present moment is the scorecard. A scorecard is a “report of indication of the status, condition, or success of something or someone.” It’s also my shortcut way of referring to what happens when I decide the time is right to compare your “status, condition, or success” to my “status, condition, or success.” Here are the three techniques I use to put the scorecard away—and return to a grounded, regulated, “in the flow” state.

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A recent phone call reminded me of one of my favorite Nelson Mandela quotes, "It always seems impossible until it's done." We all face the impossible moments -- moments filled with darkness when we think nothing will change and we question our ability to push on. That call reminded me of the encouragement I received to push on, to "keep coming back" and to never give up.

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As we wrap up the year -- and many of us hit the road over the holidays -- I thought I’d share three of my favorite podcasts from 2017. Each podcast connects to the theme of resiliency I’ve highlighted in recent blogs. Each inspired me, educated me, and entertained me. I hope they do the same for you as you work to put a solid “!” on the year.

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