Pretend you are a cactus. Specifically, a Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia). Prickly Pear Cactus thrive best in environments that are warm, sunny, dry, has alkaline to neutral soil, and drain incredibly well. Some Prickly Pear can do ok in cold weather, though they are not thrilled about it (Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa) ) All […]
The Role of Identity in The Change Curve
It dawned on me, as I read Atomic Habits (Amazon, non-affiliate link) and Fisher’s 2012 version of the change curve, that the dip in Fisher’s change curve is driven by identity. How does the change challenge your identity? Fisher speaks to this in his 2012 paper, but I think we underplay the emotions and the […]
Fake It Till Ya Make It
I don’t think we have a true notion of how our identity needs to shift when we make a change until we get into the change. Furthermore, we tend to get into change initiatives from where we are now. Our old selves. There are rare instances where we can completely cut off everyone who knew […]
Change and Identity
James Clear, in his fantastic book Atomic Habits (Amazon link, non-affiliate), talks about the relationship between Outcome (Have) – Process (Do) – Identity (Be). Many people begin the process of changing their habits by focusing on what they want to achieve. This leads us to outcome-based habits. The alternative is to build identity-based habits. With […]
Bob Mould’s Lesson in Optimism
It’s hard to look at things sometimes. Even harder to see the good in the things we see. Beyond the polarization. Beyond the systems that are “working as designed” and chewing up people in the process. Beyond the busy and the projects and the distractions and the demands. One of my favorite musicians, known for […]
Accounting for Energy
I’ve been thinking about personal energy and our plans recently. Often, we tend to make our plans based on our best case scenario. We’re feeling healthy, energetic, our best selves. We then make our plans and set our timelines accordingly. Then we beat ourselves up when the average to bad days kick in and we […]
Looking at the Development Dimension
Some of the most exciting research over the past 20 years has been in the field of adult development. What we’ve learned: When we graduate high school/college/grad school that we don’t quit learning or growing. Shocking, right? Adults have their own developmental path. Most adults stop growing voluntarily – often in reaction to their environment. […]
Environment by Dimensions
When I look at myself and my relationship to the environment, I look in 3 dimensions: Time – The now > today > this week > this month > this quarter > this year > this life phase > long-term Altitude – What is right in front of me/the next step/the details to the very-high […]
Why a Stable Center is Important
Complex transformations— societal, technological and work-related—are having a profound impact on people’s lived experiences. A common theme is psychological stress related to a feeling of lack of control in the face of uncertainty. These issues deserve more attention: declining psychological and emotional wellbeing is a risk in itself—and one that also affects the wider global […]
Relating Your Life to Your Environment
One of the many distinctions between the celebrity and the hero … is that one lives only for self while the other acts to redeem society Bill Moyer, paraphrasing Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth How does your life influence your environment? How does your life influence you? How we view and engage the world […]
