Thought Changer

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Welcome! If this is your first visit or if you’ve been here before but haven’t had a chance to subscribe, would love to have you as a part of the Thought Changer community which has moved to Substack! Just sign up in the box to the left. You’ll get a welcome email from me at Substack. Don’t forget to click the confirmation link. Thought Changer looks at everyday life metaphors. We explore new ways to think about what we do, improve our mindset and live more consciously. And, if something moves you, please share! Thank you and enjoy this Thought Changer.

One expands your energy, the other puts a lid on it. Guess which is which. I had a discussion with some friends yesterday about phrases we habitually use, whether they are thought connectors, or simply phrases that fill the space. Words like “right”, or “like”, or “exactly.” A phrase that I have used and have started to use again is “it is what it is.” I had even included it in an article a long time ago as an example of an equalizer in a difficult management moment, an momentary acceptance if you will. But, now I realize it’s more a phrase of resignation, of resigning to a less than ideal situation or circumstance. It has shifted my thinking about the notion of acceptance. The very synonyms of resignation say it all: acquiescence, conformity, long-suffering, uncomplainingness. That kind of makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time…. Read more →

I’m sure there are many days you’d rather end that sentence as in the classic 1977 Johnny Paycheck hit. I find it ironic that Johnny’s last name is Paycheck, given the theme of this post. I’m just sayin’. I read a crazy statistic that some 1 million people call in sick every day, and surveys vary, but anywhere from 45% to 87% of people in this country don’t like their jobs. So, if this is you, you’re definitely not alone. But, this isn’t a misery-loves-company kind of day. How about you make a vow to really love your job? Even if it’s just for a day? If you’re already there, congratulations! If not, perhaps some of the following ideas might help: Call in sick. Kidding. First morning thoughts – when you get up in the morning, think of 3 things you’re really looking forward to that day, anything from seeing… Read more →

My amazing friend Ferrell Marshall’s latest blog post gives great suggestions for how to volunteer yourself for service. She’s a living example… I vow to do more. “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love” Read more… via ferrellscommunity.wordpress.com Read more →

It’s not what you do that matters, it’s who you are. But, at the same time they are connected, aren’t they? When what you do matters to you, then you are more of who you are supposed to be. Read more →

“Music is the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life.” ~ Beethoven I saw this brilliant show last night at The Ahmanson in LA, the original Broadway cast in the Tony nominated play, “33 Variations.” The story dissects Beethoven’s obsession with his composition of 33 variations on Anton Diabelli’s waltz, told via a musicologist’s own obsession with Beethoven’s obsession. The musicologist was portrayed mesmorizingly by Jane Fonda. It got me thinking about how both of their obsessions led to true genius by “33 Variations” playwright Moises Kaufman. Does obsession lead to genius? Can it? If it’s channeled in the right way? Is it curiosity with purpose, or a need to fill a never-ending hole? Is it ever satisfied? Dorothy Parker said, “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” Well, if this is what curiosity leads to obsession leads to genius looks like… I want some. Read more →

“Live the questions and life will move you toward the answers.” ~ Deepak Chopra I love it when someone says something to stop me in my tracks. I take it as a sign, a message I’m supposed to hear at that time, in that moment. My dear friend Kelly Lloyd recently shared a Deepak Chopra interview with me where he discussed tips for anti-aging and his message above h it me to my core, beyond the anti-aging discussion. It got me thinking about how we are so conditioned nowadays to seek the answers, to search and find whatever it is that plagues us on a deep, cellular level. Many times it’s that constant “seeking” that keeps us from truly living the lives we have today, right now. “When I figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life, then I’ll be happy.” “When I lose twenty pounds, then I’ll… Read more →

“It’s Finally Leap Year!” That’s what I imagine people born on February 29th say when a leap year comes around and they get to celebrate their true birthday. Well, it’s not technically a leap year, the next one is 2012. But, this is the phrase that came to mind as I set my theme for 2011. I don’t like New Year’s resolutions. I prefer setting a slate of clear goals and giving myself an overall theme for the year. Goals are great because they give you milestones to put into your life GPS for the year. But, the theme. The theme is your undercurrent, your throughline, your foundation or your touchstone for the annual journey. It’s the platform on which you place your goals and it’s the glue that keeps them in place as you forge your path. And, they give an overall meaning and purpose to your plan. One… Read more →

Photo by Mandy von Stahl on Unsplash Awhile back, while attending the five-year-old birthday party of a little friend, I encountered a most surprising artist, who created, truly, the coolest balloon creatures I’ve ever seen. I think the adults were into it more than the kids. She made me a butterfly which she whipped up in mere seconds, along with alligators (with teeth), dogs, tigers, mermaids, hats, flowers, you name it. This artist was in pure joy creating her art and has been doing it since she was five-years-old herself. It reminded about a story I saw on CBS Sunday Morning, about master ventriloquist Terry Fator, who became fascinated with his art form when he was about ten and perfected it until he became an “overnight success” after winning “America’s Got Talent” in 2007. Since then, he’s signed a $100 Million dollar deal as a headliner in Vegas. The thread… Read more →

Day nine of the new year and so far I’ve stuck to my “new” eating plan. “New” is in parentheses because I’ve started this “new” eating plan HUNDREDS of times. But, “this time is different.” Right. But, truly I think it is. I’m sailing along in the no sugar zone, and really not thinking too much about sugar. Except for possibly in my dreams when an old woman appears, a wise old woman, and her face looks remarkably like cotton candy. I wake up when I realize I want to eat her face. Is that sick, or just the subconscious of a sugar addict? Anyhoo, this morning an email popped into my inbox from Living Social, a great discount site that offers offers enticing incentives for the odd and delectable services and treats. Todays “Deal” is from Brown Sugar, an insanely yummy cupcake place in LA, advertising a deal on… Read more →

Imagine pulling up to your house at night. As you approach, something feels odd, out of place, amiss. It’s dark as the familiar lights on your street guide you along, though you don’t notice because you’re on automatic pilot. But, something has changed and your brain can’t quite fill in the blanks, so much so that you nearly pass your house entirely until you recognize the Christmas tree in your front window. You catch yourself at the last minute, so that you’re fully alert, no longer on auto-pilot. You pull into the driveway, get out of the car and cautiously turn back toward the street. That’s when you realize that the 40-year-old California Oak Tree that graced the front of your yard has been chopped. To the ground. With barely a stump to recognize its memory. That’s exactly what happened to me recently. It was a big beautiful tree owned… Read more →