To some, imagination is black box stuff, pure mystery. Think about it. What does it really take to imagine something? We used to imagine all the time when we were children. But somewhere, some of us were told, “Stop imagining things!” …

When last did you, in the well-known words from the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial “phone home?” Here I’m not referring to messaging our physical home, whether that be on this planet or Mars. Nor am I naming a figment of our imagination “somewhere over the rainbow.” I speak of…

NO! Which part of saying no don’t you understand? Setting limits with everything from a child having a tantrum to a boss making an unreasonable request seems like mission impossible. However, the most significant part of this struggle is internal. We literally choke on the word. As a people-pleaser, turning down…

The acronym CEO is used to describe the neurotic behavior of demanding people. C = Controlling E = Entitled O = Ownership Controlling HMPs have a God complex and like to be in charge of their world (and ours). Their response comes from a deep sense of insecurity and fragile self-esteem…

The great saga of our lives is seen in our internal battle between the ego and the true self (soul). The worst of things is when we live a life driven by the illusion and compulsion of the ego or false self. In so doing we bounce off the walls…

You are facing a significant life change (career, relationship, location) and are torn apart by two conflicting desires. Do you take the plunge or play it safe? What are you most likely to do? Do you approach the change from a cautious or an adventurous perspective? Specifically, do you: 1…

Devil’s Advocate (DA) originally came from the Latin Advocatus Diaboli. This was a role the Roman Catholic Church prescribed to an official who argued against the appointment of individuals to sainthood. The DA was typically looking for character flaws that would disqualify the person from being elevated to sainthood. Similarly…

What do you intend more than anything else in your life right now? And what is the driving force behind that intention? Perhaps you have a difficult time articulating your choice; however, you find that you: o Cannot stop thinking about a particular idea o Have had an “aha” moment…

Every once in a while, we find ourselves at war (or at least having a tiff) with ourselves. I had one of those “at odds with the self” dreams some time ago. I was in a boxing ring with myself (yes, you can do that stuff in dreams). The two…