A month about the narratives that shape identity, emotion, and possibility. The narratives running your life What drives our internal narratives? There are moments, blasts of mental replays. These narratives are unconscious, internalized stories shaped by our culture, family, and past experiences. These stories define our identity, thoughts, and behavior. Someone does not text youContinue reading “The Stories You Live By”
Category Archives: Intentional Living
Building a Clearer You: Living with Greater Self-Clarity
This year, we are exploring techniques and strategies for self-knowledge. January has been a month of courageous looking inward. If you are following this blog, we have explored our biases, examined the stories we tell ourselves, practiced self-distancing, and built routines and strategies that help you see your inner world with more honesty and compassion.Continue reading “Building a Clearer You: Living with Greater Self-Clarity”
How to See Yourself Objectively (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)
Honest self-reflection, seeing our true selves, can feel threatening because it challenges the image that we have of ourselves now. It can often create conflict in how we confront flaws and past mistakes. It can also contradict our values, trigger vulnerability, and even fear of social consequences. All of which can hold us back fromContinue reading “How to See Yourself Objectively (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)”
The Halo Effect: How First Impressions Shape Your Reality
You meet someone at a party, and you see this person as attractive, so you like them right away. Why do we trust someone instantly? The halo effect is a bias. Why talk about biases? What purpose is there in digging deeper into our unconscious judgments and habits? The purpose is to improve the qualityContinue reading “The Halo Effect: How First Impressions Shape Your Reality”
Solomon’s Paradox: Why You’re Wiser About Others Than Yourself
What if I told you that you already possess all the wisdom you need to solve your toughest problems? You will need to learn to step outside yourself and apply this wisdom to your life. King Solomon of ancient Israel (970-931 BC) was known the world over for his wisdom and fair justice. His kingdomContinue reading “Solomon’s Paradox: Why You’re Wiser About Others Than Yourself”
The Illusion of Self-Knowledge: Why We Misunderstand Ourselves
“Seeing Yourself Clearly” This month, we step outside of ourselves to see our lives with clarity. We will explore why humans struggle with self-perception and why clarity requires intentional effort. Most of the suffering in our lives comes not from who we are, but from who we think we are. We will examine some ofContinue reading “The Illusion of Self-Knowledge: Why We Misunderstand Ourselves”
Your Constants: Grounding Your Mind’s Eye for 2026
As we approach the new year, we stand at a familiar crossroads, one that is full of possibilities and uncertainty. The sense of a new beginning, a chance to realign. The turning of the calendar can tempt us to imagine that change arrives automatically, but the truth is we design our lives through the choicesContinue reading “Your Constants: Grounding Your Mind’s Eye for 2026”
Motivation: The Spark That Fuels Vision
We might say, “I’m fixin to.” In our mind’s eye, it is not yet action, but it’s more than a lingering thought. It is the mental preparation and gathering of our energy. Motivation is present here as we prepare to step forward. There is a moment before action, a gateway where clarity gathers. According toContinue reading “Motivation: The Spark That Fuels Vision”
I’m Fixin To – The Moment before Movement
The Mind’s Eye: Designing Tomorrow Through Reflective Vision and Personal Philosophy The December blog theme will focus on our mind’s eye, which refers to the ability to visualize or imagine something in your mind without physically seeing it. Our brains can create mental images based on memory, imagination, or other sensory experiences. We have theContinue reading “I’m Fixin To – The Moment before Movement”
The Power of Feedback and Continuous Reflection
Self-evaluation is not something we do and put away. It is a continuous cycle. I have always believed that evaluating ourselves is a solitary sport. However, with age, I have learned that it is essential to seek external feedback as part of the process. Our personal evaluations are subjective, based on our assessments, which areContinue reading “The Power of Feedback and Continuous Reflection”