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As a coach, I spend a lot of time working with women to get clear on their dreams so they can start making them come true. Even after they find that clarity, however, many women still struggle with fear surrounding those dreams. 

Some of those fears are: 

• What others will think
• That they can’t possibly achieve them
• Their dream is silly or frivolous
• They’ll have to work 24/7 to make it come true
• They’ll never afford their dream
• And on it goes

I recently interviewed a coach, mentor, and healer who knows those feelings all too well. Nafissa Shireen left her business career behind and had a big dream of becoming a coach and of owning a farm. She was also afraid of horses, but desperately wanted to work with them. Despite the many fears she had surrounding her dreams, Nafissa did the inside work to make them all come true. She now has her dream farm, Believe and See Ranch, works with horses all day fear-free,...

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Even with all the tools, knowledge, and life experience we have, we all still just want to belong. I work with a lot of women who have lost themselves while parenting, in their careers, or when a relationship ends. Other times, we want to try something new but are afraid of not being any good at it. No matter how old we get, we just want to fit in! 

I recently interviewed an extraordinary woman who is nearing 60 and still experiences moments like these. Laurie Broderick-Burr completed her Master’s in Kinesiology when she was fifty, recently took up painting even though she can’t draw, and has constantly battled imposter syndrome as she’s found her calling as a non-traditional yoga and movement teacher. With each experience, though, she’s learned something new and is living a life that she loves. 

Listen to Episode 43 to experience Laurie’s contagious energy and uplifting outlook...

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There is daily stress, and then there is STRESS. Recently I’ve had several friends experience the loss of loved ones and the acute stress that comes with that, but it can happen if you’re going through a relationship breakup, been laid off from work, have a diagnosis, or any of those other heavy things that happen in life. Last week I shared ways to cope with daily stress, and I want to take it a step further and share specific tools for dealing with acute emotional stress. 

Use These Tips as Tools, Not Cures

When you are going through a crisis, the constant state of stress takes its toll on you mentally, physically, and emotionally. These tools will help you take a break from those feelings, but are by no means the solution to finding your way through whatever is stressing you. Note that I’m not a therapist, and these tools should be used alongside other professional recommended help.

6 Tips to Relieve Acute...

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We all have those days when our mental energy and motivation aren’t at their best. You might feel bored, disinterested, or like you’re living the same day over and over again. Days like these are going to happen, so it’s important to have some tools to combat them. I’ve just emerged from my own funk, so here are five tips to get out of a rut to save for your own “rainy day”. 

How I Found Myself in a Rut

Last week I found myself feeling blah. I was irritable and unmotivated, and didn’t want to do much of anything. It could be because the weather changed from sunny to cloudy, or the news, or that I was feeling stir-crazy after spending the past two years working from home. Even though I’m a homebody, I admit that I'm feeling “done” with being home all time. All of these feelings are valid, but I didn’t want to wallow around. I wanted to get my zest for life back! The...

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Some women that work with me share that they’re afraid of running out of time to do the things they’ve always wanted to do. There are women who put their careers on hold for children, couldn’t afford to travel in their youth, or who have a nagging dream that they want to see fulfilled. Some are worried about getting older and that their years to do “all of the things” are running out. 

I don’t believe that you have to choose between  your dreams and your obligations, imagined or otherwise. Rather, I help women learn strategies to find the time to do both while honoring where they are at life and where they want to go. 

Then there are the women who have found the balance on their own, and have embraced their life stages and changes with curiosity and talent for seeing opportunity. In episode 39 of The Extraordinary Life Podcast, I talk with a woman just like that. Deborah Costella is...

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Ten year dreams. Clarity. Goal setting. I talk about these things a lot because when you know where you want to go, it’s a heck of a lot easier to chart the path to get there. And while I most certainly want to help you achieve those dreams, I don’t want you to forget to enjoy the journey along the way. 

You see, life is happening to you right now and isn’t going to wait until you achieve whatever is on your list. Your children are growing and perhaps leaving the nest, your relationships can’t be put on hold, and you’re constantly evolving and growing. Your goals and dreams will shift over time as well. I want you to dream big so that you can chart that path and plan your goals, and then enjoy the experience of achieving them. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the “when” mindset, or get addicted to “what’s next?” when it comes to goal setting. You become so...

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Have you ever gone through a struggle in your life, and connected with someone who’s gone through the exact same thing? It’s like a weight is lifted off your shoulders when you find out that you’re not alone in the experience. The experience could be going through a divorce, changing careers, or managing teenage children, but today, I want to talk about the challenge of following your dreams. 

In the busyness of life and all of the changes that the pandemic has thrown at us in the past two years, indulging in your passion may not seem practical. At least, that’s what some women were feeling in The Extraordinary Life Tribe last year. They felt guilty wanting more from life when they were already struggling with homeschooling, working from home, and the constant changes to public health rules. Not to mention regular work and family life! 

When the topic arose, however, I could feel a collective sigh of...

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I’m always amazed by the resiliency and wonder inside of us, and by the wide variety of extraordinary lives we can choose to live. My friend Tina Short has all of those things and more. Like all of us, she has come up against big obstacles in her life, yet she’s committed to moving forward and continually growing. I had the opportunity to interview her recently for my podcast, where we talked about following your passion, breaking negative parenting cycles, and the power of community. 

CO: Tina, tell us a little about yourself. 

TS: I’m an artist, live in Santa Cruz, and have twin sons who are nearly sixteen. I’m an avid mountain biker and gardener, and I love to spend time outside. Basically, I’m just trying to grow up alongside my kids and do the profession that I love. 

CO: How did you become an artist? 

TS: This is going to sound really trite, but I think I was born as an artist...

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It’s the week of Thanksgiving here in the United States, when we focus on being grateful for all that we have. Since I practice gratitude every day of the year, I had no plans to do a special post about it for Thanksgiving; but then I thought about how much it’s changed my life for the better. Gratitude changes everything, and I have six ways you can include it in your everyday life - so you can feel more abundant, peaceful, and joyful all year round. 

Experience the Shift of Gratitude

When you practice gratitude regularly, you’ll start to see positive shifts in all the areas of your life. You’ll also feel happier immediately! Give it a try right now. Take a moment, and think about all you have to be grateful for. It could be your family, your friends, or the abundance of love in your life. Think about being grateful for the work you do, the opportunities you have in front of you, and the things you have...

Activating the 10 Human Drives: Control

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When my clients first come to me, many feel stuck. They have a “good” life and not much to complain about, but each day is the same as before. They feel like they are living in the movie Groundhog Day, and want to feel more joy, meaning, and fulfilment in their lives. A great tactic to feel inspired again is by introducing newness into your life. This is also one way to activate the first Human Drive, control, as defined by Brendon Burchard in his book, The Charge. 

Much like I shared the six High Performance Habits that I use to help my clients create their extraordinary lives, now I’m introducing the ten Human Drives that we can harness in our quest for more. I’m trained on both through the High Performance Institute, and use them as a framework for my coaching. By learning to activate these ten simple drives, you will feel more empowered to show up and create...