Have you ever had situations that left you unsettled, with feelings running the gamut from being a little embarrassed to outright shame? Shame itself isn’t the biggest problem—the trouble is reliving the pain. When you give weight to a constant stream of negative thoughts like “I can’t believe I didn’t get that right. I always mess up. Life will always be like this,” shame becomes the boss of you, but you can change that.

One type of shame is, “I got myself into this mess!” and it can be one of the hardest to get over. Listen to how Matt Herrick battled and won this fight. Shake off shame and step into your future!

Goals start because we have joy, and we’re excited about what’s ahead. But when you have one adversity after another—kind of like this year has been—you may feel like giving up! Finishing strong takes more than putting your shoulder to the wheel and pushing through—it helps if there’s a little fun along the way. So, backtrack to Why you started and anchor that feeling.

Click for this week’s case study and the “Finish Strong” series recap.

Does the finish line seem a million miles away? Replace a "have to" mindset with "get to" and turbo charge your results with gratitude!

Are you juggling so many projects that finishing seems elusive? You either don’t finish a project, don’t finish on time, or don’t finish with the quality you want. The answer to that problem is to use batch time, but for maximum results, batch time requires a plan. Click to hear four practical examples of how you can back up your big What with a few clear-cut How tactics. Create quality results and make batch time work for you!

Labor Day has come and gone, so it’s official: Recess is over and it’s time to get back to work! If your in-box is anything like mine, you may be juggling deadlines as fast as you can, and tempers could be flaring. The answer is to draw on the soft skill of smart choices. Click to hear about three important mails that always backfire. Learn how to hit pause before you hit send!

Do you want to pursue a goal but feel like you may have bitten off more than you can chew? Learn how to stop trying to shame, guilt or push yourself into success. Change forcing into actions that are a force multiplier!

If someone asked you right now how you invest in your wellbeing, could you tell them? Self-care success is a two-step process: Know what you need to feel good, then ask for it!

Click to hear how singer Alicia Keys decided to say no to no breaks.

Is there something you thought you had to have six months ago that no longer makes sense? Is there a mindset that looked good from the outside that secretly threw you out of balance or made you miserable? Click to learn 5 ways you can stop striving and say no to worn-out ideas. Start adjusting for the new you—the healthier, happier, simpler you.

Is your commitment toggle is automatically set to “yes”? Start reclaiming your day by setting intentions. Think of them as guideposts—when sudden commitments occur, compare them to the priorities you’ve already made. Then, use the soft skill of discernment to decide whether to say an immediate yes, postpone for the moment, or decline. Click to learn 5 questions to ask when you feel pressured to say yes.

We may still be in a pandemic, but the dog days of Summer are just like Friday afternoons—they’re the same the world over. But do you find it hard to back off on your commitments, even when long, sunny days are calling? There are plenty of good reasons to say “no”—you just need to understand how to spot them and say no to reclaim your day. Click to hear how you can use your natural creativity to compress tasks or eliminate them. Say no to "how it’s always been" and start pursuing a life you love.