Work Hard Mom Harder

My son has been doing a LOT of wishing lately.

It has kind of gotten on my nerves. Here's why:

Wishing sounds an awful lot like WHINING.

Part of the issue is that what we are wishing for seems out of our control. So, what I've been trying to do with Anson is ask him questions to put the control back in his hands.

Why do you WISH that - what is it you really want? What is the problem you are actually trying to solve? Why do you want to solve it. And what do you control about the current situation?

If he can sort through some of the answers with me, I find there is usually something we DO control hidden under the seemingly unattainable problem. And then, we can take action.

What would happen if we had the self-awareness to do the same thing with our Wishes? In the last episode, I made the Commitment to take action whenever I'm about to whine. Well, in this episode we'll make it practical. What to do when wishing sounds like whining.

I treat birthdays like new year's resolution time. I do reflection, I like to come up with some goals, up my Strong Habits game, etc. This year, my birthday is happening during a pandemic.

In this episode I riff on the significance of my 37th year of life, and have a huge epiphany while I'm talking.

I finish with a challenge (as I usually do). Join me in making this the best year ever.

Now more than ever, this lesson is important.

There has never been a time more upended or unsettling as this. We are having to get dirty every single day in order to survive! Why not use the opportunity to thrive?

Here's how to get dirty like a toddler. Get dirty like Maddox!

Focus on the joy of jumping in. Enlist others in your mess-making. Love the process of cleaning up.

Get dirty like Maddox; you can always take a bath.

My guest for this episode is an expert on having a childlike perspective, because... he's a child! Anson, my six-year-old, shares his take on coronavirus, how it is impacting him in his day-to-day life, and gives listeners some sound advice to help us all get through this challenge.

This is a peptalk, and some tough love, some REAL TALK and honestly probably exactly what I WOULD NEED TO HEAR IF I WASN'T THE ONE SAYING IT.

Listen to discover

1. how being the "cheering parent" elevates your day and the day of those around you. 2. how limiting your exposure to the "freaked out parents" will serve you both now and in the long run. 3. a new word that I just made up (Give-up-itude)

Whatever you're going through right now, whether it's the toughest part of this worldwide pandemic or a personal hardship or any number of tragedies that life serves up:

It is what you make it.

And you get to choose. Always.

With many state governments issuing "stay at home" mandates (including mine), I am taking this opportunity to riff on

ESSENTIALS.

What business is actually essential? What activities are essential for ALL businesses to have a chance at sustainability as we come out of this unprecedented global crisis? What the actual ESSENTIALS are for many of us human beings.

Take the time to listen, but if you don't PLEASE take 15 minutes to journal and explore how THIS CURRENT PANDEMIC could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

it's essential.

While we all are grappling in different ways with the local and global impacts of COVID-19, I am sharing a few things that are helping me stay sane, productive, and positive.

Take it one day at a time - tap into a childlike perspective to find the fun in the situation. Be kind to yourself, but don't use this as an excuse not to do your work and make an impact.

You CHOOSE. You can choose your perspective, your silver lining. If you're looking for some hope, and a little pep-talk, this is the podcast episode you need to listen to right now.

Two stories from the last week that help to illustrate the importance of being SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED. My kids problem-solve so naturally and guilelessly and bravely. As adults, we don't do that as much.

How do we channel the essence of kids' problem-solving skills as grown-ups without being nonsensical?

1 - Stop discounting the first idea that you have. It's the spark that could become a much bigger idea.

2 - Be braver about sharing your ideas for solutions, instead of keeping them to yourself until they're "right" enough.

Explore these ideas for how we all operate in today's contentious world to bring solutions to the table and forge new connections!

What happens when you watch a movie 25 times in a one-week span? If you are me, you search for deeper meanings and larger life applications in the film. These are the business lessons I am taking from the newest Disney movie, Frozen 2.

WARNING: My vocals cannot compare with Idina Menzel or Kristen Bell.

Lesson #1. You do not need to have special powers.

Lesson #2. Do the next right thing.

Lesson #3. You are the one you've been waiting for.

We all are bigger heroes than we give ourselves credit for, but we need to step into our own powers and live fully as ourselves to make the impact we are born to make.

Three lessons from Dry February 1. Be clear about what might trip you up, and make a choice in advance about how you want to handle it.

2. I don't need alcohol to have fun!

3. When treats are the norm, they no longer serve their purpose.

Expounding on these topics as I'm learning about myself through a Dry, er, MISTY, February.