Boldly Breaking Through

By Beth Johnston and Maria Sylvester I, Beth Johnston, am 61 years old. I thought I had purpose in my life, but the coronavirus quarantine and its effects have left me feeling a bit lost. Family gatherings are my jam. A family dinner once a week is very important to me, especially since I became … ...

Hope is contagious—extremely so. Beware, it seems to be spreading at alarming rates. It presents us with daily unexpected surprises and challenges, especially in its capacity to ignite a fierce fire in our bodies, minds, and hearts. It’s a fire infused with determination and perseverance. And for some, the final stages of this condition may … ...

If pleasure was a sport, would you practice it? To get good at most anything takes practice. Sports are one example of this. Many of us eagerly take this challenge on, especially if the sport we are interested in playing really matters to us. We commit time, energy, and focus to developing and enhancing both … ...

If spaciousness were a muscle, could you flex yours easily? And what might you expect if you could? Cultivating the capacity for spaciousness in our lives is essential for a healthy and vibrant wellbeing. When I speak of spaciousness, I’m referring to both an internal, psychological spaciousness of mind and spirit, as well as a … ...

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”  ~ Moulin Rouge We’ve all had to find our way when it comes to intimate relationships. There were no classes in school that taught us how to successfully “do” them. Granted, there have been thousands of books and articles written on … ...

One thing that life does not spare for any of us are transitions. Existing as a human on this beautiful planet of ours means that inevitably and intermittently, we’ll experience changes in our lives. These changes may come as a gentle pull forward or a sudden, harsh push. Regardless of whether or not we care … ...

“What if you were to be the person you needed when you were younger?” I’ll occasionally wonder this out loud to a coaching client who is experiencing emotional distress. I wait and watch. Typically, I witness a subtle shift — a moment of quiet, yet profound, transformation. The anxiety, angst, emotional struggle, defensiveness, or blaming ceases. … ...

Game on! 2020 is here. If you are at all like me, you’re carefully, deliberately pondering possible goals or intentions for yourself in this new year. Here’s a little secret that will pretty much guarantee extraordinary days ahead: the best way forward is back. Back to you. For an amazing new year ahead, I recommend first … ...

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything gets accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu It’s been a lifelong challenge of mine, this notion of patience. Yet I’m happy to report that I’m finally making real headway with this phenomenon, resulting in all sorts of interesting changes in my life. And what perfect timing, as we head into the … ...

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder”  ~E.B. White I’ve recently discovered a secret, intoxicating way to feel consistently uplifted and expansive in my life. I’ll share it with you: I’ve been cultivating a state of wonder! Allowing myself to cozy in and hang out here, considering life with admiration, definitely keeps … ...

“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me that is the essence of beauty.”  ~S. Maraboli I tend to roll through my days so much better, and feel so much happier, when I concentrate my energy on being my perfectly imperfect self. … ...

“Beyond my wildest dreams” really did happen to me, in this lifetime. I could never have imagined the multiple ways a trip to Italy with my adult daughter could break my heart open even wider than it already had been in our relationship. We were celebrating her college graduation. The destination, southern Italy. Her pick. … ...