Many people rely on therapy and medications to alleviate symptoms of depression, but in some cases, it’s just not enough. With the latest scientific advances in neuroscience, nutrition, and the mind-gut connection, we have discovered that what we eat impacts how we feel physically, cognitively, and emotionally.

Perhaps you are familiar with Robert Frost’s thought-provoking poem, "The Road Not Taken." Well, I couldn’t help but think of the poet’s words while hiking in the mountains of Idaho. Hiking requires answers to a constant series of questions; which direction should I take? Where does this trail lead?  

Many of my coaching clients come to their last session in December wanting to talk about resolutions and how to make changes in the New Year. I respond by asking the client to leave the room. No, really. I instruct my client to wait outside and send in their “Saboteur” instead.

With so many choices and areas of expertise, how do you know what coach is right for you?

It’s important to keep in mind that working with a Life Coach is no indication that your life is in turmoil or you are broken in any way.

Working with a Life Coach is like going to the gym. It keeps you working your muscles, improves your endurance, and puts you in the healthiest state possible.

Worry is the toxic waste of the mind. Just as our body ingests unhealthy substances, so does our psyche.

Let’s find inspiration in our accomplishments. By acknowledging the distance we’ve already traveled, we can enjoy our arrival, appreciate the efforts made to get there, and map out a deliberate travel plan for the next leg of our journey.

I open my eyes and look at the clock. It’s seven forty-five. I get out of bed; put on my shoes; grab a flashlight and head outside in search of a mountain.

You are the person in power and, like any good leader, you want to use your power wisely. You may want to write some laws to keep Discipline and Responsibility from slacking off on the job.

Get this…when we’re born we like ourselves. We have no negative self-talk. In other words, we’re not pulled from our mother’s womb apologetic for having taken 22 hours to make our way down the birth canal. We don’t chastise ourselves if we drip placenta on the doctor’s shoes.

This is our birthright… to be who we are. To not make life decisions based on the level of approval we get from others. What kind of a life would open up for us if we could do that? Think about it.

In my own life I have set forth on a mission to change a quality that does not serve me. A tweak, if you will, on the original design. Nothing too enormous but the change could have enormous positive results.

A teacher of mine once told me that the difference between being brave and being a hero is that a brave person will enter a burning building to rescue a baby, while a hero will enter a burning building to rescue a baby … and never tell anyone about it. That leads me to believe that true heroism defies ego.

I thought about what I have held prisoner in my own cage. I thought about how impatient I can be to recover those pieces of me and bring them back into the light where I now understand they belong and have their place. I realized I couldn’t just drag them out of isolation and expect them to run free. It takes time. It takes love and it takes patience. With this newfound insight, instead of forcing Sam through the narrow door of the cage, I disassembled the cage around him. I breathed deeply with the knowledge that he needed space and he would come out when he was ready.

Here's the challenge. Next decision to be made...don't think about it. Place your options on either side of a coin - then flip it. When the random choice has been made - read your body for clues to what you really want. Your breath will either exhale with contented relief or utter dread. We know what those two experiences feel like in our body. You will have your answer. Just remember not to think and trust that your nervous system will reveal which decision feels right.

…we all enjoy receiving affirmation from people. And we all need a certain amount of recognition to inspire us. But at what point does it become dangerous and exploitive to others? When the need becomes compulsive and unscrupulous.

So, what has happened to this process called discovery? Shouldn’t knowledge be gained by unearthing the answers – not reading lists? History has taught us again and again that by pursuing information about one thing, discoveries are often made about something else.