ABBY’S ILLUMINATIONS
GUIDING NOTES FROM ABBY’S LIFE TO CHALLENGE & UPLIFT YOURS:
Am I a Fraud?
When I first booked the From Burn Out to Badass workshop, I imagined myself bouncing into the venue on night one, bushy-tailed and polka-dotted.
However, as the time approached to craft what I wanted to teach, it came to my attention that Cinderella's stepmother (who has a habit of living inside my head) had been on a rampage, leaving me exhausted.
In other words, I had to teach how to avoid burnout when I’d allowed myself to become burnt out.
gratitude is so outdated
I know this is edgy, but don’t delete me yet; I have no beef with gratitude. The only problem is it can be elusive. Take, for example, Mona (my adorable and grateful dog).
What’s Wrong with this Sentence?
We had a lively discussion last night in the Mastermind, Elevate. It landed in everyone's consciousness that they believed it was their job to make everyone happy - be it at a dinner party, family outing, or work event. Not only is this impossible, but it's what drives feeling like a Hot Mess.
ponder this on Halloween
I hate Halloween. I know, I know...what can I say? It’s my truth. When I was in middle school, my best friend would binge on horror movies and Stephen King novels while I was busy hiding from my own shadow. As an adult, merely mentioning a costume party…
Guilt, Anyone?
I was speaking in a group recently, where the issue of guilt was raised -guilt for not being available, guilt for saying no, guilt in parenting (a gimme), guilt for needing time and space...there's really no end to guilt.I shared a mantra I often give my clients to whisper to themselves when unsure of what to do:
What I Wish MD’s Knew
So this week, I went to the dermatologist because my unconscious likes to express itself through random skin conditions. The frisky, fresh-out-of-school medical woman said, “How’s your hernia?” Excuse me, what?
I Had to Pass this Along
I'm just back from the TED Women conference. It was, hands down, the best conference I've ever been to. Why? It wasn't all the things I did, the places I went, or even the talks I heard. It was the real conversations, the deep connections, and the authenticity.
Well this sucked.
When I was young, I wanted to "reach my potential." I had a habit of comparing myself to every Sally, Joan, and Kate, and that habit led me to give up and quit trying altogether. Inevitably, I'd have a success, or someone pumped me up, and I'd go at it with renewed energy, but not for long. A force inside or outside of me knocked me off center, and I'd be stagnant again.
Are you truly seeing your kids?
Sometimes I forget to stop working. Jaden lost his electronics over the weekend (and by that, I mean I stormed into his room, unplugged his Xbox monitor while he was playing, collected his phone, iPad, and computer, and stormed out). When there is no screen time,
Your KEY to Inner Tranquility
You Silky-Haired Goddesses wouldn’t know this, but us curly-haired gals are asked to brush our hair out before it’s colored. My son snapped this Chia Pet picture of me, and I realized I'm kinda like a hairdresser!
My Serious Case of the Yips
It all started when my husband peeled a hard-boiled egg over my in-law's kitchen sink. “You need a lesson on that?” his father asked, peering over his shoulder. Brian chuckled. “Sure, you got a better way?”
Liberation Is An Inside Job
Yesterday, I talked to fifty female entrepreneurs about the benefits of regulating your internal state (rather than allowing your mind to drag you down twenty-seven miles of gravel like a chained-up tire). I started with an example I often use – when the email that sends you into outer space pops up in your inbox. The irony? I …
I have a secret...
Believe it or not, I was never a proponent of “self-love.” It was hard to take anyone seriously who suggested I needed to love myself – what with the cartoon butterflies circling above their head. What’s next – we’ll live on berries and wood chips under the open sky, singing Kumbaya? Plus, I did love myself. …
Being Understood is Overrated
Here’s what I mean: When my ex was on Oxycontin, I went to great lengths to explain that it’s not normal to slur one’s words, fall asleep behind a drum kit in the middle of a set or visit an ER every month. Clearly, my running list of his bizarre behavior was proof enough to justify I …
My Catch and Release Program
I have a catch-and-release policy on my emotions. I catch the little buggers, reel them in long enough to see the whites of their fishy eyes, and then toss them back. The benefits are endless when my line is hot. The more I catch, the more everyone wins. I don’t stew all night, leaving me well-rested …