When new changes arise and abundance blooms, your upper limit hits the ceiling. You sabotage yourself and drop back into the old familiar zone where you feel secure. This is the inner thermostat setting that determines how much love, success, and creativity you allow yourself. But once you have awareness of this dynamic, you can reset it. Here are the 11 powerful practices for re-calibrating and centering your focus.

Why ‘The Parent Test’ is More Than Just a Reality Show? Parenting is the hardest job in the world, but why do we insist on striving for perfection when "Good Enough" is an achievement in itself?

If I could go back 20 years and coach my 30-year-old self, she would realize she's far more powerful than she knows. She would learn to get off the hamster wheel and create an intentional life. She would stop people-pleasing and start powerfully serving herself. She would learn that respect, love, money, and ease are her birthright. She wouldn't walk a mile on her knees to earn anything. She would realize how beautiful she is. And she would have the courage to launch her own business.

Most people can't wait to share support. But if you're rushing in to fix, rescue, please, or preach, you're thinking more about yourself than the person seeking help. The No Frapping agreement—which stands for no Fixing, Rescuing, Apologizing, Pleasing, or Preaching—is counterintuitive and uncomfortable. But it's what actually allows you to be useful and helpful. Before you speak to someone in vulnerability, ask: Am I trying to fix this? Or truly serve this person?

Our life is the sum of our choices. Decisions decide direction. But most people don't realize there are at least three distinct ways intelligent, educated, and caring people make decisions: Hummingbirds use mental models and psychology. Hawks decide based on what's morally right. Flamingoes consider what others think. Your default isn't the only way. Understanding these three mindsets is the key to making better decisions and developing deeper compassion for why others decide differently.

Last week, as I passed a park bench, I noticed four women who were clearly in their eighties, huddled together, chatting, laughing and genuinely having a great time. Here is an abbreviated list of my thoughts as I passed them each time.

We confuse joy with happiness. But they're completely different. Happiness is a state of being that takes work, commitment, and time. Joy is an emotion created in any given moment through action. Joy can be created right now by checking your Joy List and taking action on one thing that immediately makes you feel good. Barefoot beach walks. Morning coffee ceremonies. Swimming in Lake Tahoe. Holding hands. Laughter at inappropriate times. What's on your Joy List?

Transformational Coaching takes skill, creativity and commitment. But more than anything else, it takes time.

When I dreamed about becoming a Professional Coach at mid-life, I assumed I'd have to start at zero. Three decades in luxury retail seemed irrelevant—an obstacle, even. All my focus was on who I needed to become, what I needed to learn, which coaching school to attend. I couldn't have been more mistaken. A decade later, I know for sure: nobody cared about my certifications. They only cared about two questions: "Can I trust you?" and "Can you help me?" Those superpowers were already mine.

We fell and got back up. We woke with tears and fears, then put one foot in front of the other, again. We loved unconditionally. We were inspired to become better versions of ourselves, only to realize we still have a long way to go. We failed more often than we'd like to acknowledge. Still, we made it. But it's a new year—and it won't be a new life unless we make it so. So what's your plan for loving more deeply and living with more ease?

When did ambition become a four letter word? Think of the last time you used the word “ambitious” to describe yourself or another person. Was it in an entirely positive context? Did it sound a little cringy even when it was meant to be a compliment?

Why are old people slow? Because the fast ones are dead! — Anonymous wisdom. I won’t get a tattoo. I have nothing against tattoos or people who have them, it’s just not my thing. But if it was, I know exactly what tattoo I would carry on my wrist. Slow Down!

In last week’s article, I shared my learnings about making money. I’m not a financial advisor or a money expert, so I chose to go upstream and address the three areas that I am an expert in: Shining a light on false and unhelpful beliefs, simplifying life principles, sharing useful steps to achieve our goals.

In my work, limiting beliefs around money are some of the hardest to unearth and transform. Most of us are still carrying around our great grandparents’ beliefs about money and allowing them to decide our present day to day actions.

Do you belong? I don’t! At least not until fairly recently in my life. You see, although I don’t present as one, I am naturally more of an introvert. Additionally, for reasons mostly of my own creation and external circumstances like escaping Iran at a delicate age and immigrating to a country with a wildly different culture, I found myself to be “unfittable” in any societal box.

Some people have interesting lives. And some have happy lives. So, what’s the difference?

So many of us believe that if we slow down our thinking, we will come to a dead stop or fall off the cliff or maybe we’ll just lie on the couch all day and lose the thread of our lives forever, intoxicated by Netflix and chips! I’m here to tell you the contrary.

Zan Zendegi Azadi

Dinner at my aunt Melody, and my uncle Daniel's house is always gracious, engaging, and full of the kind of goodness that comes from sharing a meal (an exquisite one in this case) with a family of people who are empowered to speak their truth. Wisdom flows as abundantly as the delicious wine my uncle always chooses so thoughtfully.

Power is not a title, an army or a bunch of strategies for controlling others. Power is not forceful, loud and brutal. Power is not something we acquire or inherit. It’s a state of being and a delivery system for impact.