Personal Development Archives - The Shared Journey

Notes and Nudges From Other Muses and Solomon

June 23, 2022 No Comments

Hi Peeps! Have you ever gone through what feels like a dry spell of the soul and waited and waited for it to pass? Sometimes we are held captive by our own beliefs and fears. I have rediscovered that out of struggle we can often find hope at life’s intersection of worry and wisdom. I am on a quest for wisdom. How about you? Muse Solomon’s message today is a simple reminder to listen to the whispers of our soul where Wisdom resides. He urged me to share what I am re-learning lately as I have been frequently immobilized

I Know that I do Not Know….

April 16, 2014 No Comments

Hello TSJ Peeps! I know many of you who are teachers and married to teachers are on vacation this week. May it be a time of peace and harmony wherever you are and may it restore your souls! Here at TSJ, we are getting caught up on “stuff” as Tom is on vacation. He is out getting his hair trimmed and the oil changed while I am here writing this post. But, I must tell you, Tom gave “the boys a talking to” (as he put it) early this morning as he snuck into my office and changed Solmon and

The Secret Power of Doing Nothing

March 19, 2014 5 Comments

There is something I am experiencing of late that is hard to describe because it is the best kept secret in our society… there is power in doing nothing. It is counter-culture for most of us. And I get quite anxious if faced with doing nothing! For kids it means boredom, for me it means being useless and unproductive. The results are similar…we look for a solution. We look for things to do….even in our spiritual search for peace and harmony. Here is today’s wisdom: Our bodies store our angst, our stories. Our physicality has magic of its

Managing Our Messy Moods

February 26, 2014 No Comments

We humans have what I am calling today, “messy moods.” It is neither scientific nor technically correct terminology, but I like the sound of it and it describes what most of us can relate to. Just when we think we have things well planned and we proudly claim our ability to be patient, kind, organized, successful, competent or whatever we think is good, something seemingly little can mess us all up inside by messing with our brain. It might just be a passing comment or a serious look cast our way. Who knows? And it can start an avalanche of thoughts that

Asleep at the Wheel

February 12, 2014 4 Comments

Have you ever “fallen asleep at the wheel?” I am sure you have heard it as an expression. And as such, we have all done so in some area of our lives. It happens when we ignore signals (often unintentionally) and things careen out of our control. But yesterday falling asleep at the wheel became literal for me and Solomon, who was snuggly packed into the back seat. We were driving home after doing a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) presentation together in Lavonia in the morning, followed by time with a dear friend, Robin, over her delicious soup and some business work.

Three Ways to Renew Your Confidence

February 5, 2014 No Comments

Some days (weeks?) our confidence wanes or takes a drastic drop! This week’s Wednesday Wisdom looks at why it is important to understand this . . . And how to feel better. It is important because . . . Self-Awareness Leads to Understanding Mind-Behavior Connections For some, a drop in confidence levels is more frequent than for others and there are numerous reasons for that, of course. But most people experience a loss of confidence from time to time. Parents are especially prone to this when they feel helpless or frustrated with things in the home. For clarity . . . by a

Need Clarity? New Perspective? Switch Lenses!

January 29, 2014 2 Comments

Hello Peeps! Do you need clarity or a new perspective to deal with some challenges in your life this week? Sometimes our vision is fuzzy or clouded. Sometimes we simply look through the wrong lens for us or our situation! We strain to see and understand but clarity does not come. It is Wednesday Wisdom Day at TSJ! Yes, it is that day of the week when I sit down with our wisdom warrior, Solomon, to have a not-so-private chat with you about things that happen in the week and lessons that come from those simple events. If truth be

New Year- New Look- Old Truths

January 22, 2014 No Comments

Happy New Year and Welcome to my updated website! My friend, Lucille, has made this new look possible. She is far more more technologically inclined than I and has been gently nudging me to finish up the writing so she can put the last minute touches on the design. And she has the patience of Job. For that I am deeply grateful and even more humbled that she will partner with me in 2014 and free me from unnecessary frustration! Isn’t it a wonderful truth that each day provides opportunities for improvement and renewal within the inner sanctuary of our

When Your Muscles Get Tired . . . Downshift

June 11, 2013 No Comments

Are you getting tired? Is being kind to people a little harder than usual? It is that time of year for teachers, parents, and kids when fatigue leads to discouragement. Yet it often takes a mind shift to downshift. Sunday was a beautiful afternoon and I decided it was time to get some exercise. So I got my bike out of the storage shed and cleaned it off for its first excursion of the summer. It took a few minutes to get the routine down: get dressed properly, put helmet on, pack water and snacks, a paper towel, cell phone,

Wisdom Part II ~ Discernment vs Good Judgment?

June 5, 2013 No Comments

Who comes to your mind when you think of a wise person? How would you describe that person? How is wisdom different from knowledge or expertise? How can we be wise parents? Last week I was pondering the question of wisdom here. I write about it because I really believe that we parents must seek wisdom. Parent shepherding, after all, is both complex and ambiguous in its demands. There is no one way that works anymore than wool coats work for swimming or a sand pail works for a flood! Wisdom helps us discern what is effective and what is

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