Mike Robbins

At the deepest level, we're valuable as human beings just because we're us -- not because of what we do, how we look, what people think of us, or what we produce or accomplish.

While working hard, overcoming challenges and adversity, and being passionately committed to important and complex things in our lives aren't inherently bad, resisting ease and being attached to struggle causes me and so many of us a great deal of stress, worry, and pain.

Disappointment, as uncomfortable and even painful as it can be for me and many of us, is essential and important on our journey of growth, self-discovery, authenticity and fulfillment.

One of the many things tears can do is remind us of our humanness, our vulnerability, our connection to one another and to things much bigger than the specific circumstances we are facing.

Empathy is getting into another person's world and connecting with them both emotionally and compassionately. We don't have to agree with them or fully understand them to be able to empathize.

I still find that in my darkest moments, I feel like there's no one who really gets me, knows what I'm going through, or even cares enough to truly have my back.  Do you ever feel like this yourself?

If we pay much attention to the media, it's easy to get the impression that life is really scary, dangerous, and there are lots of terrible things happening all over the place.

Too often our desire to protect our ego -- to avoid failure and embarrassment -- causes us to sell out ourselves, not go for what we truly want, or hold back in a variety of detrimental ways.

Acceptance is not resignation, failure, or agreement; it's simply telling the truth and allowing things to be as they are.

Worry is always a sign that there are some deeper feelings or issues for us to address. It's often a good reminder for us to get more real, take better care of ourselves, and pay attention.

Requesting support can often make us feel vulnerable. We usually think (somewhat erroneously) that we should be able to do everything ourselves or that by admitting we need help, we are somehow being weak.

One of best things we can do in this new year is to focus on who we really are, instead of who we think we're supposed to be.

What percentage of your waking hours are you "plugged in?" If you're anything like me and most of the people I know and work with, probably more than you'd like to admit.

Apologizing for who we are is often about us thinking or saying some version of, "I'm bad, it's my fault, or don't hate me," as if we're a child looking for validation or approval.

Our ability to create an authentic sense of balance with our goals and actions (i.e. dreaming vs. doing), has a lot to do with not only how effective we are in making things happen in life.

I noticed that I often actually hold back, squelch, or minimize my deepest desires -- waiting until things seem "possible" or even "probable" before I fully express what I truly want.

Our body weight does not determine our worth. Our level of health (or lack thereof) is not an indication of our value as a human being.

adly, many of us allow ourselves to be victims of our schedules, our communication devices, our co-workers, our clients, our families, our work, and some of the other demands.

This has been a sobering, but important realization for me this week. There is a big difference between knowing something and living it.

Saying "no" is one of the most important aspects of living a life filled with balance, integrity, and authenticity.

I have recently come to realize my deep-seeded fear that if I ever slow down or stop pushing so hard, the whole "house of cards" of my life and my work will simply come crashing down around me.