Category: Personal Development

person balancing on wooden beam outdoors
Personal Development

6 Signs You’re Doing Better Than You Think: Recognizing Your Personal Growth Journey

We often get so caught up in daily challenges that we fail to recognize how far we’ve come. It’s easy to focus on what’s not working while overlooking the subtle but significant progress happening beneath the surface. Inspired by the concept of personal growth indicators, here are six powerful signs that you’re actually doing better than you think. 1. The Little Victories That Matter There’s something beautiful about how we learn to celebrate the small things. Maybe it’s finally making your bed every … Continue reading 6 Signs You’re Doing Better Than You Think: Recognizing Your Personal Growth Journey

crisbiecoach4 Comments
street sign in new york
Life Hacks, Personal Development

Fear of Commitment: How to Say Yes Without Losing Yourself

The fear of commitment rarely appears out of nowhere. According to psychologists, this anxiety often stems from our relational history: complicated family dynamics, delayed parental separations, unresolved conflicts, or relationships where we felt we lost ourselves or “our freedom.” Consider this experience as example: her parents maintained a long-term marriage despite her childhood intuition that something was fundamentally wrong. Observing this pattern for years has … Continue reading Fear of Commitment: How to Say Yes Without Losing Yourself

crisbiecoach4 Comments
close up of lights
Life Hacks, Personal Development, Work and Life

Mastering Attention in a Distracted World

Do you think that your attention is under siege? Are overflowing inboxes and relentless ping of notifications disturbing you? Focus On-Off by Mark Tigchelaar and Oscar de Bos arrives as a timely guide. The book dives deep into the science of attention, revealing how our brains process the 11 million bits of information bombarding us every second and why we often feel overwhelmed. Tigchelaar, a … Continue reading Mastering Attention in a Distracted World

crisbiecoach6 Comments
silhouette of trees at sunset
Creativity, Health and Wellbeing, Personal Development, Spirituality

How a One-Week Retreat Rewires Your Brain: The Science Behind Lasting Change

In my personal blog I recently wrote about my experience of the magic of the Ayurveda retreat where I understood clearly the quietness that comes from stepping away from daily life. But I haven’t wondered why retreats work so profoundly. What’s actually happening in our brain when we unplug, slow down, and immerse ourself in a new environment? I recently dove into research, and what … Continue reading How a One-Week Retreat Rewires Your Brain: The Science Behind Lasting Change

crisbiecoach5 Comments
Personal Development

Four Things I’ve Learned About the Divine Dwellings

I was reflecting on these not long ago, and they seem worth sharing. They are some important things I’ve learned, conceptually but even more so practically, concerning the practice of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity (the four “divine dwellings”). That pertains to the formal meditation practices, and more informal versions of that practice, and also simply the ordinary exercise of dwelling in those states in the course of ordinary living. Continue reading Four Things I’ve Learned About the Divine Dwellings

SeekerFive2 Comments
woman writing on a notebook
Creativity, Health and Wellbeing, Personal Development

Blogging as Art Therapy: Writing Your Way to Emotional Wellness

This is a follow up of my last week post on Art Therapy. When I first began blogging, I didn’t realize I was engaging in something deeply therapeutic. I thought I was simply documenting my thoughts, sharing my experiences, reporting on my findings, and connecting with others. But over time, I noticed something profound: the act of writing helps me face my difficulties, even though … Continue reading Blogging as Art Therapy: Writing Your Way to Emotional Wellness

crisbiecoach12 Comments
a woman in a painting workshop
Creativity, Personal Development

Art Therapy: Healing Through Creativity and Emotional Expression

Art therapy is more than painting or sculpting—it’s a transformative journey into the self. Rooted in psychology and creative expression, this therapeutic approach helps individuals explore emotions, overcome psychological challenges, and foster personal growth. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, trauma, or simply seeking deeper self-awareness, art therapy offers a non-verbal, yet profoundly expressive, path to healing. What Is Art Therapy? Art therapy is a form … Continue reading Art Therapy: Healing Through Creativity and Emotional Expression

crisbiecoach8 Comments
person reading book and holding coffee
Literature, Personal Development

The Transformative Power of Reading

As I opened my email one morning, an invitation to purchase books caught my eye. Among the lines of promotional text, one phrase stood out: “Why reading teaches us to read.” This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of reading in our lives. Reading transcends being merely a pastime; it is a gateway to knowledge and a lens through which we interpret the world. … Continue reading The Transformative Power of Reading

crisbiecoach14 Comments
pile of books
Creativity, Personal Development

Tsundoku or Your Unread Books

Nowadays it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the daily tasks we are supposed to accomplish. On top of that , do you have an ever-growing pile of books on your nightstand? But what if I told you that this pile isn’t a sign of failure or procrastination, but rather a testament to your intellectual curiosity and potential? Welcome to the art of tsundoku—the Japanese … Continue reading Tsundoku or Your Unread Books

crisbiecoach15 Comments
Personal Development

Some Philosophical-Spiritual Dimensions of Material Welfare Type Activities

Lately, I’ve had occasion to reflect on certain aspects of life that aren’t obviously or directly philosophical or spiritual, and to wonder how they might be made philosophical. Or, for that matter, to wonder how they might already be philosophical, even if their philosophical character is indirect or otherwise not obvious. (To clarify what I mean by “philosophical,” please see Philosophy as an Art of … Continue reading Some Philosophical-Spiritual Dimensions of Material Welfare Type Activities

SeekerFive3 Comments
pile of books
Personal Development

Reclaiming Focus: Addressing Modern Attention Challenges

We are progressively losing the ability to concentrate deeply on a single task. Johann Hari’s Stolen Focus delves into the reasons behind our dwindling attention spans and offers a comprehensive look at the twelve deep causes of this crisis. As I reflect on Hari’s insights, I can’t help but see the profound impact these factors have on our daily lives. Based on his research, I … Continue reading Reclaiming Focus: Addressing Modern Attention Challenges

crisbiecoach14 Comments
Personal Development

Some New Year’s Resolutions Counsel from Epictetus

With the New Year’s holiday, and the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, just around the corner for many of us, it seems appropriate to recount some simple advice from Epictetus, the famous Stoic philosopher and teacher. … We all know, I think, that New Year’s resolutions tend not to last beyond January. … Continue reading Some New Year’s Resolutions Counsel from Epictetus

SeekerFive7 Comments
Personal Development

Y2K Life Lessons – 25 Years Later

Can you believe it has been 25 years since we welcomed the year 2000? Earlier this month on my personal blog, I reflected on how life has changed since December 1999 when an IT issue called Y2K raised concerns of planes falling from the sky, and a complete failure of healthcare, financial systems, and public services. With the wisdom of hindsight, there are several life … Continue reading Y2K Life Lessons – 25 Years Later

Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)7 Comments
photo displays person holding ball with reflection of horizon
Personal Development

Reflections on the Year – Key Questions for Personal Growth

The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker As the holiday season approaches, it’s a natural time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead. This period of reflection can be incredibly energizing and insightful, helping us to understand what has driven us, what we’ve achieved, and where we want to go next. Inspired … Continue reading Reflections on the Year – Key Questions for Personal Growth

crisbiecoach6 Comments
scenic view of bamboo trees
Personal Development

Lessons from the Story of the Bamboo Farmers

This is a story that is commonly told in China. Here is how it goes. Two farmers, intrigued by a rare type of bamboo, purchased seeds known for their unique growth pattern. They were told that this bamboo species would take years to sprout but, once it began, would grow to astonishing heights. Excited by the promise of abundance, both farmers planted the seeds in … Continue reading Lessons from the Story of the Bamboo Farmers

crisbiecoach15 Comments
Personal Development

Mindfulness as Method for the First Great Effort, Part 4: Gunaratana’s Guidance, Part B

I’d like to continue with the topic of exercising and developing Right Effort, and in particular some of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana’s more specific guidance for making the First Great Effort. In the present post I’ll focus on Wise Attention. First, as some reminders and re-caps of previous posts: 1. The first great effort is directing your effort toward preventing unskillful states from arising in the … Continue reading Mindfulness as Method for the First Great Effort, Part 4: Gunaratana’s Guidance, Part B

SeekerFiveLeave a comment
woman illustrating albert einstein formula
Personal Development

Why the Right Questions Matter More Than the Right Answers

One friend of mine told me about Albert Einstein‘s philosophy on questions. You surely know that he is often celebrated for his brilliant mind and revolutionary contributions to science, but his true genius might lie in something far simpler: his insistence on the power of asking questions. I didn’t know about it. More than once, Einstein hinted that the process of inquiry mattered more than … Continue reading Why the Right Questions Matter More Than the Right Answers

crisbiecoach9 Comments