Personal development is part of our journey. Most people aim to be successful at work, at home and in their community. Change and uncertainty present opportunity for growth, yet it can be challenging to manage multiple priorities and increasing demands. Reactions can get in the way of meaningful action, often without even being aware of the impact.
These posts cover a variety of topics including:
Personal development allows you to learn how your reactions can get in the way of what is important. Learning how to recognize and resolve reactions creates space for more meaningful action. We guide you using Logosynthesis® to resolve the triggers to these reactions through coaching and teaching you how to use this method for self-coaching.
To learn more about why and how to use Logosynthesis® for leadership, you can watch a video, read Cathy’s books and take a course. Enjoy!
Have you ever reacted strongly to something and then wondered afterward: “Was I right … or did I overreact?” Maybe it was a comment that rubbed you the wrong way.An email that left you tense for hours.A small mistake that felt far bigger than it should have. In the moment, the reaction feels automatic. Later, when things settle, the question often comes: Why did that affect me so much? Many people assume overreacting means they are too sensitive, too emotional, … Read More
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to stay calm when serious situations become heated? You may be aiming for peace, and yet situations escalate out of control.There is no compromise.Other people become defensive and appear irrational. In fact, it’s common to believe that we need adrenaline and strong words to get our point across.We need to fight for peace.If we believe the issue is really important, we may even be prepared to go to war for peace. This … Read More
Many people experience anger and rage. Many people are labelled as having “anger issues”. For some, these emotions are expressed openly. Voices rise. Words become sharp. Actions escalate. Homes become tense. Workplaces become toxic. A moment of anger can leave lasting damage, expressed in strained relationships, broken trust, and lingering fear. For others, expressing anger and rage feels unacceptable. So the anger is pushed down and hidden. Outbursts are avoided until one day the pressure builds and erupts in a … Read More
Stress in the workplace is common. But stress rarely looks like stress. More often, it looks like working harder, staying busy, solving problems, overthinking conversations, tightening control, or holding everything together. Over time, these reactive behaviours affect performance, relationships, decision-making, and health. A key challenge for those experiencing workplace stress is that it often feels necessary and justified. The pressure is real. The deadlines are real. The difficult conversations, the uncertainty, the changing expectations—all of it feels external and often … Read More
Many adults in leadership and parenting roles rely on control to feel responsible for safety and success. Whether we’re leading a team, running a business, or raising children, we feel accountable for the well-being of others. When challenges arise, we naturally step in to fix problems, protect people, and restore stability. In these roles, it is normal to fall into automatic patterned behaviours to control situations and get things back on track. And yet many of us struggle to see … Read More
Working harder in times of change In the midst of change and uncertainty, a natural stress reaction is to work harder. Think more. Do more. Control more. It feels responsible, productive, and even strong. But especially in these times, working harder can subtly derail your results. Change activates automatic stress reactions. Without realizing it, you shift from creative responses to survival reactions. Calm is replaced with urgency. Grounded leadership is replaced with pressure-driven action. You may lack trust in others … Read More
Resonating with “Firm But Kind” In 2007, the phrase “firm but kind” first caught my attention through a parenting book titled Negotiation Generation: Take Back Your Parental Authority Without Punishment by Lynne Reeves Griffin. The words resonated immediately. They described a way of being that felt both strong and compassionate. I wanted to be that parent. Yet in everyday life, especially in the busyness of family life, living “firm but kind” was far more difficult than understanding it. I was … Read More
How to get rid of stress: A new perspective for healthy living. Stress management techniques help you cope with stress. But are you struggling with how to get rid of stress? You’re not alone. We’re human, and stress reactions are a normal part of everyday life. The well-known “fight, flight, and freeze” responses occur automatically in response to perceived threats. They’re meant to protect us. But when these reactions get stuck and activate after the danger has passed, they harm … Read More
Are your thoughts fueling action or reactions? We tend to trust our thoughts. These thoughts are familiar because we experience them over and over again. They feel true. Often, they show up automatically and the patterns don’t really change over time. But not every thought is a conscious, rational choice. When we feel calm, grounded, and intentionally present, our thoughts can fuel action. When we are operating on autopilot or feeling stressed, our thoughts can fuel automatic reactions, rooted in … Read More
A Lesson from Vienna This spring, I visited a cousin, Father Peter van Meijl, who is a priest at Michaelerkirche, a beautiful church in the heart of Vienna. He said something that stayed with me: “Everything in life is a joy and a burden.” He explained how this elegant church, with the largest baroque organ in Vienna, brings joy to so many. People come from all over the world to visit. It’s a joy. And it’s a burden. There’s a … Read More