As we honor our deeper aspirations for contribution and change, we often make plans only to have them fall aside.  One way to accomplish your goals is to align them with your strengths of character and let them be fueled by a deeper sense of purpose.  Discovering this power is deeply meaningful when we view it from the need to overcome old false patterns.  This helps to catalyze new transformation and growth.  Learn more about this process by reading the January newsletter. Then join us on February 14 at 9:00 AM to share on "Loving From the Deeper Truth."   Tuesday, Feb. 14, 9:00-10:00 AM, CDT, 760-569-9000, access code 308311#

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are in the middle of celebrating the fall harvest. We enjoy seeing the colors of the trees and the fruits of our hard work.  When I think of the harvest, I think of the successes I have seen in the couples and families with whom I work.  Every dream has seeding times, growing times, and harvesting times.

It is deeply gratifying to me to celebrate the harvest of families who have grown their relationships. This continues to be a source of inspiration, healing, laughter, and joy for me and helps to create the kind of caring community that is needed for well being and flourishing of everyone. I have discovered five well worth celebrating in creating 
successful change:  They are character, committment, connection, communication, and co-creative solutions.  Learn about these five aspects of change in my October newsletter.  Go to the seminars section and listen to the recording a lively teleconference on how these principles apply to your lives.

Battling stuff can be a real challenge for many families. If you want to move beyond the battle, you might want to consider tapping into your strengths, and put the challenge of battling with stuff in a broader context.  Today, many see simplifying our lives as a an opportunity to change to a much healthier style of living.  It becomes a way create a new vision and take action to make a difference. Here are a few tips to that might help you broader

Each month I do an interview on how people use their strengths to overcome significant challenges.  This month, we investigated how character strengths can help you to overcome one of most people's greatest fears, Public speaking.  Some people fear public speaking more than dying! So says Fred E. Miller, author of his just published book, "No Sweat Public Speaking."  

When I interview speakers, I look for their strengths.  My guess was that Fred’s top strength was his ability to put people at ease and his sense of humor.  He took the strengths test and found his top strength actually was integrity and authenticity.  This strength shows up in his straight-talk, down to earth style. 

Indeed, I have watched a couple of the speakers he has coached.  They were enthusiastic, clear, entertaining, and definitely looked calm, -- as if they had no sweat.  When I asked Fred about his secret formula for reducing speaking fear, he said “My clients have their sweat glands surgically removed.”  Needless to say, he was teasing.  For good practical tips, just listen to the replay in the in the conference calls.

Today, with the many changes in the economy, the loss of jobs, and the challenges of the weather, it is easy to become anxious and depressed.  The next series of posts look at the importance of cultivating your resources for