• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Michele Woodward

Powerful Coaching. Powerful Results.

  • Home
  • Coaching
    • Individuals
    • Executive Services
    • Groups
  • Resources
  • Books
  • Blog
  • About
    • Media Mentions
    • Speaking
    • Testimonials
  • Contact

Jen Louden

Maybe You’re An Anxious Striver

November 29, 2018 By Michele Woodward Leave a Comment

 

 

Years ago I learned something from my friend Jen Louden. It’s her idea of “Conditions of Enoughness”. Basically, it’s deciding before you set out to do anything what “enough” will feel like, so you know when you’re done.

I thought of this brilliant concept recently when hearing people talk about their drive for constant improvement. It occurred to me that constant improvement could actually be a bad thing.

Like, how you remove minute parts of a knife everytime you sharpen it. And, if you persist in sharpening the edge, at some point the knife loses its structural integrity and becomes a wisp of a thing rather than the sharp thing it once was.

I was reflecting on people who are what I call “anxious strivers”. The kinds of folks who are driven to go-go-go and do-do-do. Who only eat foods which have a point – their diet exists merely to provide protein, minerals, and “good fats”. They only read books which will improve their lives. Every spare minute is devoted to Doing Something In Service To Something Else.

Joy has very little role in their lives.

I have to ask, though: When you live in pursuit of constant improvement, when do you know how to stop? When do you know what enough is like? Because of the relentless “constant” in “constant improvement”, are you putting yourself on a hamster wheel that never stops and calling it exemplary performance?

Perhaps then, rather than constant improvement, we need to think about simply having clear goals and working to meet them. In that context, the questions become more like: How did I do yesterday? Do I need to do something differently than yesterday to reach my goal? Is it enough to keep doing what I’m doing and stay on this path I’ve set? Does this feel like enough yet?

That’s not to say stop learning. To stop incorporating your learning into your actions. I would never say that, because I’m a learner through and through.

I am suggesting that anxious striving, never knowing what enoughness looks like, never doing something just for the fun of it, sharpening your edge until you have nothing left… this is the recipe for burnout and unhappiness and, oddly enough, ultimately leads to a lack of real, meaningful progress.

Filed Under: Authenticity, Blog, Career Coaching, Clarity, Getting Unstuck, Happier Living Tagged With: anxious striving, burnout, coping, enough, Jen Louden, stress

Happy Virtual Birthday To Me

March 14, 2010 By Michele Woodward Leave a Comment


When I thought about all the ways I could possibly celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday – big blow out party, inspiring foreign travel, expensive jewelry, a weekend in a double-wide – it occurred to me that I could never, possibly gather all the people I love and who make me laugh in one space.

Friends far afield does not a party make.

Unless.

Unless I did a Virtual Birthday Party!  Via teleconference!  And invited everyone to call in and give me advice about turning fifty!

So, it’s on.  Please plan to join me on Monday, March 22nd, at 2pm EDT – dial (703) 344-2171 and enter Conference ID: 520811#.

Just in case no one calls in (the worst nightmare of any hostess), I have asked these friends to dial in throughout the hour to dispense kindly (and perhaps barbed) advice, direction and commentary for this next phase of my life:

Pam Slim, sister-by-choice, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur and my business partner on Kick Ass Mentoring and Career Invention.

Patti Digh, author of Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally, wry and inspiring observer at  37days.com

Jeannette Maw, the Good Vibe Coach, author of a number of great books on attracting what you want… and my partner on our monthly Conversation program.

Jen Louden, Comfort Queen, chatelaine of The Comfort Cafe, lovely person, and author of wonderful books and programs for women.

Hiro Boga, the Flourishing Muse and one of the finest writers and kindest souls I know.

Liz Lynch, networking pro and author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online, who always seems to find time to laugh at my jokes. Bless her.

Debbie Phillips, Woman On Fire, and author of Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!). Debbie generously talked to a newbie coach (me) one afternoon many years ago, and set me on a path I love.

Cady Coleman, NASA astronaut and friend since 7th grade.  Cady is due to go up for her third space mission this December – to the International Space Station for a three month stay. Having seen the Earth from space, maybe Cady will help me put this birthday into a really big context.

Of course, there’s you.

I really want to talk to you.  So please plan to call in – and I’ll mingle and talk to as many folks as I possibly can. Just like an in-person party. 🙂

Believe me: Your presence is the greatest gift I’ll receive.

Filed Under: Happier Living Tagged With: Cady Coleman, Debbie Phillips, happy birthday, Hiro Boga, Jeannette Maw, Jen Louden, Liz Lynch, Pam Slim, Patti Digh, virtual party

Footer

Subscribe

Recent Posts

  • It’s a Time Warp
  • Making a Plan – When Making a Plan Feels Really Hard
  • A Pandemic Is Not A Snowstorm
  • Nothing Slips Through The Cracks
  • Becoming UnBusy

Looking For Something?

Contact

Phone: 703/598-3100
Email: michele@michelewoodward.com
FB: /michele.woodward
LI: /in/michelewoodward
 

  • Download the 2020 Personal Planning Tool

Copyright © 2021 Michele Woodward Consulting · All Rights Reserved.