Tozi, one of my clients, called me today with a sense of sadness I have never heard from her before. “Maria, I feel like this year has been a total blur,” she told me. “I’ve missed out on so much that was important to me. Why is all this happening?” As I listened closely, I silently thought of the three other clients who told me about their anxiety, therapy or medications this week. Yes, it seems we are all feeling the effects of this chaotic year in so many ways. This year is taking its toll on us collectively – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

These past few months have been difficult and quite shocking. There’s a lot of fear, anger, uncertainty, and inequity permeating our world right now. For me, there are days I feel like I’m constantly trudging uphill in an endless effort just to stay even and calm. While I am just one person, it is clear that most everyone, everywhere is feeling pretty much the same thing. There’s a collective anxiety among us. The world’s in pain.

If the news and state of global apprehension is turning your life upside down, you’re definitely not alone. The most dangerous epidemic in the world right now is a heightened sense of fear. In trying to stay safe, fear doesn’t just consume our minds, it also grips our very hearts.

If there is one place that we really need more love, it’s the workplace. Love has an incredibly strong influence on business outcomes. I’ve seen it time and time again, especially with my corporate clients. The more love your co-workers feel at work, the more engaged they become — and the more they will perform at their best, too.

This is the time of year where I pause to give myself a special gift. And, I want to encourage you to do the same. I use this occasion to create time and space to reflect on all my experiences from the year. I honor the year by focusing on all that happened as a way to learn and free myself. As I took stock of 2019, what I found was quite profound, so I am going to take the leap and share a few of my lessons with you.

Over this past year, with my lovely proclivity toward saying Yes, my schedule became fuller and fuller with client meetings, writing projects, teaching and travel. The more I poured myself into my work though, the more each day began to blend into the next.

Last week I led an eye opening leadership session with a group of corporate executives. We had some very honest and engaging discussions. At one point I asked the group: What confines you?

No one loves summer more than I do. But when the air starts to feel crisp, I literally get butterflies (in a good way) as I say my goodbyes to lazy days, sandy beaches, and sunny days. As much as I enjoy my annual beach vacation, I get a clear sense of anticipation as fall routines begin anew. The beginning of the school year brings a familiar discipline and direction. Life signals new potential as the leaves begin to change color. The days start to get shorter.

We often live as if we have all the time in the world. Have you noticed that time only seems to matter when it’s about to run out? I was reminded of this recently when I got word that a beloved client passed away far too young.

What would your life be like if you could understand your feelings and manage your reactions better? Ever walk into a meeting where someone innocently says something like, “Why would you ever do that?”

What started as a typical executive leadership coaching assignment inspired my special approach to more authentic conversations that don’t make the other person wrong.    A senior leader, I’ll call Jane, hired me explicitly to help her identify a new role that would give her greater satisfaction in the large company where she worked. It sounded realistic except for one thing. That wasn’t what was getting in her way. 

Great leaders are in tune with the needs of the organization. They know how to match those needs with the strengths of their people so they become the best to help the team be the best.   When I think about leaders who inspired me the most, there is one who stands apart. I once reported to a managing director who we called Dude. He was more of a mentor to me than a boss.

I learned early in my life how much spring demonstrates the constancy of life and encourages us to persist in whatever we do. I was four years old when my mother presented me with my very own packet of Cut & Come Again zinnias. That name sounded so magical to me.

As a kid, I attended a small Catholic school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The most influential person in the school for me was a man everyone called Al. Whether I had something serious on my mind or just wanted to chat, Al had such a loving, calm and peaceful presence.

Pay attention and stand still right now as the world moves at warp speed around you. Look within yourself and ask this: how can you inhabit the life you have  more fully? As you ponder this, I’d like to introduce you to someone whose life stands as one possible response to this question.

A few years ago, I was rushing around my house like a maniac trying to get out the door to a meeting. I was frustrated and weary of having to trudge up my front walk over and over again carting items to my car.

Even though it’s the final month of the year, December stands first on my list as my favorite month. I look forward to December because it’s a month full of celebration. And even better, it’s a beautiful time to pause and reflect.

It’s already November, can you believe it? Thanksgiving is just around the corner.   Thanksgiving reminds me to feel happy and grateful. It’s a special time of year I truly enjoy spending with family and friends. But just because the calendar says it’s time to be thankful, I know that doesn’t necessarily make it so. 

My friend, Jack, likes to play a round of golf every week with a group of colleagues. He says he enjoys the comradery and the spirit of competition. Yet as he approaches every game, he manages to defeat himself.

I was talking to a dear friend recently about my fear of public speaking when I proudly declared, “I am going to act with courage in the face of fear to step up to take on more and more speaking opportunities.” Laughing, she asked, “Is that your actual definition of courage?”

Think of difficult, challenging or important issues you’ve been meaning to address. Why are you holding back when you know you need to have these conversations?

Words are far more than just transmitting facts back and forth. You may think you are simply conveying information. But you’re conveying a feeling, too.

Guess what? As a leader, it is our responsibility to hold people not only accountable for great results but also the way they go about achieving them.

We spend a ton of our waking hours at work. And the way we treat one another is extremely important to our success.

I’m a huge sports fan, especially the NBA. I love watching leadership and team performance live in real time and with instant results.

I’m thinking about love in new ways more and more these days. I find it’s seriously underrated.

2018 is here. But I don’t hear the usual fresh start and hopeful optimism I’m used to hearing when a new year begins. Instead, people seem concerned and I hear palpable fear in their voices.

Here’s what I hear far too often. It’s their fault. I have no authority. They won’t listen. I hate traffic. The weather sucks. They don’t respect me. Here’s what I encourage.

More Focus Less (unconscious) distractions. More Strategy Less getting (unimportant) things done. More Purpose Less thinking we have plenty of time

Have you ever believed something so much that you didn’t realize it was totally not true? It’s amazing how quickly you can start believing the false stories you frequently tell yourself.

Maria's Top 10 Inspirations for 2015 1. Dare to go where you have always known you want to be. 2. Imagine the extraordinary story you can create by taking the leap that will get you there.