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Articles from Mike Robbins | Selfgrowth.com
- Are You Willing to Be Uncomfortable? - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow comfortable are you with being uncomfortable? I know this may seem like a paradoxical question, but it's not. In fact, Michelle and I took a workshop this past weekend where they emphasized the importance of being uncomfortable - related to expanding our growth, success, fulfillment, and ...
Views: 2041(1 vote) - Do You Embrace Change? - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2012 from Mike RobbinsHow do you feel about change? If you’re anything like me, you probably have mixed feelings about it. While it often depends on our perception of the type of change – big or small, good or bad, needed or unnecessary, easy or hard, etc. – most of us seek and fear change simultaneously. I’ve ...
Views: 1539(1 vote) - Embrace Death, Live Life - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2011 from Mike RobbinsMy mom, Lois Dempsey Robbins, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in early March. The disease spread very quickly and on June 13th, she passed away. I was honored and grateful to be with her through her dying process. It was both horrible and beautiful at the same time. My mom's ...
Views: 1456(1 vote) - Go For It - The Power of Boldness - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2011 from Mike RobbinsDo you consider yourself bold or someone who goes for it with passion in life? Some of us do, but most people I know and work with, myself included, admit that they don't often think of themselves as a bold person. Or, if we've done or said bold things in our lives, they seem to be few and far ...
Views: 1619(2 votes) - Gratitude and Victimhood Can't Co-Exist - by Submitted on Jul 01, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow often to you feel like a victim? If you're anything like me, probably more often than you'd like to admit. Although I usually pretend to be too "evolved" to play the role of victim in my life, I do catch myself at times feeling, thinking, and talking in that old, familiar, "oh poor me" ...
Views: 2304(2 votes) - It’s Okay to Make Mistakes - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2012 from Mike RobbinsI was scheduled to fly to Dublin, Ireland a few weeks ago for a speaking engagement and when I got to the airport I realized I’d forgotten my passport at home. I felt mortified and embarrassed – and then angry when I realized I wouldn’t be able to get on my flight. After a few hours of stress ...
Views: 1542(1 vote) - Lessons in Teamwork from the SF Giants - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI have been so excited and inspired by this year's baseball post-season and the big World Series victory by the San Francisco Giants. As a Bay Area native, a lifelong baseball fan, and someone who has been fortunate enough to have the Giants as a client this year, of course I was rooting ...
Views: 2099(1 vote) - Let Go of Blame - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2011 from Mike RobbinsMichelle and I were having dinner with some friends a few months ago and our friend Joel said, "I'm practicing giving up blame completely." As he said this, I found myself simultaneously inspired and confronted. As I've explored the idea of letting go of blame in recent months, ...
Views: 1730(1 vote) - Stop Apologizing for Who You Are - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Mike RobbinsApologizing can be a bit tricky for me. While I pride myself on being someone who is able to look within, take responsibility, and resolve conflicts directly - I also know that my own arrogance and insecurity cause me to sometimes stubbornly refuse to apologize or, often more damaging, over ...
Views: 2531(3 votes) - The Importance of Celebrating - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow do you feel about celebrating? If you're anything like me and most of the people I know, you probably enjoy it. However, I notice that as much as I like to celebrate, I sometimes find it challenging as well. Here are some of the reasons that I use not to do it: I don't have the time ...
Views: 5098(1 vote) - The Importance of Live Conversations - by Submitted on May 12, 2011 from Mike RobbinsHave you ever had a conversation, disagreement, or conflict escalate over email? Do you sometimes find yourself engaging in difficult or emotional conversations electronically because it seems "easier," only to regret it later on? If you're anything like me and most of the people I know and ...
Views: 825(1 vote) - The Importance of Receiving Appreciation - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2014 from Mike RobbinsMy 40th birthday was amazing! I received such beautiful blessings from so many people in my life - it was exciting, wonderful, humbling, and a bit overwhelming. As touched and honored as I was (and still am) by all of the appreciation I got, I also noticed there were moments when it was ...
Views: 1870(1 vote) - The Magic of the Olympics - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Mike RobbinsThe Winter Olympics in Vancouver have captured the attention of the world. As a former college and professional baseball player (and a lifelong sports fan), I’ve always loved the Olympics and appreciated the incredible athleticism, competition, and passion of the athletes and teams, from a pure ...
Views: 1223(1 vote) - Want What You Have - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2010 from Mike RobbinsRecently someone said to me, "Mike, I read the best book of my life a few years ago. It only had four words in it, 'want what you have'." As simple of a concept as this is, I was struck by its wisdom and began to think about it in my own life. Sadly, as I thought about it more deeply, I ...
Views: 2567(3 votes) - What We CAN Change - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2010 from Mike RobbinsMy friend Rich came over to my office last week and we had a wonderful and authentic conversation about what's going on in each of our lives right now. I'm so grateful to have people in my life like Rich whom I can talk to and get real. Authenticity creates freedom and having people around ...
Views: 1287(1 vote) - Do You Have Healthy Boundaries? - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2013 from Mike RobbinsHow healthy are your boundaries? Maybe you think about this directly and often, maybe not. Boundaries weren’t something I personally spent much time thinking about for many years. I’ve often related to the concept of boundaries in a negative way. Of course I’ve known they’re important, ...
Views: 1667(3 votes) - When You Fall Down, Get Back Up - by Submitted on Dec 02, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHave you ever seen a small child learn how to walk? If you have, you know what a remarkable experience it is. I'd heard about this, but had never witnessed it first hand until Samantha, our (almost) five year old, took her first real steps when she was just over a year. She and I were playing ...
Views: 3818(3 votes) - An open letter to my fellow straight white men... - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2016 from Mike RobbinsNovember 13, 2016 It's time for us to step up straight white men! This campaign and this election have exposed many issues in our country and our world...issues that have been there for a very long time, and although we've made progress on them through the years, it's time for real change and ...
Views: 1760(2 votes) - Worry Never Works - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Mike RobbinsI was talking to a friend of mine last week and she said, “If worrying worked, I’d weigh 115 pounds and be a millionaire by now.” I laughed out loud – appreciating her humor and insight. Worrying, which is something I’ve spent and wasted a lot of time and energy on throughout my life, never ...
Views: 1323(3 votes) - Act As If - by Submitted on Mar 25, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI first heard the phrase “act as if” about fifteen or twenty years ago. I remember learning that if we “act as if” we already have something we want, “act as if” something is already occurring in our lives (even if it’s not), or “act as if” we know how to do something (even if we don’t) – we ...
Views: 2352(5 votes) - It's Not the Circumstances, It's Us - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI recently read a great quote from Ben Franklin that I hadn’t seen before. He said, “Joy doesn’t exist in the world, it exists in us.” While the quote was new to me, the concept wasn’t. However, as I began to think it more, I realized that even though I “understand” this wisdom and do my best ...
Views: 1500(5 votes) - A Bad Day for Ego is a Good Day for Soul - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2011 from Mike RobbinsA few weeks ago I listened to a radio interview with Michael Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation, and he said, "A bad day for the ego is a good day for the soul." When I heard this I laughed out loud. The wisdom of his statement resonated with me deeply. I thought about a number of ...
Views: 1641(1 vote) - Creating the New Year with Intention - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2010 from Mike RobbinsAs we embark on another new year of life, I find myself experiencing a mixture of emotions about 2010. I’m excited about the possibilities of this New Year and inspired by the energy of creation that exists at this special time. Similar to last week, there is a magical quality to this first ...
Views: 1338(1 vote) - It’s Okay to Disappoint People - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2012 from Mike RobbinsHow do you feel about disappointing others? How about being disappointed yourself? I’ve recently noticed how much of my conscious and unconscious attention is focused on not disappointing others, while at the same time protecting myself against being disappointed. As I’ve been looking at ...
Views: 1772(1 vote) - Let Go of Control - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI had a simple, but profound experience in the swimming pool last week - I floated on my back for the first time in my life. I do know how to swim and enjoy being in the water, but for some reason I never was able to figure out how to float on my back when I learned to swim as a kid and as an ...
Views: 1613(1 vote) - Live Like You're Going to Die (Because You Are) - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2011 from Mike RobbinsYou're going to die. I'm going to die. Everyone around us is going to die. The reality of death is, of course, both obvious and daunting for most of us. With the recent tragic events in Japan and some very serious health news I received from someone close to me, I've been thinking about ...
Views: 1356(1 vote) - We Don't Solve Our Problems, We Outgrow Them - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI was recently reminded of a great quote from psychologist Carl Jung, he said, “We don’t solve our problems, we outgrow them.” As I’ve been thinking about this the past few days, I realize how often my attention is actually on solving my problems, instead of outgrowing them. No wonder the ones ...
Views: 1868(2 votes) - Who Do You Think You Are? - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2010 from Mike RobbinsSometimes when I’m about to take a big risk, go for something important, or “step out” in a bold way in my life, I notice the judgmental question, “Who do you think you are?, will pop up in my head. Does this ever happen to you? This is one of the many ways that the feelings of “not good ...
Views: 1108(1 vote) - Why is This Happening FOR Me? - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2010 from Mike RobbinsDo you ever ask yourself the question, "Why is this happening to me?" Most of us do, especially when things aren't going the way we want them to or we're dealing with something that's difficult or painful. A few years ago I was talking to my friend Brian about this and he said, "If you ...
Views: 1789(1 vote) - Your Feelings Matter - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2012 from Mike RobbinsI sometimes find it challenging to honor my own feelings – especially if what I want or feel seems to be at odds with other people, or my emotions don’t seem to be “appropriate” to the situation. While I’m not someone who tends to hold back sharing my honest opinions, desires, and feelings and, ...
Views: 1939(1 vote) - Ask For What You Want - by Submitted on Jul 26, 2007 from Mike RobbinsOne of my favorite quotes is this one from Tony Robbins: “The answer is always ‘no’ if you don’t ask.” Isn’t that the truth?! So often we know exactly what we want, but for a myriad of reasons we are unwilling to ask for it. Usually we’re scared we’ll get rejected or we’re worried about what ...
Views: 958(6 votes) - The Power of Acceptance - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2011 from Mike RobbinsFor much of my life I've struggled to accept certain things about myself, others, and life that I don't like. Being someone who is committed to change and transformation, the idea of "acceptance" has often seemed weak, wimpy, or like an admission of failure or powerlessness to me - although I ...
Views: 1246(4 votes) - The Importance of Unplugging - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Mike RobbinsWhat percentage of your waking hours are you "plugged in" (i.e. checking things on the internet, doing email, texting, playing with your wireless device, watching TV, posting to Facebook or Twitter, and more)? If you're anything like me and most of the people I know and work ...
Views: 1710(3 votes) - We Are Not Our Bodies - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI shaved my head again last week. This is the fourth time in the past five years I've done this. As has been the case for me before - it feels both liberating and vulnerable. My hair has been thinning for about ten years (most significantly in the past two or three) and, as I've written ...
Views: 1512(3 votes) - Appreciate the Simple Things - by Submitted on May 28, 2010 from Mike RobbinsLast week my left ear got plugged up and it was difficult for me to hear out of it for about 48 hours. It was scary and challenging. Thankfully everything was okay, it's all clear now, and I'm able to hear just fine out of both ears. Having this happen was yet another example of how easy it ...
Views: 2809(1 vote) - Be a Fan and a Critic - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Mike RobbinsI saw Rev. Michael Beckwith perform a re-commitment ceremony for a married couple a few years back and it blew me away. He looked at the husband and said, “Your job is to be her biggest fan and her greatest critic for the purpose of her spiritual development.” He then turned to the wife and ...
Views: 1328(1 vote) - Be Flexible - by Submitted on May 28, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow flexible are you? For me, it depends - on my mood, how much fear or resistance I have about something, how attached I am to a particular outcome, and various other factors. However, as I look throughout my life (now and in the past), I realize that the situations, relationships, and ...
Views: 2411(2 votes) - Completing the Year with Power - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2009 from Mike RobbinsThese few days before the start of the new year have a magical and sacred quality to them. I appreciate the lull in activity that often takes place this week and the opportunity we have to reflect back on the year that is ending, as well as to create new possibilities and intentions for the ...
Views: 1269(2 votes) - How to Stay Grounded During the Holidays - by Submitted on Dec 01, 2009 from Mike RobbinsThe holiday season is now in full swing. If you’re anything like me you probably have mixed feelings about the holidays. I love the excitement, parties, decorations, rituals, music, gifts, connections, and more. However, even these fun things can wear on me. And, the stress, drama, consumption, ...
Views: 1371(3 votes) - It's Okay for Things to Be Easy - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Mike RobbinsA friend of mine called me out on something important last week. He said, "Mike, this 'story' you have about things being 'hard' for you isn't really true. It seems to me that things come pretty easy, you just make them hard by saying they are. What if you started saying and owning that ...
Views: 1382(1 vote) - Love Your "Flaws" - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2010 from Mike RobbinsIf you’re anything like me you’ve probably spent more time than you’d like to admit trying to “fix” your various “flaws.” Although I may pretend otherwise, many of my own goals, desires, and even my motivation to “grow” has often come from a deep place of insecurity within me - thinking that if ...
Views: 5582(1 vote) - Love Yourself, and the Rest Will Follow - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow do you feel about self love? More importantly, how well do you love yourself? For most of us, loving ourselves is something we may know is important, but often have difficulty actually feeling, expressing, and embodying. For me, I’ve spent much of my life – as a student, an athlete, in ...
Views: 1783(1 vote) - Step Out of Your Box - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Mike RobbinsOne of our greatest sources of authentic power in life comes from our willingness and ability to act - especially in the face of obstacles and fear. To be truly successful and fulfilled, we must challenge ourselves to take bold and courageous actions and to go for what we want. Legendary ...
Views: 1567(1 vote) - The Best Gift of All - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2009 from Mike RobbinsDuring one of her shows a few years back, Oprah Winfrey made a profound and beautiful statement that I appreciated very much. She said, “We do shows about lots of ‘stuff’ and my ‘favorite things,’ but what people want more than anything else is to know that they’re appreciated...that’s the best ...
Views: 1317(2 votes) - The Trap of Comparison - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow often do you compare yourself to others? If you're anything like me and most of the people I know and work with, probably more than you'd like to admit. And, as you may have noticed (like I have), this comparison process never seems to feel very good or work very well, does it? Last ...
Views: 1362(1 vote) - What Baseball Can Teach Us About Life - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2010 from Mike RobbinsWith all the excitement of the playoffs and the World Series (which, thanks to the success of the San Francisco Giants, we get to experience directly here in the Bay Area), I've been thinking about, watching, and appreciating the great game baseball a lot these past few weeks. As someone who ...
Views: 1476(1 vote) - Are You Living on Purpose? - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2013 from Mike RobbinsI was recently invited to be a speaker for an upcoming online telesummit called The Power of Purpose. While I’m honored to be a part of this program, the invitation had me pause and reflect a bit about my own life and work, and specifically ask myself the question, “Am I living on purpose?” My ...
Views: 1397(2 votes) - Our Insatiable Desire for Fame - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2009 from Mike RobbinsI’ve been fascinated by the recent sensationalized stories in the media about “Balloon Boy,” the White House party crashers, and the various alleged mistresses of Tiger Woods coming out to tell their tales. While it’s easy to get caught up in the drama of these stories, to blame the insatiable ...
Views: 2027(2 votes) - Stop "Should-ing" On Yourself - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2012 from Mike RobbinsA few months ago one of my mentors said to me, "Mike, it sounds like you're 'should-ing' all over yourself." I laughed when she said this, as I've heard this saying many times before (and have even given this same feedback to others). However, something about her saying this to me at that ...
Views: 1756(2 votes) - You Have More Than This Requires - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2011 from Mike RobbinsI had a powerful conversation recently with my good friend Theo. I was telling him about some of the intense challenges I've been facing and my underlying fear that I simply can't handle all that is going on (and what I fear may unfold in the coming days, weeks, and months). Theo listened to ...
Views: 1086(1 vote)