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Articles from Noelle Nelson | Selfgrowth.com
- Messages of Hope: Penguins, Blankets and Smiles - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2016 from Noelle NelsonWith all the shootings, wars, and violence in the world, not to mention the heat of the our current political environment, it’s easy to lose sight of the good. Yet good there is, always. Good people striving to make the world a better place regardless of the turmoil of the moment. Two ...
Views: 1290 - More Hope and Less Angst - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2020 from Noelle NelsonMy best friend and I had a vigorous discussion recently about the relative merits of process versus results. She was extolling the virtues of process and processing, and I was nattering on about “results, results, results.” Yet the obvious conclusion at the end of our conversation, was that both ...
Views: 738 - Morley Safer’s Last Great Amazing Gift To Us - by Submitted on May 24, 2016 from Noelle NelsonWe all have an expiration date, and for his fans, friends and family, no doubt Morley Safer’s came too soon. But here’s the thing, with how he lived his life, working at CBS’ “60 Minutes” up until announcing his retirement one week before his passing at 84, Morley gave us one last great ...
Views: 1225 - Practice “Maximum Effectiveness” - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2023 from Noelle NelsonApart from writing, my dogs, and life generally, my great passion is Ballroom dancing. A totally off-the-wall pursuit, no doubt, but one that truly lights me up. In addition to my primary instructor and competition partner, I have the privilege of a second instructor, a lovely and talented ...
Views: 407 - Quit Inflicting “BUT” on Yourself! - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2024 from Noelle NelsonWhile I was waiting for my dance class to start, I watched an instructor patiently coach a couple through what was obviously one of their first lessons. The instructor was having them do a “box step,” which is what it sounds like. A “box” made with your feet. It consists of two parts, a forward ...
Views: 242 - Reframe Problems as Projects: Brilliant! - by Submitted on Nov 24, 2021 from Noelle NelsonI came across a quote recently by Alan Cohen I think is pure genius: “When you reframe problems as projects, they will cease to bother you and begin to stimulate you.” Pure genius for me, anyway, as it put my recent experience with a badly strained hamstring in perfect perspective. There I ...
Views: 554 - Regain Peace of Mind: Trash Those Unwanted Thoughts! - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2013 from Noelle NelsonYou made up. The argument is long over; life with your sweetheart is back to normal. Except for that little nagging thought that keeps running through your brain, with the determined persistence of a hamster on a treadmill: “How could he/she do that? How could he/she say that about me in front ...
Views: 1566 - Resolve Upsets with Genuine Explanations - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2019 from Noelle NelsonAs a peace-loving Libra, I’m always looking for ways to minimize conflict, ways for us to get along better, regardless of our differences. So I was quite taken with a post a friend forwarded to me: “Explain your anger, don’t express it, and you will immediately open the door to solutions ...
Views: 1446 - Ride the Wave: Hawaii 5-0’s Surprising Lesson in Thankfulness - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2016 from Noelle NelsonJust the other night, I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, “Hawaii 5-0,” where one of the main characters featured in that night’s episode was a young woman, a veteran, who’d served in Afghanistan, during which time she’d lost both legs. The show was forthright in its brief portrayal of ...
Views: 1225 - Rude Behavior? Walk On By - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2019 from Noelle NelsonIt’s inevitable: if you interact with other human beings, you’re going to be subject to an assortment of slights, glares and smirks (if not downright rude gestures). Whether their behavior is intentional or not, the driver that cuts you off, the person in front of you in the “15 items only” line ...
Views: 1175 - Score With Your Boss: Be on Time! - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2011 from Noelle NelsonYour Boss is really annoying. So you’re five minutes late, what’s the big deal? It’s not like your Boss is always on time. Besides, you have a life! There are lunches to make, kids to take to school – OK, kids to get up, get dressed, get fed and get to school, not to mention getting yourself up, ...
Views: 978 - Self-Care: Lattes and Ice Cream. Really? - by Submitted on Apr 28, 2023 from Noelle NelsonWe are a quick-fix species, we humans. We want ‘it’ – whatever ‘it’ is – NOW! The money, the lover, the job, the car, the child to behave, the partner to behave (oops!), the boss to quit micro-managing: the list goes on and on. So too with self-care. Few of us think of what self-care really ...
Views: 433 - Shape Your Life Up: Tell Yourself the (Desired) Truth! - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2012 from Noelle NelsonAck!! Your computer is acting up—again—and despite hitting “escape” and every other “get-me-outta-here” key you can think of, you’re in frozen hell. “I hate this computer!” you mutter. Your co-worker glances over at you, “That’s what you always say. Maybe you should try talking pretty to it.” ...
Views: 1416 - Shift your Perspective! - by Submitted on May 02, 2019 from Noelle NelsonHow do you see yourself? As a hero or a victim? In any given life circumstance, you can see yourself either way. I recently moved into my new home. As is often the case with a “new” home, that is to say new to me, although built in the mid 1960s, it has what is euphemistically referred to as ...
Views: 919 - Shift! - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2024 from Noelle NelsonOnce upon a time, in a galaxy far far away--well, no, actually right here on Planet Earth, and not all that long ago, there was a thing called a “typewriter.” It was the precursor to our beloved computer keyboards and required no electrical energy, no wires, no plug-ins, nothing but your fingers ...
Views: 305 - Smile Mindfully: it’s Good for Your Health! - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2017 from Noelle NelsonBabies smile - a lot. Beauty queens smile - on cue. Winners smile – most of the time, in between all that jumping and high-fiving. Smiles are a way of expressing our happiness, our joy, our pride, our gratitude. More than that, smiles are a way of connecting, of saying – without words – I’m ...
Views: 1419 - Smile! It’s Good For Your Health - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2012 from Noelle NelsonIt has been a miserable day. You overslept, your hair-dryer died in a brief flash of evil burning smell, you forgot to get gas on your way home last night and had to wait in line at the pump this morning. Your boss has a new favorite (and it’s definitely not you), the team meeting dragged on ...
Views: 1374 - SMILE! You’ll Live Longer - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2025 from Noelle NelsonI don’t think my ballroom instructor/dance partner was concerned with my longevity when he barked “You gotta smile!” at me as we practiced for an upcoming competition. I’m like “Really? Besides remembering my patterns, keeping my upper body lifted, my feet grounded, my legs long, my head up and ...
Views: 13 - Solution! Solution! Solution! - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2018 from Noelle NelsonLife on planet Earth is riddled with problems. Little problems, big problems, we all have them, pretty much every day. But what matters isn’t the problem, it’s the solution! And oh, how easy it is to lose sight of that. My phones went down a couple of months ago. Since we don't get cell ...
Views: 1466 - Step Away From The Comparison Game: Just Be You! - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2012 from Noelle NelsonHarried, bedraggled, already late for work, you do your best to be patient as your kids scramble out of the car juggling school backpacks and soccer gear, when your youngest pipes up “Where’s my lunch?” Oh, shoot. In the fridge, that’s where his lunch is. You root in your purse, grab some bills ...
Views: 1693 - Stop Nagging, Draw Him a Picture! - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2010 from Noelle Nelson“You’ve already asked me that, a hundred times!” your spouse snaps at you. “Well, you haven’t done it yet!” you retort. “Nag, nag, nag” your erstwhile beloved mutters under his breath. “What was that?” you demand. “Nothing, dear,” he says with heavy sarcasm on the dear, as he stomps out the ...
Views: 944 - Success: What Do You Have To Sacrifice In Order To Get It?” - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2018 from Noelle NelsonRecently I came across the Dalai Lama’s “18 Rules of Living,” which he shared with the world at the beginning of the new millennium. Here, 18 years later, it seemed relevant to revisit them. In particular, I was struck by his rule: “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to ...
Views: 1294 - Tame the Holiday Perfection Grinch - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2011 from Noelle NelsonYou’ve made your list, you’ve checked it twice. Oh, no, not that list – I’m talking about the list you’ve made of the 1022 ½ things you need to get done for the Holidays, everything from the perfect gift for Cousin Henry, to the perfect surprise for your sweetheart, to the perfect outfit for ...
Views: 1529 - Thanksgiving 2.0: Be Grateful For Everything That Goes Right! - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2015 from Noelle NelsonHow often do you stop to catch yourself in the act of doing something right? Or anybody else for that matter . . . As opposed to dinging yourself for every single mistake you make, every flaw you find on your face, in your character, your clothes, your finances, your relationship, your ...
Views: 1353 - The 20-Minute Rule - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2019 from Noelle NelsonMy resolution for the New Year is actually very simple: The 20 Minute Rule. It means I no longer allow myself to worry over anything for more than 20 minutes. Anything. Not the state of my health, finances, relationships, the world – anything. Why should this rank as a valid resolution? Well, ...
Views: 844 - The Best Valentine’s Gift Ever: “I Don’t Care”! - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2016 from Noelle NelsonNo, not “I don’t care about you” – that would be awful! Just “I don’t care.” By itself. As in “I don’t care that you left your socks on the floor.” “I don’t care that you over/under-tipped the server.” “I don’t care that you were five minutes late.” Because here’s the thing: nothing kills ...
Views: 1847 - The Big Holiday Do: Doable or Not? - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2013 from Noelle NelsonYour spouse wants a big Holiday do--not just the in-laws, grandparents, aunts and uncles, your respective siblings, their mates and assorted children, but also all sixteen cousins with their mates and kids, because after all, you rarely can get the whole family together, and--it’s the ...
Views: 1346 - The Do-It-Yourself Holiday Miracle Kit - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2010 from Noelle NelsonSome assembly required, batteries not included. Tis the season of miracles! Whether your tradition includes the birth of a Christ child or not, the Holidays bring with them a cherished renewal of hope, peace and joy, all of which are miracles in this often challenging and troubled world. It ...
Views: 1134 - The Dog Ate My Homework: Really? Still? - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2012 from Noelle NelsonRemember the good old days when you actually thought you could get away with “the dog ate my homework?” Or – updated version – “My baby sister deleted my homework with one swipe of her pureed banana fingertips”? How well did it work then? Uh-huh. So why do you keep running the same refrain ...
Views: 1404 - The Follow-Through Challenge: Caesar and Nine-Year-Old Jahkil - by Submitted on Mar 01, 2017 from Noelle NelsonCaesar, not as in “Caesar’s Palace” in Las Vegas, but Caesar, as in Julius Caesar, the man, was truly an amazing individual. If he were alive today, I sincerely believe he’d be the most successful man on the planet, for one simple reason: the dude had incredible follow-through. Whatever he ...
Views: 1451 - The Four-Letter Word That Kills - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2020 from Noelle NelsonWe all know that just as there are words which uplift and enthrall us, there are words which can hurt and demean us. But did you know that there is one four-letter word that actually kills?! No, it’s not that four-letter word, it’s the word “can’t.” The word “can’t” kills dreams, hopes, ...
Views: 853 - The Great Kindness Challenge: What’s Yours? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2017 from Noelle NelsonDriving down Pacific Coast Highway the other day, I was surprised to see that the large light-board sign plunked in the median strip near a major cross-street read, “Don’t text and drive.” For the past many years, that sign read, “Don’t drink and drive.” Apparently texting has replaced drinking ...
Views: 1186 - The Greatest Gift of All: Hope - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2017 from Noelle NelsonIt’s been a rough year for many of us. Our country, as well as many others across the globe, has been ravaged by fierce political and social divides, unprecedented mass violence, and natural disasters from fires to hurricanes with the unfortunate promise of more to come. As the Holidays roll ...
Views: 1526 - The Holidays: “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Really? - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2015 from Noelle NelsonThe Holidays! You’ve made your list and you’re checking it twice. Let’s see: not enough money in the budget to get the kids what they really want. Not enough for a quick two day get-away for you and your S.O., given the cost of transportation, accommodations, and a sitter who will put up for ...
Views: 1403 - The Hope Of The World - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2021 from Noelle NelsonIt’s easy to wonder about the future of our nation, or even the world, when we observe younger people engaged with their devices 24/7, seemingly uninterested in anything but the latest “trending” or selfie. How will future generations thrive given what seems to many as their selfish attitude of ...
Views: 594 - The Secret to Successful Resolutions: Have Fun! - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2017 from Noelle NelsonRemember those New Year’s resolutions you made 10 months ago? Chances are that for most part, you: a) don’t remember them b) wish you didn’t remember them c) regret making them d) are feeling guilty about not living up to them. If you are among the blessed few who actually accomplish all their ...
Views: 1260 - The Things You Want Versus The Life You Want To Live - by Submitted on Oct 02, 2023 from Noelle NelsonIt’s a funny thing about life. Sometimes when you get the things you wanted – the sporty car, the big house, the bling – it turns out they interfere with the life that you wanted to live. Friends of mine, a couple, were all excited about moving to a new city. Their work was now all remote, so ...
Views: 373 - The Ultimate Holiday Gift That Truly Keeps On Giving - by Submitted on Dec 01, 2016 from Noelle NelsonThe airport was crowded, noisy, chaotic. Nothing unusual about that. I was waiting, properly queued up, to board my flight. To my right was a line of nine wheelchair-bound folk also waiting patiently. All but one, who was waiting not so patiently. She was sixth in the line of pre-boarding ...
Views: 1106 - The Valentine’s Day Gift That Keeps On Giving: What’s Right With Your World? - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2017 from Noelle NelsonSo much of our time is spent fixing problems: problems at work, issues with our loved ones, concerns with our health, our weight, our finances. You name it, 90% of our waking hours (and so many of our sleeping ones as well) are spent in having yet another problem brought to our attention, with ...
Views: 1358 - The “Good Dog” Approach to Self-Improvement - by Submitted on May 02, 2016 from Noelle NelsonEver watch a skilled dog trainer work with a puppy? The trainer never ever punishes the sweet beastie for not sitting on the “sit” command, but rather rewards the dog with praise and treats the instant his furry butt hits the ground. The dog—smart pooch—gets the idea real fast, and proceeds to ...
Views: 1235 - The “Just One” Secret to Fitness - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2011 from Noelle NelsonYou stare at the digital read-out on your scale, unbelieving. 10 pounds?! How could you possibly have gained 10 pounds? You eat like a bird! Nothing but fruits and nuts and veggies. Of course there was that pasta dish the other night. And the irresistible danish at work. And the simply sublime ...
Views: 814 - This New Year: Take Charge of Your RAS! - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2015 from Noelle NelsonYou just mopped your kitchen floors. Satisfied, you enjoy the gleam for a moment, then off you go to whatever’s next. You hear the back door slam. The kids are home - great! Until you see the muddy footprints they left all over your just-cleaned floor. You sigh, grab the mop, swab quickly. ...
Views: 1212 - Tip Your Marital Scales Into Joy! - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2012 from Noelle NelsonYour husband wakes up grumpy, stumbles to the bathroom, glances at your reflection next to his in the mirror, and says “What’s wrong with your hair?” You glare: “I slept on it funny. Good morning to you too.” Strike one against husband: “Why do you have to be so unpleasant first ...
Views: 1827 - Too Many Missed Opportunities? Power Off Your Smart Phone! - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2012 from Noelle NelsonThe courtroom is hot. The lawyer drones on and on. The jurors are bored. The judge is bored. His Honor’s gaze strays over to the jurors. One juror seems relatively awake. That’s because said juror is texting one-handed, surreptitiously, down by his knee. But his interested expression gives him ...
Views: 2208 - Turn the Tables on Your Horrible Boss: Go from Miserable to Successful! - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2013 from Noelle NelsonYou’re positively miserable. Your boss is a walking criticism-machine, never a supportive nod or word of thanks, regardless of how long and hard you slave at your appointed tasks. Heaven forbid anything goes wrong, ever, for even an instant, because he whips out blame with lightning speed, ...
Views: 1340 - Turn “Yeah, but” On Its Head - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2014 from Noelle NelsonEver have one of those “Yeah, but” conversations? Your friend has lost her job. Being the supportive friend that you are, you say: “Hey, you’ve got tons of skills. All you need to do is revamp your resume, and you’ll be hired in no time.” “Yeah, but the economy sucks. It’s gonna take ...
Views: 1536 - Twitter Me Married: How Twitter can Ruin--or Enrich--Your Marriage - by Submitted on May 02, 2009 from Noelle Nelson“What are you doing?” he asks. “Tweeting,” you reply, happily letting all your friends know that you’re going for a latte. “Again?!” he exclaims, “God I’m sick of that thing.” “Oh, stop already,” you say, “ I’ve only tweeted – “ “Half a dozen times since we got in the car,” he says, finishing ...
Views: 1177 - UNTWIST YOUR KNICKERS! - by Submitted on Mar 01, 2024 from Noelle Nelson“Don’t get your knickers in a twist” is one of my favorite sayings. To myself, sigh. Because frankly, I find myself too often getting my proverbial “knickers” all twisted up over something that’s just not that big a deal. My passionate hobby is dance. Ballroom, to be specific. The other day, I ...
Views: 302 - Up Your Game This Valentine’s Day - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2020 from Noelle NelsonHow about if this Valentine’s Day you upped your game? What if, instead of--or in addition to-- focusing the intensity of your love on that one special person in your life, you turned the spotlight of your love onto your life! Your whole life, all of it, every aspect of it. If rather than ...
Views: 875 - Use Your Mind to Combat Killer Stress! - by Submitted on May 01, 2015 from Noelle NelsonYou hate your boss, you hate your work, your co-workers drive you crazy, and you’re convinced you’re underpaid even if you weren’t horribly overworked. You’re stressed all the time! Small wonder. . . You’re tired, achy, rarely get a peaceful night’s sleep, and now you’ve come down with a ...
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