My running career has taught me the importance of training, mental attitude and the value of positive role models. I often uncover mentors who inspire me in the authors behind the books on my shelves. One such individual is http://www.thomrutledge.com/.  Thom has 20 years of professional experience guiding his readers from self-judgment and perfectionism toward genuine self-compassion. Thom's trademark sense of humor, a down-to-earth practicality, and his own compassion are the common threads that run throughout his unique brand of self-help psychology. I recently asked him (TR) how he feels about the communities in which he chooses to participate and the gift of connecting with others. 

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My older brother has a remarkable ability to see most every problem as an opportunity. Throughout the years, he has always maintained an enthusiastic mood and an unbridled sense of curiosity about the world. He is an optimist with an energetic presence. Ever meet someone like this and marvel?

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One of my cousins, to whom I’ve always looked up to, keeps a magnet on his kitchen fridge which states, “Whether you think you can or you think you can't, either way you are usually right.” As a coach, I find that our inner chatter can be our greatest friend or our worst enemy. I teach my clients to identify negative self-talk patterns and replace them with a more constructive inner dialogue but it isn’t easy. It is often a lifetime’s work.

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It takes time to get a business up and running. It also takes time to learn how to work smarter, vs. harder. All the while, we need to make space on our calendars for connecting with others, caring for our families and tending to our homes. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. So why do some people seem to accomplish so much more? I asked my mentor, Michele Woodward, Master Certified Coach, successful author, advice columnist, speaker, teacher, mother and friend, how she “makes the time.”

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I probably have more self-help genre books on my shelf than any sane person ought to. But undoubtedly, one of my long time favorites is Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. I have recommended Susan’s work to all of my clients who have found themselves paralyzed with worry. Susan understands that fear is a part of what it means to be human and offers valuable insights and practical suggestions for living. She shares tools on how to identify limiting belief patterns in order to take action and move to a more powerful place. 

I reached out to Susan (SJ) on the topic of “Stretching” oneself in order to see what the value meant personally for her.

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