Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, I’m taking a new approach to goal-setting for the year: a “19 for 2019” list. Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Liz Craft, have a fun podcast called “Happier,” and for the second year in a row, they’ve encouraged listeners to create a list of important accomplishments they want to achieve […]
Self Knowledge
Book Review: Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer
If you’ve ever struggled with wondering where to take your life next, Let Your Life Speak, by Parker J. Palmer, will be your guide and teach you to listen for your calling instead of struggling to attain goals that you were never meant to attain. This review has been pulled from Heartspoken’s archives and updated […]
How I Plan To Make 2019 My Best Year Yet
I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I’m after something more positive, more empowering and more liberating! Sleepless in Virginia Less than two weeks ago—not long after all my holiday guests had left to go home—I woke up in the wee hours of the morning in a cold sweat. Tossing and turning, my mind […]
The Shocking Truth About Money And Happiness
Money Can’t Always Buy Happiness… …but it can sure make us miserable sometimes! Let’s get smart and ditch the unhealthy relationship many of us have with money. Like any tool, we should learn how to use it wisely and make sure it’s in alignment with our highest values. Money is neither our enemy nor our […]
5 Great Ways To Make Lasting Memories
No matter how old—or young—you are, you can create memorable moments by adding touches of novelty to your life. Look for novelty There’s an oft-told—and very true—story in our family about my Uncle Edmund Taylor (see “Happy 100th Birthday, Uncle Edmund!”), who famously enjoyed pushing his loved ones slightly beyond their comfort zone to instill […]
Learn To Set Healthy Boundaries
Giving is good…until it’s too much. Let’s talk about setting boundaries. This is updated from an earlier post, but the message is even more important than ever for those striving to live the Heartspoken life. It’s important to remember that while generosity and giving of ourselves is essential, if we don’t set healthy boundaries, we […]
Rediscover Your Inner Child
If you’ve lost your inner child, maybe it’s time you found her again—when you do, you’ll also rediscover the joy and wonder and fearlessness you once knew. If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree… I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, Not me! Lyrics by […]
Creative Gifts Come In All Shapes And Sizes—Come Visit Me On The Blog Of Aprille Janes
How honored I was to be a recent guest on Aprille Janes’s wonderful blog, where she explores the myriad ways we might cultivate our creative gifts. Come on over and read Aprille’s interview with me—“Meet my creative friend, Elizabeth Cottrell.” You’ll learn one of my dirty little secrets: for years, I thought I wasn’t creative or […]