I used to think beliefs were static. Or maybe it was just that I didn’t think about them much at all? I associated beliefs with big, structured institutions like religion and politics. Beliefs were things other people wrote down and you bought in to one set or another. They were external- something you might shop around for a bit in college and then get on with your life.

There’s something there. It’s been there for a while. You tell yourself it’s not dead, it’s just not now.

What’s on your back burner?

Little did you know, you were about to find out.

For a moment, put yourself back in your first semester of college. It’s registration day and you’re scrambling for an interesting Spring elective. An entry catches your attention, and you stop and think, “Huh. I wonder what that’s all about.”

Little did you know, you were about to find out.

I’ve been spending time lately thinking about decisions—and all the ways we go about making them.

This post is for all my fellow, Olympic-caliber list-ers out there.

So, here’s the question: What are all the things you’d like to say “yes” to?

It might be an invitation from a friend—or it might be an invitation from within your head and heart. Make a list.

Woah. How did it feel to read that question?

It was a jolt, for sure. We think of ourselves as honest people who tell the truth. And that’s right, I’m sure, for all the big stuff.

But what about during your most regular day? When do you lie- to your coworkers, your friends, yourself? Speifically, when do you lie without thinking about it?

My sisters and I had a funny text exchange yesterday about our various diet and exercise routines—or lack thereof. We were laughing at ourselves and each other (as we often do). The common thread? From fitness to food to finances, we’re all doing ALL the things… at once.

In place of resolutions, how about a quick calendar retrospective on what worked and what didn’t?

Our calendars are tools for keeping us organized and where we need to be when. They also provide invaluable insights into how we spend our time.

Instead of resolving to do or be something different in the new year, what about taking a closer look at how you spent your time?

When you ask this question with genuine curiosity, the truth of what’s keeping you stuck starts to show up.

As you shift our approach (from frustration and shaming to curiosity), pieces of the puzzle will fall out of the box. You then can turn them over one by one and check for how real they feel. “Does this make sense to me? Does this feel true?”

We all have something we’ve wanted to change for a while - years or decades even - but haven’t.

Why is that?

We know what we need to do but can’t seem to make ourselves…just do it. It’s not a lack of information or a lack of wishing. It’s certainly not a lack of trying to shame ourselves into action. It’s something else.

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone - someone you wanted to talk to -  but been circling or stuck on a different topic?

When we’re in the deep end with something challenging, it’s hard to think creatively. Feeling stressed or overwhelmed—or influenced by someone else’s stress and overwhelm- we often can’t come up with more than one or two ways forward. And often, neither seems particularly appealing.

Yesterday, we held our family Thanksgiving. Coordinating 30-ish busy people to sit down for a meal isn’t easy. But this year we faced the added challenge that our perennial hosts (my parents) were going to be out-of-town.

Today’s journal prompt is: What made you curious today?

If I asked you this question after bumping into each other on the street, you’d first think, “That’s weird” but something might come to mind. More likely, you’ll stop walking and say something like, “Huh. I don’t know. Nothing? Nothing.”

It’s a tough one to answer on demand. Most of us aren’t in the habit of noting what piques our interest and prompts us to pull up Google or YouTube.

Okay. I should be more specific. What 50 non-material things would you love to have?

Professional contacts, books read, rehearsed jokes, stories to share, pages written in your memoir, blog posts, beautiful pictures, sketches, tried and tasted new recipes?

You know, those “someday” things that are both useful and enriching. They’re the things that require us to move ourselves to do something more than click “add to cart.”

Why is it so easy to spot potential in others while we struggle at times to do the same for ourselves?

This is the thing we see others’ do and we admire them. We begin to imagine ourselves there—and then we pull back.

If you’re reading this, you’re already highly accomplished. There are many big things you do with ease.

When we imagine ourselves deep in the forest, it can be hard to tell whether we’re a tree, the soil, or the weather. Woah, deep thoughts. But seriously, this week’s question prompts us to reflect on our roles.

Rather than thinking big and abstract, this question like so many others works better when we get specific.

Think about a current situation at work, in your neighborhood, or at home that’s not going your way.

I’ve mentioned feeling overwhelmed in past posts. For me, overwhelm comes with anxiety, questioning myself and my abilities, and feeling stuck- unsure of what exact next step has the best chance of making this all go away.

By letting go of being right, we can increase our self-awareness, curiosity, and ability to learn something new (while reducing all that inner, angry chatter.)

Do you carry a sadness that hasn’t yet been honored? Anger unaddressed? Or a joy uncelebrated? We put off “dealing” with our feelings for all kinds of reasons- not the least of which is their sheer inconvenience.