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Articles from Mike Robbins | Selfgrowth.com
- Are You Addicted to Struggle? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2012 from Mike RobbinsDuring a session I was having with my new coach last week it became clear to me that I’ve been addicted to struggle for much of my life. While I wasn’t super excited to admit this, it has actually been quite liberating to address my struggle addiction directly and to see how it impacts just ...
Views: 1580 - 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: 1776(1 vote) - We're All Doing the Best We Can - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2011 from Mike RobbinsI'm sometimes amazed and embarrassed by how critical I can be - both of other people and of myself. Even though I both teach and practice the power of appreciation (as well as acceptance, compassion, and more) when I find myself feeling scared, threatened, or insecure (which happens more often ...
Views: 1507 - Let Go of Negative Comparison - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2011 from Mike RobbinsI'm heading to my 15-year class reunion at Stanford this weekend. I'm excited to see some old friends, spend time on campus, and attend the various parties, sporting events, and fun stuff planned for the weekend. At the same time, I'm feeling quite anxious about the whole experience - knowing ...
Views: 1563 - The Power of Empathy - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2011 from Mike RobbinsI had a painful, but poignant phone conversation earlier this week with my wife Michelle. She shared some challenges with me in a vulnerable and passionate way. As I started to give her some of my "helpful advice" (as I often do - being a man, as well as an author, speaker, and coach, I'm ...
Views: 1216 - 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: 1459(1 vote) - The Magic and Mystery of Death - by Submitted on Jul 04, 2011 from Mike RobbinsIn the past few weeks, two important people in my life suddenly passed away. These deaths have been shocking, sad, and painful for me. And, in the midst of sadness I've once again been reminded of the mystery and magic that I often experience when someone close to me dies. I find death so ...
Views: 1221 - Embracing Change - by Submitted on May 28, 2011 from Mike RobbinsWe recently went into escrow on our house, but don't yet have a new house to move into. As excited as we are about our move (just across the San Francisco Bay from Concord to Marin County), it feels pretty scary to not yet know exactly where we’ll be living next month. With this big change ...
Views: 1476 - 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: 826(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: 1733(1 vote) - 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: 1087(1 vote) - You Are Not Alone - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2011 from Mike RobbinsSometimes I feel like I'm all alone. Even though my relationship with my wife Michelle is amazing, the love I feel for and from my girls is profound, and there are so many incredible people in my life (family, friends, and clients) - I still find that in my darkest moments, I feel like there's ...
Views: 760 - There is Good News - If You Look For It - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2011 from Mike RobbinsAs someone who is very interested in current events, sports, politics, the state of our economy and world, and more - I pay a lot of attention to the news (sometimes more than is probably healthy for me). I read newspapers, check out various news sites/blogs, watch TV, and listen to the radio. ...
Views: 912 - 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: 1358(1 vote) - 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: 1644(1 vote) - 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: 1249(4 votes) - 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: 1621(2 votes) - How to Appreciate Your Challenges - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2011 from Mike RobbinsAre you facing challenges in your life or your business right now? These days, there are some real challenges facing many of us - at work, at home, in relationships, with money, with family, with housing situations, and much more. The challenges themselves, even the most difficult ones, ...
Views: 1301 - Let Go of Worry - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2011 from Mike RobbinsHow often do you catch yourself worrying? When I was a kid my mom used to say to me, "95% of what you worry about never happens." I think she recognized that I was the "worrying type" and was trying to help ease my mind. Although this rarely worked, I appreciated her sentiment and know now ...
Views: 1181 - The Importance of Flexibility - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2011 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: 1894 - New Year, Be You - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2011 from Mike RobbinsWith the New Year still in its first few weeks, the annual "new year, new you" phenomenon is all around us - in the worlds of advertising, media, self-help and more. And while this time of year can be a great catalyst for positive change in our lives, what if we made a commitment to live our ...
Views: 1241 - Create What You Truly Want in 2011 - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2011 from Mike RobbinsAs we embark on another new year of life, I find myself experiencing a mixture of emotions about 2011. 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: 1173 - Complete the Year Consciously - by Submitted on Jan 07, 2011 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: 1270 - Appreciation: The Most Meaningful Gift - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2010 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: 1437 - Stay Grounded During the Holidays - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2010 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, ...
Views: 1092 - 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: 3822(3 votes) - 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: 1570(1 vote) - How to Move Through Your Fear - by Submitted on Nov 11, 2010 from Mike RobbinsFear is something that we all experience, especially on our journey toward deeper authenticity, fulfillment, and success in life. Being who we really are, expressing ourselves boldly, and going for what we want in life can cause a great deal of fear in us. I get scared all the time - ...
Views: 1402(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: 2102(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: 1480(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: 1792(1 vote) - The Power of Empathy - by Submitted on Oct 20, 2010 from Mike RobbinsEmpathy is one of the most important aspects of creating harmonious relationships, reducing stress, and enhancing emotional awareness - yet it can be tricky at times. I consider myself to be quite empathetic, but notice that with certain people (especially those I don't like or agree with and ...
Views: 1899 - 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: 5102(1 vote) - 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: 1289(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: 1616(1 vote) - 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: 1386(1 vote) - 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: 1364(1 vote) - 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: 1713(3 votes) - Are You Choosing Unhappy Over Uncertain? - by Submitted on Aug 18, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI've been re-reading Tim Ferriss' great book The Four Hour Workweek, which has been expanding my mind and giving me lots of great ideas. In the book, Ferriss states that "most people choose to be unhappy rather than uncertain." As I began to reflect on this bold and somewhat critical ...
Views: 1312 - 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: 2535(3 votes) - 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: 2570(3 votes) - Vulnerable Leadership - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2010 from Mike RobbinsVulnerable and leadership are not usually two words or concepts we put together. Most of us, myself included, have been taught that to be a "good leader" we have to be strong, convicted, and confident. "Never let 'em see you sweat," we've been told. However, I believe it's time for those of ...
Views: 1532(3 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: 2307(2 votes) - Trust is Granted Not Earned - by Submitted on Jul 01, 2010 from Mike RobbinsHow easily do you grant your trust to other people? What factors play into your ability or inability to trust cert ain individuals around you? What do people need to do to earn your trust? As I personally reflect on these questions, I'm reminded of both the importance and complexity of trust ...
Views: 1974 - 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: 2043(1 vote) - Be Your Own Cheerleader - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI recently saw a wonderful video on YouTube that has been making its way around the internet of a little girl passionately affirming herself and her life in the bathroom mirror ("My whole house is great, I like my hair, I can do anything, I like my family," etc.) If you haven't had a chance to ...
Views: 1645 - 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: 2416(2 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: 2810(1 vote) - Distract Yourself in Healthy Ways - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Mike RobbinsWe live in a world of distractions. All day, every day we are bombarded with opportunities to be distracted. And, as I've recently noticed about myself, many of us choose (whether we're conscious of it or not) to distract ourselves on purpose and to escape from life in various ways. Given ...
Views: 1919 - Keep Your Head in the Clouds and Your Feet on the Ground - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Mike RobbinsA few weeks ago while I was on a run, the saying "keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground" popped into my head. I'm not sure why I thought of this, but once I did I couldn't get it out of my mind. And while I've heard this saying many times (and actually have always thought it ...
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