There’s truth to this saying — and it can set us up to make things harder or less pleasant than they need to be. What if we reframed “no pain no gain” to “pain for gain?” Like any exchange or investment. Typically the more gain one strives toward, the more…

4 key points of advice for those trying to master their minds, emotions, relationships, businesses, their past/present/futures — AKA their realities: You’ve got this (if and only if you believe, want and try). Your mindset and material action are magic in the making. Feelings are fodder and in the end formless. Feel them deeply, fully — then shape them by mastering your mind. Pain and pleasure are (important) information. They’re extremely personal and entirely impersonal at the same time.

It can be hard to believe that everything will be, if not great, then at least OK. The world needs healed, we have problems on problems, we need to or should go better/faster/harder! …

Biases and blind spots are part of what makes us human. In my experience coaching high performers, founders and entrepreneurs? Blind spots are equally if not more likely to delay or block effective action as they are to lead to less than ideal choices. Missed opportunities, IOW. These can easily…

Feeling doubtful, skeptical or ambivalent? You may be: *Discerning, sensitive to subtleties, light and dark, paradox, contradiction and complexity — to knowing you, others and life are very imperfect. Choice is complicated by ambiguity, competing values and commitments. The solution is not false certainty, intellectual dogmatism, a narrowing of perspective…

You don’t need one. You’ve done, are doing well, reasonably good. You don’t owe anyone. What will legacy do for you, to be a bit selfish about it? More inspiration, meaning, purpose. Knowing you did your best to make a difference. Like anything, when it comes to legacy we can…

What’s the worst that could happen? In some cases, it’s pretty damn bad — on top of which it’s easily avoidable. “What’s the worst thing” is a useful question if you need to be bolder in general, as it can reduce fear/tension with a healthy dose of play and experimentation. …

Over-analyze Be self-critical Try too hard to please or fit in Distracting, discouraging or stagnant relationships Worry what you “should” do Or should have done Freak out! Have thin skin Point fingers Edit. Cancel. Edit. Edit. Be very afraid Avoid being afraid Threats to personal safety Start lots of things you don’t Want work musings and motivation? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter at caseyonder.com.

Big energy supports big impact. When we’re de-energized, we’re unmotivated, drained, disconnected — or we’re running on fumes with intermittent dopamine hits. Too many people resort to seeking boosts unhealthfully. This may explain burnout as well as various compulsions/addictions. If the implications of energy deficits can be dramatic, the flip…