I am obsessed with two podcasts right now: Culture Study and The Dream (season three specifically). So, when a couple of weeks ago CS’s host Anne Helen Petersen interviewed The Dream’s host Jane Marie asking, “Is personal coaching a scam?” (50 minutes) our whole team made the time to listen.

This is a story about the transformative power of communicating clearly and honestly, even when you’re scared sh*tless. Bear with me: there are some twists and turns, but I promise that this is 100% true account of a pivotal moment in the lives of a sensitive, dramatic tween and her luminously talented piano teacher.

Becoming a mentor is the “I need to eat healthier” of the working world. We know it’s great for us–the evidence is everywhere! It’ll make us feel better, perform better, model great behavior, etc. So why does it feel aspirational at best, and “who am I kidding?” at worst?

Now, life is dizzyingly complex and hard to follow, punctuated with brief moments of respite – an hour in front of the TV wishing you had the energy for something more meaningful (whatever that is). The kicker is how hard it is to break out of the “I just need to make it through this week” mentality. Sorry babe: it just doesn’t work that way any more. 

I recently joined a Stepmoms Support Group, after moving in with my partner and his almost-nine-year old daughter last August and realizing, “Holy shit, there’s no roadmap for this!”

Or for anything. Maddening, right?

…However–this is where I’m going to start sounding like an infomercial, but stick with me–what if I told you that you can expend ALMOST NO EFFORT and still shift your mood from bad to glad. I’m serious. You can do this anywhere, anytime, and it takes two seconds or less. 

…As all of this has been happening, I (Christine, Head of Client Services; hi!) have found myself in a frustrating spot. I recently moved my family to a new state and that, not to mention life continuing at a breakneck speed, has put me in a seemingly permanent brain fog. I keep messing things up and missing things at work and I can’t seem to catch my breath. This has never happened to me before, certainly not for this long. It sucks.

“I don’t think this is the best solution.” “I’m not sure what to do.” “I think we’re missing something important here.”

Play is that which we do without any goal or desired outcome. I would add it's also when we lose track of time, when we catch ourselves smiling, and when - as adults - we do something we may feel a little scared to try. Maybe it’s a brand new thing–like hitting a golf ball–and being a beginner is uncomfortable. Maybe it’s just beyond our ability–like drawing a picture that actually looks like something–and the fear of failing or looking foolish makes us hesitate. We might wonder: without an explicit goal, does that inherently mean we're pursuing . . . mediocrity? Perish the thought!