There is a leadership story that illustrates being trapped in repetitive tasks. The story goes like this: There was a hermit who would cut enough wood each summer to heat his forest cabin through the winter. One day, he heard on his shortwave radio that an early winter storm was heading his way. He rushed […]
Most of the self-help books and advice blogs these days include this advice: “You must learn to set healthy boundaries.” If you are anything like us, the idea of setting boundaries sounds like a good idea—and many days it is so much easier to say “yes” just to keep the peace than it is to […]
We humans are masterful at working with the tension that leads to creating amazing new ideas and breakthrough innovations. We are also very good at creating our own tension and stress that leads to overwhelm. In both situations, this tension leads to either action—or reaction. A simple, yet profound way to take action, even in […]
If there is one core principle in which the Power of TED* work rests, it is this: You always have a choice about how you respond to life events. You may not always like your choices, and your range of choices may be narrow. However, you always have a choice. You can choose to react […]
As you read this blog, please pause for a moment and observe yourself. Where are you sitting or standing? Notice what you are doing (in addition to reading this). How are you feeling (mad, glad, sad, excited, etc.)? How are you reacting to this unusual start to the essay? Do you want to continue reading […]
Last week our blog was titled “The Many Faces of the Persecutor,” in which we described several ways the Persecutor role in the Dreaded Drama Triangle (DDT) may appear. As unpleasant as Persecutors can be—whether they show up as people, conditions, or situations—they can also be openings for great learning. When you cultivate the antidote […]
Earlier this week, I (David) was facilitating a live session with a leadership team who wanted to develop more positive and trusting relationships. As part of our eCourse curriculum, we talked about the three roles of the Dreaded Drama Triangle (DDT). When I asked them to describe their perception of the Persecutor role, they used […]
The central role of TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic)® is that of a Creator. There are two primary actions of a Creator. The first is owning your power to choose your response to life’s challenges, regardless of the circumstances. The second is taking responsibility to create outcomes. The Creator is your true essence that forms who […]
You know what drama feels like. It’s a muddled mess of difficult energy and usually means you are in an entangled relationship with someone else, a situation, or the way you are relating to yourself. When you slip into this darker drama energy, it’s rare to find any benefit to living in the Dreaded Drama […]
Occasional negative self-talk is normal. And, sometimes being skeptical or critical helps you thoroughly investigate an issue. It is when your internal negative self-talk is a constant habit that it can do harm to yourself and those with whom you live and work. A negative internal dialogue happens when: You constantly think or say what […]