CAL Tip #14: Bring Your Sense of Humor Out of the Basement

By Johanna October 27, 2019 , adaptable, choices, emotional resilience, optimism, sense of humor, tip

When I was a kid, my entire family was confused by a guy in the neighborhood. He never seemed happy. He always seemed to have a big sigh or some…

CAL Tip #13: Build Stamina Through Perseverance

By Johanna September 2, 2019 , change, practice and integration, tip, transforming idea, vertigo

I celebrated my fourth anniversary of having a Fitbit this past July. I took a little time to retrospect on my progress. When I first started to walk, I didn't…

CAL Tip #12: Create & Use Experiments

By Johanna May 30, 2019 , change, choices, experiment, problem solving, tip

I like many kinds of vegetables of all colors: broccoli, cauliflower, the various cabbages, you name it. However, I hate asparagus. Asparagus tastes like the inside of an old tin can to…

CAL Tip #11: Focus on Results for Change

By Johanna May 7, 2019 , adaptability, challenge, choices, see reality, success, tip

Many people focus on the process for their work. When I cook, I, ahem, attempt, to clean the kitchen as I proceed. I don't always follow the recipe, but my process is to…

CAL Tip #10: Build Your Support System

By Johanna April 2, 2019 , adaptability, ask for help, support system, tip

A couple of months after my vertigo started, my husband and I went to some meeting at our synagogue. At the time, the administrative staff dimmed the lights in the…

CAL Tip 9: Discuss the Un-Discussable

By Johanna January 17, 2019 , adaptable, ask for help, challenge, courage, emotional resilience, experiment, tip, vulnerability

I’ve been living with vertigo for the past nine years. Early in my journey, I had to tell potential clients I looked drunk, even though I wasn’t drunk. I explained…

Tip 8: Generate Options

By Johanna November 1, 2018 , adaptability, choices, see reality, tip

One of the problems of creating an adaptable life is the question: How do I get from where I am to where I want to be? That’s where the idea…

Tip 7: Believe in Yourself

By Johanna September 15, 2018 , growth mindset, managing problem, sense of humor, tip

If you are sure of yourself in a given situation, it’s easy to believe in yourself. I make mistakes all the time. I'll use professional speaking as an example because…

Tip 6: Practice Asking for Help

By Johanna September 6, 2017 , ask for help, growth mindset, managing problem, opportunity to improve, perseverance, tip, transforming idea

I like being independent. Throughout my life, I have said, "I can do it myself." (They weren't my first words, but they were close.) I feel a sense of accomplishment…

Tip 5: Seek Some Feedback

By Johanna June 16, 2017 , choices, feedback, problem solving, success, tip

In Tip 4: Start Small, I suggested you start small. That's so you can seek some feedback. I said I started small so I could make progress. How do I…