Archives for December 2023

12 “Notes to Self” We Should All Memorize in the Next 12 Months

12.31.2023 by Angel Chernoff // 21 Comments

As we look forward to everything 2024 has in store, I know many of us are yearning for a simpler and selective range of life experiences in the year ahead — the happier days, the normal times, the settings and experiences that make us feel more comfortable. And yet, the full range of reality often brings something very different. The year ahead will inevitably give us an extensive array of experiences that evoke feelings ranging from sadness to struggle to pride to growth to hope, and more.

So we have a choice starting today. We can revolt against reality — the reality of having to deal with discomfort, of having to cope with uncertainty, of having to feel upset sometimes. Or we can [Read more…]

24 Tiny Challenges for Finishing the Year Stronger on the Inside

12.27.2023 by Marc Chernoff // 24 Comments

Think a little less about managing your problems and a little more about managing your mindset.

Remind yourself that inner peace and progress are both built through tiny recurring victories. It’s the seemingly inconsequential choices we make day to day that either break us or make us whole in the long run. Yes, the fulfillment of our lives ultimately depends on the quality of our daily thoughts and actions.

So as we move toward (and through) the impending New Year, challenge yourself…

1. When a new day begins, challenge yourself to smile genuinely and gratefully.

2. When you don’t get what you want, challenge yourself to [Read more…]

4 Daily Habits that Held Most of Us Back Over the Past Year

12.19.2023 by Angel Chernoff // 18 Comments

We ultimately become what we habitually do. If our daily habits aren’t moving us forward, they’re likely holding us back. Here are four widespread examples of the latter that literally held most of the people I know back over the past year (myself included), and some tips for turning things around if one or more of these daily habits held you back too.

1. We weighed ourselves down with unhelpful thoughts.

Twenty years ago, when Marc and I were just undergrads in college, our psychology professor taught us a lesson we’ve never forgotten. On the last day of class before graduation, she walked up on stage to teach one final lesson, which she called “a vital lesson on the power of [Read more…]

9 Daily Habits that Often Cause 90 Percent of Our Relationship Problems

12.13.2023 by Marc Chernoff // 20 Comments

There’s something to be said for slow and steady progress, but there’s also something to be said for decisive and sweeping action. When it comes to negative relationship habits, there’s no time like today to quit cold turkey. Of course that’s a lot easier said than done, but with practice we can do better almost immediately.

Lately I’ve been making it a point to bring more awareness to the specific negative relationship habits our coaching clients have been repeatedly complaining about or engaging in. And perhaps more importantly than that, I’ve also been noticing how frequently many of the same habits and behaviors surface in my personal relationships. I mean let’s be honest, we all misbehave in our relationships sometimes. None of us are immune to occasional negative mood swings. But that doesn’t excuse what we do to each other on a daily basis.

Over the years, through our coaching practice and live events, Angel and I have literally worked with hundreds of individuals looking to fix or strengthen their relationships, and we’ve learned a lot about what it takes to make that happen. One of the most significant realizations, again, is the fact that most problems in our relationships (both intimate and platonic) arise from the same basic negative habits and behavioral issues. Here are some of the more prevalent ones to be aware of… [Read more…]

16 Life Choices You Shouldn’t Have to Justify to Everyone Else

12.04.2023 by Angel Chernoff // 18 Comments

Sometimes it’s healthy to let go of other people’s opinions, and to operate with your own intuition and wisdom as your guide.

Your life is yours alone. Others can try to persuade you, but they can’t decide for you. They can walk with you, but not in your shoes. So make sure the path you decide to walk aligns with your intuition and values. And don’t be scared to pave your own path when you know it’s the right thing to do.

Will the people in your life always support your decisions? No, they likely won’t. But you need to remember that life is not about justifying yourself — it’s about creating yourself.

So make this your lifelong motto: “I respectfully do not care.” Say it to anyone who [Read more…]