The Power of Authenticity blog

 

Welcome!

Do you wish you had more power and purpose in your life? Are you feeling burned out in a job that doesn’t fit who you are? Do you long to lead an authentic life but don’t know how?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you probably suffer from “Suppressed Superpower Syndrome.” To fit in with others, you buried your unique gifts in the unconscious and forgot who you truly are. I’m here to help you to take your power back!

This blog will take you on a journey to reclaim your one-of-a-kind superpowers and succeed in life by being the total rock star you were meant to be.

Feeling Stuck - Shake it Up Blog

After teaching creativity workshops for 20 years, I know for certain that you were born with a unique purpose and special gifts to fulfill it that no one else in the world can express like you. Your innate skills and passions are your superpowers. When you dance to your own music, you naturally develop these intrinsic talents and excel in work and life.

But when you’re forced to conform to someone else’s idea of who you should be, it throws off your groove.

Using psychology, music, and client success stories, I will help you shake off your self-limiting beliefs, discover your unique talents and skills, build the courage to go after your dreams, persist through setbacks, and rock your career and life.

Yeah, it’s a big promise, I know, but I think we can do it! Don’t you?

I have a good track record.

 

From Professor to Rock Star

 

Feeling Stuck - Shake it Up BlogYears ago when I was a psychology professor, I felt deeply empty, despite my success. I loved my students but the truth was, I wanted to sing in a rock-n-roll band.

“Ridiculous,” a voice that sounded a lot like my mother’s screamed inside my head. For one, it would mean I had wasted four years at Princeton getting my Ph.D. in psychology. For another, I was too old. How could I change now, wasn’t it too late?

I kept thinking about how happy my students were whenever I gave them permission to be their true selves. Within a year, I left my solid teaching position to follow my dream to be a rock star! My songs have been on the charts, and I’ve helped thousands of participants find their superpowers and rock their lives too.

Now that’s my superpower. What’s yours? Not sure? That’s OK – that’s what this blog is for!

I also have articles on finding your superpowers and rocking your life on Lifehack and Thrive Global.

 

Valentine’s Day: The Perfect Day to Love Yourself

Posted by on February 14, 2024 in True Self, Your True Calling | 0 comments

Feeling Stuck - Shake it Up Blog

Happy Valentine’s Day! Of all of the days of the year, this is the best one to take a moment to love yourself. Many people are single, some of us settled for less, and a few “lucky” folks thrive in good relationships. What makes the difference? In my experience, true love comes knocking at your door when you stop looking for it outside of yourself, and focus on accepting yourself for who you are.  For example, Gina was a frustrated receptionist who took a creativity workshop from me because she didn’t like her life but...

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The Trick to Making Visualization Work

Posted by on January 24, 2024 in True Self, Your True Calling | 0 comments

Outline of a brain with lightening bolts

Visualization works best when you create a detailed picture of what you want in your mind and envision each step toward getting that end goal. The more senses you bring to it, the better. Swimmer Michael Phelps, for example, used guided imagery to visualize successful races at the Olympics and won 18 gold medals. It’s as if you can trick your mind into believing that what you want is real and, then poof, it happens. However, there is a definite trickster energy to visualization. Just like in that old Rolling Stones song — “You...

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The Power of Persistence and Visualization

Posted by on January 17, 2024 in True Self, Your True Calling | 6 comments

Small green plant growing through crack in ground

Have you tried creating a magic wish list yet? One of the most effective ways to become the person you were born to be is to set intentions that expand who you currently are and be willing to go out of your comfort zone. I dreamed of being a rock star while I was still an assistant professor. I experimented with writing songs, doing open mics, and fronting a band. Eventually, I got a record deal. You can’t just sit on your couch and visualize the life you want. You need to take action in the world to turn your wishes into reality. After...

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The Magic of Making Wish Lists

Posted by on January 8, 2024 in True Self, Your True Calling | 0 comments

In my previous blog, I gave you clues for creating a powerful wish list based on the person you were born to be. Here is the first of many magic tips for turning your wishes into reality. The first time I made a wish list was 20 years ago and under dire circumstances. My marriage had fallen apart in South Africa where I’d been touring to support my debut CD, and I returned to California alone with a sick cat, no place to live, and no job. I was on my way to have lunch with a friend when I had a near accident on Highway 17, a curvy road...

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How to Get What You Wish For in 2024

Posted by on December 30, 2023 in True Self, Your True Calling | 2 comments

It’s that time of year when many of us begin making big goals for the coming new year. But a whopping 80% of us give up on our resolutions by February! So why even try? The problem is that we often set intentions that don’t align with what we’re meant to do in the world. So, they fizzle out. Each of us is born with a unique purpose and a special set of gifts. But most of us stuff them down in the unconscious to fit in with others and forget who we truly are. When you remember your true calling, your wishes are likely to come...

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Rudolph is a Badass: The Gift of Not Belonging

Posted by on December 22, 2023 in True Self, Your True Calling | 1 comment

The holidays can be a tough time for those of us who are grieving the loss of loved ones, feeling financially stressed, or dealing with dysfunctional families. To spread a little joy, I sang some Christmas carols recently at a local community center and noticed that “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” stood out. Not only did the audience know all the words by heart, but everyone seemed genuinely happy that Rudolph got to lead Santa’s sleigh. The “very shiny nose” that had made him an outcast at the beginning of the...

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How to Live a Meaningful Life in 2023

Posted by on December 29, 2021 in True Self | 0 comments

Every year millions of us pull our collective hair out by making New Year’s Resolutions we don’t keep, as is evidenced by all the near-empty gyms in March. Rather than make goals, why not develop good habits to help you reach your dreams? Any one of the tips below can help you lead a more rewarding life. 1. Accept yourself for who you are, warts and all. Those little things you want to improve about your life tend to right themselves when you choose to love yourself. Self-hate keeps you stuck. Self-acceptance heals. 2. Distance...

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Rudolph and The Power of Being Your True Self

Posted by on December 20, 2021 in True Self | 0 comments

During the pandemic, many of us have reevaluated our lives and wondered about our true purpose. Over 30 million people have quit their jobs in 2021, saying they want to pursue other dreams and passions and spend more time with family. Perhaps you want more from your life, too, but don’t know where to start. One of the best ways to honor your calling and flourish in work and life is to discover your unique superpowers. There’s no one else like you. You don’t have to try to be different. You already are. The problem is, sometimes your...

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Preventing Violence Against Women

Posted by on October 31, 2021 in True Self | 0 comments

James Bond

I recently learned my friend was murdered by her husband. She was a sparkly woman, a talented musician, and a pillar of the community. I couldn’t believe she was gone. “How could this happen?” mutual friends asked. I knew he’d started drinking again and there was tension between them. Why didn’t I see this coming? October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and according to research by U.N. Women, one in three women experience violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Yet, despite its prevalence, many of us fail to...

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Total Rock Star of the Week: Jon Bon Jovi

Posted by on April 6, 2020 in True Self | 0 comments

I have been a long-time fan of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Jon Bon Jovi, but today I consider him a hero. Jon is not only a talented vocalist, guitar player, and songwriter, but he is also a philanthropist with a heart of gold. In my book, that makes him a “Total Rock Star.” During our economic downturn in 2008, he opened three JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants in New Jersey to help feed the homeless and others in need of warm, nutritious meals. He lets folks work for their dinners by washing dishes and doing other chores. They can...

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