🔆 F E B R U A R Y 🔆

DODGING FRUSTRATION IN THE COSTCO PARKING LOT

Last weekend, I waded through the Costco gauntlet: the glacier-paced shoppers, the aisle-hogging indecision monsters, the lines longer than a politician's promise-keeping record. I emerged, slightly stunned, feeling like I wrestled a rabid wolverine for my bulk toilet paper.

But the real battleground? The parking lot. A concrete ballet of metal and barely-suppressed rage. And that's where I made a choice.

The old me? Probably a symphony of expletives aimed at the guy who "almost ran me over." Anger brewing for hours, replaying the scene, perfecting a passive-aggressive revenge fantasy. Classic stuff.

But not this me. This me, armed with the wisdom of Mental Fitness, saw a different script. I diffused the tension, turned down the dial on his anger -- and my own -- and left the negativity in the asphalt dust.

Why? Because the truth is, a trip to Costco isn't just about toilet paper (though, let's be honest, that's a major perk). It's about dealing with a microcosm of humanity. A sloppy, imperfect, beautiful mess. And guess what? We're all just trying to get through it, one parking lot battle at a time.

So next time you're dodging carts and tempers, remember: you have a choice. Be the frustrated chorus in the chaos, or the conductor who finds harmony in the dissonance. Your call.

Want to become a ninja on the battlefield of humanity? Check out Mental Fitness for Ingenious People. Because a calmer you is a happier you, even in the Costco jungle.

HOW TO OVERCOME FRUSTRATION IN LIFE

Craving a quick-fix for a moment of frustration? This 7-minute-long YouTube video delivers practical, actionable insights you can use right now. (Watch it, implement the advice, and then ask me about Mental Fitness as a permanent solution.)

HBR ON FRUSTRATION

Leave it to Harvard Business Review to give solid, high-level strategies for managing frustration at work. Read it here: Managing Anger, Resentment and Frustration on Your Team. (And then for a "how to" manual of how this works in practice, hit reply and ask me for the white paper "Emotional Intelligence at Work.")

UPCOMING EVENTS

This year, like last year, I'll be travelling to Fargo, ND to attend ChillOut. (Daring friends, join me! It's a one-of-a-kind adventure.)

I'll be presenting Living Your Values, a 3-hour values excavation to unearth the buried treasure within: your authentic self. 

We'll ditch the scripts, the masks, and the "shoulds." We'll explore the mind and listen to the body's wisdom. Together, we'll uncover the 7 core values that define you, the ones that make your heart sing.

The world whispers "shoulds" in your ear. Society tells you what success looks like. But somewhere along the way, you lost track of your song. The one your soul hums, the one that makes you come alive. Come find it again.

(Can't make the trek to Fargo? Reply "Add Me" to this email and get on the list for the upcoming April zoom workshop.)

Until March,

Warmly,

Jen

PS: What frustrates you right now? Think deeply for a moment. A simple practice may help. Let's explore out....no cost, no obligation.  Find time on my schedule here. 

PSS: Not wanting to talk live just yet? Hit REPLY and tell me what frustrates you!  I answer each email personally.