Author: Beth Wonson
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I Love Handwritten Notes
My mom kept a notepad on the kitchen table her whole life — just for leaving notes. When she passed, the habit stayed with me. Now science backs what she always knew: handwritten notes engage the brain differently. They’re not just messages. They’re neurological gifts.
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The Standard I Never Hold Anyone Else To
I kept getting the same feedback from people who knew me well: I was way too hard on myself. I held myself to a standard I would never dream of applying to anyone else. Here’s what happened when I finally stopped — and what I learned.
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The Weight Leaders Carry
A leader had to remove a close friend from a project he’d been passionate about leading. The facts were clear. The decision was necessary. But what the person on the receiving end couldn’t see was the weight his friend had been quietly carrying. Here’s what I’ve observed.
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How to Be Strategic When You Really Want to Quit
You can be unhappy at work and still show up well, succeed, and protect your reputation. Staying in a job you don’t love doesn’t mean you’re stuck — it means you’re strategic. Here’s how to navigate this season with intention.
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Assumption Is Where Connection Withers and Dies
No one on the planet has your brain — and that changes everything. When you assume someone sees what you see or feels what you feel, you’re setting yourself up for frustration. Real communication isn’t just saying what you mean. It’s translating it into something their brain can actually receive.
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Are You Ok?
When my son-in-law told me he was tired of being asked “Are you okay?” I had to face something uncomfortable: I wasn’t checking on him — I was outsourcing my own anxiety. Here’s what I learned about the difference between tending to others and neglecting yourself.
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It’s Like Throwing Good Money After Bad
I was in my studio trying to rescue an art card that wasn’t working when a thought stopped me cold: Why am I throwing good time after bad? Time is non-renewable — once it’s spent, it’s gone. Here’s the question I’m now asking myself every single day.
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Exuberance Has Been On My Mind
When was the last time you felt true exuberance? I’ve been exploring what happens to our brains when we don’t experience it—and what behaviors put a wet blanket on joy. From social media comparison to constant notifications, modern life systematically undermines presence and freedom. Here’s how to reclaim it.
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Redefining Self-Care
Self-care isn’t about spa days or expensive retreats. It’s the inner work that brings you back to center when you’re anxious or triggered. It starts with your breath—free, accessible, and as essential as life itself. In a world where so much feels out of control, this is what we can control.
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Thank You Mr. Speedypants
I lost it on Highway 41—me, the founder of Navigating Challenging Dialogue®. A road rage incident with “Mr. Speedypants” reminded me of the deepest work of NCD: when unsettled, ask “What could I have done differently?” Everyone who shows up in our lives has a lesson for us. Even the difficult ones.