Friends appreciate when people reach out – not to ask anything of them, but for no reason at all.

A call, email, text – a new study shows how it’s done really doesn’t matter.

There’s real power in staying in touch with friends “just because” for participants on both the giving and receiving end.

Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anything we are
You and I have always been ever and ever

Whenever I Call You “Friend”, song by Kenny Loggins

Often our misfortunes eventually turn into advantages.

A broken marriage that turns into the next happy one.

The loss of a job that launches a successful career.

Overcoming a health issue you never asked for by becoming more health conscious.

An unexpected turn of events that leaves us devastated until it motivates us to make meaningful change.

No sane person hopes for things they don’t want but that doesn’t mean getting them is the end when it can be a beginning.

There has been an uptick of what is known as imposter syndrome, doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud.

It affects high achievers who have a difficult time accepting their accomplishments as they do not feel worthy of the praise they receive – but they are not the only ones.

We also see this in talented young people who deal with panic attacks and become uncertain of their own authenticity.

The concept of berating your best efforts is a waste of time and talent for if you are not convinced that you are able who are you willing to leave it up to?

Self-compassion and celebrating successes are better alternatives.

Before asking anyone else to validate you, be convinced that you are steadfast in validating yourself.

Perhaps you’ve heard about the 8-minute song designed to lower heart rate, blood pressure, and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

We came across it doing research for a new NYU course I will be adding this coming school year about reducing stress and anxiety in music and the performing arts.

Music, of course, is a potent friend of dealing with anxiety.

Many of you are interested in the things being done to deal with anxiety – here’s one that is proven to reduce it by 65% in 8 minutes Weightless recorded by a British group called Marconi Union.

Stress reduction is a whole-person endeavor, but this quick fix is powerful enough to pass along.

Listen here.  And let me know what you think.

I know a Mayo Clinic doctor who physically leans forward to be sure they are concentrating on their patients comments.

And another person who repeats back what they are hearing and asks, “did I get that right?”

The reason we can’t remember names is because we don’t bear down and hear them so we can repeat them twice and remember them forever.

Even in a distracted world, focusing on the present is not only possible but even more popular with those around you – they feel less important until someone can say, “did I get that right?”

As Steve Jobs said, “Focus and simplicity – once you get there you can move mountains”.

That may be a great motto for Outback Steakhouse but it falls short when someone is so distracted that they run a red light.

I experience almost one (and some days three) people per day barreling through stop lights almost as if they are just suggestions and not rules.  Perhaps you are seeing the same thing.

We adhere to rules for safety and order.

We break them to expand our creativity.

If you’re good at breaking rules, you must also be good at adhering to them – the lesson of the moment on this turbulent time.

This is a tough time – post pandemic, more disruptions, new normal and people who have forgotten some basic rules of civility.

You could drill into that negativity or choose to live the life you want to life, acting the way you’d like to be treated.

There is always hope because the world changes one person at a time.

Condition yourself to respond to disappointments as encouragement.

Missed goals as just a first chance not your last.

Bad things seen as challenges that bring good outcomes if you don’t stop now.

You can’t find one successful person who hasn’t had to condition themselves to believe that adversity is a test of will for how badly you want something.

I’m proud of you – Four powerful words.

When you hear it, it reverberates like an echo.

When you are the one saying it, it feels just as good to see a face light up.

Even better …

I’m proud of you (then succinctly say why)

Discover the power we all have within us to move people in a positive way by finding something to be proud of.

When I was training to be a Dale Carnegie instructor, I was recognized for winning an award when my mentor was present in the audience.

I accepted the award in front of the room and almost without another thought, I called this person up to be recognized for all the time and caring he had put into my training – then I handed him the prize.

Never in my life have I missed possessing the physical gift because even though he is gone, I feel joy every time I think of how surprised and proud he was to take custody of my award.

The gift that keeps on giving and never stops is the one in which you elevate those in your life for the recognition they deserve whether it’s one-on-one or in front of an audience.