My name is JoAnna Stephens. I am a storyteller, an artist, a futurist, and I have brain cancer. My biggest fear has always been being perceived as crazy. Living in a world I am the only one in agreement with. Being completely isolated in my own brain with no one to share my experiences with. It’s funny how your biggest fear is generally the thing … Continue reading JoAnna Stephens: LOVE over FEAR
Unless you’ve completely unplugged, there’s a chance you’ve come across a conversation or two (or ten) about creating a ‘safe space.’ Even without meaning to, we gravitate to what we consider our safe space: a local cafe or coffee shop, the gym, a yoga studio. We believe that it is only in this space that we can truly express ourselves without judgment or consequence. Often … Continue reading The Space
These days, you can throw a pebble in any direction and hit a Life Coach. They come in all shapes and sizes, and flood your social media platforms with anecdotes and buzzwords meant to lure you into trading currency (energetic or physical) to learn more. With the help of inspirational quotes, good lighting and great editing, we can transform the mediocre into the magnificent. What … Continue reading Help.
Obstacles are neither good or bad. They simply are. Obstacles exist because they do. The more we see the thing as it is, versus as we are, the less likely we are to take the thing personally. The size or scope of any given obstacle depends entirely on the person it is affecting. Proof lies in every inspirational tale you’ve ever encountered: from the person … Continue reading Obstacles and Options
What does it take to draw a red line in the sand? How much is too much? Where is your boundary, and when you reach it… what will you do about it? Some of us are very clear about this line. Some of us see the line, recognize it as the last possible place of leniency, and stand firm in that space. Others are vague … Continue reading The Red Line
“It takes empathy to meet people where they are. It takes empathy, wisdom and a considerable amount of courage to leave people where they are.” Part of Protecting Your Spirit and taking stock of The Energy Bank involves the sometimes difficult task of walking away. When do you know when it’s time to go? How will you know that you’ve done everything you can to … Continue reading Walking Away
Energy, like time and money, is currency. We give it, we share it, we receive it. Since we cannot create or destroy energy, we have no choice but to view it in terms of quality and quantity. Whether we respect it or not, we all have a proverbial energy bank. Typically we come to respect it when all of our reserves are depleted. Everyone has … Continue reading The Energy Bank
