We Are All Connected by Simple Wish, to Be Visible

February 4, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

“We are all connected by a simple wish: to be visible, to be heard, to know that we matter.” – Vlada Mars

The Invisible Thread That Binds Us

We are all connected by a simple wish: to be visible, to be heard, to know that we matter. Think about the last time someone truly saw you—not just looked at you, but really saw who you are beneath your roles and responsibilities. Remember how that felt? It’s like finally being able to breathe after holding your breath underwater. We spend so much of our lives wondering if we’re showing up right, if our efforts are noticed, if our voice carries any weight in this noisy world. This universal longing crosses all boundaries of culture, age, and status. The CEO in her corner office and the janitor cleaning the hallway after hours share this same basic human need.

The magic happens when we flip this around and become the ones who see others. Next time you’re talking with someone—your partner, your child, the cashier at the grocery store—try putting down your phone, looking them in the eye, and listening like their words contain the secret to happiness. Because in a way, they do. When we offer others the gift of our full attention, we create a sacred space where real connection can happen. You don’t need special training or fancy words. All you need is the courage to be fully present and the willingness to let someone know they matter to you, right now, in this moment.

Our need to be seen runs deep because it’s tied to our survival. Back when humans lived in small tribes, being invisible meant being vulnerable. Being cast out meant almost certain death. Those ancient instincts still live in our modern bodies, which is why rejection hurts like a physical wound and why loneliness can make us sick. The pain you feel when you’re overlooked or dismissed isn’t weakness—it’s your humanity speaking. Instead of hiding that tender spot, what if you honored it? What if you recognized that your desire to matter is the same desire beating in every heart around you?

The truth is, you already matter. Not because of what you’ve achieved or what you own, but simply because you exist. The universe conspired in countless miraculous ways to create exactly you, with your unique perspective and gifts. No one else sees the world through your eyes or carries your particular combination of experiences. When you don’t share yourself authentically, you’re withholding something precious from the world. Your voice, your ideas, your presence—these aren’t extras to be earned. They’re essential threads in the tapestry of our collective human experience.

Today, challenge yourself to both give and receive visibility. Tell someone specifically what you appreciate about them. Not what they do for you, but who they are. And when someone offers you a compliment or acknowledgment, take a deep breath and simply say “thank you” instead of deflecting. Let yourself be seen. We heal our world one connection at a time, one moment of true presence after another. In recognizing our shared wish to matter, we discover that we’re never truly alone. We’re all walking the same path, reaching for the same light, hoping for the same recognition that yes, we are here, and yes, we matter.

The Best Lessons I’ve Ever Learned Came from the Worst

February 3, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

“The best lessons I’ve ever learned came from the worst experiences in my life.”

The Beauty in Our Darkest Moments

You know those moments that bring you to your knees? The ones that leave you wondering how you’ll ever pick yourself back up? I’ve had my share of those, and I bet you have too. What I’ve discovered is that our worst experiences often hide the most powerful lessons—if we’re brave enough to look for them.

Pain forces us to grow in ways comfort never could. When everything’s going well, we rarely question our path or challenge our assumptions. But when life knocks us down—through heartbreak, failure, loss, or disappointment—we’re forced to rebuild ourselves. That rebuilding process is where the magic happens. You start asking better questions: “What really matters to me?” “How can I be stronger next time?” These questions lead to insights you might never find during easy times.

The tough stuff strips away our illusions and shows us who we truly are. I remember losing a job I thought defined me, and feeling completely lost afterward. But in that painful space, I discovered strengths I never knew I had and passions I’d been ignoring. Our worst moments have this uncanny ability to reveal our authentic selves—beneath all the roles we play and masks we wear. There’s incredible freedom in that revelation, even when it hurts.

These difficult experiences also connect us to others in profound ways. When you’ve been through your own dark night of the soul, you develop a radar for others who are suffering. Your empathy deepens. Your judgment softens. You become the kind of person who can sit with someone else’s pain without trying to fix it, because you know sometimes that’s exactly what healing looks like. Our shared struggles create bridges between hearts that might otherwise never connect.

Here’s the truth I’ve come to embrace: transformation rarely happens when we’re comfortable. The experiences that challenge us most are often preparing us for something greater—a deeper understanding, a more authentic life, or the strength to help others through similar struggles. So when those difficult times find you (and they will), remember that you’re in the middle of your most important lessons. The wisdom you gain through struggle becomes the light you carry forward—not just for yourself, but for everyone whose path you cross.

Learning How to Keep Going When There Is No Light

February 1, 2018 By LLH 1 Comment

“Learning how to keep going when there is no light at the end of the tunnel, is going to be the best skill you ever had.” – Derek Halpern

When the Tunnel Seems Endless

The darkest moments in life don’t come with convenient countdown timers. That’s why learning to keep moving forward when you can’t see the light ahead isn’t just helpful—it’s life-changing. I’ve walked through my share of dark tunnels, and I can tell you that the ability to put one foot in front of the other when everything in you wants to stop is the skill that separates those who merely survive from those who eventually thrive.

Think about the most resilient people you know. What makes them different isn’t that they avoid tunnels—we all face them. What sets them apart is their refusal to be defined by the darkness. They’ve learned that forward motion, even slow, stumbling steps, creates its own kind of momentum. Each step might feel pointless in the moment, but over time, these small movements compound into remarkable journeys. The magic isn’t in avoiding difficulty but in developing the muscle memory to move through it.

Here’s something they don’t tell you about those tunnels: sometimes you have to become your own light. When external sources of hope dim, your internal flashlight—built from self-belief, past victories, and sheer stubbornness—becomes essential. This isn’t about toxic positivity or denying your struggles. It’s about acknowledging the darkness while remembering that you’ve navigated through shadows before. Your history of survival becomes evidence for your future capacity to endure.

The skill of continuing without visible reward transforms not just your circumstances but your identity. You begin to trust yourself differently. Each time you choose forward motion when giving up seems reasonable, you’re telling yourself a powerful story: “I am the kind of person who persists.” This isn’t just positive thinking—it’s identity-level change that affects how you approach every challenge afterward. The person who emerges from the tunnel isn’t the same one who entered it.

Remember that tunnels, by definition, are passageways—not permanent homes. The darkness that feels all-consuming today is actually temporary, even when that temporary phase lasts longer than you’d like. Learning to keep going isn’t about embracing endless suffering; it’s about trusting the nature of tunnels themselves. They connect one place to another. Your job isn’t to see the end from the beginning—it’s simply to keep moving until, perhaps when you least expect it, you step back into the light, changed and strengthened by the journey.

We’ve All Got Stories to Tell, We’re All Dealing with Our Issues

February 1, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

“We’ve all got stories to tell, and we’re all dealing with our own issues; however, what makes us all the same is that none of us is living this perfect life that everyone thinks we are.” – Rebecca Black

We’re All Walking a Different Path, But Facing the Same Storm

Behind every smile you see on social media, every “I’m fine” in the hallway, there’s a real person fighting battles you know nothing about. We all put on our game faces – showing the world our highlight reels while hiding the deleted scenes. The truth is, that “perfect life” you think your neighbor, coworker, or that Instagram influencer has? It’s an illusion. They’re struggling too, just with different problems than yours. Understanding this can be incredibly freeing. When we stop comparing our messy reality to someone else’s carefully curated image, we can finally breathe.

The pressure to appear perfect is exhausting us all. We’re staying up late, working ourselves to the bone, and stretching our finances thin – all to maintain an image that nobody actually has. Think about it: even the people who seem to “have it all together” are lying awake at night worrying about something. That celebrity with millions of followers? They’re wondering if people actually like them for who they are. That parent with the seemingly perfect family? They’re questioning if they’re doing enough for their kids. We’re all human, which means we’re all beautifully imperfect.

What changes everything is when we get brave enough to drop the mask. The magic happens in those vulnerable moments when we admit, “Actually, I’m struggling right now.” That’s when real connections form. That’s when you discover you’re not alone. I’ve seen rooms full of strangers become instant communities when one person had the courage to share their truth. Your honesty about your struggles gives others permission to be honest about theirs. Your willingness to be imperfect might be exactly what someone else needs to see today.

The question isn’t whether you’ll face difficulties – you will. The question is whether you’ll face them alone or surrounded by people who understand. Building authentic relationships means letting people see the real you – not just your victories, but your struggles too. This doesn’t mean oversharing with everyone you meet, but it does mean having people in your life who know your real story, not just the polished version. These are the connections that sustain us through the hardest days.

So today, I invite you to take a deep breath and let go of the exhausting pursuit of perfection. Instead, embrace your wonderfully messy, complicated journey. Be kind to yourself on the hard days. Celebrate your small victories. And remember that the person you’re comparing yourself to is fighting their own battles behind closed doors. We’re all just doing our best with what we’ve got. And maybe – just maybe – that’s enough. Because none of us is living that perfect life, and there’s something beautiful about admitting that together.

For Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Leaders…

January 30, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

10 Things That Require Zero Talent: 1. Being on time. 2. Work ethic. 3. Effort. 4. Body language. 5. Energy. 6. Attitude. 7. Passion. 8. Being coachable. 9. Doing extra. 10. Being prepared.

A view into the challenging emotional journey of creating anything great. It’s often very hard to cross the chasm of the “dark swamp of despair!” via Chris Maddern

10 Things That Require Zero Talent: The Foundation of Success Anyone Can Build

Success isn’t always about innate gifts or special advantages. Some of the most powerful tools for creating an extraordinary life are completely free and available to everyone. These ten qualities require no special talent—just your consistent choice to embody them.Being on time speaks volumes about your character. When you arrive punctually, you demonstrate respect for others and signal that you value commitments. This simple habit creates trust and reliability in both personal and professional relationships. Everyone experiences traffic jams and unexpected delays, but people who prioritize timeliness build buffer time into their schedules and plan ahead. This seemingly small choice creates a foundation of dependability that others notice and appreciate.Work ethic isn’t about natural ability—it’s about showing up fully, even when nobody’s watching. It’s the willingness to tackle unglamorous tasks with the same dedication as exciting ones. Those with strong work ethics understand that consistency trumps occasional brilliance. They recognize that excellence isn’t a single act but a habit formed through daily choices to push through resistance and discomfort. The beautiful truth is that work ethic can be developed by anyone willing to make the continuous decision to give their best effort.Speaking of effort—this quality is entirely within your control. Effort is the bridge between dreams and reality. While talent gives you a head start, sustained effort is what carries you across the finish line. The person who gives 100% effort consistently will eventually outperform someone with natural talent who only shows up halfway. Remember that effort isn’t just physical exertion—it’s mental persistence, emotional resilience, and spiritual commitment to your path. When you pour genuine effort into something, you transform not just the outcome but yourself in the process.Your body language communicates more powerfully than words ever could. The way you carry yourself—your posture, eye contact, facial expressions—tells others whether you’re confident or insecure, engaged or disinterested. The miracle of body language is that you can literally change how you feel by changing how you hold your body. Standing tall, opening your chest, and lifting your chin not only projects confidence to others but actually creates confidence within you through biological feedback loops. This powerful tool costs nothing but attention and practice.Energy isn’t about being loud or hyperactive—it’s about bringing vitality and presence to whatever you do. Some people drain the room when they enter; others light it up. This difference doesn’t stem from talent but from a conscious choice about what energy you cultivate and share. Even on difficult days, you can choose to be a source of vitality rather than negativity. Energy is contagious—when you bring positive, focused energy to interactions and tasks, you elevate everyone around you while simultaneously elevating your own experience.Your attitude is perhaps the most powerful zero-talent quality because it colors everything else. Attitude isn’t about constant happiness—it’s about how you frame challenges, setbacks, and opportunities. Do you approach problems as burdens or as chances to grow? Do you see criticism as a personal attack or valuable feedback? The beauty of attitude is that while circumstances may be beyond your control, your perspective on them remains your choice. A growth-oriented attitude transforms obstacles into stepping stones and creates possibilities where others see only dead ends.Passion infuses ordinary actions with extraordinary power. It’s the emotional fuel that sustains effort when discipline alone feels insufficient. Contrary to popular belief, passion isn’t always something you “find”—it’s something you can actively cultivate by connecting your daily actions to deeper meaning and purpose. When you approach activities with genuine interest and care, you unlock creative solutions and perseverance that remain inaccessible to those just going through the motions. Passion makes the journey worthwhile regardless of destination.Being coachable—open to feedback and willing to change—separates those who plateau from those who continuously evolve. This quality requires humility and the courage to acknowledge imperfection. The most successful people in any field never stop being students. They recognize that feedback—even when painful—offers the fastest path to growth. Being coachable doesn’t mean abandoning your judgment or unique perspective; it means having the wisdom to recognize that your view is limited and that others’ insights can expand your possibilities.Doing extra—going beyond minimum requirements—distinguishes the exceptional from the adequate. This isn’t about workaholism or burnout; it’s about bringing creativity and care to tasks that others merely complete. It might mean spending ten extra minutes to add a personal touch, taking time to understand the broader context of a project, or anticipating needs before they’re expressed. These small extras compound over time into remarkable results and relationships. The willingness to go beyond what’s expected reflects a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity.Being prepared is respect made visible. It shows you value an opportunity enough to invest time beforehand. Preparation reduces anxiety, increases confidence, and creates space for creative thinking instead of reactive scrambling. Whether it’s researching before a meeting, practicing before a presentation, or simply thinking through potential challenges in advance, preparation transforms potential stress into potential excellence. The peace that comes from knowing you’re ready is available to anyone willing to invest the time upfront.These ten qualities form a powerful foundation for success in any endeavor. What makes them truly remarkable is their democracy—they’re available to everyone regardless of background, circumstances, or natural gifts. They represent the aspects of excellence entirely within your control. By consistently choosing to embody these qualities, you build not just external success but internal character that serves you in every area of life.

Publishers Rejected Jk Rowling. Labels and Promoters Turned down the Beatles.

January 30, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

Publishers rejected JK Rowling. Labels and promoters turned down The Beatles. Steve Jobs got fired by his own company.

Point is, your time will come.

– Daniel Pearson

Don’t Let Rejection Define Your Journey

We all face moments when it seems like the whole world is saying “no.” Remember that J.K. Rowling’s manuscript was rejected by twelve publishers before someone finally took a chance on Harry Potter. The Beatles were famously told by Decca Records that “guitar groups are on the way out” and they “had no future in show business.” Even Steve Jobs, the visionary who gave us the iPhone, was once forced out of Apple, the very company he helped create. These rejections weren’t the end of their stories—they were plot twists in much greater journeys.

What separates those who achieve their dreams from those who don’t isn’t talent alone—it’s persistence in the face of setbacks. When you’re turned down, overlooked, or underestimated, it’s easy to internalize that rejection as proof you’re not good enough. But here’s the truth: rejection is rarely personal. It’s often about timing, circumstances, or simply connecting with the wrong audience. Your work might be brilliant, but if it lands on the wrong desk at the wrong moment, you’ll hear “no” instead of “yes.”

The universe operates on its own schedule, not yours. Sometimes the delay between your effort and your breakthrough exists because you need more growth, because the world isn’t ready yet, or because your ultimate destination is better than the one you initially imagined. During this waiting period, focus on refining your craft and building resilience. Every “no” is teaching you something valuable if you’re willing to listen—how to improve, how to pivot, or simply how to keep going when everything in you wants to quit.

Your time will come, but probably not on the timeline you envisioned. The key is staying in the game long enough to see it happen. When Rowling finally saw her books in print, when The Beatles became a worldwide phenomenon, when Jobs returned to make Apple the most valuable company on Earth—these weren’t overnight successes but the culmination of years of determination. The world doesn’t reward perfection; it rewards persistence. So keep going, keep creating, keep putting yourself out there. Your breakthrough might be just one more attempt away.

I Hope Everyone Falls in Love in 2018

January 28, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

“I hope everyone falls in love this year… with themselves.”

Fall in Love with Yourself: The Ultimate Romance

When I suggest that everyone falls in love with themselves this year, I’m not talking about narcissism or selfishness. I’m talking about developing the kind of deep, nurturing relationship with yourself that forms the foundation for everything else in your life. Think about how you treat someone you’re in love with—the patience, the forgiveness, the delight in their quirks and strengths. Now imagine directing that same energy inward. What might change if you stopped being your own harshest critic and became your most loyal supporter instead?

Self-love isn’t just feel-good fluff; it’s practical magic. When you genuinely appreciate yourself, you make better choices because you believe you deserve good things. You set healthier boundaries because you honor your needs. You pursue meaningful goals because you trust your desires. The relationship you have with yourself influences every other relationship in your life—romantic partners, friends, family, even colleagues. It’s like upgrading the operating system that runs your entire life experience. The bugs and glitches don’t disappear completely, but the whole system functions more smoothly.

Here’s the transformative truth that changed my life: loving yourself isn’t something you achieve once and check off your list. It’s a daily practice, a conversation that continues for a lifetime. Some days it looks like setting aside time for what nourishes you. Other days it’s forgiving yourself for mistakes or speaking to yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a friend. Sometimes it’s simply acknowledging your own humanity—the beautiful mess of contradictions, the work-in-progress nature of being alive. Each of these moments is a love letter to yourself, a gentle reminder that you are worthy exactly as you are.

So my invitation to you this year is simple but profound: fall madly, deeply in love with yourself. Not tomorrow when you’ve fixed all your flaws or achieved your goals, but today, in all your imperfect glory. Start noticing what makes you uniquely you—the way you laugh, how your mind works, your particular way of moving through the world. Get curious about your inner landscape rather than critical of it. This might be the most important relationship you’ll ever cultivate, and unlike romantic love, it’s guaranteed to last a lifetime. The world needs more people who have made peace with themselves, who walk around radiating the quiet confidence that comes from being your own best friend.

A Wise Friend Once Told Me

January 28, 2018 By LLH Leave a Comment

“A wise friend once told me, “You can’t hide from yourself.” – Author Unknown

Those simple words contain a universe of truth that many of us spend years trying to avoid. We create elaborate systems to distract ourselves from our own thoughts, feelings, and patterns. We scroll endlessly through social media, throw ourselves into work, or lose ourselves in relationships—anything to avoid that quiet moment when we’re alone with who we really are. But here’s the thing: that shadow self follows you everywhere, quietly waiting for acknowledgment.

The journey toward authentic living begins when we stop running. Those uncomfortable truths we’ve buried—the fear that we’re not enough, the shame about past mistakes, the dreams we’ve abandoned—don’t disappear when ignored. They actually grow stronger in the dark. When we finally turn and face ourselves with compassion rather than judgment, something miraculous happens. What once felt like unbearable weight becomes the very source of our strength and wisdom. The parts of yourself you’ve been hiding from are often the exact pieces you need to become whole.

This doesn’t mean the process is easy or comfortable. Looking at yourself honestly requires tremendous courage. Start small—five minutes of reflection before bed, a journal entry about what you’re really feeling, or simply asking “What am I avoiding right now?” The discomfort you feel is a sign you’re heading in the right direction. Remember that authenticity isn’t perfection. It’s the willingness to be seen in your full humanity, complicated and contradictory as that may be.

The greatest freedom comes when you no longer need to hide. When you can say, “This is who I am—flawed, evolving, and worthy exactly as I am,” you reclaim the energy once spent maintaining facades. Your relationships deepen because people are connecting with the real you. Your decisions align with your true values rather than others’ expectations. And that voice of your wise friend becomes your own, gently reminding you that the person you’ve been running from is actually the one you’ve been searching for all along.