by Dr. Chris Johnson | Aug 1, 2021 | Learning, Passion, Purpose
Tell me, what’s your thing? You know, that thing you’ve always wanted to do that stays safely hidden on the back-burner, that’s worth your doing? Completing a 10K race? Finishing a degree? Starting a family? Skydiving? Singing karaoke? For me, it’s writing a...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Jul 1, 2021 | Embodied Leadership, Learning, Mindfulness
“I was built to be successful,” is how she begins our conversation. And when I hear this, I believe her. She leans forward, piercing hazel eyes upon me, and says, “I’ve spent my entire adult life chasing the next job, prestigious title, advanced degree and...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Jun 15, 2021 | Attention, Consciousness, Mindfulness
Last week I led a mindfulness session for a group of colleagues working in the India-based office of a Chicago business. Their suffering was palpable, even from 8000 miles away. Health care and governmental infrastructures in India are rapidly crumbling under COVID’s...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Jun 1, 2021 | Attention, Learning, Mindfulness
I’m excited about the planting I’ll do in our newly remodeled backyard! I can already see the cabbage-sized hydrangeas, smell the night blooming jasmine, and taste the home-grown tomatoes (on toasted white bread with mayo, cracked pepper, and bacon–like...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | May 20, 2021 | Consciousness, Learning, Mindfulness
I‘ve spent years wishing that I had more space in my life and on my calendar. My internal press to get stuff done, make things happen, be on top of it the right way . . . has always seemed to crowd out space, leaving less room for reflecting, creating, or doing what I...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | May 1, 2021 | Culture, Mindfulness, Practice
Signs of life are all around these days! Magenta magnolia trees in bloom and lightening yellow forsythia brighten our blocks. Chatter and chirping, squawks and bird song fill the early morning air. Beyond nature waking up, more of us are out biking and enjoying...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Apr 1, 2021 | Consciousness, Mindfulness, Purpose
Each school day, my sister and I walked a quarter mile down the lane to catch the yellow school bus. Most of the time I loved those walks and our easy companionship as we waited for the bus to roll into our little valley. On days when it was windy or cold, I’d snuggle...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Mar 1, 2021 | Learning, Practice, Purpose, Resilience
COVID, politics, grief, inequities – have ravaged & revealed. They’ve revealed our fault lines, our expectations, our fictions about how the world works, the personal stories we cling to like life rafts, trying to avoid the treacherous, uncertainties...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Feb 1, 2021 | Learning, Mindfulness, Practice
The most common concern I hear from leaders of all stripes is, “There’s never enough time!” No time to respond to emails, follow up with people, attend every meeting, and indeed little time for an extra workout or catching your kid’s Zoom recital! Pause a moment to...
by Dr. Chris Johnson | Jan 1, 2021 | Consciousness, Mindfulness, Resilience
We crossed the threshold. It really is 2021! “Good riddance, 2020!” “Whew, glad 2020’s behind us.” “That year was a real sh*t show!” You’ve likely made these types of comments, I know I have. But the reality is that the pandemic’s not over and violence...