JAMES McPARTLAND'S BLOG

Access Point <Say Yes To Saying No> "Saying 'no' as a reaction is the pushing away of another. Saying 'no' as a response is a movement toward embracing ourselves." - James K. McPartland Most of us tend to say "yes" far too often, and frequently without our conscious awareness of doing so. We agree to follow up, get together, advance an initiative, share a book, go to a party, call someone back, or to provide someone with honest feedback. Even when we are aware of saying "ye

Access Point <Paying For Attention> "The drama of our emotional reactions bring us the attention from others that we don't yet have the capacity to give ourselves." - James K. McPartland There is a clear distinction between working from the outside-in and working from the inside-out. Our efforts to control events, people, and things is at best a mode of survival. It is where we most often find ourselves giving away our power. It is an illusion. The outside world will magi

Access Point <Yes or No?> "When we say 'yes' when we mean 'no', and 'no' when we mean 'yes', we are living for the affirmation, acknowledgement, and approval, of others." - James K. McPartland We all want to know we are loved, measure up, and are making a difference. And, we all seemingly have a flashing light on our forehead that says "validate me". Authenticity requires the courage to be true to ourself first, thus allowing us to be honest with others. The effort required

Access Point <The Way Out> "Our authentic self knows that the only way out is through -and- that the only way through is in." - James K. McPartland One defining quality of authentic people is the character trait of personal responsibility. As such, these folks work harder on themselves than they do on their job. For them, self knowledge is self empowerment. Authentic people are trustworthy because they trust themselves, believable because they believe in themselves, and are

Access Point <What Is Required?> "We are not required to deal with more than we are able - yet we are not required to deal with less." - James K. McPartland We all have needs such as food, shelter, and money. We have wants that can include things like travel, a big home, fine dining, artwork, jewelry, and surplus cash. We also have requirements, and these are often the things that we may not necessarily desire or wish for. Requirements may come in the form of a financial h

Access Point <Feeling It?> "Authenticity is not about feeling good, it is about feeling everything." - James K. McPartland When we are authentic, we are being true to ourselves. When we are being inauthentic, we care more about being admired than being loved. Our inauthentic self strives to be right, forces outcomes, resists change, and attempts to control people and situations. When we take our attention off of our own needs, and put it on how we can benefit other people,

Access Point <Who Will You Blame Your Life On Today?> "Blame is like accusing the mirror for the content of it's reflection." - James K. McPartland Blame is when drama is used to gain attention, and to direct attention away from ourselves. We become victims and powerless to the prey of others as we trade presence for pretense. All of this occurs when we are not ready to accept responsibility for the quality of our life experiences. It is the worst form of betrayal - betrayal