David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Most people think gratitude is about staying positive but what if it’s actually a mirror for your inner world? This reflection offers a deeper way to use gratitude, not as a mood boost, but as a powerful tool for awareness when life (and you) go off track. Gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful practices I know. Not because it’s polite or positive, but because it’s orienting. It brings you back into relationship with what’s al

Used unconsciously, ‘sorry’ shrinks us. Used well, it builds trust. Once I tuned into it, I heard it everywhere: ordering food, asking a question, making a request. Leaders use it to soften directives. Parents use it to repair relationships. Growing up, when I crossed a line, my dad expected me to be contrite , a sincere apology and a heartfelt “sorry.” That early conditioning stayed with me and sparked a deeper question: what does “sorry” actually signal in adult relationshi

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Some people hug everyone. Others prefer space. Your “hug reflex” reveals your boundaries, your history, and how your nervous system responds to closeness. This piece explores the spectrum and why intentional, consent-based hugging matters for connection and leadership. Take the QUIZ that’s tucked away in this article. The Hug Reflex As a kid, I don’t remember being hugged by anyone outside my parents and close family. And when they did, I

Why people hesitate to hire a Personal Development Coach and how to move past it.

David Stamation, Legacy Life Consulting Too often, people wait until divorce, illness, or loss forces them to change. But crisis doesn’t have to be the teacher. Coming out of my health sabbatical, I’ve realized my mission is simple: to help people choose growth before life leaves them no choice.   The Relationship Between Denial & Change Denial  is the first shield we raise when faced with change. It protects us from uncertainty and loss, but at a steep cost: it delays growth

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach After last week’s series on conflict and chaos, conversations with clients highlighted that there’s more to explore on chaos. Read Part 1  and Part 2   Exploring Conflict and Chaos One discussion with an endodontic coaching client offered a fresh perspective. They described chaos in the practice—not as a single problem, but as the system under strain. Here’s what we uncovered: 1. Chaos in an Endodontic Practice Chaos is systemic and undir

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach This two-part series explores how conflict and chaos aren’t dangers to avoid but invitations to grow. From the sharp edges of disagreement to the turbulence of life’s storms, each moment holds a doorway. The only question is: will you walk through it? Last week we explored conflict and how to make it work for you. Today we’ll see what chaos has to offer. Become Curious about Chaos Chaos unsettles most of us—it feels like the ground is shi

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach In this two-part series, we’ll explore how leaning into conflict and chaos isn’t a risk—it’s an invitation. From the sharp edges of disagreement to the swirling uncertainty of life’s storms, there’s a doorway waiting. The question is: will you step through it? Next week we’ll explore chaos —the wider, less predictable forces that shape our lives. No Thank You Conflict terrifies most of us—but what if leaning into it could unlock growth, c

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Let’s revisit a powerful tool—one that has transformed countless lives by deepening our connection to ourselves and others. To revisit is to renew. And to update our understanding of emotional fluency is to evolve. Emotional fluency is one of the most potent tools for living a fulfilling life. Like any well-used instrument, it requires ongoing maintenance and sharpening. It’s not something I practice once with a friend and then check off

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Sure, we all laugh and acknowledge when someone declares, "I’m not perfect!" Yet, in a different breath, many of us chase perfection relentlessly in ourselves or expect it unjustly from others. But here's the truth: striving for perfection goes against our very human nature. So why do we invest so much energy in its pursuit? Read on and take the perfection quiz at the end. Do You... Find yourself delaying tasks? Praise your perfectionism

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Friendship dynamics evolve significantly from childhood to adulthood. In our school years, friendships seemed to effortlessly form through shared activities on the playground, after school bike rides, or getting into mischief together. It felt almost magical, easy, and effortless, and we didn't fully comprehend how it happened. As adults, particularly men, the quest for that seemingly elusive magic to forge new friendships can be perplexi

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Overwhelm is a common challenge addressed in coaching sessions, as individuals often find themselves burdened with too many tasks and not enough time to accomplish them. Many times, simply introducing a new tool or concept can empower individuals to regain control and break free from overwhelm. Take the Quiz While overwhelm in short bursts can be energizing or motivating, persistent overwhelm can lead to a cascade of problems. Prolonged s

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Freedom is the opposite of feeling trapped or controlled. Any number of events, such as circumstances or relationships, can cause us to feel trapped. We might be at a dead-end job. Don't have enough money to do all the things we'd like to do. We may not have the right team supporting us to carry our vision. In a relationship with the wrong person. Have parents that are dependent on us. We have responsibilities and obligations that weigh u

by Cynthia Stamation, Founder of Legacy Life Consulting At Legacy Life Consulting, part of our tagline is simple, but powerful: Live without regret.  It’s more than a motto. It’s a way of being. Life is a precious gift, and yet most people only come to fully realize that truth when something shakes them—an unexpected diagnosis, a loss, a crossroads they never saw coming. Mortality suddenly becomes real, and with it comes the question: Am I truly living the life I came here to

By David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Advanced   self-care prompts us to reflect on what  Basic  self-care is. Going beyond basic self-care is vital for getting more out of your life. Let’s organize self-care to help you explore ways to incorporate it into your life. Here’s a recap of the basic level before moving into advanced forms: Basic Self-Care Physical Health:  This includes sleep, diet, and exercise. These basics can be challenging and neglecting them can lead to b

by David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Fear emanates from various sources, yielding a limited set of reactions—Fight, Flight, Freeze. These sources span from learned responses, like fearing dogs after a past negative encounter, to emotional wounds halting one's readiness for new relationships. Specific phobias (heights, spiders), social anxiety, PTSD—these represent the diverse spectrum of fear's origins. I’m Scared Fear, both an emotional and physiological response, surfac

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Letting go. Sounds simple, right? We've seen it on yoga t-shirts or heard a friend say it, "Let go. Surrender." Here's my current perspective on this phenomenon: it's about control and the art of relinquishing it, or at least some of it. Simply saying, "Let go," isn't enough, so let's apply the control test. I'm a fan of simplifying complex ideas into two buckets. Let's break down control. Bucket 1 consists of what you can control, while

by David Stamation, Executive Life Coach The point of these words, fear, anger, shame, joy and sadness is to represent a range of fundamental emotions we all have. Understanding and acknowledging these emotions is essential for emotional intelligence and personal growth. They must be expressed. Yet, more often than not we tend to elude fear, conceal shame, bury anger and sidestep sadness. And joy? It's frequently treated as an elusive jackpot, something we hope to stumble up

Gratitude. You've heard about it a thousand times. Another article telling you it’s the key to happiness. I got it. But before you scroll past, consider this: What if something so simple could shift your entire day in just five minutes? When I Get Dark or Down – This is My Go-To I’m not immune to feeling low or weighed down by life’s challenges. When that happens, I reach for my No. 1 tool—gratitude. I take just five minutes to acknowledge the big and small blessings in my l

I’ve witnessed firsthand, in over 300 men, the profound impact of consistent personal development work. I’ve also heard similar stories from various women’s groups in my hometown—many of which are modeled after men’s emotional growth groups. This kind of work is not exclusive to men; the principles of self-awareness, growth, and transformation apply universally. At the heart of this transformation is the edge —the place where comfort meets growth. Your edge is the thin bounda