2023-08-15 13:54
Of everything I thought I knew, avoidance was on top of the list. But how much did I really know about avoidance at the time?
The post What is Avoidance, Really? appeared first on Dave Ursil… Read More
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Dave Ursillo | The Ranks Of The Renegade Blog
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Dave Ursillo is a teacher of writing, yoga and self-expression. He helps self-starters use their words, share their stories and embrace their inner callings.
2023-06-13 12:33
New Age and self-help advice try to tell us that taking ownership of our stories is a one-time decision, not a lifelong journey.
The post Why “Own your story!” is easier said tha… Read More
2023-05-30 16:07
Play is essential for healthy human growth and development. But despite the benefits, many of us lose our sense of play as adults. Why?
The post The Power of Play — As Grown-Ups appear… Read More
2023-04-04 13:43
Studies prove that words do hurt us, from impacting senses of self-concept to reducing empathy and even having traumatizing effects.
The post 3 Studies that Prove that Words Really Do Hurt a… Read More
2023-03-30 16:45
The Three Stories of Our Time by Joanna Macy argues that there are three distinct ways to view the state of our world today.
The post What are ‘The Three Stories of Our Time’? ap… Read More
2023-03-20 15:41
Best-selling author Margaret Wheatley challenges do-gooders, the service-minded, and wanna-be change-agents to think differently.
The post The Brain-Breaking Conversation that Made Me Wonder… Read More
2023-02-08 15:10
Making time, space, and energy for your storytelling may feel like a luxury—until you remember the importance of creative delight in life.
The post Gift Yourself Creative Delight appea… Read More
2023-02-07 18:30
Stories only exist through one another. When you tell a meaningful personal story, it can stick in someone's mind—as Kathy's has in mine.
The post There is No One Else: Kathy’s S… Read More
2023-02-02 18:24
Attention spans have been commodified in the attention economy. For us as storytellers, it means our stories are a valuable currency.
The post In the Attention Economy, Stories are Currency… Read More
2023-01-30 15:41
As authors of the stories of our lives, choosing what stories we feel called to tell holds great power, significance, and meaning.
The post What Story Will You Tell? appeared first on Dave U… Read More
2023-01-24 16:52
Living a self-storied life dawns from purpose, meaning, and self-conceptions—and, reintroducing the story of who you are from time to time.
The post Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself (Or… Read More
2023-01-18 15:18
Self-knowledge is not a goal, destination, or thing, but an experience of continually losing and finding the self.
The post Self-Losing + Self-Finding = Self-Knowledge appeared first on Dave… Read More
2023-01-02 21:17
Some practices and experiences bring us into deeper relationships with ourselves and our stories: a pilgrimage into the New Year. What is your form of pilgrimage?
The post Don’t Just G… Read More
2022-12-20 16:07
Dialectics is a philosophical process that explores opposing ideas. It can help us to hold two opposites as equal truths.
The post What, Exactly, is a Dialectic? (And, Lessons on Opposites o… Read More
2022-11-22 14:26
Story storms are sneaking, unconscious stories that our brains make out of patterned events. But that doesn't mean we're powerless.
The post Why Do Story Storms Happen? And, 1 Way to Take Yo… Read More
2022-11-15 15:38
The story we make around an otherwise random sequence of events can turn a handful of frustrating coincidences into something of significance in our minds and our bodies.
The post… Read More
2022-07-27 21:14
On a recent trip to Italy, a story — about Roman rice croquettes called supplí — that was years and generations in the making, finally came full circle.
The post History… Read More
2021-08-27 14:59
How do you write and share a good professional story online? This free 4-part tutorial includes a step-by-step process and mindset training.
The post How to Make Your Story Shine: 4-Step Tut… Read More
2021-07-16 16:23
About 4 out of 10 people feel anxious about socializing after isolation from the pandemic. Here are prompts and conversation starters to help fix that.
The post Anxious to Socialize? How to… Read More
2021-07-07 13:11
The words we choose build the 'house' in which we live. In this 10-question process, you'll use your imagination and awareness to select words to represent your intentions, moving forward.
T… Read More
2021-06-22 00:54
If we don't challenge old stories that we've since outgrown, we put ourselves at risk of being held back or feeling "stuck" in our old stories.
The post How to Release Old ‘Survival St… Read More
2021-04-29 13:31
A sincere and heartfelt ode to you — for how far you've come, how much you care, and all that's still left to come.
The post Your Call to Lead: You Are Still Only Just Getting Started… Read More
2021-04-28 20:27
Living our dreams is our own prerogative; we have to start the journey, ourselves. But ever solo act must eventually evolve.
The post Why the ‘Solo Act’ Starts Strong, Stalls, th… Read More
2021-04-28 20:18
The "choose your own adventure" story of your calling comes without a manual. We have to create the manual for ourselves.
The post How to Make Your Own Map (+ Escape the Cycle of Second-Gues… Read More
2021-04-26 13:36
Claiming a calling, like pursuing any goal, is not about following a certain map to find buried treasure. It's more like a "choose your own adventure" story.
The post You Are the Map: You ar… Read More
2021-04-19 15:20
A recap of last week's Community Roundtable event, plus, 3 client testimonial videos to explain why small-group coaching works so well for them.
The post 3 Coaching Clients Share How Small-G… Read More
2021-04-17 15:23
Thought leadership can mean becoming influential, shaping an industry, or simply leading from where you are — regardless of your followers or popularity.
The post What is a Thought Lea… Read More
2021-04-08 14:00
Self-knowledge as an ongoing and supportive practice helps us to stay apprised of our inner-worldly shifts and changes.
The post What Tools are in Your Self-Knowledge Toolbox? 5 Reflection P… Read More
2021-04-05 16:59
For years, I misunderstood what it meant to claim my calling. Redefining "self-knowledge" showed me the way back to the truth of it.
The post Self-Knowledge is a Verb, Not a Noun first appea… Read More
2021-04-01 15:40
"To claim" simply means "to call" or "to call out." Use this simple, 6-question prompt set to help you answer what's calling to you.
The post 6 Journaling Prompts to Help You Answer the Ques… Read More
2021-03-30 14:19
Changing our minds about our purpose, calling, passions, or life direction can oftentimes be met with dread or embarrassment. It should be celebrated.
The post What Does It Really Mean… Read More
2021-03-25 15:09
In Part Two of my reintroduction story, I share my dissolution song, and the series of mini-deaths that forced me to reexamine my identity.
The post My Reintroduction Story, Part Two (Or, My… Read More
2021-03-25 14:54
Honesty and trust are quintessential values of my business — and my life. Here's Part One of my reintroduction story to you.
The post My Reintroduction Story, Part One (Plus, How to Sh… Read More
2021-03-10 22:42
Let's take a look back at the first quarter of 2021 and consider what we've been taking for granted, or, in other words, appreciating lately.
The post Let’s Name Your Top 3 ‘Appr… Read More
2021-03-05 20:16
Here's how to replicate my process of reflecting upon the core qualities that have been guiding my self-storied practices and explorations lately, for yourself, in 6 simple questions.
T… Read More
2021-03-01 14:51
A story told may be a story written, but that does not mean that every story we tell is written in stone.
The post How I’m Applying 3 Key Principles to Support My Self-Storied Life Tod… Read More
2021-02-22 21:59
A story told is a story written: the stories that we believe in reinforce our understanding of reality. So, what is true, then
The post How Do We Stay Free in Our Stories… When Algori… Read More
2021-01-26 16:01
Let’s talk about this curious — and rather unsettling — experience that tends to happen whenever we choose to follow our dreams. If you’re called to lead — reme… Read More
2021-01-26 15:56
By and large, our society teaches us to think in straight lines when it comes to achieving our dreams. I've consistently found the process to be cyclical, just like the rest of nature.
The p… Read More
2021-01-23 13:35
Our society equates "leaders" to those with followers, but leadership is really a qualify of the heart. What does leadership mean to you? Use these 7 prompts to decide for yourself.
The post… Read More
2021-01-19 14:12
There are 6 types of creative entrepreneur, professional, self-starter, aspiring author and healer-teachers who Claim Your Calling℠ is ideally designed for. Here's what they'll do in t… Read More
2021-01-12 22:10
Claim Your Calling℠ surrounds you with the accountability, guidance, practice space, and supports that you require — so you can serve a world that so desperately needs your care… Read More
2021-01-12 21:45
We'll explore what it means to be “a leader” in today's world — because we are living in a time that is alarmingly absent of good, unifying, and responsible leadership.
The… Read More
2020-12-04 21:17
Some people in this life seem to exist with one sole purpose: to be a bridge. We need to stop undervaluing the work of bridges who connect people, ideas, and things.
The post Stop Under-Valu… Read More
2020-11-29 15:13
Have you learned, out of necessity, to exist in a tension between two worlds: the inner world and the outer world? If so, you're not alone.
The post Inner World, Outer World, and You In Betw… Read More
2020-11-27 19:28
Coaching is a process that aims to improve the performance, focus, and capacities of clients while unlocking their long-term potential for success.
The post What is Coaching? Top 3 Best Defi… Read More
2020-11-23 16:13
The ancient Tao te Ching tells us that stillness is a key to discovering the next right action; that endless action only confuses or muddies the waters.
The post The Case for Rest: A Lesson… Read More
2020-11-17 12:08
If you feel like you need a break and want to catch your breath, these three simple questions to journal or discuss with a loved one can help.
The post How to Catch Your Breath: 3 Prompts fo… Read More
2020-11-09 19:22
We made it onto NPR! In case you missed last week, a condensed version of a recent story that I shared with you made it onto my local NPR station, The Public’s Radio 89.3 FM! The story… Read More
2020-11-02 13:48
Asking yourself this question holds the power to help you stay in your own story, especially when circumstances feel beyond your individual control.
The post How Do You Want to Remember This… Read More
2020-10-26 15:02
We still possess personal power and authority to reclaim the stories of our years that feel as though they are being "told for us." Even in 2020.
The post 2020 Is Not Over Yet (The Story is… Read More
2020-10-19 19:46
How my family and I came to already have celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
The post Christmas in October (Or, Why My Holidays Are Al… Read More
2020-10-12 20:05
The only way some people know how to feel heard is through the sound of their car horn. In the end, it's a reflection of a human desire to feel heard.
The post Car-Horn People (Or, We All Wa… Read More
2020-10-04 11:22
A former college classmate sent along a memory worthy of embarrassment or fit potential blackmail, depending on your point of view.
The post The Embarrassing Photo that Arrived in a Text Mes… Read More
2020-09-29 14:47
Reasons why some in power (namely, those who are afraid to lose theirs), actively campaign to dissuade you from voting. Even in a democracy.
The post Why Powerful People Don't Want You to Vo… Read More
2020-09-21 16:52
I created a new, free micro-journaling program for you. The 3-Day Story Reset uses fill-the-blank prompts and reflection to spark mindful self-awareness for the story you've been living late… Read More
2020-09-15 22:55
Borrowed from the world of literary fiction-writing, this two-question process can help you streamline your decision-making abilities this week.
The post Try This 2-Question Trick (of Fictio… Read More
2020-08-31 12:02
Tools exist to serve you, not the other way around. These tools are the ones I've come to rely upon for living a self-storied life.
The post The Top 5 Tools I Rely Upon for Living a Self-Sto… Read More
2020-08-18 17:22
How my personal practices have shifted and changed, how I've been filling my days, where my business has been focused, and how my personal growth has been shaped in 2020 Read More
2020-08-10 19:35
2020 has been an unpredictable, unsteady, and challenging year. Here's an easy way to reset and realign your intentions for the remaining months of 2020 Read More
2020-05-14 16:07
Even as I grow older and "ought to know better," I don’t want mistakes, misgivings, or missteps to bring me into a downward spiral that makes me not try next time Read More
2020-04-28 00:32
Best-selling author Jennifer Louden kicks off Season 2 of 'Written, Spoken' by reading an excerpt from her new book, 'Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next' Read More
2020-04-27 21:53
In 2008, I went from White House intern to failed dog grooming applicant in 3 months. What I learned changed how I try to engage with a crisis today Read More
2020-04-19 20:55
We're all being tempted these days to default into either/or decision-making, and all-or-nothing storytelling Read More
2020-04-07 14:08
Mind-blowing books may be hard to come by, but this list of nonfiction and fiction books will inspire lots of growth, learning, and inspiration in your life Read More
2020-04-03 17:52
Before you ask what the future may hold, try asking, “What’s now?”, “What’s present?”, “What’s here?” and “What am I doing, feelin… Read More
2020-03-23 16:30
Got time to sit, think, and reflect? Start your writing practice now. Here are 5 writing prompts to help you build self-reliance during your self-quarantine Read More
2020-03-17 18:41
I’m on a voluntary 14-day self-quarantine after just having returned home from international travel as the COVID-19 outbreak really escalated throughout Europe Read More
2020-02-18 21:04
I'm teaching a 90-minute webinar on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at 3:30 PM ET featuring a 10-question quiz to help you predict and prevent potential pitfalls in 2020 Read More
2020-01-29 17:16
I celebrated my 34th birthday this month and thought it would be fun to reintroduce myself to you by sharing 34 things that you may not know about me Read More
2020-01-25 14:08
In our culture, we're obsessed with finding answers and reaching conclusions because it feels more safe and comfortable. But the unknown is actually freedom Read More
2020-01-24 21:33
The path to making sustainable and lasting change in your life is made in small, marginal, 1% changes and everyday choices. More free time is not required Read More
2020-01-20 18:12
What did the Sufi mystic poet Rumi mean when he said, "The words we speak become the house we live in"? Rumi meant that our words carry power in our lives Read More
2020-01-20 17:37
Happy New Year! Let’s begin our 2020 together with one of my favorite quotes from the poet Rumi, who said: “The words we speak become the house we live in.” I absolutely lo… Read More
2020-01-08 23:54
Featuring 16 fill-the-blank scripts to "story" your year in review and cultivate a natural sense of understanding for how your year unfolded for your benefit Read More
2019-12-31 19:42
Featuring 16 fill-the-blank scripts to "story" your year in review and cultivate a natural sense of understanding for how your year unfolded for your benefit Read More
2019-12-19 18:14
Mind-blowing books may be hard to come by, but this list of nonfiction and fiction books will inspire lots of growth, learning, and inspiration in your life Read More
2019-12-17 15:38
Of all that I fell in love with in 2019, one of the more surprising things was falling in love with the experience of being a coach: a title I have resisted for years Read More
2019-12-17 15:31
Here’s what I found myself sharing when that room full of White House staffers and Presidential Appointees asked what, exactly, I was doing with my life 11 years later Read More
2019-12-17 01:26
A warning story of trying to "go it all on your own" and chasing "straw man" projects that hide the goal beneath the goal you're chasing Read More
2019-09-24 19:36
Since childhood, I've complained about boredom. So I challenged myself to do one new, non-routine, non-habitual, unfamiliar thing every day for 100 days Read More
2019-09-24 19:31
In 2008, I was an intern at an office of the White House called the Council on Environmental Quality. 11 years later, a reunion invitation arrived in my inbox Read More
2019-09-21 12:10
It's one thing to believe that the words we use carry power. It's another to act like each and every word you use turns the Universe into a sort of spiritual Venmo by immediately delivering… Read More
2019-08-26 18:36
The tools upon which we have come to rely hijack what precious little space we possess Read More
2019-08-19 16:11
Can we agree on something? We all want things in our lives to get better. We want our salaries and savings to go up, and our credit card and student loan debts to go down. We want our famili… Read More
2019-08-14 20:44
Quitting my job 10 years ago was for beginnings, I now understand, not endings Read More
2019-08-14 20:44
In my head, I was silently saying to myself, "We already have a word for cool and that word is cool. Why would we need another?" Read More
2019-07-29 19:43
Not everything that we avoid means that there's something inherently soul expanding to learn from by unavoiding it Read More
2019-07-15 17:26
There's an unspoken language shared by some Parisians that I became aware of during my recent travels Read More
2019-07-08 20:03
Stories shape and influence our perceptions of life, who we are, and what we're capable of. Even a single word choice can contain within itself an entire story Read More
2018-02-13 14:42
All writers understand that words and stories make up the experience of our lives. So why do we keep breathing life into the story of writer’s block, a widespread and mysterious afflic… Read More
2018-02-08 16:23
This former CEO of a 2-time Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper wanted to get back into the world of family businesses. So Chip Rogers became a Story Shine client. Pairing professional expertis… Read More
2018-01-30 14:56
If you feel like your New Year started without having a chance to feel out and envision what you desire your 2018 to be, restart your New Year with these 10 intention-setting prompts to guid… Read More
2018-01-23 14:52
A round-up of recent reader-favorites from my blog. Consider this a sampler plate of the creative teachings I've been sharing across recent months, and what you can expect to come from me in… Read More
2018-01-17 14:37
If you don't think of yourself as a writer, you may be wondering what all my talk of writing has to do with you. That's a valid question! Here's my answer Read More
2018-01-03 15:43
Counting the number of words you write isn't the only (or the best) way to ensure you're making progress on your creative journey Read More
2018-01-03 15:40
I was sitting over a big bowl of phở gà in the Chinatown neighborhood of Boston last Saturday with my girlfriend Laura and two of her wonderful friends from out of town whe… Read More
2017-12-31 09:35
Unavoidable Writing is a writing course at the intersection of self-knowledge and self-expression. Experience soulful personal writing, beyond stress and anxiety Read More
2017-12-28 20:35
Boring stories, be damned. Here's a simple exercise to tell a more personally resonant (and all around interesting) story in conversation with those around you Read More
2017-12-28 20:35
As you feel and sense into the chance to join me in Peru, here's a writing prompt you can explore along with our guests on the stories you're living Read More
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