How do you spiral gratitude?
Spirals are powerful. Mother Nature has reminded us recently in a pretty big way. While our language is full of negative images about spirals (spiral out of control, downward spiral), a spiral is just power, you decide the direction or application through intention....
End the year with an Impact – Spiral!
As 2013 draws to a close, I am offering Spiral Impact in a fun convenient way: Introduction to Spiral Impact® Lunch n' Learn for your People (Breakfast or Tea Time works too) 75- 90 minutes 15 People Max Introduce your people to a way to honorably interact And bring...
3 Magic Words
I went to a treacherous place...talking politics with people of different perspectives. It went well; I Spiral Impacted it! Repeating these three magic words made it possible: Tell me more. These words opened up a fascinating productive dialogue. Coupled with...
Change – Ouch!
Updated from 2013 to 2020! Grrgh! The coronavirus has dictated a change in how I practice my beloved art, Aikido, for a while now. While frustrating, it has forced me to reconsider the intent of my practice. My intent is to study relationship, honor, and self. ...
What is the other side of conflict?
When I speak on the subject of conflict resolution, I ask a volunteer to throw me a punch - in 29 years only two people have whole-heartedly felt comfortable doing so. Why is that? The 'punch' is a physical metaphor of a verbal engagement; I believe most people don't...
Even water has a goal
Two common life strategies are “going with the flow” and “setting goals.” Over the years, I’ve experimented with both these strategies, neither by itself get results for me. I’ve learned, ultimately, that the best example for living is as a river. The river has a very...
Taking a break from leading to follow
Welcome Lauren Windle, guest blogger! Ahhhhhh… yes! Those were my spacey, blissed out feelings after a particularly good yoga class as I settled comfortably into savasana last week at a nearby yoga studio. Not so extraordinary, you might think, that’s what yoga is all...
Yanked around?
Smooth and magical describes aikido done well. There is a subtle joyous quality to the movement. Once you experience it, you want it again and again just like in all great relationships. Recently on the aikido mat I felt yanked around by my practice partner. I...
Book Review: Mistrial
Mark Geragos and Pat Harris wrote a book Mistrial that every conscientious citizen should read. It is well written, entertaining, and enlightening. I’ve always admired Mark for his calm clear presence when interviewed by Larry King or Anderson Cooper. My daughter is...
Grace at the Post Office
Friday afternoon I was at the post office; there were about 10 people in line waiting to deal with a real person. I was at the automated mailing machine about 6 feet away. The mundane atmosphere was broken, kind of like birds react when a hawk is near, I witnessed a...
The house is on fire! And, conflict resolution
The fire is now out; safeguards are in place. Although, I still feel a little weary and anxious because the real cause hasn’t been identified yet. I’d like a complete resolution. While my life work is with leaders, teams and conflict, this was an actual electrical...
Spiral Daily
How do you ready yourself to communicate with another? "You must be a martial artist because you bow to me when we begin," someone said to me at a meeting. While funny, there is deep lesson to be learned here. The martial bow is about honoring the interaction,...
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Karen Valencic
Martial artist. Engineer. Best-selling author. Sought-after consultant.