Author: Meg Soper
Meg’s 2020 Year End Reflections
Meg's retrospective on 2020 highlights the importance of health and family and how we lean in together when the going gets tough!
Read MoreStories of Resilience from the Front Lines of Retail
Learn stories of resilience from entrepreneurs in the housewares retail industry.
Read MoreIs Your Inner Narrator Behaving?
Given that we have somewhere around 50,000 thoughts a day, mindful self-compassion (being mindful of how we direct our mental energy) is important.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Building Resilience Part 6
Watch the final video of my six-part series where I help you find moments throughout the day to relax and unwind.
Read MoreKeeping It Together While Keeping Your Distance
Everything changed when the World Health Organization announced that we were officially in a pandemic. Here are some Tips for Resilience to help during these very challenging times.
Read MoreA 21-Day Nutrition Challenge That Will Change Your Life
While it’s no secret that healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle are key elements for healthy human development, actually putting this into practice can be challenging given the busyness of life. Take 21 days to focus on you!
Read MoreSpreading Awareness About Mental Illness by Joining the ‘Bell Let’s Talk Day’ Initiative
Let’s make a difference in 2020 by being mindful of our mental health and take steps towards spreading awareness. Join the #BellLetsTalk campaign to make a difference.
Read MoreA Merry ‘Resilience-filled’ Holiday!
I’d like to wish you and your family a resilience-filled holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Building Resilience Part 5
Watch the fifth video of my six-part series where I help you find moments throughout the day to relax and unwind.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Building Resilience Part 4
Watch the fourth video of my six-part series where I help you find moments throughout the day to relax and unwind.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Building Resilience Part 3
Watch the third video of my six-part series where I teach you how to build resilience and face life’s challenges head-on. Did you miss the second video? Catch up here!
Read MoreMeg’s Thoughts on Resilience
Resilience is a topic that both fascinates and puzzles. I mean, why is it that some people come back stronger than ever after tremendous hardship while others, who are blessed with love, support and promise, struggle to cope? If only resilience were something you could put in a bottle and take a swig of during life’s difficult moments.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Building Resilience Part 2
Watch the second video of my six-part series where I teach you how to build resilience and face life’s challenges head-on. Part 2 focuses on identifying your intentions for the day, and how to start your day with a healthy, positive mindset.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Building Resilience
Watch the first video of my six-part series where I teach you how to build resilience and face life’s challenges head on. This video focuses on mindfulness and how practicing it can help you start your day off right.
Read MoreRewire Your Brain and Inspire Yourself and Others in 2019!
There have been some discoveries in neuroscience of late that hold amazing possibilities for all of us. And the great news is that you don’t have to be a brain surgeon to put some of these discoveries to see tangible improvements in your quality of life and overall happiness.
Read MoreA Merry Mindful Holiday
December arrives and suddenly the pressure amps up: “Okay… now I really have to get things done!” It is a time of year where we can get hijacked by the busyness of it all, which is why I think it is a great time of year to practice mindfulness, and to take time to reflect and be grateful for what we have while we ready for the holidays.
Read MoreThe Secret Sauce of Effective Teams
I am often asked: Can you come and speak to our group about creating a positive work culture? It is a fascinating subject, and in previous blogs I have explored ideas about the ingredients of positive work culture and how individual diversity makes teams stronger. This piece centres on the “Secret Sauce” of high functioning teams.
Read MoreTaking Charge of Your Mental Energy
Being mindful of where we direct our mental energy can help us direct our attention to productive thoughts and ideas, which will make all the difference in building our resilience and enhancing our state of mind. This is particularly important in today’s hyper connected, always on world.
Read MoreCan Home-Cooked Meals Reduce Stress and Improve Health and Happiness? Take the #CEDOChallenge to Find Out!
As a motivational speaker, I talk a lot about managing stress, finding work-life balance, practicing mindfulness, and working to create a happier and healthier you! For me, taking some ‘Me’ time each day gives me something to look forward to, especially when it is one of those days when my back and neck start to tighten, and my breathing becomes shallow. I call this the “30 Minute Rule.”
Read MoreCreating a Culture of Teamwork and Collaboration
The merits of teamwork have long been known. In fact, I think it is fair to say that we humans owe much of our success to our basic instinct for collaborative behavior.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Staying Rightside Up When Everything Is Upside Down
Sometimes your world gets turned upside down – But what can you do to stay grounded and keep your head up?
Read MoreStarting a Career as a Baby Boomer and a Millennial: A Study in Contrasts
I remember my first day of work as though it were yesterday. I was a recent nursing school graduate and had accepted a position as a ward nurse at Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver. I had gone through numerous in person interviews, attended orientation sessions, and been subjected to a thorough grilling by nurse supervisors.
Read MoreLooking Back with Laughter
The world sure was different then, and so was I. My kids were 7 and 4, and life was chaotic as I juggled parenthood, a nursing career, and a couple of stand-up gigs a month.
Read MoreWant to Feel Happier, Healthier, and More Peaceful? Take the #May30for30 Challenge!
As a motivational speaker, I talk a lot about managing stress, finding work-life balance, practicing mindfulness, and working to create a happier and healthier you!
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Generation Z
Nothing is more inspiring than the determination of young people. Generation Z, or post-millennials, are people born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
Read MoreConflict Management in the Healthcare Industry
How can we each learn to best manage ourselves and our team within this challenging environment and avoid fanning the flame of conflict?
Read MoreCreating a Culture that Rocks – Let’s Sing from the Same Song Sheet
The event was put on by Seasons Retirement Living – a company that owns and operates 20 retirement communities in Ontario and Alberta.
Read MoreTaking Control: The Secret Weapon for Motivation
Every time the New Year rolls around, we hear lots of talk about goals – but those often get tossed to the side by the end of January, sometimes leaving us feeling more demotivated than ever!
Read MoreShifting Perspectives: Holiday Edition 2017
With the end of the year approaching and a “to do” list preparing for the holidays, I am inspired to touch on mindfulness!
Read MoreA Working Western Vacation–Summer 2017
The goal was simple enough: visit with the kids in Alberta, play some golf, then spend time with family and friends in BC. And as always, in your mind’s eye you picture the time as an idyllic venture that is filled with sunshine, relaxation, and happy gatherings. Of course, vacations rarely turn out that way.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Celebrating a Life Well Lived
It’s not easy to say goodbye, but when a loved one passes on we can remember the good times and celebrate a life well lived.
Read MoreCheck Out Meg’s Blog Featured on The Diabetes Council Website!
As a motivational speaker and Registered Nurse, I know a little something about staying motivated in our pursuit of a healthy life, particularly when it comes to dealing with health problems. That’s why my article was recently featured on TheDiabetesCouncil.com, all about keeping motivated when diabetes comes calling.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Making a Positive Impact
No matter what we do for a living – or what we do in our lives – we have an opportunity every day to make a positive impact on the people we encounter.
Read More4 Small Steps to Help Educators Achieve Better Work-Life Balance
Every fall when I see all the displays at the store for back to school supplies, I reflect on all my years as a student. There’s a certain feeling in the air at this time of year, as so many gear up to return to school.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Leading by Example
Inspiration is everywhere. We don’t need to be the CEO or the manager to show leadership; we just need to lead by example and lift up the people around us.
Read MorePersonalities in the Workplace: The Toughest Nut to Crack
Colleagues in the workplace will always have their differences – but ultimately, the best teams are made up of DIVERSE personalities!
Read MoreLessons Learned as a Professional Motivational Speaker – Everyone Has a Story
Storytelling can break down barriers. Whether it is a room of 7 or 100 people, it offers endless possibilities for discovery. As a professional motivator, I help bring stories to the surface – because that is where the magic happens.
Read MoreLessons Learned as a Professional Motivational Speaker
We all need a lift in our lives. I love being able to deliver that ‘lift.’ Like a cup of coffee with legs.
Read MoreHere’s to an AmEHzing Canada 150!
As we approach our nation’s 150th birthday, it seems appropriate to reflect on what defines us as Canadians. Of course there are the usual Canadian stereotypes– you know, the polite, hockey-loving folks who wear toques, eat back bacon, swill maple syrup, and who are prone to saying ‘Eh?’
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Humor in Adversity
Everyone faces adversity in life – but it’s how we react to adversity that makes the difference. Finding humor in your situation and looking at the positives are powerful mechanisms for keeping the stressors from getting you down.
Read MoreIn the Comfort Zone? Try Stepping Out!
Often it is fear of failure or lack of confidence that holds us back. So we stick with what we know and hang back in the ‘comfort zone.’
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: The Bathroom Incident
Does ‘First Come, First Served’ apply in the realm of a public washroom, or not?
Read MoreTaming Your Inner Reptile: Meg’s Tips for Controlling Brain Chatter
We all live with ‘Brain Chatter’. You know, those times when your attention is held hostage by a loop of negative thoughts or emotions, sapping your energy and productivity.
Read MoreMeg in Action: Strathroy Middlesex Hospital Nurses Week Celebration [Video]
Watch me in action in our latest video from Strathroy Middlesex Hospital at their Nurses Week Celebration!
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Simple Steps for Managing Your Health
“I wish I learned what I know now about managing health 30 years ago!”
Read MoreYour Mental Mindset – Wisdom from Professional Golfer Victoria Lovelady
I recently had the pleasure of meeting a woman professional golfer from Brazil by the name of Victoria Lovelady.
Read MoreHealthier, Happier, Smarter: We Choose How We Live Our Lives
I recently presented to a group of event planners on the subject of “Managing Stress and Finding Work-Life Balance”.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: 3 Steps for Surviving the Winter
How do we stay on track and stay positive for the winter season?
Read MoreWhat’s Nutrition Got to Do with It? Take the 21 Day Challenge!
You’re probably wondering why a professional motivational speaker is bothering to talk about nutrition in her blog…
Read MoreTips over the Edge – Skiing, Family, and Tackling Hurdles in 2017
Ski holidays have been a mainstay for our family for nearly 20 years. This January, we found ourselves in the mountains of BC.
Read MoreMeg’s Vlog: Being Inspired and Setting Goals for 2017
Welcome to my first vlog post! These vlogs will be short videos about my thoughts and experiences as I make my way through the challenges and uplifting moments of everyday life.
Read MoreShifting Perspectives: The Holiday Edition
The holiday season is an emotional powderkeg. It is a time to gather with family – to honor tradition and give thanks.
Read MoreThe Ripple Effect of Negative Energy
Our daughter Mads – a millennial – is in her final year at Dalhousie University, and is working for a catering company in Halifax to help pay her way through school.
Read MoreThe Corporate Thriver: Four Steps to Achieving Better Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is important in every industry – so why do so many of us in the corporate world take our own well-being for granted?
Read MoreMy Parental Playbook: The Empty Nest Revisited
We had just adjusted to a millennial-free home when about five months ago, my oldest kid boomeranged back after two years of “the year of Will”.
Read MoreWhat a Female Motivational Speaker Brings to the Table
Every motivational keynote speaker brings their own unique energy and personal background to the platform.
Read MoreHead Down? Put Your Helmet On!
Have you ever gotten so immersed in something that you fail to notice what is going on around you, forget an important commitment, or miss out on something more important than your immediate goal or activity?
Read MoreThe Four Personality Styles Part 4
Have you ever wondered why it is that some people attract us and others repel us? Now, let’s consider the final type of behavioral style – the Director.
Read MoreThe Four Personality Styles Part 3
Have you ever wondered what factors are at work to explain why some people attract us and others repel us? We have now come to look at the third type – the Analytical.
Read MoreThe Four Personality Styles Part 2
Have you ever wondered what factors are at work to explain why some people attract us and others repel us? For our second blog in this series, let’s focus on The Socializer.
Read MoreThe Four Personality Styles Part 1
Have you ever wondered what factors are at work to explain why some people attract us and others repel us? Let’s begin this series on Personality Styles by considering The Supporter.
Read More8 Strategies for Effective Conflict Management in the Workplace
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
Read MoreThe 30 Minute Rule: Make it Yours!
How well do you take care of yourself? Really well? Kinda well? Not so well, but ready to take it up a notch?
Read MoreMotivational Speaking Events: Do They Improve Employee Engagement?
Successful organizations aren’t built by hard numbers and cold facts – they’re built through the dedication, commitment, and effort of their people. The hard numbers and cold facts are the result, not the cause.
Read MoreThe Importance of Work-Life Balance in the Healthcare Industry
Work-life balance is essential in every industry – for every professional, employee, and executive.
Read MoreWhy Use Humor as a Motivational Tool in the Workplace?
Humor is the Swiss Army Knife of life-tools. Humor relieves stress, brings people closer together, and is persuasive.
Read MoreThe Sandwich and the Cat
For something that sounds like it should be delicious, being in the sandwich generation can be challenging.
Read MoreChange? Bring it on … I can take it!
Change can be subtle or change can be sudden. But one thing is sure...change never sleeps, as some recent happenings in Meg's life make clear.
Read MoreGenerations & the Workplace: “Now Let’s All Just Get Along!”
The changing nature of work in the Information Age - and its implications for how the different generations choose to interact as they vie for rewarding and productive careers.
Read MoreDo Less, Live More!
A book review that considers how taking a more minimalist approach to possessions can liberate our souls!
Read MoreMy Favorite Season?
Meg wades in to debate why summertime may be her favorite season...or not?
Read MoreMaking Your Event a Success: Five Key Ingredients
As a professional speaker who has delivered hundreds of keynote presentations and workshops over the years, I have had many opportunities to listen to audience feedback about what contributed to the success of an event.
Read MoreReflections On Hitting The Big Two Five
"Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut, and a woman who can't sleep with the window open." George Bernard Shaw
Read MoreWant To Be a Better Problem Solver?
While some debate whether Einstein actually said this, there is little doubt that he was a brilliant problem solver, who took the time to get absolutely clear about the nature of any problem he set out to solve.
Read MoreWhat Is Your Problem Solving Style?
Many of the client organizations I work with today are faced with complex challenges that call for teamwork and collaboration to solve. This blog will delve into the dynamics of problem solving from the standpoint of individual problem solving styles.
Read MoreRacing With The Sun
Vacations shouldn’t feel like a race against the clock. But for a few hours this one sure did. To read about Meg and her family’s exciting escape to El Salvador click on the link…
Read MoreDoing Nothing Well
Those who know me know I don’t do ‘nothing’ well. As in sitting around, doing nothing.
Read MoreSpring Cleaning
After months of being cooped inside, many Canadians embrace a trip to the dump as one of those classic springtime rituals. This year we seized upon the opportunity to rid ourselves of monumental amounts of obsolete electronics: computers, keyboards, cables, outdated cell phones, malfunctioning VCRs, a mass tangle of assorted cables and a 12 year old big screen TV that weighed about as much as a Smart car.
Read MoreErr Canada (or How Our National Airline Nearly Stole Christmas)
Vacations should reduce stress, right? That was our aim when we plunked down a small fortune for a fun in the sun holiday last Christmas. Day 1: Departure.
Read MoreWhen Life Dares You to Complain
Our amazing profession bonds together wide-eyed new graduates and wily veterans alike because the work we do touches people in every community across this country.
Read MoreStrap on the Seatbelt…
Have you ever initiated a conversation and then watched it stray off course? You blurt out something and then wish a suction device could kick in and hoover back the offending words … let you start all over?
Read MoreFollow the Sun (And Daughter)
We have been climbing hard for over three hours and find ourselves perched upon the Dragon’s Back, a slender ledge of rock on the upper slopes of Mount Rundle in Banff National Park.
Read MoreSometimes Intuition Ain’t Worth Beans
In my last blog I urged you to ‘Strap on the Seatbelt and Have the Conversation.’ But what happens when the going gets really tough? As in when the person on the other end of the conversation isn’t quite playing by your set of rules?
Read MoreMore News from the Empty Nest
Almost exactly a year before the above noted exchange with my daughter, Maddy, I was experiencing my first taste of empty nester’s syndrome as we sent her off to university in Halifax. Now it seemed I had a different kind of nest to worry about.
Read MoreMy Parental Playbook: The Final Chapter
We have just driven a rusted, decrepit minivan across eastern North America to deliver our daughter to University.
Read MoreBlack Holes, Chainsaws & Other Life Lessons From North of Superior
For a true city girl, taking the road less travelled can be a little daunting, particularly in the dead of winter, North of Superior. But one of the joys of my profession is travelling across this amazing country, meeting people of all walks, and hearing their unique stories. As an added benefit, for someone who doesn’t know the difference between what is due north and what is a dew worm, my vocation offers a firsthand opportunity to make up for a lack of proficiency in the subject of Canadian geography.
Read MoreLooking After What is Important?
Spring has arrived. And as I peer out the living room window, I see stark reminders of the things that need tending. The lawn, for one, is already a mass of weeds.
Read MoreHumour Helps us Kick the Covers off in the Morning
Whether you are a wide eyed graduate or wily veteran, this amazing profession bonds us together because our work touches people everywhere across this vast nation. You may have to travel a desolate logging road to a remote First Nation community or brave the mayhem of a 16 lane highway in your daily commute to work, but once there we are bonded by a single powerful thread: the work we each do makes a big difference in the lives of our patients, clients, colleagues and residents.
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