All my life, I’ve heard super-thoughtful, highly skilled and good-hearted friends with tons to offer the world talk about awesome projects they never finish. Or maybe even start. That’s been me too.

Maybe, like me, you grew up with everything second guessed and analyzed and you still hear that parental inner critic. (My dad was a professor, so don’t get me started.)

Maybe you struggle with destructive patterns—active addictions, compulsive behaviors and codependence—reacting instead of building the life you want.

Maybe you feel certain there’s an easier way. Well, you can live more serenely on this wonderful crazy noisy planet. You’ll get more done, but more, it’s about feeling aligned, no longer controlled by anxiety and doubt—in the flow and flourishing.

If this is resonating with you, I want you to know it is possible to quiet the noise and move into the life you know you could live. I know because I’ve proved it in my own life and for those I’ve already been working with.

I’m thrilled to finally share this with all of you because maybe you’re struggling with the same issues, or know someone who is.

I’m entering a moment of professional transition, but to what I don’t yet know. I’ve got several projects in the works but haven’t figured out which to pursue, or how to weave them together. Phil is a thoughtful listener who has a comfortable presence, is easy to talk with, and asks good questions. One of his questions generated a bona fide “aha moment” when I saw the very center of the project that has most caught my heart. Not only was it the center of this project, but it is also the center of a vocation that I’ve long stepped away from. This took me by surprise, though it was the most obvious thing once I saw it. In a flash I saw that 1) that call is still present, and 2) this project could lead me right back to it. This single insight from working with Phil got me to begin envisioning how the threads of my various projects might come together. I scheduled time to talk with two colleagues to begin dreaming and planning together, and I’m already talking with one of them about crafting a program. — The Rev. Liz Edman

I came to Phil asking, Can I live with the consequences of writing a memoir? Is it worth the labor? Phil has an extraordinary calm about him, and a way of asking very gentle questions that open up possibilities for people they might not have considered. He broke me out of the rigid binary, “If I do this, then this must automatically follow.” After working with Phil, I decided to go ahead and commit to making my Substack primarily, if not exclusively, a vehicle for memoir writing—something I’d be on the fence about for months—and am getting started creating a template for a memoir out of my already written work. Working with Phil is a very worthwhile investment to get clarity on what you’re unsure about, and to see possibilities you haven’t considered. — Hugo

I am wrestling with work/life balance and management skills. Working with Phil, I saw how the skills I need are learn-able, not a reflection of my personhood or character. Also, I am working towards ordination in the Presbyterian church (PCUSA) and planning on next steps. With Phil, I felt not only validation but affirmation of a calling to move forward. Phil is approachable and listens deeply. His reflections are thoughtful and I appreciated the way he shared examples from his life story which validated my feelings and connected with my experiences. He has a deep and reverent spirit which is easy to connect with. — Suzanne Campise

I came to Phil feeling stuck with how to frame my thinking re: a writing project. Phil was supportive, wise, practical. He gave me encouragement and honesty and I’ve returned to simple, daily writing. — Mark Genszler