The Hidden Horrors of Psychological Abuse
One of the most subtle forms of abuse in a relationship is emotional abuse. Physical abuse is something that can be easily recognized (although, not always); however, emotional abuse is often an unseen terror. The signs can be hard for people on the outside to recognize AND oftentimes for the victim themselves to see […]
How to Choose YOUR Word of the Year
In my last blog, I mentioned my annual tradition of carefully choosing a word each year as a sort of mantra to help shape my goals and values. Mine for 2023 is bittersweet. It is so eloquently said by Susan Cain, who authored the book by the same name, “Bittersweetness is a tendency to states […]
Word of the Year
It is that time of year where it behooves us to take inventory of the year that is coming to a close and, at the same time, begin making plans on how we want to embrace the next chapter (albeit, a calendar-based transition). I love the feeling I get during the second half of December […]
Blended Christmas
This year we will have fourteen people at our Christmas dinner table. This includes my mom and her husband, as well as our six kids plus four of their significant others. I can only imagine the additional pandemonium at our home once grandkids are part of the picture. It is fun to have a buzzing […]
What Twelve Step Programs Can Teach You About Dealing with Chaos
Twelve-step programs have helped millions of adults who felt like their life was spinning out of control. Even if you’re not addicted to alcohol or gambling, their philosophy may help you when external events make your situation seem unmanageable. Maybe your life has been disrupted by health issues or job loss. Maybe your relationships are […]
9 Things Emotionally Healthy People Do
9 Things Emotionally Healthy People Do You know a few emotionally healthy people. Their relationships seem to go smoothly. They get their work done on time. Happiness appears to be their most common emotional state. They don’t have financial challenges. They maintain healthy body weight. They don’t seem to be any more talented or intelligent […]
A Pro-Active Path to Having a Healthy Relationship With Yourself
If someone asked you about the important relationships in your life, you’d probably start listing your family and friends. However, there’s one name that you may forget to mention. We often overlook our relationship with ourselves. It can be difficult to find time for yourself when you’re busy trying to keep up with responsibilities at […]
15 Tips for a Happy Marriage
No one enters a marriage expecting to become a negative statistic. Marriage can be hard work, but there are many things you can do to enhance the odds of success. The little things matter. Small gestures and habits lead to success. Help your marriage to thrive: Keep your commitments. It doesn’t matter whether you promised […]
How To Get Out Of Toxic Friendships
Breaking up with someone you love is a complicated process. But what’s more difficult to comprehend is ending a friendship. When you consider the amount of history both of you share, you might feel tempted to stay put in a toxic relationship. That may mean putting up with a lot of drama, unhealthy events, and […]
12 Important Conversation Skills For Couples
When you’re a couple, your conversation skills can draw you closer together or drive you apart. Do you give each other love and support, or do you resort to nagging and shutting down? You might assume that loving your partner would be enough, but most of us can benefit from practicing interacting effectively. In fact, […]