Sometimes we need to reboot our lives, much like restarting a frozen computer screen when nothing else will. When we’re feeling wired and tired, we can slow down long enough to ask ourselves, “Is this depression or depletion?” Frequently it’s the latter. When we’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long, things […]

As the New Year approaches, you may be evaluating what has transpired this year, and what you’d like to experience in the year to come. The following questions may help you to constructively and compassionately consider where you’ve progressed during this year, where possibly you’ve taken some unexpected or unhelpful detours, and where you’d like […]

What constitutes trauma or adversity? Essentially anything that causes physical or psychological pain or injury. This includes personal illness or injury, witnessing the same in someone else, natural disasters, enduring abuse, the death of someone close to us, job loss, addiction, financial problems, relationship difficulties, and incarceration. The range and magnitude of trauma is vast. […]

Be it in work or personal situations, the ability to communicate effectively can make the difference between a cooperative and enlightening conversation and a combative and anxiety-provoking argument. In the longer run, good communication can deepen and enrich a relationship which poor communication might otherwise damage or even end. Some tips for better communication: Let […]

In any relationship we are bound to have differences with our partner. This is all the more true when we’re in a close, committed relationship which means a great deal to us – so much is at stake. Given no two people are exactly alike, our goal should be to develop skills in the area […]

How do you usually respond when life just isn’t going the way you want it to? Maybe your spouse forgot your birthday, you got a flat tire on that day when you simply have to get to an important meeting, or you received a scary health diagnosis. What to do? Yes, you could yell at […]

Ah, relationships. They run the gamut from exhilarating, passionate, and deeply intimate to combative, estranged, and hostile. For some of us, there are numerous and widely varying adjectives we would use to describe our current relationship. Since relationships consist of two inherently imperfect people who are continuing to learn and grow (preferably for the better), […]

“I never finish anything I start”. “He’s a complete loser.” “She always gets everything she wants.” At times, do you make extreme statements like these? Do you view things in all-or-nothing terms? If so, how does this habit affect your life? Do you have a hunch that it’s getting in the way of your happiness, […]

You may think that you know your spouse on a deep level. And certainly you “get” your best friend. As for your child, well, who would understand them better than you? Or is this really this case? Even if we see someone frequently and talk with them often, it doesn’t necessarily follow that we truly […]

When we hear the word “mindfulness”, many of us think about how being more mindful could benefit our physical health, reduce our anxiety, help us perform better at our job, or deepen our spirituality. Being more mindful can certainly bring about these changes. However, mindfulness can also strengthen our relationships with other people. How does […]