How to Deal with Crisis and Difficult Times

How to Deal with Crisis and Difficult Times

Crises come in all different magnitudes, but they’re all anxiety-provoking, and that usually causes people to avoid them or tune out the pain and difficulty they bring.

But when you do that, you’re turning a blind eye to a beautiful and miraculous process. Difficult times are a prerequisite for growth, and crises are the signs of a life fully lived.

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How to Talk to Difficult People . . . and Be Glad You Did

How to Talk to Difficult People . . . and Be Glad You Did

If you’ve ever had to contend with a toxic coworker, a relative who gives you a hard time, or someone else you feel stuck with, who torments you, then you may have felt helpless to do anything but fight fire with fire. But there’s another option: be wise and strategic in your response, to defuse conflict and use the situation for your personal growth. Here’s how to do it.

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Hurt Feelings: When Are They Too Much?

Hurt Feelings: When Are They Too Much?

As good as social connection can be, it also leaves us vulnerable to being hurt by others. Here's how best to cope with it when it happens. Also, how hurt feelings can point to things inside you that could use some attention.

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When You're in a Toxic Friendship: The Healthy Way Forward

When You're in a Toxic Friendship: The Healthy Way Forward

When you're in a toxic relationship with a friend who has an "all-access pass" to you, the pain can cut right to your core. Here's a framework for rationally assessing the situation and moving forward with a minimum of distress. 

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Three Communication Habits You Need for a Successful New Marriage (Or Any Other Relationship)

Three Communication Habits You Need for a Successful New Marriage (Or Any Other Relationship)

Relationships seem easy in the honeymoon phase . . . and it's easy to fall into bad habits. It's actually the perfect time to establish healthy communication styles that will bear fruit for years to come.

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Embracing the Imperfect Mother

Embracing the Imperfect Mother

Moms often feel internal and external pressure to be perfect. Here I break down the "perfect mother" myth and give some tips for taking care of yourself, and appreciating how good you are already. 

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How to Make Room For the Sublime in Your Life

How to Make Room For the Sublime in Your Life

If you've ever been awestruck by something you witnessed, and saw the world in a new way afterward, then you've experienced the aesthetically sublime. Turns out, the conditions you need for those experiences happen to be similar to those for a sublime life. 

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How to Cope With Toxic People, Part Two

How to Cope With Toxic People, Part Two

In this follow-up, I propose considering difficult people separately from their deeds. It's how you can approach (and leave) your relationships with them in a wise and compassionate way works for you.

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How to Cope With Toxic People, Part One

How to Cope With Toxic People, Part One

So-called "toxic" people act in opposition to happiness and healthy functioning—theirs and yours. Here, I explore how you can begin to understand and work with such people, and the dangers you face.  

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Balancing Independence and Connection

Balancing Independence and Connection

Society's emphasis on independence sometimes minimizes our fundamental connection to each other. Whether you're walking down the street or talking to your partner, every action and non-action affects them, and you.

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