I don’t often hear individuals talk a lot about “Joy”, but man, do they ever talk about happiness. And why shouldn’t they? I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy? Everybody does. We are in the constant pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, many are on an endless quest to find happiness. They go to Disneyland five…
Now that may sound like a strange question, but I continue to see couples who are married – but aren’t friends. I sat with a client yesterday who pointed out what a great guy her husband is and how everyone likes him. But when it is just the two of them, it doesn’t always go…
No doubt, you have heard your child proclaim, at least they are convinced, this profound truth – “Everybody has one!” They could be talking about just about anything – the newest Barbie doll, a remote-control airplane, a virtual reality console, and so on. While it may annoy you, as you are highly suspicious that not…
For many couples, this can be a trigger word. I have certainly worked with spouses who are both pretty spontaneous, which typically works OK. However, the bigger challenges are faced by those husbands and wives where one is spontaneous and the other is not. There are those who like to fly by the seat of…
According to University Lecturer, Steve Taylor, PhD., when we have purpose, life becomes less complicated and less stressful. He states, “We become mono-focused, like an arrow flying towards its target, and our mind feels somehow taut and strong, with less space for negativity to seep in. We also become more resilient and able to overcome…
They are not fun to talk about, but we all have them – difficult seasons. Marriages seem to have several of them – the honeymoon (yes, for some this can be a challenging time); the new baby years; the everybody needs to be at their fill in the blank activity (soccer practice, band competition, gymnastics…
Cultural theorist, Paul Virilio, stated, “Invent the ship and you invent the shipwreck.” This statement has been applied to the internet and all that comes with it – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Just as a ship can help you travel the world, they also are capable of sinking. Where the internet maybe…
“What do you mean, am I defensive? What are you saying about me? Maybe I sometimes stick up for myself when somebody is attacking me? And, well, I may at times feel as though I have to explain why I did something. But defensive, why would you say that?” We have all been there. Someone…
According to the annual World Happiness Report, published by the University of Oxford, the United States ranks 24th out of 176 countries. This is the lowest ranking for the U.S. since tracking began in 2012. The number one country, for eight years in a row, is Finland, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. The U.S.…
You are cleaning the kitchen after dinner. As you wiping down the countertops, your mate asks, “Why are you using that scrubber to clean the counters?” Immediately, you find yourself in defensive mode, trying to explain, justify, and defend your actions. Maybe, he or she, is just asking out of curiosity, but you are feeling…