Not everyone feels uplifted by the pressure to express or celebrate love on a single day. Some people might feel excluded, overwhelmed, or even pressured by traditional expectations. Consider these perspectives: Expanding the Celebration: Galentine’s, Singles, and Self-Love In recent years, several alternative celebrations have emerged around Valentine’s Day to honor a broader spectrum of […]
Did you know October 19 was “Evaluate Your Life Day”? It’s a time for self-reflection on your past experiences, achievements, and challenges, and to assess where you stand. But how exactly do you evaluate your life? Which experiences should you reflect on? Which achievements should matter? What challenges should you focus on? Self-evaluation is a […]
September 17 is designated as Time’s Up Day. Doesn’t it sound ominous? It is ominous because it can make the difference between your own Mental Freedom® and lifelong regrets. Last month, I was made all too aware of how short life is and what it could be like to leave this world with things left […]
August 22 is designated Be an Angel Day to remind people that no matter what is happening in their lives, they can be angels on earth by demonstrating genuine kindness, compassion, and respect. I hear about how we need to “provide for our own” before helping others, but who do you consider to be “your […]
I don’t know about you, but I’m dissatisfied with the lack of civility these days. Civility is not about being “woke;” it’s about recognizing that people can be civil with one another despite holding different viewpoints. I don’t have to force you to think like me to make my views legitimate, and we don’t have […]
July 30 is the International Day of Friendship, while July is Social Wellness Month. These two observances naturally complement each other. Social wellness is about strengthening relationships with supportive, encouraging people and reducing time with those who criticize and drain you. Practicing Mental Freedom can prevent other people from impacting your moods negatively, but it […]
In our many decades of working with people in the business world, clients of social services, and regular everyday people, one thing seems to be universally true: Everybody is dealing with life, and life can be hard. Many people don’t want others to know that they are struggling. Just look at your social media feeds—what […]
For February, the Month of Love, I’d like to discuss a big part of my work: helping couples improve their relationships. Every relationship can be improved, of course; none are perfect. However, when the main issue is a lack of understanding, rather than something deeper like resentment or betrayal, a little bit of effort can […]
Recently, I read an article by Richard Sima in The Washington Post (Love language advice for couples isn’t backed by science, new research shows) and I felt inspired to present an alternative view. I have been a licensed counselor since 1996. In 2010, I wrote the award-winning, bestselling book, Secrets of Happy Couples, and I […]
Did you know that Aug. 25-31 has been designated “Be Kind to Humankind Week”? I find that both wonderful and sad at the same time—wonderful because it is great to have a week assigned to something so powerful and sad because humans need to be reminded to be kind to one another. Kindness is something […]
