He walks into the room. You immediately notice. Something about him draws you. He pulls you into conversation and commands the attention of the people around you. You walk away and think, “I like him and enjoyed his company.” That person exudes charm! The question is, are you born with charm? Do you have it or not? Is it a characteristic…
There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on the trend to defer marriage among Millennials and Gen Zs. The need to marry is on the decline given the rise in cohabitation, fear of divorce and self-sufficiency, among other factors. This trend is based on the idea that young people should focus on exploring their careers…
How many times do we ask people, “How are you feeling?” Is that a good question? Should we be asking this question on a regular basis? The answer may surprise you. Of course, we want to be attuned to emotional needs. But when we keep asking how a child feels moment to moment in a day, we signal the child that his or her happiness is the main…
Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Spring is in the air, flowers are beginning to push out of the ground, birds are singing and building their nests. All signs point to new life and a new beginning as winter fades and loses strength. Like the seasons, Easter is a reminder of Christ’s darkest days giving way to light. Out of the winter…
Do you have or need adult friends? Finding those friends can be somewhat challenging given our busy lives. But researchers confirm, friends are critical to a happy life. In fact, a 2023 Pew research survey on friendship reported that 61% of adults in the U.S. say that having close friends is essential to living a fulfilling life-…
Cameron is like so many people in life, drifting aimlessly and wondering why he is here. He wakes up every day with a sense of dread and anxiety. He is not alone. Some say we have a crisis of purpose in our culture. Too many people feel the same way as Cameron. When the book, The Purpose Driven Life, was released by Pastor Rick Warren…
If you struggle with depression, you may not be thinking about how your lifestyle plays into your mood. In fact, there are lifestyle changes you can make that can boost your mood. Here are a few of those changes to consider making. 1. The food/gut connection with mood: The gut is sensitive to emotions. Approximately 90% of your serotonin…
Have you ever thought, “If he/she would just change, things would be better?” But when you pressed for change, the person dug in their heels and was stubborn. Despite your pleas or best efforts to persuade, nothing really happened. Then, you are left frustrated and disappointed. Author Michael McQueen calls this tendency for people…
Have you ever thought, “I am in a relationship, but I feel alone?” I call this alone together, the feeling of not being connected to an intimate other. Yes, you are physically together, but the relationship feels more like going through the motions. When this happens, changes need to be made to build back connection and intimacy.…
Disappointment happens all the time. People let us down and it hurts. But we never get used to being disappointed. For example, your father promised to take you to the Cubs game. He didn’t. Your wife said she would make time for physical intimacy. She didn’t. Friends promised to call you on the weekend. They never phoned. While you…
