Identify 6 Key Interpersonal Skills
“Man is a knot into which relationships are tied.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Relationships are inextricably linked to human life. We depend on one another for connection, meaning, and a sense of purpose. While developing one’s core sense of identity and self-sufficiency are invaluable to our development into strong dynamic adults, we are not separate…
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How to Accept the Unknown “Self”
“A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery Is it really possible to ever completely know ourselves? For many of us, we sometimes think, feel, or behave in ways that “don’t seem like us.” What does this really mean? …
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Identify 5 Common Obstacles to Mindfulness
“Do you have patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving until the right action arises by itself?” – Lao Tzu When we are beginning to learn about and practice mindfulness as a new habit in our everyday lives, it is natural to experience some frustration. We…
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6 Glimpses Into the Crystal Ball – Part Two
“How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I’m committed to?” – Tony Robbins Are you ready to learn about three more glimpses into the crystal ball of character? The cover article of the May/June 2011 issue of Psychology Today explores six fascinating clues to character. These final three traits/indicators…
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6 Glimpses Into the Crystal Ball – Part One
“Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.” – Jawaharal Nehru The May/June 2011 issue of Psychology Today boasts a fascinating cover story about “Six Clues to Character.” These six enduring traits or personal attributes have been proven to be…
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6 Loving Relationship Agreements
In yesterday’s post, 5 Loving Relationship Assumptions, we learned about how to build a solid relationship foundation upon a few basic assumptions. While these loving relationship assumptions are a wonderful place to begin to come together as a couple, we need explicit agreements between ourselves and our partners about how to put these assumptions into…
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5 Loving Relationship Assumptions
Sometimes it is easy to forget what brings us together in relationships when problems arise. When they do occur, it is important to remain united as a couple against what Dr. John Gottman, world renowned marriage/relationship researcher and therapist, calls the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? These four unhealthy communication styles…
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Using “D-E-A-R M-A-N” to Get What You Want
What on earth is D-E-A-R M-A-N and how is it supposed to help you get what you want in relationships? Good question. This mnemonic device was developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan as a component of Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help remind people of the basic skills involved in getting what you want in relationships in…
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How to Understand Urges & Actions Associated with Emotions
Emotions are intricate complex processes that are much more than “just feelings.” When our emotions become activated or triggered by something in the internal or external environment, the whole body gets in on the action by responding in particular ways. A big part of learning how to gain a sense of knowledge and mastery over…
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Social Connectedness Makes Our Hearts Beat Together
Is it any real surprise to learn that it is easier to empathize with people who are emotionally and socially close to you? A recent article posted on BPS Research Digest’s blog discussed a study by Cwir and colleagues (2011) which indicated that even the superficial sense of connectedness to another person was sufficient to…
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