Is There More to Love Than What You’ve Experienced?
One of the core traits of a dependent personality is difficulty accepting challenging or disturbing truths about self or others out of a need to maintain the status quo.
Growing Through the Storms
Often, it’s only when our eyes have been washed clear with buckets of tears that we will ever get a handle on the larger vision for ourselves and our place in the world.
When Parents Play Favorites
Julie looked up and scanned the bleachers. Nope, he wasn’t there yet. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for the fact he probably wouldn’t make it — again. When it came to her swim meets, something always seemed to come up — an...
Conquering Negativity That Shapes Our Self-Dialogue
This soundtrack you’ve been living with wasn’t recorded overnight. Instead, it’s a compilation of messages you’ve heard, impressions and impacts you’ve assimilated, and conclusions you’ve reached over the course of your life.
Emotional Abuse: Showing Hostility and Making Threats
Adults who take out their anger on children rarely are truthful about the source of that anger and hostility. Some shift the blame unfairly to their punching bag of choice, placing the burden of their actions, as well as the reasons for the actions, on the child.
Learning How to Forgive Your Parents As a Teenager
Have you ever been so mad at someone (it doesn’t have to be a parent) that it’s all you could think about? Every time you were around that person, you kept thinking about how mad you were. You didn’t want to be around that person.
Finding Emotional Balance During Depression
What’s wrong with me? When his coworkers found out about Mark’s promotion — something he hadn’t even applied for — they slapped his back, shook his hand, and gave him high fives. Mark couldn’t figure out why he didn’t feel...
The Surprising Role of Nutrition in Mental Health
The Surprising Role of Nutrition in Mental Health Is there a link between your diet and your mental health? The rate of mental health issues among our population is on the rise – the World Health Organization forecast depression to be the number one disease on earth...
What’s Going on with Your Teenager: Part 2
As we discussed in Part 1 of this post, the teenage years can be difficult, and they can produce adolescent behaviors that have been fairly consistent across generations. For parents, knowing what to look for, and having a better understanding of what it all means,...
How Your Inner Child Influences Your Food Choices
You may be over forty, but most of us have one stubborn little kid rattling around inside. This “kid” represents some unfilled childhood need. And until we either fill or let go of that need, there he or she stays—never aging, always demanding. Kids like to eat junk...
Accepting Truths in Life
Accepting the truth in your life means you must come to accept the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. First, there comes an acceptance of the truth in your life that is causing you pain and is the source of your anger. This is the first step in the...
The Power of Altering Your Perceptions
In overcoming depression, one of the main areas you may need to change is the way you view life. For example, if you believe that life consistently treats you unfairly, then the inevitable ups and downs of life are filtered through that perception.