You know that feeling when you’re walking on eggshells around someone? It’s not just about dodging conflict or tiptoeing around sensitive topics. It’s about giving up a piece of yourself to keep the peace. Let’s break it down. Imagine this: You’re in a relationship, whether it’s with a partner, a family member, or a friend. […]
Building and maintaining trust is crucial for the success of any relationship. I believe that all the other good stuff we want (and need) such as emotional safety, partnership, shared experiences and personal growth are ALL built upon it. One factor that can erode trust over time is avoidance. Avoidance, whether intentional or subconscious, has […]
Growing up in a family with ineffective conflict resolution strategies can leave deep imprints on our lives. As a counselor and a coach, I can back that statement up with countless stories of how and why this is true. Here are some key ways in which dysfunctional family conflict can shape our perception of conflict […]
Authenticity is the foundation of meaningful connections and healthy relationships, and something I talk a lot about on the show and write about for that reason. To foster trust and create emotional safety, it’s crucial to embrace the practice of owning your truth. Let’ delve into the importance of owning every aspect of who you […]
In our relationships, we often find ourselves deeply connected to others, emotionally invested in their lives, and willing to go above and beyond to support them. While fostering close connections is important, it’s equally crucial to recognize the costs of not detaching in relationships. Maintaining healthy boundaries and practicing detachment is essential for our well-being […]
When you talk to someone, it’s easy to keep it on the surface, to say you are “fine” and not reveal what is really going on. If that is a healthy, relatively safe person in front of you, why do you still find it hard to share what’s on the inside? Well as we’ve talked […]
I can’t tell you how many times when working with relationships I come across the dynamic where a passive man is with a partner who seems to be controlling and “angry”. What I have uncovered over the years is that the partner is exhausted from feeling as though they are the only one who initiates […]
From a very young age, society teaches men to avoid looking weak. It is said that by the time a young boy of five or six years old reaches the playground, he will probably experience some sort of shaming if he cries or asks for help. Signs of “weakness” are crying, complaining, expressing fears, or […]
We can all say we want better relationships, and most of us know that being honest and dependable are some of the usual requirements, but what about the more subtle yet profoundly important aspects we need to get better at to connect? Read on to see where you are and what you might want to […]
Integrity is the whole of your character, and is comprised of your beliefs and values, and how you want to see yourself in the world. It is a large part of your identity, whether you are conscious of that or not. When our lives don’t accurately reflect who we want to say we are, we […]
