Lying is believing or knowing one thing while intending to communicate another. As painful as it is to be lied to, a certain amount of empathy is important when dealing with liars who typically are acting out of fear or low self-esteem. Often, fear and low self-image are also responsible for the very actions about [read more]
Toxic Relationships – What Are They and What Can Be Done?
David had been with Suzanne for so long that he forgot what it felt like to just feel good, or even okay, on a daily basis. He was in a toxic relationship but did not realize it. It was affecting his mental and emotional well-being. But he loved Suzanne – how could she be toxic? [read more]
The Value of Interdependent Relationships
Dependence. Independence. Co-dependence Interdependence. These are not buzz words – they are terms that clearly delineate ways of interacting with others. Dependence – A newborn baby is dependent. All the power lies with its parents. Dependence is a vulnerable, trusting state. As adults, we can be, at times, dependent on others, but it is never [read more]
Thanks, but No Thanks: A Vital Life Skill
Some people find it easy to say no. You know those people? Maybe you are one of those people. But if you are one of the millions of others – those who struggle mightily with that simple word – you may be both envious and awestruck by those who can just say no. For so [read more]
Key Elements of Trust
Some people are more trusting than others. Some are more trustworthy. But once trust is broken, it is not easy to rebuild (though not impossible in many cases). There is more than one way to breach trust. ° Lara was never sure when Paul would be kind and supportive or when he’d berate her cruelly for [read more]
Relationship Lessons from the Not-So-Crazy Cat Lady
Animal lovers usually enjoy projecting human motives and traits onto their pets. We pretend we know what they’re thinking—in human terms. Although our cats, dogs, parrots, horses, and guinea pigs are probably chuckling quietly whenever we do that, there is still much to learn—as humans—from the animal world. Animals don’t second guess themselves. They live [read more]
Step By Step: Effective Online Communications in the Dating World
You’re making progress… Dating profile. Check. Unique user name. Check. “Had me at hello” headline. Check. Fabulous (and honest) photos. Check. Clear (and honest) “what you’re looking for in a partner.” Check. Well-written (and proofread) “about me.” Check. Okay, so all that hard work is done. Congrats! What’s next? Well, hopefully you – set your [read more]
5 Great Holiday Dates
The holidays are a great time to either reach out to someone you’ve been wanting to ask out, or to step things up with someone you really like. It’s true, people are busy at this time of year, and spending lots of time with family, but the jolly mood, the time off from work, the [read more]