Blog
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How Your Family Can Be a Successful Team
We all participate in teamwork at some point in our lives. A family unit is a team, as is a committee, a sports group, or a group of friends. In an article in The Economist, Benjamin Voyer discusses the “3 Cs” of teamwork: Communication, collaboration and coordination. These three concepts are the foundation of the
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Thriving in Uncertain Times
After one of the most contentious and challenging presidential election periods we have seen, many of us are feeling unsettled. Some of us feel tremendous fear and anxiety. Now that the election is over, regardless of whom you supported in the race, we as a nation and as individuals are in a time of great
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The Past, the Present, the Future
I have written often about mindfulness and being “in the moment.” People often tend to dwell in the past or the future, and rarely the present, however this moment is the only one you truly have. Pay attention to your words and those of your loved ones. When you feel hurt, do you revisit the
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Is Self-Care Selfish?
I have posted several times about the importance of self-care. Let’s delve further into the concept and discuss the roots of “selfishness.” Selfishness, in the dictionary definition, means “lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure.” A focus only on yourself and your needs and desires is of benefit to
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Finding Calm in a Storm
In this digital age we are bombarded throughout the day with news – and most of it is bad news. Whether we are immersed in political commentary, natural disasters or more personal upheavals, it is critical to our mental, spiritual and physical health to remain as impartial and calm as we can. We can feel
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Nurturing and Conscious Parenting
Although the dictionary definition of nurturing is “to care for and encourage the growth or development of,” in psychological terms there is much more to it. In the caregiver-child context, what can be termed “conscious parenting” consists of less of the common authoritarian practice (“Because I said so!”) and more nurturing (“Here’s why.”). This is
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Self-Judgement and “Should”
Our society demonstrates judgment every day. We judge others’ political opinion, attire and appearance, sexual preference, ethnic background, choice of mate, and so much more. Quick opinions may be formed about people and situations based on nothing more than appearances, and those beliefs are often held in spite of false evidence. Any time you form
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An Ending or a New Beginning?
We all know that life is a journey of change. If there were no change, there would also be no growth. A well-known proverb tells of a kind-hearted man who opened a cocoon to free the emerging butterfly. In his attempt to help, he instead crippled the butterfly; without the struggle to emerge, the butterfly’s
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The Fine Art of Forgiving
“Forgive and forget.” “To err is human, to forgive divine.” We’ve all heard these aphorisms, but what is behind these simple words? What is the true meaning of forgiveness? Forgiveness is not an action so much as a state of mind. It is important to understand that when you forgive, you do not forget or
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Life as Choice Management
Every moment of every day, you make a choice. Do this, or do that. Notice this, or notice that. Say this, or say that. Do you make these choices by default, out of habit, or do you act deliberately and with intention? If you are going to embark on doing something, do it with intention
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Anger: a Mask for Primary Emotions
Anger is a secondary emotion. When you see the face of fury know there is an underlying unresolved rooted issue, a sense of dissatisfaction with what is. Humans express anger to cover more vulnerable feelings of fear, offense, hurt or a sense of entrapment. The more deeply you feel those hidden emotions, the more intense
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Being Part of a Life Tribe
What does it mean to have a family, to be part of a tribe? The traditional family unit in many cultures (and in the U.S. in earlier days) consists of many extended family members sharing a household, a multi-generational family group. Of course, in many cultures a tribe is the normal lifestyle – large family