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Arendt’s celebrating and thought provoking book on the human condition reminds us that our capacity to forgive creates the ground for lasting relationships with others.  But to do so, it all depends on how much empathy we have. Only when we start imagining ourselves in another place, does forgiveness follow. Only when we experience people as real human beings with needs and desires and a unique point of view,…

Triggers are complicated, scary and powerful.  Whatever is at work in us seems to have its own set of batteries. Especially when it’s something out of the blue that activates our anxiety.  Like a few innocent words from a coworker, a random song on the radio, a person sitting next to you chewing their sandwich loudly, an animated pop up on a website, or walking into a restaurant you…

When does change become transformation?  When does transition become a revolution?  It all depends on our willingness to let go of who we used to be and lean into something different.  Because if we think it’s too late to make any meaningful life changes; if we’re still living like we’re in a previous season; or if we are in a new season of life, but are still trying to…

There’s a widely cited study in a social psychology journal about the benefits of positive illusions with close relationships.  Murray’s analysis proved that individuals were happier in their relationships when they idealized their partners and their partners idealized them. In fact, her research found that a certain degree of idealization or illusion may be a critical feature of satisfying dating and marital relationships.  Anyone who’s been coupled up for more than…

Maisel’s comforting book about making your creative mark reminds make a key point about identity management.  He says that we must know what to do when we think we’ve lost our right to call ourselves something. We must have a game plan, orchestrated in advance, so that when our identity weakens, we know exactly what useful things we intend to do to strengthen it.  During my own low periods of doubt,…

Expectations are the bones from which the soup of suffering is made.  Any time we are anticipating future satisfactions, living for events or people or conditions that are yet to come, it’s detrimental to our serenity.  Any time we build up some future pleasure in our minds to such an unrealistic pitch, the actual experience is guaranteed to be disappointing.  It’s like the time my publicist assured me that…

Enjoyment is a skill.  It’s that experience where we switch off our brains, surrender to the moment and let life carry us to a place of peace, relaxation and contentment. Even if only for a few minutes at a time.  Unfortunately, that skill is no longer a priority in our culture. We’ve completely lost the ability to enjoy anything. Because we’re too busy finding fault, being offended, intellectually deconstructing the…

Each day, we take a small step toward change.  Each day, we allow ourselves to do whatever it takes and whatever works. Each day, we trust that a little effort on our part should open more doors to what we want. Each day, we respect the journey we are on. Each day, we steal period of time alone where we can get in touch with the center of our being. …

Anytime we embark on another relentless quest to fix ourselves, we enter into a totally antagonistic relationship with ourselves.  And that mindset rarely helps us solve anything. How limiting to let that attitude define us.  It reminds of a memorable passage from alcoholism recovery devotional.  When we fight a problem, we tend to think about it all the time. We build it up in our minds so that it occupies…

It’s important to honor our own natural and healthy urge for independence.  Doing so reinforces our sense of efficacy, agency and power.  But when we cross over to the stubborn desire to perfectly handle everything ourselves, that’s when get into trouble.  Rollo’s book on the cry for myth reminds us how we foolishly think we can take care of ourselves without any support from others. How our pride balks at the…