Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone – only to discover a)he/she isn’t listening at all 2) he/she is distracted by technology or c) he/she is already getting defensive even before you start to speak?

If so, you’re certainly not alone (and, let’s face it, you’ve probably been a less-than-attentive listener, too!). In fact, lots of folks who come through my office complain about not feeling “heard,” and the lack of communication is creating pretty intense…

We’ve all heard of the “power of positive thinking.” But sometimes it’s just hard to turn that frown upside down.

So what then?

Sometimes negative feelings persist.

Now, let me be clear. I am not talking about emotions like hopelessness, despair or worthlessness. These are referred to as “empty emotions” and can be signs of depression that need to be treated.…

I’ve watched my children fall down quite a bit – both literally and figuratively. And, I’ve learned it’s not always easy to know what to say. Should I tell them, “You’re OK” and wait for them to get up? Or, should I fling myself onto them protectively and help them to their feet? (For the record, I usually act on a case-by-case basis).

But, the reaction of Mothers around the world got me thinking – how would I feel if I hurt myself, and someone told me “You’re OK, just get…

I was standing in a hallway of a restaurant waiting for my turn to use a women’s restroom. The door was locked and within 10 seconds it opened and a lady appeared. She looked at me and said “I’m sorry.” And I thought … for what?

Why would this person think to say she was sorry in this situation?

It turns out that women believe that being apologetic is a way to demonstrate that you are being polite. And saying sorry means that you aren’t being…

As a Mom of three (and living in a community of kid-excellence, to say the least), it’s hard for me to NOT feel insecure about what my kids AREN’T doing. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t overhear another Mom talking about their child excelling at the best private school in town or see another child drilled endlessly on the tennis court.

It’s enough to drive you mad – unless you know something I just learned: Turns out, the most creative children have fewer rules at home and…

Being a teenager can be confusing — it’s a time filled with significant changes, growth and uncertainty.

It’s easy to forget what that felt like. And this can impact your ability to communicate with your teen. Your world view is so different.

Here are a few tips that I found online that can perhaps help you to bridge the communication divide with your teenager.…

I don’t often “click here” when someone posts an article on Facebook, but when I saw the topic of a recent article posted by a friend, I just had to see what it was all about. It was called “What If All I Want Is a Mediocre Life?’, and it had me intrigued.

The question on the table was this: Is it enough to be a pretty good wife (husband), Mother (Father), Sister (Brother), Community Member, etc.? Or do I need to be all of that PLUS the CEO of a company, the BEST at whatever…

Conflicts will grow over time if unaddressed.Friedrich Glasl published a conflict escalation model in the 90s that include nine levels.

Before you read these, please put yourself in the mindset of a conflict you have, or are, experiencing or have witnessed. I think you will be amazed how real the words become.

Stage 1: Tension – This is the starting point, when there are occasional clashes of opinion, however, the tension can still…