Your empathy is one of your greatest assets, but you may be using it in a way that’s driving you toward emotional bankruptcy. I have a bit of experience in caring too much. For years, I believed that my only value was directly proportionate to my utility to others, to how much I cared. I was designated the “strong one,” the emotional crisis manager, the friend who always listened, no matter how exhausted I might be.

And I was proud of it!

That is, until I realized my caring habit was a lonely padded cell, a kind of prison that was suffocating my true self. 

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

In the rigorous pursuit of productivity, performance, and profit, the concept of kindness in the workplace might seem like a deterrent to a company’s bottom line. When we are riveted on profitability, kindness can be easily dismissed as dispensable, even treated as a disadvantage.

But what if this kind of mindset is not only inaccurate, but is actively costing your organization its best talent and untapped potential?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you’re a new mompreneur or knee-deep into a career, you’re most likely familiar with this scene:

Family life is hectic, especially in the evenings: meal prep, dinner, clean-up, homework, bath, and bedtime. Finally, all the children are asleep, and you’re settling in to catch your breath. Then, a familiar reel starts playing in your mind. It’s the highlight reel of everything you didn’t do today.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Regrets. They can be an incredibly heavy anchor to the past, hindering forward movement, even when we know something is good for us.

For instance, you have a decision to make. It could be as simple as an invitation to a social event or where to vacation, or as large as whether or not to accept a new job offer. The many potential choices, “what ifs,” and pitfalls swirl around in your head.

Estimated reading: 6 minutes

My husband has been an electrician for many years, and my oldest son followed him into the trade. So, I’ve listened to many conversations about circuits, amp capacities, conductivity and upgrades around the dinner table for as long as I can remember.

A term that has always fascinated me is “grounding.” Of course, in the electrical profession and as a safety feature for every home, it’s critical. Grounding creates a vital path for potentially dangerous, excess electricity to be safely directed into the earth. Without it, a simple power surge could start a fire.

Recently, I realized they were [...]

Imagine your child’s future. Will they wake up curious and motivated, ready to problem-solve, create, and lead with confidence? Or will they become passive scrollers, waiting for AI to tell them what to do, think, and create?

We’re living in a time of unprecedented technological growth. AI agents can write essays, solve complex equations, program a website, and generate stunning artwork in seconds. While these tools can enhance learning when used intentionally, there’s a hidden and troubling drawback.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

This past summer, my family and I spent a long weekend at Seeley Lake: perfect weather, calm lake, and a great wooded area for long walks. On one morning walk, I stumbled upon a deer and her fawn, just off the path. The fawn immediately retreated behind her mother, and the mother stepped closer toward me with one firm stomp.

Growing up in an alcoholic family, I had always wished I had a mother to stand between me and danger, an advocate who would tell me not to give up myself to please others. Of course, as a young adult, I understood that people-pleasing was a safety mechanism. Keep the [...]

For years, we’ve been told to “manage” our stress. We treat it like an unruly child or employee to be disciplined, or like an enemy we engage in battle. We tell ourselves to push through, keep going, just buck up. But what if we’ve been duped?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

After decades of working with families as a parent educator and emotional intelligence specialist, I've witnessed a painful pattern: the estrangement of adult children. And these cutoffs seem to be a growing trend.

Parenting is difficult and complex. Growing up in our modern culture is also challenging. Yet, estrangements between parents and adult children aren't inevitable; many are avoidable. 

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

As you read this, take a moment: Wiggle your toes. Feel the way they press against the inside of your shoes, the texture of your socks. Notice the solid weight of your feet on the floor. Think about what your feet feel like, right now—their ache or heaviness, their temperature, their connection to the ground beneath you.

Congratulations. You’ve just practiced mindfulness.