Heartmanity's Blog

Parenting is hard work. But when we're critical of ourselves and have a lot of negative self-talk, it can become downright discouraging.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm really a bad mom!"? With this full-time, never-let-up job, it's easy to slip into feeling overwhelmed. Many of today's parents live thousands of miles away from grandparents and extended family, which was a major support in earlier times. So how do you parent consciously, keep a work-life balance, and create a fun-loving, happy family, given the multitude of demands?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Motivation pushes us to reach our goals and achieve accomplishments in life. Some individuals lack drive and ambition, while others seem unstoppable. When people are unmotivated, they often struggle to experience fulfillment and purpose. Knowing your intrinsic versus extrinsic motivators is essential. While we want to find a work-life balance in life and avoid burnout, finding ways to pursue what is important to us and discover ways to motivate ourselves is crucial.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Growing up, children tend to emulate the behaviors and practices of those around them, especially their parents. That’s why you pick up certain mannerisms your mom has, how your father talks, or how your siblings do specific things.

Your youth is also the best time to learn and develop emotional intelligence that you carry with you into adulthood. Hopefully, your parents taught you these critical skills, but sometimes they can lack knowledge or skill in certain areas such as setting healthy boundaries or regular self-care. So by the time you’ve grown up, you may realize key tools are missing [...]

It is no secret that communication is key in any relationship—personal or professional. When it comes to effective and authentic leadership, communication is one of the most vital tools a leader can possess. For companies to succeed, their leaders must communicate effectively with their employees. And when things get tough or employee performance wavers, these same leaders need to be able to have difficult conversations while also inspiring those they lead.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Einstein once said, “not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Money is heavily pedestalled these days, and it’s essential to teach your kids a balance between financial literacy, social responsibility, and emotional intelligence (EQ) when exploring life lessons with money. The goal is to prepare your children to create a healthy, happy, and successful future while teaching them to be responsible, empathetic human beings.

Yet, it’s not always easy as a parent to keep long-term values in mind when faced with the demands of everyday life. So, [...]

In a Wall Street Journal article, columnist Elizabeth Bernstein writes about the challenge of marriage between an ardent planner and a partner who prefers to be spontaneous. Perhaps you’ve known people in a marriage like that—or maybe you’re one of them! In my work with couples, I have heard many a planner call their spouse passive-aggressive or the spontaneous one refer to their spouse as a control freak. Regardless of differences, marriage conflict is inevitable!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you're struggling to control your anger, you're not alone. It's one of the most common emotions that people struggle with. Its intensity makes it a challenging emotion, especially if you let it build. However, there is an emotional intelligence (EQ) skill that can transform the way you relate to your anger, thereby also facilitating more relational and inner peace.

Seem too good to be true?! Science backs this EQ skill, so rest assured you can build your emotional fitness! Harnessing your anger will take effort, focused attention, and practice, but you can convert your anger into [...]

When or if your teenager starts to act out and rebel, it can be difficult to know what to do as a parent. You can feel like you're losing control of your teen when dealing with teenage rebellion and disrespect. It’s true, teens sometimes engage in risky behaviors that terrify their parents, so your concern is justified. However, many parents overreact by immediately taking away their smartphone or grounding their teen “for a year!” These reactions can backfire by increasing oppositional behavior or creating ruptures in your relationship.

So, how do you best support and help your teenager [...]

Do you ever feel like your mind is a bully? Does that little voice inside your head constantly put you down, telling you that you’re not good enough, or planting doubt and worry? If so, then you’re not alone. The Inner Critic is very common and can be extremely discouraging. If you are a victim of harsh inner criticism, it’s time to bridle your self-talk and learn strategies to create inner peace!

Estimated reading: 7 minutes