It sounds impossible, right? After all, it takes two to tango. How can one person transform a relationship without the other one on board?Well, it does take two to tango, but if one dancer knows exactly what they're doing and practices often, he/she can teach their partner how to be a better dancer without them even knowing it. It may sound a little sly and tricky, but in some cases, it's just what a couple needs to make the shift from bitterness to bliss.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Are you fighting aches and pains? Or feeling like your body “just isn’t right”? It could be more than a physical malaise. Maybe emotional conflicts are trying to get you to sit up and pay attention. It might just be time for an emotional reset!

When your back is aching and your shoulders are bound up in knots, there’s nothing like getting a good massage, right? It's easy to recognize when our body needs a break. When we're hungry, we eat; when we're tired, we rest and when our head is throbbing, we reach for relief. But how well do you care for your emotions and emotional well-being?

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Recently I was trying to replace the batteries in my wireless mouse and couldn’t get the cover off—again. I had struggled with this same task previously (trying paper clips, pens, X-ACTO knives, scissors, brute force, etc.), but this time it was different. I stopped trying to fight it and sat back, relaxing the frustration.

“Certainly,” I said to myself, “a massively successful company such as Apple would not make replacing batteries in a mouse for a Mac difficult. Everything Steve Jobs designed was about elegance.” That shifted my focus. If taking this cover off is super easy, what is the [...]

One thing is clear—life happens! Every day greets us with challenges: a tough assignment at work, a crabby spouse, a friend who pushes our buttons, or just everyday demands of work and family! It takes emotional fitness to weather life’s storms with level-headedness and equanimity. It requires the skill to stay calm under pressure especially when emotions spike.

How often do you brush your feelings aside because you’re just too busy to deal with them? Are they annoying inconveniences? Do you find yourself ignoring a mounting impatience or frustration until you blow?

Estimated reading time: 3 [...]

Often, we hesitate to give feedback, even when it is crucial for the health of a relationship or the success of a team. The fear of hurting feelings, triggering a defensive reaction, or being perceived as overly critical can lead us to hold back.

However, withholding feedback can breed resentment and anger, ultimately causing distance and denying others the opportunity for growth.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

You can almost feel it in the air—just a little extra tension to go along with the holiday spirit. Or maybe more than a little. It’s tempting to focus on just getting things done, but if you do that, a couple of weeks from now you may notice your relationship with your spouse becoming a bit frazzled.

Even under the best of circumstances, living your love actively for your spouse every day can be challenging. There’s so much competing for your attention: work, family, chores, errands, and shopping . . . on and on the list goes! It can be hard to hang on to that special love that brought you [...]

Complaining is one way the brain lets off steam, but when done too frequently as a couple, it is disheartening and can become a pattern that diminishes the vitality of a relationship. A couple’s complaints can eclipse their love, corrode joy, and make married couples begin to doubt why they even married each other. If that's you, you're likely feeling unfulfilled in marriage or in a relationship, so keep reading.

An excellent article, "Yep, Life'll Burst That Self-Esteem Bubble,"* eloquently outlined some of the flaws in the self-esteem movement that originated in the '70s and '80s. This topic caught my eye because I work every day with many very sincere and eager parents and observe how the building blocks of self-esteem often elude them.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

As a mom or stepmom, how do you feel most of the time? Blissful? Confident? Successful in your role as mom? Or are you overwhelmed and discouraged? Do you feel like a worried, worn out, and confused parent doubting yourself?

Many parents feel alone as if they are the only ones with problems. The subtle sense of failure and the weight of feeling like … okay I’m going to say it, “a bad mom” is so discouraging. As a parent coach, I often hear, "Am I a bad mom?"

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Are you just "getting by?" Are you going through the motions (and emotions), but not really passionate or excited about your life?

Do you long for:

• more fulfillment and peace?
• a loving, fun and meaningful relationship?
• a balanced life with inner happiness and ease?
• your dream lifestyle?
• a life with more passion and purpose?
• the ability to raise cooperative yet free-thinking children?

If you’re saying to yourself, “Um, YES! You’re reading my mind!" Then, you may want to explore flexing your muscles in emotional intelligence.