Last week I saw an advertisement that said: "Compromise is for marriage, but never for wine!" It made me think about how in our culture, we accept that relationships require compromise. In one article I read, the author said, "Compromise—no matter how difficult—is a necessary part of any successful, enduring marriage."

The idea was that once we say "for better or for worse," we need to get used to making concessions to the other person when settling our conflicts. So what if afterward, we're resentful, discouraged, disappointed, frustrated, and disillusioned? Get over it—compromise is just [...]

I write regularly for a women’s business website, and I often have the opportunity to interview career women who are really making a difference in their workplaces and their communities. In these interviews, we often discuss how they got where they are, what kinds of things factored into their success, and how they find work-life balance. One factor that almost always comes up is mentors, and the importance of women helping other women. How do you find a mentor? And what is the difference between coaching and mentoring? 

After 10+ years of marriage, life together can feel pretty predictable. We know the other person’s patterns and how they will probably react to certain situations. And, like the Clint Eastwood film, this predictability can often lead to what I call “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” in our relationship.

Here's my marriage advice to handle the boredom and the bumps.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

This webinar “Overcoming Bullying: Creating a Peaceful Classroom,” is a wonderful chance to learn solutions to a problem that burdens us all. It provides important basics for bully prevention. 

Dealing with bullying in the classroom is a multi-faceted challenge that requires understanding how we approach misbehavior ineffectively and unknowingly abet bullying in the classroom.

In this webinar, I address the psychology of the bully, the victim, and the bystander—as well as one of the biggest factors that perpetuate this national epidemic: the unmet needs that drive all “misbehavior” in [...]

Beliefs form our realities. Limiting and false beliefs restrict our relationships and limit our happiness, relationships, career success, and financial prosperity. Beliefs are formed in our developmental years, and as adults, they define and color our reality and determine our quality of life for better or for worse. There's a lot of talk on this topic people are talking about this topic. However, a trend I've seen lately in the coaching industry and self-help movement is getting under my skin a little.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

I have a fear, and I don’t believe there is a medical term for it yet. Although it most likely exists among other childrearing folks. It’s the fear of placing my kids in public situations, such as restaurants, weddings, airplanes, and holiday parties, even if they say they are the “kid-friendly” kind.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Children's behavior can be frustrating and challenging for parents. However, with a few parenting skills and a little insight, you can learn to redirect your child's behavior lovingly and firmly. I did just that.

When my son was a toddler, I can vividly recall taking him to an open gym event in my town. These events were set up by a local parenting support group to give parents an opportunity to get out of the house, with children in tow. The kids could play, run around, socialize in a new space, which was a lifesaver for me during the cold Montana months.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Are you ready for the unexpected? Do you have the resilience needed to handle life's bumps and curveballs calmly?

One of the most valuable EQ skills of all is resiliency. Developing this emotional intelligence skill will positively change your life!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Everyone is familiar with the 19th-century fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As you remember, in this story the queen boldly asks her mirror, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" She is outraged when the mirror answers that her stepdaughter Snow White is the fairest, and the queen sets out to destroy Snow White.

Wouldn't it be great to have a mirror that would answer your life questions?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Every day presents us with dozens of challenges to our inner peace and emotional well-being. At any moment, the unexpected can disrupt our lives. Some situations only tug at our hearts, while others can quickly trigger us to react in anger and upset. Whether we're faced with an irate boss, a tired and crabby spouse, or a whining child, our response determines the outcome of all communication. 

Estimated reading: 3 minutes