You put the oxygen mask on yourself before your children or others. We’ve all heard that dozens of times when traveling by plane.

But in practice—when a parent thinks his child needs help—what is their gut instinct? Yep, to help the child regardless if the parent is tired, stressed, or on the verge of burnout.

Self-care for parents is a challenge. Balancing home life with a career, socializing, finances, a marriage or relationship while ALSO raising kids makes being a parent a difficult juggling act.

How can parents find time for their own well-being amidst their hectic lives?

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In a world that increasingly demands instant gratification and constant connectivity, parenting has evolved and it's complex and difficult. One of the most crucial roles we play as guardians of the next generation is establishing healthy boundaries for our children. This responsibility, though daunting, is backed by recent scientific studies which underscore its importance in child development.

Let's explore the power of setting healthy boundaries and limits, guided by compassion and underpinned by the latest scientific insights.

When I was growing up, my mom bought Wonder Bread (white as the snow in Montana mountain ranges!). She purchased it cheap at an outlet, and I remember peeling off the crust and forming the bread into a ball instead of eating it.

Dating a people pleaser can feel like a relationship with Wonder Bread. They are very likeable, pliable, fresh and gooey, yet their constant agreement is bland and tasteless. And even though initially everything seems wonderful, the nutrients for a healthy relationship are missing.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

A frequent question I get asked is “So, how do I change?” or "How do I break a bad habit?" Although change doesn't happen overnight, the good news is that the latest brain science proves that we can change! One thing is for sure: the quality of our lives is an accumulation of our habits. 

You're either forming healthy habits that create a better life, a happier self, and a more loving relationship with yourself and others. Or you are reinforcing bad habits that inhibit your best self and life. Which are you doing? Learn how to change and break those habits that keep you stuck!

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How many of you grew up encouraged to freely express your emotions when you were a child? What happened when you got angry? Or sad? Growing up in a family where the whole spectrum of emotions was accepted, encouraged, and explored is rare, yet it’s one way that children develop emotional intelligence. Most of us grew up with a double standard where it wasn’t okay for us to express our challenging emotions, yet our parents sometimes reacted out of tiredness or stress.

Do you remember seeing your mother cry when you were young? I do. I remember asking my mom what was wrong as she sobbed—her [...]

Being a parent is difficult and complicated. On top of parenting being a full-time job, it costs an estimated quarter of a million dollars to raise each child to the age of eighteen. We dedicate ourselves to keeping our children safe and healthy for nearly two decades—a huge feat in this crazy world. Even after they’ve grown up, we have heartstrings connected to them 24/7, no matter where they live or what they’re doing.

It can really hurt when we unexpectedly find our adult child disrespecting us or our relationships with our children strained. Do you think to yourself, "Why is my grown son [...]

Emotional intelligence and social intelligence are no longer optional in leadership. And there are many leadership styles, yet there is only one kind of leader that raises profits while also growing people, engaging employees, cultivating thriving teams, and producing brilliant results.

That’s authentic leadership. This leadership style can make the most significant difference. And showing up authentically as a leader clears the obstacles to success with one irreplaceable skill that outshines all others.

"Forgiveness" is a term used so often that few people question its intrinsic value. You'd probably agree that asking for and offering forgiveness has become common practice. Just like many others, I was taught growing up that when you hurt someone—even accidentally—the right thing to do is to say you're sorry and ask for forgiveness. Children quickly learn when adults expect an apology, even when a child may have lacked the skill to respond differently.

Have we erred and put too much emphasis on behavior and not enough attention on understanding the person and their needs?

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Are you a people pleaser?

I sure was!

Growing up, I majored in pleasing others. I honestly believed as a child and young adult that if people didn’t need me, they wouldn’t want me. So I worked at being indispensable. My pleaser habit was so deeply rooted that I didn’t know I was giving up myself on a regular basis, in every relationship at home and work. And whoa!—the havoc it wrecked in my marriage!

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes