Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.” Wise words, and it works both ways! If you underestimate your potential, or if you ignore … Continue reading
A website visitor writes, “My husband and I (we have no children) have been happy for the last four years. But now, he has suddenly become Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He’s fine one minute, then in response to the … Continue reading
One of the biggest impediments to human associations is the unwillingness to say what you think and ask for what you want. Note the word “ask”; no one is entitled to anything from another person simply because he or she … Continue reading
A Delaware Wave reader writes that he and his wife recently retired here at the beach. But in spite of that, he’s not happy. It doesn’t have to do with anything specific; things are fine with his wife and his … Continue reading
A reader asks if it’s possible to be just friends with somebody to whom you are attracted romantically, even if they don’t feel the same way. She goes on to ask if that can also apply to an ex-spouse or … Continue reading
One of the more interesting facets of my practice is the otherwise well-meaning clients who don’t take my advice or suggestions – in spite of the fact that they are paying me for those very things. Over the years I’ve … Continue reading
We’ve all seen people react badly or rudely when they’re told something they’d rather not hear. And it’s just as bad when you don’t say what they want to hear. The perfect example is an email I received from a … Continue reading
People often ask me if anything annoys me about my job. I love what I do. But if anything gets to me, it’s when a client pays me good money for advice, and then doesn’t take it – returning again … Continue reading
A friend told me recently that she wants to resolve in the new year to stop “mining for issues.” I liked her metaphor! She told me that she found herself actually looking for things to be anxious and worried about. … Continue reading
How many times have we heard the expression that somebody “takes things personally”? Is it always a mistake to feel that way? It can be a basic error to assume that everything is always about you, when in fact it’s … Continue reading
Many people set their holiday expectations very high. But the requirement for “comfort and joy” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and couples. Clients often admit to me that the seasonal pressure to make everything (and … Continue reading
For some, the holiday season can be a time for reflection. In my business, we call it “introspection”; a time for quiet exploration of your true feelings, wants and needs. When clients present to me with stress or frustration over … Continue reading