Doing Life Together

Right now, think of someone who is extremely likable, who draws you in to conversation and can walk into a room and command peoples’ attention. This person is charming. You walk away and think, “I like that person.” The question is, are you born that way? Do you have charm or not? Or is it a characteristic you can…

My heart is troubled as I read a negative news story about a Minneapolis woman who called police because she thought a neighbor was being sexually assaulted.  Somehow, when the police arrived on the scene, the caller was shot to death. At this point in time, there are no explanations as to why a police officer shot her…

It’s summer and more of our bodies are exposed. If you are self-conscious about the way you look, you are probably thinking, “Bring on the cooler temps so I can cover up!” But maybe the better way to deal with summer is to work on body acceptance. Recently, I was asked this question by an interviewer:…

John and  Jill were not getting along. In talking to both individuals, it was clear that they suffered from 5 relationship mistakes. Here is what I noticed. Little to no alone time. Yes, this sounds counterintuitive to a couple’s relationship, but most people need a little down time to reboot and refresh. It doesn’t mean they…

Trust is foundational to any relationship. This is true whether we are talking about an intimate other or your boss at work. Working in an organization in which trust is absent affects productivity, creativity, your work and autonomy. Something just doesn’t feel right. Feelings of safety, satisfaction and confidence take a hit when trust is low.…

Developmental psychologists have long been studying what it takes to raise smart kids. The authors of Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children, provide insight into what parents can do to bump up key learning in parenting moments. The authors (Hirsh-Pasek &  Golinkoff) contend that we need to move away from just having kids…

He was part of a clinical trial. Take this drug and your pain goes away. But he didn’t know if he was really getting the drug or if he was getting what is called a placebo–a pill that does nothing because it is fake. He reported that his pain was much improved. The researchers looked…

Since we are created with a body, soul and spirit, to ignore any one part results in an unbalanced life. To live a balanced life, we must attend to all parts of who we are. Because our culture focuses so much on our bodies, it is difficult to think holistically. Weight obsession and physical fitness are national pastimes.…

Two employees worked for a small town in New Hampshire for a total of 46 years between them. They heard and spread a rumor about an improper relationship between a town administrator and another employee. The story turned out to be false and the administrator complained. The town council investigated the administrator’s complaint and fired…

I know someone who is amazingly creative. I admire his ideas and wish I could have more of whatever that is that makes him so creative. Maybe I can! Brain science is confirming that creativity is a skill that can be learned as well as a gift to cherish. There are things we can do to bump…

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