Couples and Intimacy: The Uncommon Sense
Intimacy. Everybody thinks they want it and yet it is so common for us to put up barriers to prevent it. Why would that be the case? I think it is because most people when they think of intimacy, think of hugs, kisses, and other expressions of love and affection. Yet, those things are the bright side of loving intimacy.
The New Year Trap: Reinvention vs. Authentic Growth
The New Year often inspires a push to reinvent ourselves, fueled by the belief that transformation lies in becoming someone entirely new. But what if true growth isn’t about reinvention at all? In this post, I explore why the real path to fulfillment is discovering who you already are and learning to embrace and embody that authenticity.
Think You’re Enlightened? Spend a Week with Your Family (Ram Dass)
Ah, enlightenment—the elusive state of being calm, wise, and unshakably serene. Maybe you’ve been meditating, practicing mindfulness, or reading about the art of letting go. You’ve silenced your inner critic, tamed your temper, and you’re sure nothing can rattle you anymore. Then, the universe presents the ultimate litmus test for your spiritual and personal progress: a week with your family.
Thanksgiving, Forced Gratitude, and Going Home
When my turn came, the host asked me about the challenges of dealing with family during the holidays. I talked about how to maintain your compassion for struggling family members instead of taking irritating and hurtful questions personally. While this practice can be effective in helping avoid hurt, anger, and conflict, it is not the only way to deal with divisive family members.
The Three Circles Communication Tool
The “3 Circles Exercise” illustrates a communication tool that can be used with any relationship, whether it is between parent and child, partners, friends, or coworkers. It is a template that can aid in clarifying boundaries, mediating conflictual relationships, and managing codependence. In the illustration, there are three different circles, “My Circle,” the “Relationship Circle,” and the “Other’s Circle.” And in each, there are specific responsibilities.
Are You Ready to Do Your Own Work?
Joseph Campbell, the renowned scholar on mythology, observed that the world’s myths and epic tales share a core pattern. He called this pattern “the Hero’s Journey.” Describing the plight of humankind, it can be found in epic stories, in religions, and in the lives of every person. The three major chapters of the journey include the separation, the initiation, and the return. Upon entering the separation, the hero must answer the call to adventure, leave the known, and travel into the mysterious unknown to begin the personal quest. This journey provides the hero with the lessons one needs in one's life.