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The Limits of Forgiveness
Forgiveness needs to be earned, not dispensed lightly. KEY POINTS Forgiveness can reinforce destructive behavior when the offender shows little remorse or behavioral change. Forgiveness for serious destructive patterns of behavior should come with strings attached....
Trying to Resolve Conflict Via Texting Can Create Confusion
The lack of nonverbal cues in texting often obscures the intended meaning. KEY POINTS The absence of nonverbal cues in emotional texting often creates more conflict. Nonverbal cues are a rich source of information about the honesty and seriousness of the speaker....
The Illusion of Control
KEY POINTS Viewing our scheduled activities rigidly--as if carved in stone--can lead to unnecessary stress when our expectations are not met. Trying to control others without their consent is likely to lead to underlying resentment, passive-aggression, or overtly...
Anger Can Cover Up a Whole Host of Feelings
Underlying feelings often need to be addressed before anger can be resolved. KEY POINTS Anger is off-putting, whereas hurt and disappointment engage the listener. Personality variables and moral values account for differences in propensity to anger. Anger often hides...
How Not to Raise a Narcissist
KEY POINTS Too much parental attention can lead to a child's inflated sense of self. An idealized self can be unrelenting in its demand for perfection in any given area. Teaching empathy and compassion toward others safeguards against unhealthy narcissism in children....
Why Is Our Advice to Family and Friends So Often Ignored?
KEY POINTS We typically pay less attention to familiar people than to acquaintances and near-strangers. We tend to perceive loved ones as they once were, not as they are. Mindfulness can be helpful in re-focusing on current realities, family, and close friends. All of...
Is There Such a Thing as Luck?
Photo by wirestock - www.freepik.com Some people seem to be born luckier than others. They always seem to be in the right place at the right time, regularly receiving good fortune. But does luck exist, or is it superstition? The English dictionary defines luck as “the...
THE POWER OF EMPATHY
Of all the relationship skills, empathic listening is undoubtedly the most important. Defined as the activity of understanding, being aware of, and being sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another, empathy enables us to understand where another...
Why Do We Fall For Certain “Types”?
Sexual attraction isn't a mystery but a complex equation. KEY POINTS Emotional chemistry in conflict with other values often results in distance in the relationship.Sexual attraction is typically fragmented; we're seduced by a quality or two, not a whole...
Sometimes There is No Light at the End of the Tunnel
The observation that positive thinking can do more harm than good has been discussed in the vulnerability, empathy, and positive thinking book by Dr. Geraldine K. Piorkowski, “BEYOND PIPE DREAMS AND PLATITUDES: Insights on Love, Luck, and Narcissism from a Longtime...
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