One of the best actions you can take to improve your life and the lives of others is to reach out and start a meaningful chat. People crave deeper connections with others, yet instead taking a risk and asking, many get overwhelmed deciding which questions to ask.

I'm about to spend 10 days in my ho...

These 25 relationship-building tips will help you proactively build your connections. You'll find inspiration and gain ideas that, if applied, will improve your relationships at home and work.

25 Relationship Hacks

1. 7 Positives Each Day

I first learned about this from relationships expert and r...

Meaningful conversations have changed my life. I long for them. You can create an environment where meaningful discussions happen consistently by courageously asking great questions.

I bet you can connect many of the positive turning points in your life to inspiration that came from answering the r...

Most people procrastinate because they fear failure, and psychologically, they view something that's not perfect as failure. Their avoidance, driven by anxiety, can make them appear lazy.

Clients share with me frustrations about not getting things done. They put off reading, exercise, eating health...

For over 25 years as a family therapist, I've seen the same core issues that, left unaddressed, lead to divorce time and time again. You give your marriage the best chance of success if you proactively avoid these 14 pitfalls below.

1. Not Addressing Core Issues

Avoiding a problem doesn't make it ...

Here’s a list of 50 of my favorite relationship-building questions. They’re light and fun, get you to think, and come from over 25 years of helping people open up in my work as a family therapist.

Genuine, authentic, and heartfelt conversations connect people and transform relationships.

My par...

I love great poetry. It has a way of bringing clarity and revealing the next steps I need to take. Like many people, I often place myself in the poem--as if I'm a character in the story--and reflect on how its message aligns with where I'm headed.

The most powerful poems do more than stir emotion--...

If you want to excel in life, being able to stay calm when feeling overwhelmed is an essential skill. The consequences of not doing so can be significant (e.g., addiction, damaging relationship, job loss, etc.).

You have three choices when feeling overwhelmed

Choice #1: Supressing your feelings by...

Who in your life do you trust the most? What makes it is it easy to trust them? Who is someone you struggle to trust? What makes it hard?

How do you know when you can trust someone and how do they know they can trust you? Here are 7 essentiasl to look for and model in yourself when building trust b...

As your self-confidence improves, other parts of your life improve as well. Often relationships strengthen, you see opportunities you missed before, and your focus & creativity improve. You CAN improve your self-confidence by taking action.

While you might believe that self-confidence is something ...

There's a lack of happiness in the world today and no shortage of stress and anxiety. The research is clear that happy people live life differently than the unhappy. They engage in actions that are distinct from those who struggle.

You can make happiness more likely through consistent healthy actio...

I had a tough experience in 5th grade. My school principal scolded and intentionally embarrassed me in front of a packed lunchroom. I was accused of causing lunchroom chaos, including dancing on a table.

She then pulled me to her office where she and the vice-principle berated me for what seemed li...