The holiday songs we hear on the radio and store speakers as we shop say this is the most wonderful time of the year, the happiest season of all. And, for many people, it is! The Wonderland Escape Just look at all the colorful decorations that delight our senses and delicious food that reminds us…

 A truly grateful person counts their blessings, not their burdens.  Gratitude is a powerful emotion that fills our soul with a deep appreciation for what matters most.  It’s a superpower that sets the tone for our day, fuels goodwill, creates opportunities, frames our expectations, and guides our actions. Furthermore, it reminds us that the most…

On the surface, life appears to be a combination of your thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and actions, where even the littlest and seemingly insignificant things can make huge impacts, triggering lasting effects. On a deeper level, your beliefs, behaviors, thoughts, and actions are a product of your identity, which we’ll leave for another time.  There’s an…

According to international bestselling author Amy Morin, the biggest mistake people make when deciding to take a risk is they don’t equally balance emotion with logic. “Excess emotion can cause some people to be overly excited and impulsive, while being too analytical can leave others overwhelmed by fear or anxiety.” We can’t avoid risk; life…

Millions of Americans nearing their golden years enter retirement financially unprepared. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, “50% of women and 47% of men between the ages of 55 and 66 have no retirement savings.” Unfortunately, this means millions of Americans enter retirement in a life-or-death situation, sometimes needing to hold down two jobs, working 10-12…

Warren Buffet once said, “In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: Integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”  Even if we’re not looking to hire someone, what he said about integrity applies to most situations and relationships.  Defining integrity can be daunting…but…

Traumatic events can trigger powerful feelings like anxiety, stress, nervousness, sadness, anger, and more.  There are many kinds of trauma. It can be personal, like an assault or abuse, or a global crisis, like a natural disaster, a pandemic, or even war.  Trauma takes an emotional and mental toll. But the good news is that…

Feeling trapped or stuck or having to start over in life can overwhelm you with fear, worry, and anxiety. Whether chosen or forced, having to make a change can make you panic. It’s easier to do nothing…to stay in a familiar situation because it feels safer than the unknown. That’s one way to look at…

How satisfied are you with your life? Maybe you’re more satisfied with certain areas of your life than others, but feeling dissatisfied with life is a common experience for many people.  Sometimes it’s glaringly apparent why you’re dissatisfied with life. But sometimes, it’s hard to put a finger on it. In those cases, by exploring…

Does modern life’s fast pace and complexity ever feel like too much? Do you ever wish things would slow down long enough for you to jump off the hamster wheel and rest a minute? Maybe it’s time to simplify your life. Maybe it’s time to say, “Enough!” and regain control.  Maybe…it’s time to realize that…

They tell us: “You deserve to be happy.” They even say that pursuing happiness is our God-given right.  But is happiness what we want, or is our soul searching for something deeper? The thing about happiness is that it comes and goes.  You can be happy one minute, and the next, you’re down in the…

We all have wants and needs, dreams and desires, and hopes. Sometimes we can achieve them on our own, but we often need the help of others, which requires the fine art of friendly persuasion.   People tend to like helping nice, friendly people – people who are caring, selfless, and trustworthy. Those traits can win…