We can all recognize the sociopaths in movies or on the news. But could you identify sociopathic tendencies in your own partner? Some relationships bring sweet surprises, but some come with sirens and red flags that are less ‘mysterious’ and more unnerving. We all want to imagine our partner is complete and balanced, so it …

If you ever found yourself wondering, “Is this tough love, or is it abuse?” it’s probably abuse. Unlike physical abuse, verbal abuse doesn’t leave bruises or marks, but it has a long-lasting impact. It’s not easy to identify or even understand verbal abuse; you may even be told you’re being too soft or reading too …

What’s your weakness? It’s like an unwritten rule: if there’s a chink in your armor, someone will find a way to exploit it. Mine was empathy, old people, and people-pleasing. If you wanted me to empty my bank account, you just needed to send me a needy-looking old person. I didn’t know how bad a …

Dreamers are visionaries who picture a future filled with limitless possibilities. Dreaming is great– we all need more of it. However, while many are busy sketching stars and picking the color palette for the mansions in their dreams, the true shakers are on the ground, building a ladder to reach them. A doer doesn’t just …

Forty-eight hours feels like a long time unless it’s the weekend; then it feels like 48 seconds. You blink, and POOF, the weekend is over! Monday comes, and all you did with your weekend was worry about Monday coming. The weekends are there for a reason, especially if you’re part of the 68% of Americans …

Do you ever feel that knot in your stomach, like something’s wrong or everything’s about to crumble? Does it keep you from truly experiencing joy or excitement? Do you wring your hands and stay awake replaying your life in your mind and doing a post-mortem of your words and actions? That’s anxiety, and I totally …

Navigating the digital world is, in a word, difficult. Sometimes, you feel like you’re doing everything right; other times, it’s a lot of trial and error. These days, screens can feel like the center of attention for kids and adults alike. Who hasn’t zoned out on their phone and forgotten the world around them? But …

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” It sounds simple enough, but finding purpose can sometimes feel like trying to catch a greased-up eel. Purpose doesn’t always come in a grand, life-altering moment with spotlights and a …

“Worry” seems to be the default setting for many young people, myself included, and most grandparents are just looking at us, shaking their heads at the uselessness of it all. If I had a penny for every worrisome thought I process in a day, I could buy an entire island in Hawaii. There are endless …

It’s beautiful to be attracted to someone, and it can be obvious even when we don’t want (or don’t know how) to make loud confessions. Body language, eye contact, and even small movements have their own way of professing your feelings toward someone. These signals can be so understated that if you blink, you might …