By

The statement ‘learn to live in the present moment’ ranks right up there as a catch-all phrase that I would be hard pressed to argue with, though I do admit it irks me when it is used as the definitive answer to erase angst and fear. Rather than shutting down our...

Taming the Dragons and Demons of the Mind Many people are suffering from a malady that is widespread but seldom mentioned. It is particularly prevalent among successful, accomplished professionals, both men and women, whether single or married. This hidden problem is responsible...

A Sanity Assessment Happy New Year 2019! Many of us have given up on the tradition of New Year’s resolutions because of the all-too-common experience that they end up forgotten by the second week of January. Instead, let’s talk about how we can expand our vision to...

Holiday Magic The front of the card said: “Christmas Therapy Group.” It pictured a caricature of a psychiatrist sitting in front of a semi-circle that included Santa, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Reindeer, and an elf. The dialogue bubble over Santa’s head read, “I don’t...

Is It Time to Flip Your Attitude Switch?   Today, it seems like we travel on the highway of life at breakneck speeds, operating in full-on problem-solving mode, and then the holidays arrive, and we are supposed to slam on the breaks and be instantly ready to enjoy harmonious...

Are You an Over-Talker or an Over-Listener? Talking and listening were fraternal twins separated at birth. Their parents were young and immature and so adoption appeared the best solution for the wellbeing of the babies. It was decided that neither of the adoptive parents would...

Thank You for Your Unsolicited Opinion (Said Nobody Ever) Nextdoor is billed as a forum where neighbors can share pertinent information about where to find help, recommend local businesses based upon their direct experience, and in general, serve as a way to connect us with other...

Who Do You Trust? If asked, I bet you could easily bring to mind a number of people in your life that have your trust. If you delve a bit deeper, I am also sure that you have had the experience of trusting someone implicitly and found they didn’t deserve it. “You are...

How To Escape the Loneliness Trap Penetrate deeply into the secret existence of anyone, even those who seem particularly happy, and their interior landscape will house pockets of emptiness and heart hurts that have left rough scar tissue and abandoned memories from past traumas,...

Have You Lost the Magic? Can you remember back to an earlier time, somewhere around age 14 or 15, when great expectations lived in your imagination about what your future would hold? Love, romance, adventure, freedom to express and to chart your own course, were all contained...

It Takes Courage to Be Happy   One day, when I was in my mid-20s, my insightful boss/mentor turned to me and said, “Are you happy?” I was surprised by the question because it seemed out of place. My answer was vague and rambling and my mind was caught off guard. At that...

Are Men Allowed in the Woman’s Club? Back in 1922, a group of community-minded women gathered together to form the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club to enhance the lives of others through volunteer services. Originally, the club met at a site where the City Hall resides today. In...

How to Stay Sane in Chaotic Times On the global front, political predictions and dire financial forecasts abound. Locally, sirens blare, boulders randomly topple, summer crowds rise and driving through town is like being captured in a frantic video game. No wonder free-floating...

The Sympathy Trap   Are you concerned that your caring about the complex problems of others is getting you down? Do you wish you could shut off the worry valve? When you can’t stomach hearing about another insurmountable problem, do you feel judgmental and irritated or...

Relationship Literacy Every person we meet has a story to tell. Imagine that life is like a library filled with individual books to be experienced and enjoyed. Of course, you have your favorites and you know what topic is their specialty. Their main theme may be an ongoing drama,...