What are the essential qualities of a great relationship? Communication and conflict resolution skills are certainly at the top of the list. But there are other skills and simple secrets to keep your relationship healthy and thriving. Below are six to consider: Share secrets The best relationships involve friends who are open and honest with ...
Have you ever lost your keys and felt helpless to go anywhere? Then when you find them you are relieved that you are no longer stuck. Sometimes we can feel stuck in our relationships. As if there is no one in the driver’s seat and no one knows where the keys are. Feelings of frustration ...
Spring has officially sprung. This means saying goodbye to early sunsets and hello to blooming flowers and chirping birds. For many, spring is when we clean out the clutter that’s accumulated over the long, cold winter months. While this can involve a weekend of chasing dust bunnies, clearing out cobwebs and washing windows, there are ...
By the time you finish reading this article, four more Americans will experience sexual assault. The probability that you know someone who has experienced sexual trauma is high. Individuals who are at particularly high risk of sexual assault include children and young adolescents, elderly people — especially those with dementia — as well as individuals ...
Centerstone will hold the first Centerstone Spotlight Series event of 2019 on Jan. 29 at its second floor Great Room at 2615 Edwards St., Alton, from 5-7:00 p.m. The topic of the event will be “Working Through Your Grief.” ...
Long after active duty ends, U.S. service members and military families face a different battle—the opioid overdose epidemic. Opioid overuse kills nearly 100 people in America every day, and Tennessee is ranked third in the country for prescription drug use. Further, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) study shows Veterans are twice as likely to ...
Father’s Day is June 18, and it’s more than just an excuse to buy greeting cards, power tools, novelty neckties and, yes, bacon-scented candles. It’s a great time to recognize that dads really do matter. Moms are amazing and important, too, but we must remember what a vital role dads are meant to play in ...
High school students across the United States are getting excited for the 2017 prom and graduation season. All the fun things parents remember about those days still exist: dress shopping, tuxedo rental, flowers, photographs, parties. But there also remains a strong temptation to engage in underage drinking. According to a 2016 poll, alcohol use is ...
As Valentine’s Day nears, the internet buzzes with playfully captioned pictures (or “memes”) inspiring us toward “Relationship Goals.” But beyond those fun photos of mature couples who still push each other in shopping carts or wear matching Star Wars t-shirts, there must lie deeper efforts to uphold long term commitments. Marriage and family therapists at ...
The sights and sounds of the holidays are all around us. It started before our Halloween candy had even been devoured. Turkeys, trees, candles, and lights have popped up everywhere you look and will be with us through the start of the New Year. It can very be easy to get caught up in the ...
In many ways our world is more connected than ever before, with social media venues of all kinds providing real-time access around the clock. However, even with all that connection and communication, suicide rates remain at alarming levels, proving that sensitivity to, and awareness of, warning signs is critical in providing lifesaving interventions. It’s not ...
You can tell if a relationship is toxic when spending time with someone drags you down, belittles you or makes you feel hurt, angry, and miserable. Some people think of a “toxic relationship” as the most dangerous kind of relationship – one that only involves abuse or addictions. These are, in fact, harmful characteristics of ...
Imagine a gift that can increase self esteem, reduce stress, and can be given to anybody. Imagine a gift that can lift spirits, enliven inspiration, and even ignite passions. This ideal gift is not found by shopping online, or at the mall, or within the catalogues mounting in your mailbox. It is not something that ...
Addiction is a complicated problem. It is diverse in its causes and its costs. If describing a person with an addiction was to be simplified, it might be “the intense desire and action of continuing certain behaviors despite the negative consequences.” An addiction controls your life, your thoughts and your choices. It is a compulsion that robs you of healthy options for coping with life challenges. ...
Are your moods unpredictable, uncontrollable or consistently disproportionate to a situation? You may be experiencing excessive emotional distress due to unmanaged moods. The many challenges of today’s society seem to provoke mood swings for many people, which can debilitate relationships, careers and even physical health. Mood swings are characterized by a drastic change in emotion ...
Athletes. Politicians. Actors. Many celebrities are making headlines these days, but not necessarily for their professional achievements. Instead, it seems like the rich and famous are becoming infamous for their marital mishaps. We read the headlines, hear the television reports and even gush about it with our girlfriends. “I can’t believe he cheated on his ...
Have you lost something recently? Can you recall the last time you laughed, played or actually escaped from daily boredom and really enjoyed your life? Do you plan activities that bring you joy and laughter and bring delight with your family or friends? You may have lost sight of one particular priority – the priority to have fun in your life! ...
What would you do differently if you had the chance? Ask a person about something he or she regrets and you will learn a lot. Everyone can think of at least one thing they wish they had done another way. But the guilt over past mistakes or perceived faulty decisions can become paralyzing if it ...
What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. The abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional, or include threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, ...
Loud voices. Accusing words. Cold shoulders. Heated discussions.These are just a few signs of relationships and conversations that are on the verge of explosion. How we deal with these tough moments, in our actions and our language is important – not only to our ability to maintain healthy relationships with others, but also to preserve ...
Life can be difficult and uncertain, especially when faced with the prospect of change. Although change is often the key that will positively alter the path of our lives, we shy away from it for fear of leaving behind our comfort zones and entering into the unknown. This fear robs us of our freedom to ...
Sometimes we come to forks in the road that call for us to make difficult or perhaps drastic decisions. Our goals change, and we have varied priorities in different phases of our lives. These decisions can impact all areas of our lives, including the lives of those around us. I’m not talking about the dilemma ...
Are constant feuds causing a lot of drama in your family? Unfortunately, arguments with family members are all too common. You can resolve family feuds by knowing the facts about family relationships. Read the five facts about family feuds listed below, and determine whether you think the statements are true or false. Then, read the ...
Is it possible to have a satisfying relationship that promotes the esteem and delight of both partners? Relationships that thrive and endure hard times are not successful simply because there is love between the couple. Some relationships can provide great fun, yet be very dysfunctional. Some relationships seem to work like a thriving business, yet ...
Money and marriage can be a dicey combination. Research shows that money is the most common source of conflict between couples. So, it is no surprise that financial pressure can disable dreams, wreck relationships and cripple communication between couples. However, good communication can improve relationships and increase intimacy, trust and support. The converse is also ...
Many people have relationships that dissolved due to past differences. Perhaps you had a misunderstanding with your sister or feuded with your parents. Maybe you simply let a friendship slip away. Sometimes a bitter dispute from the past can keep loved ones from reconciling. However, with some effort, you can begin to resolve conflicts and ...
Based on the national bestseller and the extraordinary final lecture by Carnegie Mellon University professor Randy Pausch, given after he discovered he had pancreatic cancer, the moving book The Last Lecture is an inspiration to anyone who wants to live each day with purpose and joy. Here are five life lessons that will help you ...
A family death. A home destroyed. A career cut short. These are just a few examples of events that can cause devastation and despair. Loss is part of all our lives, but what do you say to someone who has experienced a recent loss? We often wish we had a magic wand to erase the ...
On February 9, our country marks National Stop Bullying Day. While this isn’t a day most of us commemorate each year, National Stop Bullying Day offers an opportunity for us to consider the children in our lives and begin a community-wide conversation about bullying. This is a conversation that too few adults are having today, ...
Challenge and change are a fact of life. How do you deal with unexpected or stressful times? Resiliency is the emotional strength that helps you recover quickly and thoroughly from change and bounce back after any adversity. It is a skill that can be applied to any area of life. The following are seven main ...
February means Valentine’s Day, and I can still smell the overpriced roses and taste the decadent chocolates now. Flowers, candy and cards do big business this time of year, and expectations are high—mostly for men—to bring home something spectacular that will testify to the power of romantic love. But can this love be shown in ...
