When we hear the words “loving relationships” we tend to think of relationships between two people who are intimately involved on a romantic level.  We often forget that loving relationships also include the relationships between families, siblings, parents and children, friends, etc. Why is that? Could it be that we only associate the joy and [...]

In the past few weeks of discussing the topic of Forgiveness – and especially for those focusing on this time of year in the Jewish calendar which is all about forgiveness – the following question has come up quite a few times: “If forgiveness means that I don’t have to wait for the other person [...]

We’ve focused so far on the challenge of forgiving others who have hurt or wronged us, and why not forgiving someone only serves to keep us stuck in place – suffering, feeling resentment that can never be satisfied, and even risking our health in the process. Well, what if I told you there is an [...]

What is the true personal impact of NOT forgiving the hurts and insults that affect us? Many people have asked what the big deal is if they don’t forgive someone for a hurtful moment or transgression that occurred a long time ago, especially if they really don’t have anything to do with that person today. [...]

This month’s focus is on Forgiveness. What is forgiveness? That’s actually a really important place to start. Webster’s Dictionary defines forgiveness as:  “to pardon; to give up resentment of; to cease to feel resentment against.” I also define it as “letting go; releasing yourself emotionally from a negative experience in your life.” The words may [...]

Welcome to Part 3 of our series on Setting Boundaries. This article is all about how to handle your own reactions and restore your equilibrium in challenging moments. It will come in handy when you start to question whether you’re doing the right thing setting a boundary, especially one that feels uncomfortable, with someone important to [...]

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on Setting Boundaries. This article is all about handling what I call the “pushback” that happens when we introduce new boundaries in our relationships with the people in our lives. “How do I maintain the new boundaries I’ve set with my mother (85 years old), when I know she [...]

It’s been an interesting week hearing feedback about the different ways some of you have practiced setting new boundaries, communicating your desires to make positive changes in your relationships and in your lives. I get that it’s challenging, especially when you first start to make this shift in your life. Very predictably, you have hit [...]

One of the most common questions I get asked (and I get asked this one all the time!) is:  “How do I set boundaries and limits with others when I know that they’ll be angry with me, and maybe even reject me? Isn’t it better to simply go along, so that there is peace in my life?” So many people worry about everyone else’s feelings and needs at the  expense of their own and this is NOT the same thing as peace. In many situations in life, someone will end up feeling hurt, sad, disappointed, frustrated, etc. The problem when you haven’t set a boundary is that the one who’s most upset almost always ends up being YOU!  Trust me – you don’t have to settle for that. Let’s look for a moment at what happens when you are constantly putting  your own needs aside in favor of everyone else’s. The message you are essentially giving to yourself is that you don’t matter. At some point you inevitably begin to feel like a martyr, and this leads to [...]

     Memorial Day, which dates back to the Civil War is about remembering those who fought and died for our country, and who, today continue to fight for our country, and not just the unofficial start of summer.  I want to honor our service men and women who sacrifice their lives for us, not [...]