Having a new baby is the best and worst all wrapped up into one. There’s not much else that brings such intense highs and lows as welcoming a tiny infant into the world. There is nothing quite like the gift of new life—a life you...
Most people have heard of the stress responses fight, flight, or freeze. Another common—but less talked about—response is called fawning. Fawning happens when your nervous system learns that staying safe means keeping other people happy. If you grew up in an environment where there was...
Feelings. I know…I know… it’s the f-word nobody ever seems to want to talk about. Well—unless we’re sharing a “good” feeling, that is. Somewhere along the line, we started believing that experiencing big feelings is a bad thing. So we try to shove them into...
We all grow up in a family system. What we might not always realize is that each of us assume a role in that system to make it “work.” This can be based on birth order, needs to manage specific relationships in the family or...
Forgiveness is a cornerstone of healthy relationships, yet it is often one of the hardest acts to perform. Understanding why forgiveness is challenging and recognizing its profound benefits can help individuals and couples navigate the complexities of their relationships with greater empathy and resilience. Why...
Unlike a lot of people my age, I didn’t grow up watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I discovered Fred Rogers later on in life through documentaries, and the more I learned about him the more I became a fan. He was a man who exemplified qualities...
We have all been there – in our youth, as students, oversleeping and missing the bus for school. As adults, getting a flat tire that causes us to be late for work. These everyday moments are stressful, but when do daily stressors become cause for...
We often focus on the negative. What don’t we have? What is still lacking? What if it never gets better? There are times we should focus on what’s wrong. Ignoring it isn’t going to help anything. A life without reflection is likely one without learning...
Our ability to manage logistics can often be overlooked when we think of our mental health. But logistics (planning, doing regular, boring life tasks like cleaning, paying the bills, etc) are an important factor for our stress and anxiety levels. For many people, trying to...
You are sitting on a bench at your local playground. It’s sunny (despite Michigan’s temperamental weather). Your gaze begins to wander and settles on children climbing. They are climbing everywhere. It’s amazing, actually, how many things children can climb on. You further notice how they...