I realized the other day that I’ve not been practicing what I’ve been preaching lately.  In sharing ideas with a client on achieving balance in her own life (juggling work, kids, a husband, community involvement, etc.), I discovered that I, too, could benefit from my own advice.

I’ve always been a workhorse, and now that what started out as a hobby as become a full-time career, I spend far too much time ‘at work’ (in front of my computer, on the phone, out-and-about networking, etc.)   Don’t get me wrong – I love what I do, but it’s work nonetheless, and it … Read More »

Being a working, single mother, can be a tough job on the best of days. But being an ambitious, involved, working, writing, guest speaking, single mother is even tougher. Believe me I’m not trying to toot any horns here. I’m writing this because I’m sure you understand.

You can insert your own descriptors, but you’re probably juggling as many roles in the course of a day as I have been. We all do it. Our society places an inordinate value on being “busy.” Business is worn like a badge of honor.

Or at least I was. And all of my conversations started … Read More »

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By Judith J. Wurtman, PhD,
Co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs — Nature’s Own Appetite Suppressant — to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain

Antidepressants have been associated with weight gain since they were first used about 50 years ago. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) relieved depression but left patients considerably heavier as a consequence of treatment. One in particular, amitryptyline, was associated with uncontrollable sugar cravings. When Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Blockers (SSRIs) were introduced as the new generation of antidepressants, it was hoped that weight gain would not be a problem. Unfortunately this expectation has not been … Read More »

Life’s transitions are ultimately positive, even if they don’t always feel it. Here’s how to navigate them gracefully.

By Ariane de Bonvoisin

Everyone is born with a will to survive, get better, and be happier–I call this the Change Muscle. It helps you accept the reality of your situation and find your center again. Every time you are faced with a change and move through it, you are activating that muscle. And once you flex it, it’s strengthened for life–you can never lose all that you have gained from experience. Next time you’re faced with transition, remember that your Change Muscle will … Read More »

There’s a certain calm one experiences when one knows she has made the right decision.  Even she struggled in order to make that decision, peace comes when the decision is right.  Peace remains even if there are elements of uncertainty about the outcome of that decision.

Unfortunately, our general society is fear-based one.  The news tells us the economy’s bad, so we hang on to jobs that make us miserable.  The fear of being alone causes us to dwell in toxic relationships.  We stop eating Oreos because we’re told they may kill us.

As a result, we’re afraid to take leaps of … Read More »

We sometimes mistakenly feel that as long as we think our motivation for speaking and standing up against another person is right and just then, “let the chips fall where they may, I will do what is right…” It seems like such a proper and correct position. But what we must learn is that we are too often completely blinded to our true motivations. We might honestly and truthfully think that our motivations are pure and just but in truth somewhere deep in our heart, what is pushing us to cause separation and to speak ill of another person is … Read More »

This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”

by John Wareham

Understand the nature of the “Asylum of Illicit Love”—then make the choice that’s right for you, says John Wareham, in this adaptation from his acclaimed, Sonnets for Sinners: Everything One Needs to Know About Illicit Love.

We all want love, but to steal it is to find oneself incarcerated within the Asylum of Illicit Love.

Inmates typically arrive as hopeful and delighted pairs, oblivious to the suffering ahead. The only way to find relief—and create lasting love—is to plot an escape, bearing in mind that every cell has four walls, a door, a lock and a key.

First, illicit lovers slam … Read More »

Much of what you experience in life can feel more stressful or less so depending of your point of view. Looking at things from an optimistic frame of mind can not only decrease your stress level, but bring you more success in life and more. You can become more of an optimist by following these tips. You can even change ingrained negative thought patterns to more positive ones by using positive affirmations.

•Make a conscious effort to replace your negative thoughts and actions with positive ones. Instead of looking at a task and saying, “It’s impossible,” just commit to doing it … Read More »

By Tom Venuto,
Author of The Body Fat Solution: Five Principles for Burning Fat, Building Lean Muscle, Ending Emotional Eating, and Maintaining Your Perfect Weight

For years, concerned consumers and watchdog organizations have been screaming that the U.S. labeling laws are full of loopholes and in need of serious revision. After years of talk, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says they’re planning to so something about it. But will it be enough?

There are many food labeling issues we could complain about, but one of the biggest problems (due to its direct relationship to the obesity crisis) is serving sizes.

I’m … Read More »

By Marty Babits, LCSW, BCD,
Author of The Power of Middle Ground: A Couple’s Guide to Renewing Your Relationship

If you need help regulating and resolving conflict, these guidelines are for you. They can help you make difficult conversations productive, steer you and your partner away from destructive talk, and help you nurture an atmosphere of emotional safety. Adopting these guidelines, whenever pertinent, will safeguard the middle ground within your relationship:

Avoid generalizing and stereotyping. Try not to generalize about your partners moods. When you think you know how your partner feels, but don’t stop to ask or listen, they can … Read More »