Few of us are guided to fully own who we are. Almost everyone lives out of the misguided belief that they aren’t enough.

I have fond childhood memories of going to the Angel Stadium with my dad. He loved baseball and his enthusiasm for anything was contagious. Swept in the memory of a simpler time, I checked the box with a “heck yeah” I’ll volunteer!

“Life does not consist mainly, or even largely, of facts or happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that is forever flowing through one’s head.”  ~ Mark Twain

We all need to be seen, loved and cherished. A felt sense of belonging is our birthright. Yet some come into this world and are met by disconnect. Fair or not, it doesn’t matter. Our connections with others inform our needs as well as how we get those needs met.

It’s easy to lose sight of the importance of unstructured time as adults. Kids are masters at this. Understanding how we played as children, what we liked and didn’t like, is a key component toward bringing back play into our adult lives. Childhood play tells…

What is play? A classic definition is to engage in recreation or amusement that relaxes or refreshes the body and mind. With one small caveat, it must come from the heart. We need play because life is serious. It helps create balance and is different…

Leave it to the sensational Esther Perel to nail the climate of modern love. At a conference speaking to 2,500 millennials, she outlined methods of rejection that are currently in vogue. Surprisingly, her arching definition perfectly describes what also happens in long-term married couples. “These tactics…

I’m in awe each time a client lets me into their private world – especially when they’ve been hurt by those closest to them. Imagine the courage it takes to walk into a stranger’s office and reveal yourself while every bone in your body is saying, “Don’t do it. You’ll just get hurt again.”

As a therapist, one of my favorite roles is to remind people of their largeness – which I define as living a Self-led life. When describing the qualities of Self, it’s not unusual for clients to look at me quizzically. Recently someone asked “What if my “self” wants to run off to the Bahamas and drink pina coladas all day?” I smiled even though I suspected that hidden within this comical question was a fear that she had no authentic Self.

Brené Brown consistently delivers whole-hearted, thought-provoking material that helps women in their journey of personal growth and self-acceptance. Here she interviews Oprah Winfrey in classic researcher style, asking pointed questions on tender subjects.