LIFESHINE BLOG

The homepage of my website states, “Life is full of unexpected twists and turns.” Let’s first off say that nobody wishes the difficulty and struggle that comes with some of these life situations. Some of these moments are incredibly painful and traumatic. That’s realit...

“We communicate well, we respect & trust each other, we manage our conflicts well, we are both on the same page with our finances, our sex life is great…but something seems missing.”

I get asked this a lot, and I usually pose the question back, "Why do you feel the need to do so?" I’ve heard many reasons why parents think it’s a good idea to drink with their teens: “We want to keep an eye on them.” ”At least I know they are safe.” “There’s a better...

When it comes to love and relationships, it seems like everyone has a slogan that makes for a long and lasting happiness. While some of these are rooted with good intentions, they might be taking your relationship into an unhealthy direction.  

Relationships are 50/50

Wh...

“That’s not what I’m trying to say!” “This is going nowhere!” “You don’t get it!”

Sometimes disagreements build to the point that they become negative, and plain nasty. Even when delivered in a less than pleasing way, these comments are perfect examples of one person tr...

As a dog owner, I never stop appreciating the welcome I receive when I walk through the door.  Dogs are pack animals, and after some quick Googling, I find that most experts agree dogs are genetically predisposed to being “social”.  

Like pack animals, humans are s...

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference."

The Serenity prayer has been widely used in self-help and recovery circles for decades.  Sometimes in life, it can be more difficult t...

Anxiety is a state of being in which we struggle with feelings of nervousness, worry, or uneasiness.  It differs from fear which is an emotion based on a defined threat. Anxiety is based on a perceived threat. The unknown. The dark, blurry place that we might go to as...

Boundaries are one of the most important aspects of healthy, mutually satisfying relationships.  Simply put, boundaries define what is “me” and what “is not me”. They allow us to know who we are, and how we are different from others intellectually, physically, emotiona...

All too often, couples who are experiencing struggles in their relationship choose to not confront the situation causing issues.  Resentments, back stories, unresolved past conflicts, defensiveness (just to name a few) all play a part in keeping the relationship in an...