We’ve all gotten used to a certain glow on the faces of our significant others. Not the glow of happiness and contentment. Not the glow of intimate connection and fulfillment. No, this glow is blue-ish, maybe green. Emanating from the palms of their hands, and accompanied by the occasional vibration, beep, or buzz. But who are we kidding… they aren’t the only ones to succumb to it. We’re drawn in too. We keep on smartphone clicking, posting,...

You’re in recovery. Congratulations. That’s amazing. You’re on your way. Where? Back from despair, desperation, maybe even the brink of death or losing it all. Back to life. You are working on becoming a whole person again. How? Through caring and accountability. Through intentional steps toward self-awareness and selflessness. And by allowing a lot more humanity bloom in yourself and in your life. That humanity is actually a relationship...

So, how are you doing? Before you answer “okay,” take a minute to come up with a more accurate answer. A truer answer. One that reflects the tension in your shoulders, that sense that you’ve forgotten how to breathe deeply, or that it seems so difficult lately to really focus in on anything. What’s that not okay feeling about? That’s stress. That’s how you’re really doing. And living with stress, on an ongoing basis, does a real number on your...

Addiction can cause you to look at another human being and see very little, feel nothing much, and hear only the nagging whine of your own need. That need has no empathy. Addiction wants to drag you down to that lonely, selfish place forever. And it does a heartbreakingly good job of destroying your life and relationships along the way. So, when you decide to recover, you must also recover a deeper emotional connection to those around you. If...

Sometimes loss hurts so much that the pain becomes perpetual and unbearable. It begins to change the way you see yourself, your future, and your relationships. All you know is that something needs to change. You need relief. Grief can complicate things internally, rearrange your thinking, and leave the door open for deep hopelessness, persistent joylessness, and prolonged sadness. Sometimes grief can turn into depression. While it is common for...