December 4, 2022

Many argue that emotional intelligence (EI) is more important than traditional intelligence, boosting academic and career success, leadership skills, and mental and physical wellbeing (Larsen, Buss, Wismeijer, & Song, 2017). Made popular by Daniel Goleman’s (1995) bestseller more than 25 years ago, EI combines the awareness of our emotions with the ability to use them […]

Perhaps you feel shy, awkward, or anxious around other people. And that’s okay. All of us, at times, experience similar feelings and find making conversation difficult while we struggle to leave a good impression (MacLeod, 2018). Social problems can be helped. Shyness and anxiety can be identified and managed, and conversation skills can be practiced

Bullying is certainly an unusual yet interesting phenomenon. If you ask most people, they are likely to say that they have been the victim of a bully. They may even admit to being the bully. Others will tell you they have been a bully–victim. This is the dual experience of being the bully and the

While emotions are often strong and all consuming when a couple first meets, they continue to influence the ongoing health of the mature relationship. Along with encouraging partners to connect, they also form, maintain, and strengthen bonds (Greenberg, 2015). While emotions positively impact how we act and react to our partners, they can also have

Childhood experiences can influence the traits we express in adulthood. Early exposure to absent, neglectful, or emotionally distant parents can shape what we expect from future bonds. According to attachment theory, the patterns of attachment we form when we are young impact our later relationships with our partners, friends, and families (Gibson, 2020). Without at

When John Bowlby (1988) introduced his theory of attachment, he described the psychotherapist as being like a responsive mother with a child; they must be sensitive, provide security as they explore the world, and offer support when needed (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016). Bowlby’s (1988) theory suggests that attachments formed with caregivers in our childhood impact

Many clients enter therapy because they have relationship patterns that they are tired of repeating (Jackman, 2020). They may arrive at the first session asking, “Why do I push good people away?” or “Why do I keep making the same mistakes?” Inner child healing believes that the answers lie deep within. The consequences of a

As the sun cascades behind the distant mountains, it creates a beautiful array of orange, peach, and pink. When we bask in the glory of a sunset and reflect on creation or enjoy the embrace of a loved one, it provides meaning. As we engage with our community, participate in creative endeavors, and support a

Reading my philosophy thesis was like receiving an email from my 25-year-old self. “You don’t find meaning; you create it,” was my answer to the question, what is meaning? Drawn in by the unforgiving directness of the existentialist philosophers, I was (perhaps naively) attempting to respond to the question that Albert Camus said must be

Ikigai (ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.” When combined, these terms mean that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose. Ikigai is similar to the French term “raison d’etre” or “reason for being.” In this article, we will delve deeper