In any successful relationship, whether between friends, family, or romantic, there’s an underlying dynamic that plays a crucial role in its health and longevity – reciprocity. The simple act of giving and taking, of exchanging support, love, and kindness, forms the foundation of any solid relationship. Learn the delicate dance of reciprocity in relationships –…
7 Types of Insecurities Holding You Back (and what you can do about it)
Everyone has personal insecurities they must cope with every day. While we all feel unsure of ourselves sometimes, an overly insecure person suffers more and considerably limits their growth and happiness. Regardless of where we stand on the insecurity continuum, all of us can benefit from learning how to cope when we experience self-doubt. While…
3 Levels of Culture That Define Our Identity and How We View Others
The cultures we’re exposed to are important in shaping who we are and our behavior. Most people tend to think about their culture at the most general levels, which can cause us to generalize and stereotype or limit our own identity to what’s accepted in one culture. However, with the rise of globalization, people’s cultures…
Zanshin: How it Can Help You Be More Focused and Conquer Scattered Thinking
In today’s information-overloaded world and always-on, staying focused throughout the day can be hard. Yet, we need our minds to be still, focused, and alert to achieve anything lasting. Many Eastern cultures that practice martial arts teach and embrace this way of being, including the Japanese, who call it “Zanshin,” which means “the mind with…
10 Types of Soulmates and Soul Connections and Their Purpose in Your Life
A soulmate is a person with whom we feel an intense connection – where both people experience a magnetic pull to one another. They can be romantic or platonic. Whether or not you believe in soulmates, it’s well worth looking at the people you connect with on a deep level, as it can give you…
Character and Reputation: Which is More Important in How Others See You?
We live in an image-oriented world. What we wear, where we work, or what car we drive can dictate our reputations. Yet, these external sources of identity have little to do with who we are on the inside – our character. While our character and reputation both impact our success, it’s important to look at…
The Worst Wars in History and How They Proved the Need for Peace
Throughout human history, our world has been ravaged by the devastation and suffering of war. Technology and human rights advances have not eliminated the use of violent means in resolving disagreements. With conflicts raging across the globe (and the threat of more), we are pressed to understand the impact of war. These five gruesome worst…
Opportunity Costs in Life: How to Determine if Your Sacrifices Are Worth it
Every day, you make several decisions, big and small, that impact your life and the lives of others, even if you don’t realize what you give up by choosing one option over the other. These missed benefits are what economists call the opportunity costs of your decisions. Whenever you say “yes” to an option, you…
Why You Gain More from Win-Win Situations in Relationships (and how to do it)
Entering a negotiation can be daunting, especially if you dislike confrontation or worry that your wants won’t align with the other person. The good news is that you can avoid that by creating win-win situations in your relationship. It does not have to be a zero-sum interaction where one person wins at the expense of…
6 Reasons Why You Should Choose Quality Over Quantity
We’ve all heard the age-old advice, “You should choose quality over quantity.” It states that value is more important than volume. In our culture of excess, this can be challenging advice to follow. In our quest for perfection, we risk focusing too much on the chase for more – more money, status, material objects, and…