Giving in to others simply to avoid conflict puts us in conflict with ourselves. We cannot please everyone else and ourselves simultaneously. In most cases, acquiescing to the wants or demands of others in an attempt to make them happy, in spite of our own happiness, has the opposite affect on us. It may prevent immediate…
Empathetic Boundaries
We can empathize with others without being moved to act. Not all problems require a solution. In fact, not all problems have a solution. Some problems are simply problems. Even if a solution is available, however, our intervention is not always necessary, advisable, or even desirable. There are times when merely feeling for someone is…
The Cycle of Criticism
When we criticize others, we open ourselves up to criticism. We set ourselves up against an impossible standard. As soon as we, ourselves, make a mistake, which will inevitably happen, our own words and attitudes toward others become ammunition to be used against us. No one is perfect. We all have flaws and make mistakes. …
A Solid Foundation
Integrity alone does not guarantee happiness, but it does give us a solid foundation off of which to seek it. Lack of integrity, on the other hand, puts our emotional and psychological well-being in the hands of others. And the truth is, even the most well intended people cannot take care of us in the…
Drawn Into Conflict
We live in a world full of broken people, but we need not be broken by them. Some people are so unhappy that their only goal from day to day is to make others unhappy as well. They go out of their way to pull others into their misery. By intentionally causing conflict, they draw…