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Change Your Words, Change Your Worth is the mantra used by Adam Braun, founder of Pencils for Promise. His story is about the language of business and how he found a creative way to engage with other prominent entrepreneurs and not lose them the moment he began discussing his non-profit organization. Braun realized very early on that the terminology he used could make or break the connections he formed in the business world. Those of us living in the world of Fibromyalgia have also found this same issue regarding the discussions we have about our health. [More]

In all intimate relationships—whether with family members, partners or spouses—we do know how to push one another buttons, because these are the people we’ve been around the most. Consciously or not, we’ve learned how to get under their skin: Maybe it’s bringing up issues we know are sensitive to them (usually in an insensitive way), or reminding them of a past mistake that should be relegated by now to the “done that, talked about it, moved on” column. Maybe it’s comparing them to a family member in an unflattering way, like saying, “You’re just like your (notoriously thrifty) mom!” at moments when he or she disagrees with you about a big financial decision .If you’ve been guilty of doing this—hitting your partner where it hurts (often because you’re angry, and you want to hurt them)—the first step is to recognize the habit for what it is: a form of passive-aggressive behavior. [More]

It’s a basic truism of coupledom. You get to pick your partner or spouse, but you can’t pick his or her friends. In fact, a lot of these friends probably precede you; they were part of the package when you met. So what do you do when it turns out that you and your partner’s best buds are far from a match made in heaven—or worse, their friends become recurring source of conflict in your relationship? [More]

You've done everything you can think of, including selling some of your belongings, to make an effort to make ends meet and get the bills paid. But no matter what you do and how much you try to pay everything, it just isn't enough. You're only making the minimum payments on your bills, but every month a few unpaid bills remain. You feel as though you have nobody to turn to; nobody to lend a hand or give you a loan…and it’s taking its toll on your mental health and the health of your relationship. [More]

Like a shiny new car you just drove off the lot, the excitement of new marriage and the infatuation of new love almost always changes after the proverbial honeymoon period. That doesn’t mean it goes away; far from it. It’s just that as you begin to tackle some of your first challenges together as a couple and return to some sense of normalcy—or at least the “new normal - most couples inevitably trade novelty for the maturing of the relationship,”It’s not a bad thing, and it is also inevitable. [More]

There are a multitude of reasons why people remain silent, even when something in a relationship is really bothering them. Maybe you dislike conflict. You think you score points by always saying the right thing. Or maybe you have a tendency to downplay your own concerns, because living with them is easier than risking offending your partner or even making them angry and causing tension between the two of you. [More]

You don’t have to be a therapist to know that becoming close to a colleague can potentially lead to becoming more than just friends. One needs to be aware of the danger signs, especially if they’re already in a committed relationship (with someone outside the office, that is). To be clear, it is possible to work closely with a person of the opposite sex without crossing the line into intimacy or a full-blown affair. The key is setting boundaries and sticking to them. [More]

Give your partner a little time and breathing room if they’re struggling to communicate their thoughts, concerns or needs - especially if the topic is emotional or directly concerns your relationship. If you feel you are being attacked by an aggressive tone and language, say so (calmly) —but try to refrain from retaliating with angry retorts of your own. Likewise, if you feel like he or she is bringing up ancient history that is not germane to the topic at hand, say that too. However, if you can try to steer the conversation back to a more productive back-and-forth, do so. [More]

While there are many precautions that should be considered when it comes to children/teens and social media, we have come to a time when facing it with a positive attitude may be the key to helping children use these mediums appropriately. Some curiosity, exploration and healthy discussion with your children can go a long way. So, the next time you see your child giggling at something on their phone, engage them in a conversation. Learn their language so you can speak their language. [More]

The unity of marriage not only brings two individuals together, but it also blends families. While you and your spouse may have worked through the challenges of getting to know each other and how to coexist, your families may still be trying to figure out how to interact and be a part of your new chapter in life. There are plenty of marriages out there where one spouse and their in-laws are polar opposites, making it difficult for them to get along. It's also not uncommon for cohabitating couples to have to deal with their parents' dishing out wisdom from their years of marriage. [More]