It can happen in a fraction of a second. All it takes is a shrug, a sigh, or a small signal of body language to turn a well-intentioned conversation into an unhealthy one. Did it really mean what you thought it did?  Have you ever been in a situation where you stopped a conversation because you saw your sister roll her eyes and you thought, “There she goes again, judging what I say and thinking she’s better than me.”  Or maybe you made a quick judgment after reading – or misreading — someone’s body language. In doing so, you take…

“Life is about perspective and how you look at something…ultimately, you have to zoom out.” Bumble CEO Whitney Wolf Heard When we shift our focus from ourselves to others, our lives become richer. We begin to see that we are not the center of the universe, and that we need each other. We open our hearts and our arms, and we allow love to fill us up. In doing so, our lives become more fulfilling and meaningful. I’d like to share a little sample from my new book, in this chapter I look deeper into this important life lesson. In…

In my new book, one of the interesting ideas I explore is how we can expand our world by performing simple acts of kindness to others. I believe kindness creates a ripple effect that has the power to change lives. It also talks about how kindness is often contagious, prompting others to pay it forward. When we are kind to others, we not only make their day brighter, but also brighten our own day. A few years ago, I was sitting in an airport terminal, waiting for my flight when I noticed some sort of conflict happening at the boarding…

It’s a funny thing, privilege. You might not even know you have it until you’re made aware of it. And even then, it can be hard to see. Privilege is like an invisible force field, protecting you from the everyday struggles that others must endure. It’s an advantage that you didn’t ask for and that you can’t control. But just because you didn’t ask for it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t acknowledge it. In fact, acknowledging your privilege is an important step in creating a more just and equitable world. So the next time someone calls you out on your privilege,…

Many people underestimate the importance of communication. After all, it seems like a pretty simple concept – just exchanging information between two people. However, effective communication is actually a complex process that involves several skills. In short, communication is essential for both our personal and professional lives. Without it, we would have a hard time building relationships, developing new ideas, and achieving our goals. I look at how important communication is in different aspects of life in this chapter from my new upcoming book: It can happen in a fraction of a second. All it takes is a shrug, a…

“Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word, movement and action has an effect. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than a parent.” Bob Keeshan (AKA Captain Kangaroo) In the midst of growing up, it is easy to lose sight of the lessons we pick up from our parents. So many of our habits and principles arise from their guidance.  If you haven’t thanked them yet, what are you waiting for? When my father retired, he became a steady presence in the house and I had a chance to discover who…

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. — Ralph Waldo Emerson To “affirm” something is to declare that it is true. In the context of self- development, affirmations are statements of truths that we want to draw deeply into ourselves and our lives: truths whose energy we want to absorb wholeheartedly, and, ultimately, pass on to others.  To generate the most impact, we repeat these statements aloud or silently, over and over again, until they become an integral part of who we are. I also call them incantations, although some people prefer the term mantra.…

Perhaps you are familiar with the Cherokee parable of the Good Wolf vs. Bad Wolf. It goes something like this: A Cherokee elder was teaching his young grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a vicious fight between two wolves. One is evil. He represents anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. He represents joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you and…

I am excited to share the journey of my newest book with you. I have wanted this project for a long time, and it’s finally coming out in May of 2022. My new book will help me share the wisdom passed down through generations and make it accessible for everyone! Please read about my writing journey and discover what my new book is all about.  Why are you writing this book? The journey to writing this book began in 2016 when I helped my family write a book of family values.  That was a 2 year process and helping my…

The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to get the family together and enhance connections between everyone. It also encourages connection among generations of families and teaches respect and problem-solving skills. Understanding how you want your values to be represented within the unit or family dynamic is the first step toward establishing a sense of family harmony and togetherness for the future. What is Family Harmony? Understanding and appreciating one another are the first steps toward family harmony. This can be done in many ways, such as through communication, problem-solving skills or simply spending time together. When we come from a…

What’s life like around your house? Maybe you spend most of your time sharing joyful moments, or perhaps you’re stuck arguing over the same old issues. Conflicts are a natural part of family life, and they can even be beneficial when handled constructively. On the other hand, a family that knows how to express love and pull together has advantages. You enjoy more peace and happiness, and you feel gratified knowing that your children learn how to thrive as adults. You can experience greater family harmony starting today as we prepare ourselves for visiting family over the holidays. Use these…

Why wait until Thanksgiving to express your gratitude? You have the luxury of living your joyous life every day of the year. So make it a point to recognize your blessings and remind yourself that showing gratitude for all you already have only does more to attract further blessings into your life. Here are five ways that show gratitude attracts more abundance into your life:   1- You’ll be thankful for the little things. When you’re in a positive mindset, you’ll learn to appreciate the little things. The sweetest blessings come in the smallest forms. Once you learn to love, recognize, and be thankful…

It’s natural to want your children to succeed at any age, but overindulging or sheltering them can backfire. Some experts talk about an entitlement epidemic, making it more difficult for the next generation of adults to develop realistic expectations and interact with others. In any case, over-parenting can undermine a child’s self-confidence and make them less resilient. What is the best way to balance caring for your child while helping them be independent and appreciative? Find out how to turn an entitlement mentality into healthy self-respect with these proven strategies. Strategies to Use with Your Child At an early age,…

Financial literacy is when someone has a prevailing ability to conduct finances effectively. Having a good understanding of financial literacy implies you can handle finances and understand the value of money. Having a good knowledge of financial basics will allow you to make smarter decisions concerning your money. You can be self-sufficient in economic decisions. A very basic understanding of financial literacy is: I know which finances matter, such as investments, debt management, and paying bills. It’s a good start knowing and understanding a few financial basics. And, if you want to achieve financial stability, you need to apply that…

Unfortunately, most schools and colleges don’t teach personal finance courses. Many young adults do not receive the primary financial education they need to manage their money, apply for credit, and stay out of debt. Fortunately, some school boards are starting to see the significant need for personal finance courses and are beginning to correct this problem.  We will discuss seven of the most important things young adults need to understand about Financial Planning in this article. Though this article is geared towards young adults, these financial tips can help anyone achieve their financial goals and take advantage of saving and…

The foundation of any healthy relationship is trust. However, virtually everyone can recall a scenario where trust has been broken. We often use different terms when we talk about trust, regardless of how crucial it is. Despite its all-encompassing meaning, trust can refer to many other things. As defined in the dictionary as “firm belief in the reliability,” trust is seen as an intangible. It is one of the most sensitive and crucial success drivers that is hard to build. It is essential from three viewpoints, business, culture, and people.  Anyone can use the power of trust to build the gap…

When it comes to wealth, it can feel like a curse at times rather than a blessing. Making the wrong choices with your wealth transfers can have some long-term unfavourable effects on your family. Incidentally, the stress of managing assets in your lifetime and then beyond can feel complicated. The biggest concern for families is granting a sense of entitlement. Families don’t want wealth to smother ambition, self-esteem, or purpose in the next generation. Still, the harmful effects of wealth transfers are often unclear to families when they sit down to work out their plans.  When parents make informed decisions…

Intro   It’s never easy to start addressing wealth transfer issues due to emotions and conflicts. However, if managing wealth transfer is properly done and communicated to everyone in the family, it can benefit future generations. Wealth can get complicated, when seen as a family business, property, or merely the moral destitution of savings. Learn more about the five significant challenges everyone faces with wealth transfer and what can be done for the best results.   Challenge #1 – Failure to Plan   The biggest challenge that families face when making a smooth handover to the next generation is not…

I encourage you to take a moment to consider the following statements:  In families the process is greater then the outcome. Wealth is so much more then money. If the narrative is not written – people will write their own (transparency and communication is key.) The skills it took to create the financial wealth are not the same skills needed to transition it. Families are an eco system – ripples impact the entire pond – everyone has expectations and biases. We need to identify them and manage them. Decisions are easier when you know your values. Tough talk matters and…