“We get so frustrated and weary chasing the perfect holiday season that we never take time to enjoy the one right in front of us.” ~Joshua Becker The holiday season can feel like pure chaos as the year draws to an end. There always seems to be a plethora of holiday parties to attend, gifts
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” –Henry Ford Almost all of us feel tension right now. In our country. In our communities. In our families, our groups of friends, our very households even. It’s tough. I have met with many clients, friends and family members who have spoken
“While being book-smart might help you pass tests, emotional intelligence prepares you for the real world by being aware of the feelings of others as well as your own feelings.” ~Hannah Owens Do you know anyone who seems wise beyond their years? Who is calm and collected–even when talking about politics or other heated subjects?
“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident but by working on yourself daily” ~Epictetus How many times have you been talking to friends/neighbors/family who casually mention that they should probably go to therapy? Whether they are being sarcastic or not, they bring up a good point…How do we know if we need to go
“Self-care is not a waste of time. Self-care makes your use of time more sustainable.” – Jack Kornfield I have spoken with several clients in the last month who all say that summer is so fun and simultaneously exhausting. There is something to be said about having your children at home from the moment they
No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. – Abraham Lincoln The term “toxic masculinity” has been around for decades. At its root, it is defined as the belief that masculine attributes are inherently undesirable–sometimes even evil–and that “manliness” has a negative impact on women, children, and society as a
“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.” ~ Cheryl Lacey Donovan The other day, I got an email from a major corporation saying that Mother’s Day is upon us and they recognize it may be triggering for some so they included an option to mute their content until the
“Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living and truth loving.” ~James E. Faust When we talk about honesty in relationships, our minds often go straight to deception–to lies, to manipulation, to ruined relationships. We think about honesty in relationships in terms of whether someone lies to their partner
“Laughter heals all wounds, and that’s one thing that everybody shares. No matter what you’re going through, it makes you forget about your problems. I think the world should keep laughing.” – Kevin Hart Do you know how powerful smiling and laughing is? While it takes 47 muscles to frown, it only takes 13 to
“Luck only exists if you create it yourself. Create the opportunities.” ― Mwanandeke Kindembo We all have times where we feel powerless, helpless, and at the mercy of our life circumstances. Maybe we have experienced a devastating loss or we are going through a difficult transition, and we just feel stuck. At such times, we
“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough.” — Julia Cameron Several years ago, my friend made a quilt for her brother for Christmas. Because she is a novice sewer, she shared
When your heart is broken, you plant seeds in the cracks and you pray for rain.” — Andrea Gibson Valentine’s Day is nigh upon us. It is a day of love, hugs, happiness, chocolates, roses, and romance…but for some, it is anything but that. Some of us are struggling with finding or maintaining a meaningful
Melissa Cluff is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in North Texas, providing face-to-face and telehealth therapy options to clients in Texas.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in North Texas, providing face-to-face and telehealth therapy options to clients in Texas.
