Parable Of The Cherry Tree And Childhood Wounds

My Unfortunate Cherry Tree Worthless, puny and scrawny were the words best describing my 20-year-old cherry tree. Despite the passage of time, the tree never grew. Before chopping it down, I asked a gardener, “Why isn’t the tree thriving?” He carefully looked it over and said, “This tree trunk is knocked once a week when…

Back To The Future To Create Your Self Esteem

Future pull “Back to the Future” is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure comedy film where Marty McFly goes into the future to fix the present.  What would happen if you could go to the future and create your better self? When people first seek therapy, they are often focused on the past and what isn’t working. Change…

Surviving Trauma, Tragedy and Grief

During the 9/11 Terrorist’s attacks, Howard Lutnick was the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. When the Twin Towers collapsed, he lost his brother, his best friend and 658 of his employees.  During those first tragic years, Lutnick desperately wanted to keep the company a float so he could pay the victim’s families death benefits.  Amazingly, he…

Relationship Red Flags

  In a great relationship there is RECIPROCITY and the POWER is shared.  Both people’s thoughts, feelings and preferences are important.  But some people are emotionally unhealthy and unable to negotiate relationships in that manner.   Emotionally unhealthy partners don’t comprehend the concept of MUTUALITY because they need POWER OVER.    Here are some questions…

The Magical Word Yet

Yet is a common English word that when used as a conjunction is equivalent to “but” or “nevertheless”.  It means at a future time, in spite of a preceding event. A psychiatrist friend of mine named Betty, claimed YET was her favorite word. Betty would tell clients, “I know your story is discouraging and it’s…

Failure Is A Part Of Your Success Plan

Mistakes are a normal stage of growth. But too often we don’t relax and learn from our mistakes. We became paralyzed perfectionists because we don’t want to make a mistake. In a recent study two groups of students were taught random words. One group was coached and told, “Mistakes are normal and will be a…

Beauty From The Inside Out

Do you find yourself doubting your beauty? A recent Dove documentary shows an artist sketching with his back to women as they describe themselves. After first completion of the first sketch the artist draws the women as an acquaintance describes them. The second rendering is strikingly more attractive than the first; participants recognize they see…