Strategies and mindsets for developing Marriage Mastery, Parent Training, and Self-Mastery.
See Jonathan's other related blog projects in the sidebar:
- The Q&A Series
- The GR Masters Project
- The 52 Love Songs Project
- The 365 Love Quotes Project
- Rock Therapy
- In the News
Jason Williams, LMFT on Helping Your Kids with Bullying
My colleague Jason Williams, LMFT gives some great advice on how to teach your children how to handle bullies.
Hang In There, You're Not Done Yet
In case you're having a crap day, take a moment to listen to "Proud of You" by witty, soulful and profound musician Chris Conway...
DV: Domestic Violence
Domestic violence (DV) is a serious issue that affects many adults and children and it has a tremendous societal impact as well. While there is so much to be said and done about DV, which I won't attempt to cover all here, I want to share the following with you to spread some awareness, share some info and give some ideas.
MLK, Jr. Day "I Have a Dream" Activity
Most people have seen clips from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" but most haven't actually seen/heard/read the full 17-minute speech, which is masterful and profound. This is a simple activity based on this speech we've done as a family that you can do with your family, students or youth group.
Thoughts on Nonviolence and MLK, Jr.'s Legacy
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a more than a holiday to me, it is a Holy Day where I honor not only this great man, my hero, but even more importantly the principles he took a stand for. He is one of the key people who have influenced my thinking, have shaped the nature of my soul and the "content of my character." This is a holy day to me because the principles of nonviolence are sacred to me in my personal life and my professional work in ending abuse and violence and increasing peaceful, loving relationships at home, work, community and school...
"Easier Said Than Done." Well, No Duh!
"Well, Jonathan, that's easier said than done." This is a common phrase and objection I hear from people when we talk about creating a GREAT relationship overall and/or specific strategies towards that goal. My response is...
Frugality in the Age of Excess
For us, individually and as a couple, frugality, contentment, and creativity have done a lot to strengthen not only our characters but also our marriage…
Dads, Testosterone and Intimacy
As a marriage and family therapist, sex therapy is a common part of my practice. Often, people (men) worry that they aren't having as much sex as they used to when they were first married and that must mean there is something wrong with their marriage. This often leads to conflict in the marriage.
"Be Our Guest" = Customer Service (i.e., Relationship) Excellence
So how do you apply, or think could be applied, "Be Our Guest" customer service in marriage and family relationships?
You Be Good to You
Instead of "goodbye" I often say to my clients as they leave, "You be good to you." We tend to be so hard on ourselves, and while we can remember to be good to others we forget to be compassionate to our own selves.
Let YOUR Light So Shine...
I remember when I started to realize that others aren't the expert in my life. That I had something unique and powerful to contribute. That I could "let my light so shine." It's very empowering. It's very true. It's also very YOU.
ADHD and Zombie Torches
Ever wonder what an ADHD professional who works on his own does when he gets distracted off task? Well, naturally, he makes torches in preparation for the Zombie Apocalypse. Duh! Build Your Own! Here's how...
Hookey Dates
What is a Hookey Date? Well, hookey, of course, is the old term for ditching school. So Hookey Dates are where from 8 am to 3 pm I and one of my children completely blow off work and school. Each child gets to do this with dad one time each school year.
"Insanely Great" Relationships
Rather than learning to settle for "meh" relationships, I have taught for years the need for creating phenomenally GREAT relationships. My tag lines for my practice have been as follows…
Mindfulness
I teach mindfulness practices and mindsets to my clients. I am grateful for the power these skills have had in my life for reducing stress and in some areas removing it completely, and for its impact in increasing joy in family life and the enjoyment of life in general.
Happy(?) Fathers Day...
Happy Fathers Day! To those of you who have, or had, great dads, rejoice! I know, however, there are many who had absent fathers, abusive "sperm donors" and/or downright crummy dads. For them, Fathers Day isn't a day of pleasant memories of the man who mentored them into adulthood but is a day of harsh memories and broken hearts.
"Everything but the problem"
"Everything but the problem" is a phrase I came up with several years ago for when people are so in denial that they can only see everything/everyone else as the problem (and spend so much time on those things) instead of addressing the real problem.
"Hymn 101"—An Anthem for All Us Real People
For all of us who try so hard and fail... and still try... just to be known, to be seen, I submit to you this hymn that my brother shared with me.
My Daily Pre-Thanksgiving Gratitude List (updated daily)
A month of daily giving thanks....
Self-Mastery Tip: Feel, Align, Delight = Peace
A friend just shared this quote with me which I believe is at the heart of developing self-mastery:
"There is nothing to attain, just feeling, delighting, and aligning."
—The Heart of Transformation, by John Friend (Anusara Yoga)