Learning how to stop being toxic can only be accomplished by recognizing your toxicity, and practicing more positive behaviors. I can be toxic at times, and honestly, most of us can. But the first thing to do is take a deep breath. It's not the end of the world. I…
What does it mean to be the black sheep of the family? More importantly, how can you deal with this status, this brand that’s been put upon you? The first time I heard the words ‘black sheep’ was after my brother told my parents I’d been sexually abused. When he…
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I so mean?” Well, if you notice it, then there’s hope. The thing is, we don’t always know when we're being rude, but we can learn. Life is complicated. I believe I’ve said this a dozen times. But regardless, you have to understand…
While those little irritating actions from loved ones may seem normal, maybe they're not. You might just be dealing with toxic family relationships. Toxicity is one of the hardest things to recognize. That’s because layers of seeming goodwill are often enveloped between heinous motivations. This is especially true among family…
Analyzing joy vs. happiness doesn’t seem to make sense, does it? But the truth is, these emotions are two different things, and we must take a closer look. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to be happy, and I also can’t think of a soul who’d rather not have…
Making decisions isn’t always easy. What’s even harder is second-guessing yourself afterward. Did I really do the right thing? No one is perfect, nor will they ever be. The same applies to life’s decisions, as you cannot always do what’s best all the time for everyone. Then, after decisions are…
Don’t under-estimate the power of pig intelligence. This animal can do much more than you’ve ever imagined and do it well. Unfortunately, most people never consider the intelligence of animals, especially those, I dare say, that are used for consumption or organs for human transplants. But what I am about…
Would you say that you are a nice person? What about being a kind person? Let's talk about these two similar characteristics and compare nice vs. kind. Is there really a difference between the two? It’s so common to say things like, “Oh, she is so nice.” However, this statement…
What’s worse than being hated? Well, it seems that being ignored is much worse than if someone simply doesn’t like you at all. Many times in life, you may be ignored. And when this happens, sometimes it's considered abuse. You can even be ignored by the people closest to you,…
Masochism is a way of abusing yourself for whatever reason you think you deserve. The emotional masochist isn’t so different. According to most definitions, masochism is seeking pleasure from pain. There are various types of masochist behaviors, including conducting pain in order to become more spiritual. What is an emotional…
