And small actionable tips that you can apply today.
It’s common to seek the wisdom of people who have led remarkable lives. One such man is Keanu Reeves, who’s something of a pop-culture icon, not because of any particular film, but for being Keanu Reeves himself.
Much of what we know about his offscreen persona has been told or reported by others, in part because of his desire for privacy.
Yet perhaps it’s also why we’re so drawn to him. In a time rife with cynicism, hopelessness, and selfishness, he comes across as humble, kind, even almost heroic in every sense of the word.
With that in mind, here…
Not all narcissists are bold and aggressive. Some are better at hiding in the shadows. Here’s how to spot one.
My former best friend is a narcissist. But it took me three years after our falling out to realize she was one.
I also realized through therapy that besides her, I’ve closely interacted with other narcissists in the past, and that discovery is what eventually led me to the parallels between them.
Unfortunately, the internet covers mostly narcissism in romantic relationships, but never in friendships. First and foremost, this article is meant as advice so you don’t fall into narcissistic friendships. If you suspect you’re in one, then, keep reading to find out.
In general, narcissists are bold and aggressive…
Identifying these subtle traits can get tricky. Here’s what to look out for.
It’s shocking how many people were raised by emotionally immature parents. In turn, they grow up to be the same for their own children.
The cycle goes on.
This is what my friend Leanne and I were talking about the other day. She is expecting her first child next year and her greatest fear is becoming an emotionally immature parent.
She grew up with a sensitive and overbearing mother. Her father, on the other hand, was barely at home because of work. But according to her brief interactions with him, he acted the same.
Leanne expressed some concern that she…
Here’s how to identify high-quality, low-maintenance friendships.
Mastering your friendships isn’t just about knowing how to stay connected but also knowing how to stay apart.
Take my relationship with my best friend Marielle for example.
I don’t necessarily know the minute details of her life. I can’t tell you what she did today or yesterday, but I do know the big picture stuff: where she is, what job she has, who she’s dating, and whether or not she’s happy.
The best part? Our friendship is comforting and stress-free.
I never have to worry that she’s pissed off at me or that something happened to her. I can…
Is it love or just codependency? Find out the difference.
I know what it’s like to be codependent from an early age.
In kindergarten, I would throw up every time my mother left me in school. In my young head, I couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from her for even just a few hours.
Psychology classifies this as a type of insecure attachment style. If you didn’t know, Youniverse Therapy explains that “our attachment style is the way we learned to emotionally connect and form bonds with our parents during childhood, and follows us into adulthood.”
In fact, the more you were raised with this attachment style, the…
Emotionally healthy partners stand out for a reason.
If you have an emotionally healthy partner, you know that they didn’t become one by accident. They work on it every single day.
When the bad stuff gets to them, they get affected as much as everyone else. The difference is that just they’re exceptional at rolling with the punches.
Take for example my partner of two years.
Unlike most people, we didn’t plan to live abroad during the pandemic. It kind of just happened.
We were traveling for the first time when we got stuck in Malaysia because of the lockdown. …
The 5 invaluable lessons I learned over the years to become more successful.
It’s been two years since I left the United States to travel abroad.
During that time, I’ve attended cultural festivals in Japan, sailed across the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, and toured the DMZ in South Korea. I also met the love of my life for the first time in the Philippines.
Needless to say, it’s been the most unbelievable two years of my life.
If you told me a few years ago that one day I would be waiting out the pandemic in Bali, I probably would’ve laughed, or cried. Perhaps both. But I definitely wouldn’t have believed you.
…
Building authentic friendships can be difficult. Here’s how to sniff out the toxic ones.
My friend Lily once told me about our mutual friend’s secret.
Apparently, Faye was cheating on her boyfriend at the time and told Lily about it. In turn, Lily came to me for advice because she was good friends with both of them.
Before Lily had the chance to say something, the truth came out. Nathan, the boyfriend, had his suspicions all along but didn’t have anything to prove it. So he followed Faye for a day and found all the evidence he needed.
Long story short, some madness followed. As a consequence, Faye and Nathan broke up. But instead…
You don’t become resilient by accident. You strive for it.
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
As far as I can tell, the origin of this quote is unknown. But I’m sure whoever said it didn’t have a bone to pick with religion.
Instead, they have a problem with people who like the promises of the good life but are never really willing to do the work to achieve it. The moment there’s pain or challenges involved, they get the hell out of dodge.
It makes sense no one wants to do all of that. People would rather slip into something more comfortable. But at…
Find inspiration from the weird mind of Dan Harmon.
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve asked people what shows they watch, I’d be rich.
It’s a powerful question. It could make or break first impressions. It could even sustain relationships.
That’s because television has come a long way. It isn’t just about entertainment anymore. It’s our shortcut to understanding each other a little bit better.
Personally, one of the best shows I’ve seen and strongly recommend is Dan Harmon’s Community. It’s riddled with unprecedented humor, excellent storytelling, and many insightful lessons.
Old fans who followed the series from the beginning and new fans who discovered it…
