Do you suffer from the disease to please? Some of the symptoms include: consistently putting the needs and desires of others ahead of your own, constantly seeking validation from others, difficulty saying “no” to others, extreme sensitivity to criticism, and a willingness to avoid confrontation at any cost. If any of this sounds familiar, then you just might be a people pleaser. People pleasers are some of the nicest, most caring people you will ever meet. They are also exhausted, fearful, and totally stressed out! All of that making other people happy at the expense of you takes quite a

There are “shoulds” and then there are “shoulds.” Some “shoulds” lead us into a place of peace and contentment. “You should empty the trash can when it is full.” “You should extinguish the campfire before leaving the camp site.” Complying with these kinds of “shoulds” brings about a good result. Noncompliance has decidedly negative consequences. Some “shoulds”  lead to confusion, guilt, and even condemnation. “You should decorate your house this way.” “You should drive thiskind of car.” “If you are a good person, then you should do this.” And, the one I have been hearing a lot lately, “You should

  Top Five Reasons for Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations   5. Life isn’t a fairytale. 4. Living in a constant state of disappointment is unhealthy. 3. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by an amazing Creator. 2. You are uniquely gifted to live your life, not someone else’s life. 1. Nobody’s perfect, including you. “If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be.” ~Yogi Berra

“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.”  ~Mark Twain I believe that a good sense of humor is absolutely essential to enjoying life. Humor is what carries us through the tough times. It helps us put things in the proper perspective. Otherwise, we would buckle under the weight of all the pain and sorrow in our world.  “Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.” ~Bob Newhart I