Forgiving yourself for mistakes you've made

Forgiving yourself for your mistakes helps you also forgive your partner.  Holding onto them poisons you both.  Mistakes are inevitable when you take risks and try new things.  Successful people learn from them.  They don't beat themselves up emotionally for not getting the outcome they want. Nor do they keep making the same mistakes again and again.  Rather they adjust their actions in order to create different results that they hope will also be better.   In a similar way, you can think of the mistakes you and your partner make as opportunities for learning and corrective action, not as evidence of failure and unworthiness.
              

Tuesday

Helping your children learn healthy ways to use their power

Children are busy discovering their power and learning how to use it. They need parents who are masters of power themselves and thus able to teach them.  Mature parents establish and maintain a consistent, non-emotional approach to discipline.  They don't allow themselves to be manipulated by emotions, threats, tantrums, demands, excessively good behavior, lies, begging, bargaining, or pouting.  They recognize these behaviors for what they are - and don't give in to them.  If you need help in teaching your children about power through consistent, healthy discipline, read 1,2,3 Magic by Thomas Phelan.  His approach is simple, easy to learn, straight forward and best of all; it really works.                 

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Looking for happiness in all the wrong places

It's easy to assume that the answer to life's most difficult challenges can be found outside yourself - through something or someone you imagine is the key to your happiness.  Whether its money, a different job, prince charming, a new house, or even a baby that you pin your hopes on, you're doomed to disappointment once you get what you're after.  Sooner or later you'll discover that no matter what your circumstances - however good or bad they happen to be - you're still the same person.  The key to your contentment can only be found within you, in your capacity to love yourself, to love others, and to love your Higher Source.

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When it comes to marriage, most people try to 'wing it'

You wouldn't think of flying in an airplane with a pilot who had no training.  Making your marriage fly is a far more complex task, yet you probably had almost no formal preparation. You and your partner simply got in the cockpit and took off, hoping not to crash but not really knowing how to avoid a disaster.  Now that you're airborne, you may be reluctant to ask for help, thinking that you ought to be able to figure it out on your own.  That attitude can be tragically short sighted.  It's a sign of self-confidence and intelligence to seek training from professionals who can teach you the skills you need. Fortunately great programs are available.

Friday

High price to pay for avoiding healthy confrontation

It isn't easy to confront a difficult issue with your spouse.  On any given day, you'd probably rather keep the peace than risk broaching a difficult topic.  Yet putting off the tough things you need to face is a sure way to damage your marriage.  It takes courage to be willing to go into the dark, scary places with your partner and talk about the things you'd rather avoid.  In the short run there may be conflict and hurt.  But in the long run, you'll profit from being honest now about your genuine concerns.  It's like the difference in paying cash and buying on credit.  Delaying the day of reckoning only increases the price you pay for remaining silent.