Are You in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship?
Source: MAYA LAB / Shutterstock I am often asked, “how do I know if I am in an emotionally abusive relationship?” And I always respond with, “Well, how do you feel in your relationship?” This response can be frustrating for those individuals who are looking for a checklist—an itemized list of specific behaviors that they […]
Our Favorite Books of 2024
Though news of the world can seem pretty grim at times, we at Greater Good try to see beyond the headlines. We know from research that it’s important not to give in to pervasive anger or despair. Even in the worst circumstances, there are always individuals and organizations doing good work and creating a more […]
Do We Need to Love Ourselves Before We Love Others?
To be truly compassionate toward others, do we first have to be compassionate toward ourselves? Some researchers have suggested that these two types of compassion are linked, although this might not always seem intuitive. After all, we can all probably think of individuals who are selfless and giving to other people, but who have trouble […]
Personality vs. Trauma Coping: A Misunderstood Distinction
The difference between someone’s personality and their trauma coping and survival strategies is often misunderstood, leading to increasingly pernicious misjudgments about individuals’ character, intentions, or behavior. While personality refers to enduring, largely context-independent traits, trauma-coping and survival strategies and behaviors developed in response to (mostly unhealed) traumatic events. For the most part, trauma-coping and survival […]
Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Pregnancy: The Silent Struggle
“What’s my size now?” Source: Dedraw Studio/Shutterstock Pregnancy is often celebrated as a transformative and joyful journey, but for individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), it can be a deeply challenging experience. The combination of physical changes, societal expectations, and personal guilt creates struggles that are frequently misunderstood or overlooked. These challenges often leave individuals […]
Healing the Invisible Wounds of War
By Robert Koffman M.D., M.P.H. In the more than two decades of continuous combat since 9/11, more than 7,000 American service members have been killed in action. Yet death by suicide has claimed far more of America’s warriors: A staggering four times more lives have been lost to suicide than to military action. The statistics […]
It’s Okay to Disappoint People When You’re Honoring Yourself
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” ~Brené Brown On a recent day trip to the Yuba River with my daughter and two friends, unexpected tensions arose, offering me a chance to reflect on a lifelong pattern that has often complicated my relationships. It […]
How the Sea Is Good for Your Mind and Body
Have you ever gazed out at the sea and felt the world become smaller? Perhaps you have swum in its waters and felt that time stood still, that the noise and chatter of the world faded away to a distant whisper, or you have marvelled as the sun slid gently beneath its horizon. In these […]
The Song That Changed My Life
Recently I was asked, “Is there a song that has changed you? A song that speaks to you on another level?” Well…as a music therapist in a hospital setting, I work a lot with songs. Songs, and music in general, are a great modality to help people manage the emotional distress of devastating illness, especially […]
Five Ways to Be More Vulnerable and Authentic
Imagine Sarah has just been offered a big promotion: a chance to lead a new department and manage a team of 15 people, which could be a major step forward in her career. However, Sarah has never managed anyone before. While excited, she’s also filled with self-doubt. What if her team doesn’t respect her? What […]