11 Small Ways to Create a More Satisfying Life

Katherine Broadway, counseling, raleigh PsychotherapyFrom when you get up in the morning to when you go to bed, life can be difficult and challenging. There are things that we cannot change and there are things we can; sometimes, the only thing we can change is our attitude, but even that can make a significant difference and make our life more satisfying.

GETTING UP IN THE MORNING

Joan hated to get up in the morning. She decided she did not want to dread mornings any longer, so she carefully examined how she felt when she awoke, and what might make her feel better.

One highlight of the morning for Joan is her morning coffee. It warms her, wakes her, and makes her feel nurtured.  On a shopping trip, she discovered a single-cup coffee machine with a timer that was small enough to sit by her bed.

Now, each evening before she goes to bed she gets her coffee ready. She now awakens to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and can enjoy it before she gets out of bed.

Just as Joan improved her morning with a simple change, you can change things about your day to make your life more pleasant and enjoyable. Continue reading

4 Qualities That Strengthen Your Relationships

4 qualities that will improve your relationshipsWhile attending a recent wedding, three couples caught my attention, because of the qualities in their relationships. The first was the bride and groom, who were aglow with love and excitement. Their happiness was apparent and infectious.

The second couple was nice enough to one another. They spent the majority of the evening separate and engaged with others. They spent little time together. They were  neither attentive nor unkind toward one another.

The third couple stood out for another reason.  They interacted with people and engaged in the activities, but there was something different about the way they related to one another.  The quality of their interactions grabbed my attention. Continue reading

Questions to Ask Yourself After a Breakup

Questions to ask yourself after a breakupIt is an understatement to say it hurts when you breakup. We have all felt it. Not only does it hurt, it turns your life upside down. In many cases, large parts of your routine must be rearranged, changed and rebuilt.

You go from being a couple or a family to being a partial family or just one person. Your routines change, activities change, and friends change. You may even have to find new living arrangements and/or new sources of income.

Breaking up is, indeed, hard to do.

The “moving on” process takes time and is better done if you pay attention to yourself and where you are in the process. If you find yourself having a hard time moving forward, letting go of your ex, and building your own life, it might be helpful to ask yourself some important questions.  The answers can guide you to better understand yourself.

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4 Ideas to Make Your Morning Better

Good morning

There are two kinds of people when the alarm goes off – those who love mornings, and those who don’t.

People who love to get out of bed wake up refreshed and ready to face the day. They are generally cheerful, happy and positive just because it is morning. They need nothing special and no encouragement to start their day.

On the other hand, there are those self-proclaimed morning haters. The alarm goes off and their first action of the day is to slam their hand down on the snooze button. They return to the realm of sleep as soon as possible and groan when the alarm goes off again.

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