Straight Talk Blog
A Message of Gratitude, Rest, and Renewal on Veteran’s Day
"Sometimes, fighting for our country requires resting, replenishing, and regrouping." ~LMB This Veteran's Day, I am more aware than ever of the ongoing threats our nation faces daily and the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have fought for our country. I want...
Stop Ignoring the Pink Elephant in Relationships: How to Face Uncomfortable Truth
Ignoring the pink elephant in the living room makes the living room uninhabitable over time. ~LMB The "pink elephant" phenomenon is a common term used in the field of addiction that speaks to the frequent pattern of minimizing the seriousness of a person's...
Saving Your Marriage Requires Changing the Behaviors That Caused Its Downfall
"Saving your marriage requires changing the behaviors that caused its downfall." ~LMB A common mistake when trying to win back a spouse is bringing them flowers, writing them heartfelt notes, or sending long e-mails professing your love. Sadly, unless your spouse...
Pay Attention to How You Manage Conflict in Your Home, Work, and World
"Managing conflict can build connection or destroy it; be sure it's building it." ~Lisa Merlo-Booth Managing feedback and conflict is a tremendous problem for many people today. This struggle makes sense, given that few role models exemplify this skill. The sad truth...
A challenge to men…
"It’s time for good men to find their voices, courage, and humanity. Silence makes you complicit." ~LMB Let me begin by saying: There are many good men in the world—I’m fortunate to be married to one and to work with many. I deeply value men and am, by no means, a...
Is This Pattern Making Your Problems Worse?
"Explaining why you did something doesn’t erase the impact, repair the hurt, or change the outcome." ~LMB Have you fallen into the habit of explaining your actions rather than repairing the hurt those actions caused? Do any of these responses sound familiar?...
How Do You Handle Conflict?
"How you handle the conflicts in your life dramatically affects the quality of your life." ~ LMB Conflict often has a bad rap. Countless people see disputes as destroyers of relationships—at home, in the office, and in the world. Couples fear that conflict is a sign...
True Character is Revealed in Conflict
"Don't be fooled by words or the occasional good deed—even serial killers have kind moments." ~LMB Character is revealed in how a person treats, speaks to, and talks about those they dislike, struggle with, or have conflict with. True character shines through in the...
Break the Cycle: Stop Reactive Complaining
"Reactive complaining can strain even the strongest relationships." ~LMB Reactive complaining happens when someone voices a concern, and instead of addressing it, you reflexively bring up a complaint of your own. For example: Sally: Honey, can you please remember to...
Why Silencing Yourself Won’t Save Your Relationship
“Silencing to save your marriage won't save your marriage.” ~Lisa Merlo-Booth One of the most common complaints I hear from women is that they're afraid to be honest with their spouse about conflict of any kind. They constantly walk on eggshells around their partner...
Mastering Clear Communication: Avoid Misunderstandings by Speaking Directly
“Speaking ‘in the grey,’ is a recipe for misunderstanding.” ~Lisa Merlo-Booth Have you ever been upset about someone's actions that you thought you both had an agreement around? A low-stakes example of this could be you becoming angry at your partner for bringing home...
Building Resiliency for Strong Connections
"Emotional fragility makes connection and intimacy difficult at best. Work your emotional resiliency muscles every day with everyone in your life." ~LMB Emotional fragility is a pattern of negatively reacting to issues, feedback, and experiences in a way that shuts...
The Harm of Dismissiveness: How to Strengthen Your Relationships Through Listening
"Dismissing or minimizing someone’s feelings, ideas, or experiences, because you don’t feel the same, is arrogant and harmful to relationships. Acknowledge and support; don’t dismiss." ~Lisa Merlo-Booth When it comes to relationships, the litmus test regarding what is...
Stop Blaming Yourself: How Oppressors Manipulate the Minds of the Oppressed
“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” ~Steve Biko Too often, those treated poorly by others blame themselves for the poor treatment. They blame themselves when their boss rages, their spouse has an affair, their...
Building a Radically New Culture™ Starts with You
“Creating a Radically New Culture™ starts with a shift in what you view as acceptable and gets carried out in the minutia of every interaction you have. Shift the culture.” ~Lisa Merlo-Booth It’s time you step in to help create a Radically New Culture™;...