Straight Talk Blog
Do you feel great to be around?
“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive.” — Hafez Become someone who makes those around you feel good about themselves. Regarding relationships, this quote reminds me of the importance of the acronym KISS—Keep It Simple ‘Silly' (the last ‘S’ is...
Marriage Is a Partnership, Not a Parent-Ship
"Marriage is a partnership, not a parent-ship. Being the 'boss' over the money makes you a parent, not a partner." ~LMB Finances are a notoriously tricky issue for couples: How much should we save? How much should we spend? What are our financial goals? Should we have...
Is Aggression and Emotional Volatility in Women Okay?
“Aggression, intimidation, and emotional volatility are no more okay for men than for women.” ~LMB Many people hear statements like the one above and quickly dismiss them, saying there is a double standard for men and women regarding anger. They say men can rage,...
Out With the Old; In With the New
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” ~Martin Luther King The harder you work to “keep the peace,” shut down conflict and avoid having difficult conversations, the more you guarantee a lack of true peace—in your home and in...
The Truth About Being the ‘Good Guy’
“Just because you believe you’re a “good guy” doesn’t mean you’re a good guy.” ~LMB I used to get caught off guard when men in my office would nonchalantly defend their emotional abuse of their wives. It's quite an interesting phenomenon to watch because the men are...
You Do What You Do Because You Choose To; Choose Wisely
"You do what you do because you choose to; choose wisely." ~Lisa Merlo-Booth Do you ever tell yourself that you do what you do because others make you? Perhaps you think you yell because your partner doesn’t listen, or you shut down because your partner gets angry, or...
The Long-Term Damage of Revenge on Your Life and Relationships
“Sweet revenge" is only sweet for a moment; The long-term damage of revenge, however, can last a lifetime. ~LMB Much of the world’s violence is the result of revenge and retaliation. In your hurt and anger, you often want to lash back at the person who has harmed you....
Be Sure You Are Giving and Receiving in Your Life
"You cannot create a strong foundation in your home, on the job, or in the world, without reciprocity. Be sure you are giving and receiving in your life." ~ Lisa Merlo-Booth Without reciprocity, relationships struggle. When humane kindness, respect, and safety only...
Mastering the Art of Support
"Support is about being there for others in the way they want you to be, not in the way you think they should want you to be. Some things are not about you." ~Lisa Merlo-Booth A key component in support is the ability to step outside of your story and into the other...
Pay Attention to How You Are Treating Your Loved Ones
"Pay attention to how you are treating the loved ones in your life." ~ LMB We tend to treat strangers off the street better than we treat loved ones in our homes. It’s as though we think we have the right to treat those close to us in any way we want. This is a crazy...
A New Take on an Old Tradition: New Year’s Themes vs Resolutions
"Here’s a new take on an old tradition: try New Year’s themes, instead of resolutions, for a year focused on growth and joy." ~LMB I first heard about New Year’s Themes, rather than resolutions, from the life coaching world. A New Year’s theme may be a word or...
Embrace Compassion and Connection this Holiday Season
Here is one of the first holiday tips that I wrote and wanted to reshare. I believe this message is even more important today than the day I first posted it back in 2017. May you have a very happy holiday season surrounded by many great human beings. “The greatest...
Give the Gift of Love and Grace This Holiday Season
"Often, the best gifts don’t cost a cent. Give the gift of love and grace this holiday season." ~Lisa Merlo-Booth The holiday season is a mixed blessing for so many. Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, (fill-in-the-blank), or nothing at all, this...
How Protecting Harmful Behavior Fuels the Cycle
"Your protection quickly becomes your complicity when what you protect is harmful; don't be complicit." ~LMB Ideally, protection aims to stop the harmful behavior done to an often weaker, more vulnerable "target." Hurtful behavior occurs when an offender uses words,...
Radically New Relationships: Communication Mastery
"Communication mastery can only happen when you focus on the process, not the content." ~LMB Often, when I stress to clients the importance of being calm, grounded, and respectful when speaking to one another, their knee-jerk response is some version of, "Omg, no one...