Mar 4, 2026
What Stoicism, People-Pleasing, and Avoidance Have in Common “Being invulnerable creates a dull, disconnected existence. You deserve to experience all the colors of life –– dare to be vulnerable.” Lisa Merlo-Booth Most people want emotional intimacy and...
Oct 28, 2024
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...
Aug 19, 2024
“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...
Aug 5, 2024
“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...
Jul 15, 2024
“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...
Jul 1, 2024
“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...
