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No Matter What, I Can Make It

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Yes, I can.

You just left the doctor’s office after discovering that the problems you were having had been diagnosed as cancer.

This was totally unexpected. You are shocked. What do I do now? I am a widow and live alone. How will I deal with this?

Things like this happen all the time to everyone. It may not be a cancer diagnosis that stops you dead in your tracks, but a financial crisis, or a family member in trouble.

We know we’ll have tough times, but we aren’t as prepared as we think. And when the unexpected happens, we experience shock and helplessness. Today on my podcast and blog, I’ll share my own life-stopping moment with you, and what I did that got me through it.

Choose Your Attitude

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Attitude is a way of thinking, a viewpoint, or a frame of mind that we choose. Our attitude is reflected in how we look at life overall as well as the way we think.

What is your attitude and how does it affect your life every day, in every way?

Today on my blog and podcast, I’ll outline six shortcuts to happiness from the book, “Happiness is a Choice,” by Barry Neil Kaufman.

Become Flexible and Resilient: Tips from ‘The Grit Factor’

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

In her book, “The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World,” air force pilot Shannon Polson lays out what is needed to meet the challenges we encounter in life.

It is not just about surviving or overcoming challenges, but using them to develop the life skills and confidence we need. Throughout the book, she offers exercises that can help us understand our core purpose.

Today on my blog and podcast, I’ll share some crucial points Shannon makes about developing tenacity, perseverance, and using adversity to your advantage.

Accept Adversity and Work With It

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

couple holding hands

When adversity and hardship hit hard, questions and doubts rush to the foreground.

Why? Why me? How could this happen? What did I do wrong?

We experience emotions such as shock, anger, fear, anxiety, and even panic. As comprehension reveals the depth of the problems we face, we may have misgivings about how to successfully resolve them.

It is here we stop and take some calm breaths, and tell ourselves, “Yes, I can.”

While it is important to recognize and affirm our assets, qualities, and strengths, it is equally important to acknowledge our weaker parts. Today on my podcast and blog, I’ll show you three important steps to work with adversity and put self-discipline into practice.

Who’s At the Helm? Rules for Charting a Course Through Life

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

My husband and I were avid sailors. We moved to beautiful Northern Washington to take advantage of the wonderful cruising in the San Juan Islands.

We learned that, before you begin any cruise, you need to have a destination in mind. You need to know the route you will take, obstacles you might encounter, and how to find safe passages when the weather gets rough.

The same is true for navigating life. We need to know ourselves, and where we want to go.

Today on my blog and podcast, I’ll give you some tips for navigating the waters of personal development, career, family, and long-term relationships.

Quiet Your Internal Critic and Develop Self-Esteem

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

Quiet Your Internal Critic and Develop Self-Esteem

When our “inner voice” or self-talk berates everything we do, we will struggle to believe in ourselves. Our fears of doing everything wrong overshadow anything we might do right.

A low self-esteem will be reflected in our relationships, marriage, social circles, and work, because everything is colored by that negativity. And it can breed jealousy and resentment, as well as a simmering dislike for others.

Today on my blog and podcast, I’ll give you tools to help you talk back to your Internal Critic so you can silence it and begin to hear affirmations of your self-worth.

Changing Your Internal Dialog from “I Can’t” to “I Can”: Practice Positive Affirmations

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

What do you say to yourself when the world drops out from under you?

When the doctor says you have cancer, or your child has become a drug addict, or when a beloved spouse, parent, or grandparent is on hospice?

Every day, in some way, we are responding to the tragedies, calamities, and heartbreaks we experience. We seldom think about what we are saying to ourselves at such times and how it can impact our ability to meet those challenges.

Words have incredible power, especially when they devalue who we are, our worth, esteem and abilities.

Today on my podcast and blog, you’ll learn how to replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations – a process that will guide you as you create new goals.

How our Perceptions of the World Work For or Against Us

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

How do you see the world?

How does your perception differ from others you know, including your family?

Why does it matter?

Those differences become obvious as we talk, act, and live our lives. It also influences the observations we make and the insights we get, and how we use them.

Perceptions are the personal assessments we make about the world, and they begin to form early in life, becoming more specific as we age. They influence all our relationships and how we communicate and interact with others.

Nurturing a Successful Marriage

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

When our marriage falls apart, we feel a sense of shock. Even though we were aware things weren’t good, we somehow still believed they weren’t as bad as they are.

We ask ourselves, “What happened?”

Once trust is broken, it is difficult to rebuild, but it can be done. It takes courage, determination, and resiliency to maintain a long-lasting relationship.

Today on my blog and podcast, we’ll discuss:
-Warning signs of a dying marriage
-The #1 component of a successful marriage
-9 psychological tasks that make marriage work

Signs that Your Marriage is in Serious Trouble

Posted by Marlene Anderson, MA, LMHC, NCC

When we get married, we believe that life will be good from now on.

And then we find ourselves disagreeing, having passionate arguments, and spending less pleasant time together.

When things go wrong, couples need to have a strategy in place to repair their relationship. Strengthening a marriage requires respect and honor and a willingness to create a sense of purpose together.

Today on my blog and podcast, we’ll examine six warning signs that often predict potential divorce, from Dr. John Gottman’s book, “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.”