Do you have a habit you desperately wish to break? Do you munch late at night, gossip, smoke, or drink a tad too much? Those who gossip sure do have a sense of rumor. Why is it so dang hard to break that groove? Believe it or not, your brain seeks to minimize effort. So, when you create a habit pattern, you no longer have to think about it much. You are now on automatic pilot.

Many of us share a powerful instinct to try to please others and look good in their eyes. You may find yourself agreeing with his views or her choices. He loves golf. Oh yes, so do you. He is voting for this or that candidate, and all of a sudden, so are you. And you know what they say: George Washington is the only president who didn’t blame the previous administration for his troubles. Then again, it’s been said: If voting made any difference, they wouldn’t let us do it.

Do you want your relationships to fail? Here’s a tip then: Be overly defensive. Do you know how to escape situations that make you ward off any opposing view or criticism? Sad to say that no matter how much you adore her, in time you will stumble upon aspects of her personality that create annoyance and even irritation. And no, you cannot put her on “Mute.”

If I ask you about childhood trauma, you may readily think of children who were physically abused. But what if that child was berated, put down, or even mocked on a regular basis? This may actually be more prevalent and is equally, if not at times, even more injurious to the child.