While this is the most wonderful time of the year for some, the holiday season can be really tough for many. Some people have painful memories connected to this time of the year, like the loss of a loved one, while some are struggling with what is often referred to as the winter blues. So what exactly are the winter blues? It depends on who you ask. Some refer to the winter … [Read more...]
Hey, Busy Moms, Here’s What Your Lack of Self-Care is Really Doing to Your Family
If you are a wife and a mother, chances are you regularly play on #teamtoomuch. You have 101 things to do, and it never seems like there are enough hours in the day to get it all done. It’s exhausting. And sadly, it gets more exhausting for so many of us during this time of the year. Cooking, cleaning, working, shopping—the to-do list never seems to end. And we can’t just … [Read more...]
Why the Hip Hop and Black Communities Need to Stop Ignoring Mental Illness
News shocked the hip hop community when rapper Kid Cudi checked himself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges. He wrote a message to his Facebook fans, addressing his decision to seek treatment. Depression has been a long neglected topic in the black community. But with the recent public announcement from Kid Cudi and other rappers such as Kendrick Lamar and Lil … [Read more...]
5 Very Personal Issues That Are Getting in the Way of Your Happily Ever After
Whether you find yourself single, married or somewhere in between, trying to build a healthy, lasting relationship isn’t always easy. It takes time and hard work. Furthermore, it requires a level of introspection that actually makes most people uncomfortable. But the more we are willing and able to take a closer look at who we are and how we move through the world, the more … [Read more...]
3 Major Issues Your Spouse Could Be Hiding from You; Discover Them Before It’s Too Late
A strong marriage is built on a foundation of trust. When you don’t trust your spouse, everything else in your marriage suffers. And once trust is lost, it is hard to rebuild—not impossible, but definitely hard. And when people think of the loss of trust in a marriage, thoughts typically turn to issues around infidelity. And while infidelity is a real issue many couples … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Why You Need to Stop Blaming Your Partner for Your Unhappiness
Are you unhappy? Are you living a life that just isn’t what you expected? Do you feel like things shouldn’t be the way they are and you are trying to figure out why? This happens to so many of us. You start down a path, expecting one thing, only to find what you expected just isn’t there. It’s disappointing at best, devastating at worse. And when we find ourselves … [Read more...]
Unhappy in Your Marriage?10 Questions to Figure Out If Your Marriage Is Really the Problem
Life is hard for all of us. Some days are easier than others, but we all face challenges in our lives. Some challenges aren’t that difficult to navigate while others can knock us all the way down. One thing that can make challenges difficult to manage is trying to determine the root of the problem. Sometimes we blame one thing in our lives for the pain and frustration we are … [Read more...]
3 Successful Ways to Fight Depression, Get Happy, and Save Your Marriage
Have you ever felt down and out while the world expects you to put on a happy face because your life appears to be so good? You have the career, the kids, the dog, and the awesome husband. On the surface, it looks like everything is going your way. And maybe it is. Maybe you have a career you’ve always wanted and you actually married the right guy and had amazing kids with … [Read more...]
5 Things That May Be Killing Your Mood and Your Spouse Didn’t Make the List
You wake up in a crappy mood and look at the person laying next to you in bed. It’s your spouse. Unfortunately, he is going to have to deal with your funky mood today, the way he has for countless days. He loves you. He knows you love him. But that funk you’ve been in makes you no fun to be around. As a matter of fact, it makes you downright impossible to be around some … [Read more...]
4 Powerful Prayers to Rescue You Out of Loneliness, Despair, or Depression
The year was 2011. It was my 1st year moving to Chicago after graduating college. I was sitting in my apartment having a complete pity party. I had left my family, friends, and all I knew back in Louisiana to pursue God’s will for my life to become a pastor. I also was newly single after just ending a 2 year relationship. For the first real time, I honestly felt alone. I … [Read more...]
Being Mary Jane’s Ugly Truth Episode Challenges Us to Stop Lying About Relationships
When we meet, date and even marry, we really don’t know everything about the person next to us. We are often oblivious to the challenges they’ve faced, the hardships they’ve overcome and the difficulties they endure on a daily basis. If we were honest, we frequently ignore the outward signs of their inward pain and shame and move on with our day. Last night’s episode of … [Read more...]
Are You Disappointed in Who Your Spouse Has Become? Here’s What You Can Do About It
I’ve always been a little skeptical about people who marry potential. I think it’s great to see what someone is capable of, or what that person might become down the line, but just because you see the potential doesn’t mean they ever will. I believe the only way marrying someone for their potential works out well is if that person sees their potential, too. And it’s not … [Read more...]
5 Ways Stress Can Wreak Havoc on Your Marriage and What You Can Do About It
Have you ever ended your day feeling so stressed out you are mentally, physically, and emotionally drained? I’ve been there. Too tired to talk to anyone, even my husband, and too irritated to wrap my brain around the day I just had. But have you ever reached a point where these days seem to happen with more frequency? Your once a month migraine is now happening four times a … [Read more...]
5 Signs that Your Spouse May Be Suffering from Depression
Marriage is a commitment that requires open and honest communication in order to work at its best. Once someone begins to keep secrets or tells lies, the union is damaged. The damage isn’t always irreparable, but it’s there and it has to be dealt with. But what if the secret being kept is actually being kept by your spouse to protect you or avoid your judgment? What if they … [Read more...]
5 Secrets for a No Drama Holiday
The holidays are fast approaching and most of us will head out to see family and friends that we haven’t seen all year. The holidays should be a happy time of year, but for many of us, we will meet the family gatherings with some trepidation. You know what I mean? Old family issues will inherently pop-up and drama will come seeping out. But let’s make this holiday drama free … [Read more...]