Author: Gaylen Bendewald

Living our life exposes us to our imperfections. If we are open nondefensively to this recognition, the outcome is humility. We find out we can’t click our heels, snap our fingers, and just magically overcome our imperfections. We see that we are a “work in progress” and progress is slow. In fact, it can feel… Continue reading Personal Growth

Just like you can focus too much on your flaws, you can focus too much on your success. Many people who like themselves do so because they perceive themselves to be successful in one form or another, whether that be their success at a career, their smarts, their beauty, their wealth, their athletic prowess and other… Continue reading Liking Yourself, Part Two

Liking yourself begins and ends with accepting yourself as you are. It’s really that simple and that complicated. So what makes it difficult?   When a person focuses exclusively on their flaws, weaknesses, deficits, shortcomings, and failures, the logic dictates that one needs to overcome these negative characteristics in order to feel good about yourself.… Continue reading Liking Yourself, Part One

People raise their voices, or even shout, when they feel that they are not being heard… And they are probably right. They are not being heard, or at least in a way that is thoughtful, kind, and considerate of what they are trying to say. This can be very frustrating and can lead to an escalation… Continue reading Conflict Resolution When You’re Not Fighting

Everyone likes to be right. There’s a satisfaction when your memory of the facts turns out to be right and you can claim some victory. You knew what you were talking about! Have you noticed how some people have gravitated from “being right” about facts to “being right” about their opinions and beliefs? This often becomes very… Continue reading The Problem of Being Right