By Lavern Nissley

As we head into the holidays and spend time with families and friends, many will experience fond memories and heartfelt joy. Others will experience the opposite, becoming acutely reminded of relationship dysfunctions. Many of us experience some of each.

So, how do you cope effectively in the middle of this seasonal insanity? Those emotional allergies and buttons have a physiological affect, don't they? Increased heart rate and breathing. Blood pressure pounding away at your skull. Stomach churning and knots forming. Help!!! What to do?

By Abby Glaser
Client Advocate, Encompass Connection Center

If you are a woman who grew up from the 60’s to the 80’s you probably had people in your life telling you (regularly!) that you can have it all! A marriage, a successful career, children, a lovely house and a 401K! What no one most likely told you…how to do it?

As a wife, mother of five and full time worker, the most frequent question I get from other women is “How do you do it all?!” How to nurture a healthy relationship, raise spectacular children and crush it professionally? (They don’t say that, this is my interpretation of what they are really asking!) I have learned a lot of lessons in my 20 years of marriage and parenting, mostly what not to do!

Here’s three tips for having it all!

By Lavern Nissley

In March, 1990 Ronda and I attended a life-changing marriage conference. Among the many takeaways was the encouragement to pray together daily while fostering a sense of "oneness" in our marriage. Wow! So glad we attended that conference and for the refreshment those daily connections has brought.

In 2007, as we were developing The RINGS Experience for couples, a simple tool came to our hearts that could possibly help couples implement what we had found so meaningful in our marriage. Want to know what the tool is (and watch a brief video demo)? 

By Lavern and Ronda Nissley

Do you ever dread the upcoming week? It's Sunday afternoon/evening, and you feel a pit in your stomach because tomorrow . . . Well, it all starts again. And it's a long time til the next weekend!

While certain events or tasks on our calendars may create apprehension, we can easily eliminate one major source of anxiety. Want to know what it is?

Ever heard of an amygdala hijack? Ever seen one? It's what happens in our brains when the amygdala, a small gland gets an urgent message that we're in danger, and it's time to shut down the thinking part of our brain and dump a bunch of neurochemicals to help us respond and survive the danger.

​When allowed, the effect can be pretty dramatic. (Remember Lou Ferrigno as The Incredible Hulk?) Like in over the top anger and actions that we later regret and wish we could take back. So what is the best way to deal with anger when we feel it rushing throughout our bodies?

By Lavern Nissley

You've heard of The Five Love Languages, right? By Dr. Gary Chapman? Quality time, acts of service, gifts, words of affirmation and physical touch. These are types of love "deposits" into people's hearts.

But what about when we make "withdrawals" through intentional or unintentional offenses? Are there also "languages of apology"? Yes! There are! And by the same author!

By Lavern Nissley
Includes excellent content by guest, Jeff Cook

So, what do you think? Better to confront someone verbally in person or by writing? What is at stake with either? Let's hear some excellent reflections by Jeff Cook on this.

By Lavern Nissley

Everyone has a personality. Some are outgoing; others are reserved. Some take risks easily; others are cautious. Some hate change and prefer routine; others love change and prefer variety.

If your personality could be represented by colors, what would you be? Red? Orange? Yellow? Green? Blue? Purple? A combination of colors? If you're curious and really want to be certain, well . . . you're probably a blue.

By Lavern Nissley

Recently I was asked the question: "So what piece of advice would you give to anyone across the board in any relationship? Is there something that fits for anyone in any relationship?" While I'm not usually one to propose "one size fits all" responses, here's how I answered the question.

By Lavern Nissley

How we talk to our children when they've gone off the rails makes all the difference in the world. A simple piece of advice from a police officer turned author of books on parenting strong willed children: Just write the ticket! Want to know what Cynthia Tobias meant by that?