Imperfect Love

We often believe that our given family--the ones we are connected to by birth--should be our greatest friends and allies. And it's normal for us to expect our family members to love us and keep us safe. Yet, in real life, many people discover that negative family dynamics affect them in the most troubling ways. If this resonates, you may have experienced the deep pain of feeling outcast or isolate...

Money. Hard work. Privilege. Inheritance. Entitlement. Motivation. Success. All of these words can bring up a host of thoughts and feelings. Some of them tend to have positive connotations, yet many of them are super-charged with negativity. Shows such as "Succession" have brought fresh attention to the realm of the uber wealthy and the dramatic flavor of issues such as family feuds, excess, sibli...

Soul Statements: A Love-Filled Tool for Creating Healthy Communication and Deeper IntimacyDo you feel like your partner doesn't hear you? Is communication a major stumbling block in your intimate relationships? From Dr. Carla’s experience and loads of research, she has found that communication struggles cause tremendous (and unnecessary) disconnection and hurtful ruptures. Could a few minor shifts...

Do you feel like you're the victim of ageism? Or--whether you're 30, 40, 50, or beyond–that you are too old to make your dreams come true? In Dr. Carla's work with thousands of people (as well as her own life journey), she has found that fears about aging can creep into our minds and cause anxiety and immobilizing self-doubt. And, as the benefits of youth are overemphasized in societies around the...

How to Craft the Love Relationship of Your DreamsAre you feeling stuck in a dead-end relationship? Do you want more in your romantic life but are afraid to let go of what you have? From a lack of sex or emotional intimacy to ongoing conflict, issues often arise in relationships that leave one or both partners feeling distressed. And in my work with individuals and couples, I've found that many peo...

Do you tend to procrastinate or have other habits that work against you? Do you want to have stronger willpower? As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Carla has found that most of us have at least a few hardwired habits that keep us from being our best selves and living our best lives. So, whether you're feeling defeated by broken resolutions or stressed by a habit that keeps you feeling stuck, she can...

Do you believe in miracles? Does the idea of manifestation seem real and within your reach, or does it sound more like an impossibility? Can a positive mindset make a powerful difference in helping your dreams come true? From my experience, I believe you can learn to manifest–to foster your potential and abundance–by tuning into your personal idea of prosperity. Of course, the process of manifesta...

Do you feel as if life is passing you by as you rush through one day after another, missing the glimmers that make it worthwhile? I've found that many people feel as if they are barely living – they wake up, work, eat, and sleep – a hum-drum cycle that is repeated joylessly day after day. And, if you add pressure, stress, anxiety–and more stress – into the mix, life can feel purposeless and overwh...

Are you hungering to discover your soulmate, twin flame, or a dream-come-true partner to be your lover and best friend? Do you struggle with finding a romantic partner who feels attractive, compatible, and real? If so, you're in the company of millions of souls around the world who yearn to find lasting–if naturally imperfect–love. What are the secrets to finding your ideal mate?  Today, join me a...

Improve Your Body Image with Self-Compassion and Self-LoveWhen you look in the mirror, do you love the reflection you see, or do you pick parts of yourself to pieces–or even your entire physical being? Do you dislike–or even loathe–the body that is your home? In today's hypercritical, perfection-oriented world, your body image–and capacity to love yourself–might be suffering from silent comparison...

Bring Lasting Love, Intimacy, and Joy into Your Romantic Relationship! Romantic relationships! We love them, sometimes we hate them, and in many cases, we just put up with them. We are told that romance should be easy, but heart-connected relationships require loads of devotion and mindful effort. While there isn't a magical cure for relationship blues, there are steps we can each take to create a...

It's time to break free from fear and step into the power of your authentic self. Do you constantly read others to see if you're loved, safe, or seen? Do you feel anxious and emotionally compromised to the point where you feel unimportant, stuck, or chronically dissatisfied? We often settle for situations–and relationships–that work against our mental, spiritual, and physical well-being because we...

Do you feel stressed and anxious more often than not? Could mindfulness be the key to feeling better? Do you wish you could find a few simple strategies to help you get off the hamster wheel of anxiety and find greater ease, balance, and joy? Dr. Carla Manly has found that many people feel chronically overwhelmed by the internal and external pressures–and expectations–that have become part of toda...

Are you exhausted by chronic mental gymnastics, those anxiety-inducing, topsy-turvy cognitive gyrations that get in the way of what you want to be thinking and doing? Dr. Carla Manly has found that people are increasingly plagued by obsessive or negative thought patterns that foster anxiety, depression, and stress that can lead to severe burnout. The secret to creating a healthy mindset--and the p...

Do you wrestle with feelings of being too dependent or--at the other end of the spectrum--overly independent? If you, or someone you love, struggles with finding the ideal balance between these two poles, you're not alone. Given society's tendency to foster the ideal of independence (or hyper-independence), many individuals, couples, and families struggle with discovering the ideal level of interd...

Do you look for hidden messages in dreams, oracle cards, or even tea leaves? If so, you’re not crazy and you’re surely not alone. It’s natural–and often very comforting–to gain “mystical” insights and assurances that help us navigate this wild journey of life. In fact, the art of studying dreams and other forms of psychological and spiritual analysis has been practiced by humans for thousands of y...

Have you ever felt truly and deeply alone? That you are completely isolated behind thick walls or an invisible shell–even when surrounded by a crowd of people or friends? Humans–like most other animals–thrive when they feel connected to others. So it makes sense that loneliness–which is very different from making a choice to spend time alone–negatively impacts physical and psychological health. As...

No matter your age, gender, socioeconomic status, or other factors, parenting is no easy task. Yet we often expect ourselves to be the ideal, stress-free parents who know how to do it all easily and perfectly. Contrary to the images we see on social media and in the fairytale landscapes in our minds, parenting can be one of life’s most challenging journeys. And, all too often, just when we think w...

Has your inner voice been quashed or silenced? Do you feel small or unseen due to the forces of your upbringing, relationships, or society? Do you wish you could take up space, speak your truth, and show up as your authentic self without fear or making apologies? Dr. Carla has found that many people have lost the courage–or never developed the ability–to use their authentic voice because they lear...

Embrace Positive Affirmations to Boost Positivity, Self-Esteem, and Inner Strength! Affirmation is a powerful tool for resilience. We're often expected to be positive and upbeat no matter what is going on in our lives. At the very least, we generally feel compelled to put on a happy face for the world. Yet, in real life, it's not always easy–or in truth, even natural–to be positive all the time. A...

Family is one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence. From birth forward, we're often indoctrinated to embrace the values and priorities prized by our parents and caregivers. In many foundational arenas—from religious and spiritual beliefs to social and political norms—our families and intergenerational patterns have a profound influence on our lives. Yet, from Dr. Carla’s personal and...

We often learn early in life to use food as a coping strategy, which can lead to destructive dieting patterns. In today's stressful, perfection-oriented world, the tendency to see food as both friend and enemy—a two-faced fixture that wields the power to reward, soothe, tempt, and haunt—can be amplified. While some people simply eat to live, others find themselves struggling daily to find a health...

Mindfully Move Your Way into Optimal Physical and Mental Health! We naturally want to believe that we are living consciously and engaging in practices that foster optimal health and well-being. However, challenges and stressors of real life can easily take us down a path into anxiety, negative moods, depression, isolation, cloudy thinking, emotional dysregulation, confusion, and myriad physical sy...

Create a Happier and Healthier Life by Embracing the Art of Self-Awareness! Frazzled? Unfocused? Emotionally dysregulated? Although we want to be stable and caring partners, parents, employees, bosses, and friends, it's easy to get stuck in unproductive patterns and erratic behaviors that seem beyond our control. And despite our inborn capacities and environmental influences, we expect ourselves t...

Emotional vampires specialize in sucking up your energy, joy, and inner peace. At their core, emotional vampires are empty, and their self-centered behaviors take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. Yet with solid awareness and healthy boundaries, you’ll be able to spot emotional vampires and keep them from negatively impacting your life. As emotional vampires lack psychological bounda...