Almost from the day we’re born we begin to learn how to speak. It’s an incredibly simple process and people in every culture follow the same basic pattern. As babies and then children, we listen, imitate and remarkably quickly begin to associate sounds with meaning....
It’s Not ‘What’ You Said…
Here’s a little pop quiz for you. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher? Here’s a followup question. What was it about Mr. Smith or Ms. Jones that made you like them so much? You may remember a single incident that’s happily embedded in your memory — the...
The Joy Of Sparking Conversation With A Kid
It’s one of life’s little joys to watch a young child play with a toy figure, creating a fantastical world filled with heroes and villians. While they hold their little figure on the edge of a chair, they call the action: “They’re about to get you… jump, jump into the...
The Power Of Asking The Right Questions
Have you every listened to an experienced teacher speak passionately about their proper role as an educator? “Our goal is not to tell our kids what to think — it’s to teach them how to think.” Most parents would probably agree with that sentiment, especially at...
The Subtle Complexity — And Joy! — Of Deep Conversations
When you go to the grocery store and exchange a pleasantry or two as you check out — have a nice day! — you probably don’t go home and tell your family what a great conversation you had at the market. Great conversations don’t occur just because you’re talking. And...
Conversation: The Foundation For A Thriving Relationship
For many people, having a healthy attitude about life means that you regularly take stock of your goals and whether or not you’re making progress in achieving them. In your personal life that might involve having a regular exercise routine. You commit to a few days at...
Questions To Light Up Your Relationship
Getting to know another person can be tricky business. That’s especially true with young people who are just beginning to date. However, as many a person in a long-term relationship will attest, it can also be a challenge even in a mature relationship. One of the keys...
First-Date Questions You Won’t Regret
Meeting someone for a first date can be simultaneously thrilling and nerve-wracking. Even if you're acquainted with someone through work or a club, or maybe you’ve made a connection through a dating service, meeting in person for coffee or a drink with the explicit...
Do You Know How To Ask The Right Questions?
It’s a well-known “secret” that there are wonderful benefits to knowing how to ask the right questions. Professional salespeople often undergo sales training that focuses on determining a prospect’s challenges and needs in order to craft an effective sales pitch. The...
Great Conversations Begin With Questions
Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft When most people enter a conversation, they typically talk about something that’s appropriate to the nature of the relationship. You make small talk with strangers or acquaintances, catch...