By Susan Winter for the Huffington Post Dogs have mastered the art of unconditional love. Forgiveness, curiosity, and playfulness are just a few of the life lessons we can learn from our beloved pets. They can also be wise teachers when it comes to a breakup. I remember the day I got a jolt of wisdom from my beautiful white sled dog, Diva. I should have been happy while walking with her but instead I was in a funk, upset and distracted. The guy I’d [...]
By Susan Winter for The Huffington Post What do you do when your relationship isn’t working? Whether you’ve been married for 15 years or dating for eight months, the decision whether to stay or leave is never easy. How long do you keep trying to make it right? And, when do you throw in the towel and walk away? The answer to these questions is easier to find when we start at the end and work our way backwards. There’s always the option to leave. [...]
By Susan Winter for The Huffington Post Why do we cling so desperately to a relationship that’s died? Because we’ve been told it’s the right choice to make. Leaving a dead relationship takes courage. Staying in a dead relationship takes self-sacrifice. We agonize over this decision; worrying about our future and the repercussions for those we love. Adding to our emotional struggle is the premium our culture places on sustaining a relationship. The underlying message insists that suffering is better than leaving, which makes the [...]
I’m often asked when to pull the plug on a failing relationship. When is there hope and when is it really over? Logic dictates that we should map out a course of action and prepare for (what may be) the inevitable. And though clients want me to give them this answer, they’re the only one’s who know when it’s really over for them. I recently got a letter from a woman who wants to save her marriage. She’s taken every step possible to correct the [...]
By Susan Winter for The Huffington Post The fear of being alone is terrifying for most people I know. We've been led to believe that having someone is better than having no one. This message runs deep in our social fabric and is the basis of many single's discontent. Attached to this myth is the belief that being single mean "unwanted" instead of taking one's time to choosing wisely. The fear of being alone is an irrational construct. Alone doesn't mean "lonely." Yet, many [...]
