Persistent bullying in the workplace can affect job performance and lower productivity, leading to mental and physical health problems. — Workplace harassment is considered abhorrent in most companies, but that doesn’t stop it from happening. Sometimes the harassment is at the hands of management, but other times the badgering is perpetrated by co-workers. This was the case for a friend who found herself subjected to bullies in the workplace.

Unicorn hunting can also be a pretty emotionally taxing experience for the person being hunted. — “Unicorn hunting” is becoming increasingly popular these days, as more and more people are drawn to the challenge and excitement of mixing things up in long-term relationships. A good friend of mine, who happens to identify as polyamorous, recently had a strange encounter with a “weird couple” while dining alone…

It was her way of saying, “I want to see more of you,” and that he was poorly dressed. — I have heard all sorts of hilarious dating tales, but one in particular always stands out to me. A friend of mine was going on a third date with a guy she’d met online. …

Then he claimed, “it didn’t mean anything.” — Nearly every month for their two decades of marriage, my friend’s husband traveled for business. As a system implementation consultant, it was his job to strategize, implement, and roll out systems that made companies more efficient. My friend thought that marrying a guy who majored in industrial engineering would be…

The reason rejection is so painful is that we tend to take it personally. — Fear of rejection is a reoccurring theme in my line of work. But it still caught me off guard when a client recently said, “I almost never approach ‘hot women’ because I’m afraid of getting rejected.” I can understand his fear. After all, rejection is one of the most feared…

If you’re prone to emotional flooding, even the most minor disagreements can quickly escalate into full-blown fights. — “Get out of the car!” I yelled at him. He just sat there, staring at me with a smirk on his face. We’d been on our way back from Las Vegas when he decided that it was a great time to rehash an old argument. I could feel my blood…

It’s essential to have friends from all walks of life because you never know what’s lurking around the next corner. — Back in the day, when I was a blogger, I went to a lot of conferences and special events. I would often see the same faces again and again, and it was great to have the opportunity to network with them. …

Some aromantics can experience sexual attraction, but they don’t experience romantic interest. — Growing up, I fell headfirst into romanticism. I loved watching Disney movies where the handsome prince rescued the damsel in distress. I moved on to romantic comedies, and chick lit in my teens, devouring anything from Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movies to Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. I binged…

Healthy, now that’s something I can aspire to, whether I am happy or not. — So many people say, “I just want to be happy.” But what does that really mean? And is happiness the most important thing in a relationship? I used to think that happiness was the benchmark for a good relationship. If both partners were happy, then the relationship was good. …