As I continue to share the power of validation—whether through my book, speaking engagements, podcast interviews, etc.—I receive thoughtful questions from readers and listeners that dig deeper into the day-to-day application of this versatile skill. Today, I’d like to address the question that I receive more than any other: I can see how validation is …
How to Validate Someone When You Don’t Agree With Them Read More »
I recently received the following email from a reader: Hello Mr. Sorensen, I am reading your book “I Hear You” on Amazon Kindle. It is a very interesting concept, this idea of validation, and one worthy of investigation and application, no doubt. The very notion that even in trying to help or advise you might …
Does Validation Lose Its Power When Both People Know About It? Read More »
If you want a sure-fire way to boost your charisma, deepen your relationships with others, and brighten someone’s day, get in the habit of regularly expressing appreciation for others. The world can be a rough place. Whether we’re dealing with tight deadlines, angry bosses, frazzled spouses, disobedient children, mental or physical illness, ever-growing to-do lists, …
Appreciation: The Quickest Way to Brighten Someone’s Day Read More »
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Mmmmm, not quite. While that’s a nice thought (and makes you sound tough on the playground) words are far more powerful that we like to think. They are often our primary tool for communication and, like any tool, can be used to …
This post is part of an ongoing series from my upcoming Highbrow Course: “10 Days to Better Relationships,” which is focused on—surprise!—improving your relationships. Today we’re talking about expectations—the silent killer of relationships. How aware are you of your day-to-day expectations? Of what you’re expecting from life, your significant other, or even the strangers you interact with? …
Expectations: The Silent Killer of Relationships Read More »
This post is part of an ongoing series from my upcoming Highbrow Course: “10 Days to Better Relationships,” which is focused on—surprise!—improving your relationships. Today we’re talking about empathy—a critical element of strong, healthy relationships. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. When we have empathy for another person, we …
Empathy: The Power of Getting Into Other People’s Shoes Read More »
One of the more difficult parts of a relationship (especially one of the romantic persuasion) is letting the other person see the real you. And I mean the real you—not the half-real you that you post on Facebook or Instagram; or the first-, second-, third-date you that is on their very best behavior and has …
Of all the gifts you could give to another human being, few are more precious than your time and attention. In today’s fast-paced, ever-connected world, we have dozens of distractions vying for our attention. With all that we have to do, it’s tempting to think that as long as we seem attentive in a conversation, it’s …
Presence: The Lost Art of Giving Your Full Attention Read More »
Have you ever seen the YouTube video, It’s Not About the Nail? Hilarious. What makes it so funny is the fact that, while ridiculous, it’s actually not all that far from the truth. That’s because we as humans have a deep-seated need for connection—regardless of our age, gender, or background. (Yes, men need it just …
Validation: The Most Powerful Relationship Skill You Were Never Taught Read More »
[rt_reading_time label=”Read Time:” postfix=”minutes”] *For the record, this post came about because of recent positive experiences. This is not a complaint post. ;)* I’ve made it a goal to go out on at least one date per week for the past couple of years, and in doing so, have met hundreds of fantastic people. Generally, …
