ACA Counseling Corner Blog

We all would like to feel confident and outgoing all the time, but the reality is most of us find ourselves in situations where we feel uncomfortable or like we don't belong. For some people that can be an everyday experience that limits their lives in numerous ways. But there are ways to overcome shyness and to build one's self-esteem and confidence.

Summer is a season that seems to inspire laziness in most of us. It can be a time of the year when it's hard to get motivated about too many things, but then we suddenly look up and realize that most of our summer opportunities have already slipped by. Our advice is to do a little planning, get motivated and really enjoy the season and all it has to offer this year.

Parents today often find it's really difficult to get their children's attention or to get them to contribute much around the house. We can thank video games, cell phones and a variety of social apps for helping kidnap our children's time and interests. But it's not totally a lost cause. We have some tips on ways to help get your children at least slightly more involved in the home again.

When faced with a difficult challenge in life we often start out full of enthusiasm about overcoming the problem. But far too often as we get discouraged by not achieving success in a short time our enthusiasm begins to wane and eventually we may find ourselves admitting defeat. It doesn't have to be that way. Challenges we face may be difficult, but when faced in the right way are usually also surmountable.

Teens have a reputation, honestly earned in many cases, for living in notoriously messy rooms. Such messes are usually a constant source of disagreement between parents and teen. But should that teen's messy space be the reason for arguing and fighting? With a few simple rules, and an understanding of why a messy room doesn't bother that teenager, parents may find it easier to live with that lack of neatness.

Modern life seems to bring with a lot of stress for most of us. Our jobs, our families, even that daily commute, can all be sources of stress that leave us tired and cranky. And, when stress builds up and seems constant, it can have a negative effect on our health. While there's no way to make the sources of our stress just disappear, there are things we can do to limit our individual stress and to minimize its impact on our lives.

It's estimated that about 45 million children across the country participate in at least one organized sport. That's often a good thing as it helps our kids stay active, teaches them various skills, and helps promote cooperation and fair play. But there are times when parents put too much emphasis on a child's participation in a sport, and the result can be a negative effect on confidence and self-esteem.

While professional counselors have a great deal to offer in helping people live happier, more fulfilling lives, many people find it difficult to make the decision to seek professional help or simply don't understand what counselors have to offer. They may think that their problems will just disappear, or that talking to friends or relatives may make it all better. Unfortunately, that's not always going to help.

Too many of our children are seriously overweight. It's a problem that can impact not only their health, but also their confidence and self-esteem. Most parents are interested in trying to help a child lose those excess pounds, but done the wrong way parental actions can sometimes do more harm than good.

It happens. You forget an anniversary or a birthday, or make some other mistake that shows your significant other that you may not be paying as much attention to the relationship as you once did when it was young and fresh. It's never too late to change that. A few simple actions can help keep the romance alive.