Peaceful Parenting

Parenting

Don't Create a Monster: Curating Accountability in Your Child

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on October 6, 2026

Parents want their children to be accountable, resilient, and successful. Yet mistaking sympathy for empathy can prevent your child from acquiring these important qualities.

Parents want their children to be accountable, resilient, and successful. Yet mistaking sympathy for empathy can prevent your child from acquiring these important qualities.

Emotional Intelligence

When a Partner Lacks the Gift of Perspective-Taking

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 25, 2026

To understand people better, you try to see things from their viewpoint for a moment. This perspective-taking ability is automatic, and you may incorrectly assume that everybody does it.

To understand people better, you try to see things from their viewpoint for a moment. This perspective-taking ability is automatic, and you may incorrectly assume that everybody does it.

Emotional Intelligence

3 Ways Emotionally Intelligent People Keep Drama Away

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 6, 2026

Emotionally intelligent individuals tend to dodge unnecessary drama by doing three things. They avoid petty power struggles, delay gratification when they need to, and always seem to have gratitude.

Emotionally intelligent individuals tend to dodge unnecessary drama by doing three things. They avoid petty power struggles, delay gratification when they need to, and always seem to have gratitude.

Relationships

I Am There for You, but You Are Not There for Me

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 20, 2026

You love your partner, and they are occasionally supportive, but as soon as you open up about a hardship, they counter it with their own troubles.

You love your partner, and they are occasionally supportive, but as soon as you open up about a hardship, they counter it with their own troubles.

Career

4 Signs That Interactions at Work Are Toxic

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 17, 2026

Learn four signs that indicate a discussion is destructive and free yourself from these dreadful conversations. Then set a boundary to protect yourself in the future.

Learn four signs that indicate a discussion is destructive and free yourself from these dreadful conversations. Then set a boundary to protect yourself in the future.

Emotional Intelligence

How the Emotionally Intelligent Manage Mistakes With the 3 R's

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on August 9, 2026

Emotionally intelligent people often reflect deeply. They think about what led them to make a mistake, how it impacted those around them, and how to make things right.

Emotionally intelligent people often reflect deeply. They think about what led them to make a mistake, how it impacted those around them, and how to make things right.

Emotional Intelligence

3 Top Tier Emotionally Intelligent Tendencies

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on July 12, 2026

EI is a gift. Responding instead of reacting, setting healthy boundaries in place of being passive aggressive, & embracing accountability are top tier EI tendencies.

EI is a gift. Responding instead of reacting, setting healthy boundaries in place of being passive aggressive, & embracing accountability are top tier EI tendencies.

Relationships

Fake Vulnerability: 3 Signs Your Empathy Is Being Exploited

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on June 29, 2026

A new partner may manipulate your empathy by faking vulnerability. They cite past hardships without ever offering a feeling, insight, or silver lining from these experiences.

A new partner may manipulate your empathy by faking vulnerability. They cite past hardships without ever offering a feeling, insight, or silver lining from these experiences.

Friends

4 Ways Good Friendships Turn Bad

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on June 7, 2026

3. They blindside you by popping up when you least expect it.

3. They blindside you by popping up when you least expect it.

Boundaries

3 Major Ways a Manipulator Will Try to Exploit You

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on May 24, 2026

1. They try to inflict guilt.

1. They try to inflict guilt.

Emotional Intelligence

Fixated on What Others Think of You?

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on May 3, 2026

Fixating on what other people think about you is painful, but caring about it can be a positive thing. These three scenarios help show the difference between fixating and caring.

Fixating on what other people think about you is painful, but caring about it can be a positive thing. These three scenarios help show the difference between fixating and caring.

Sadism

When a Partner Wears a Sadistic Smirk

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on April 7, 2026

A partner's satisfaction with your pain may be written on their face.

A partner's satisfaction with your pain may be written on their face.

Parenting

Rethinking Gentle Parenting

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on March 29, 2026

When parents empathize instead of sympathize, kids feel understood and handle tough moments better.

When parents empathize instead of sympathize, kids feel understood and handle tough moments better.

Narcissism

A Partner With Narcissistic Tendencies Wants 2 Types of Control

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on March 10, 2026

A partner with narcissistic tendencies maladaptively manages their profound and unconscious insecurities by gaining two types of control over you.

A partner with narcissistic tendencies maladaptively manages their profound and unconscious insecurities by gaining two types of control over you.

Divorce

3 Ways to Inoculate a Narcissistic Co-parent's Alienation

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on February 23, 2026

Kids despise parental drama, and your child has already made up their mind, so they refuse to listen to you. It’s awful, and it seems hopeless, but three strategies can help.

Kids despise parental drama, and your child has already made up their mind, so they refuse to listen to you. It’s awful, and it seems hopeless, but three strategies can help.

Family Dynamics

4 Signs of Being the Adult Child of an Emotionally Unavailable Parent

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on February 1, 2026

1. They're only willing to listen when you agree with them.

1. They're only willing to listen when you agree with them.

Emotional Intelligence

AI and EI: The Difference Sets Us Apart and Puts Us Ahead

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on January 19, 2026

Emotional intelligence is one of the most sophisticated forms of intelligence. AI may know a lot, but it has not experienced the depth and brilliance of emotion. That is where we shine.

Emotional intelligence is one of the most sophisticated forms of intelligence. AI may know a lot, but it has not experienced the depth and brilliance of emotion. That is where we shine.

Emotional Intelligence

4 Emotionally Intelligent Ways to Handle Unpleasant Interactions

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on January 12, 2026

Don’t be blindsided and paralyzed by rude, backhanded comments. Have a plan.

Don’t be blindsided and paralyzed by rude, backhanded comments. Have a plan.

Mating

Should Daters Follow the "3 Red Flags Rule"?

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on December 29, 2025

How someone reacts to a request for space is telling.

How someone reacts to a request for space is telling.

Attachment

Why Feeling Insecure Means That You Are Secure

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on December 26, 2025

If you feel insecure in your relationship, it is not necessarily because of an insecure attachment. It may instead be a result of emotional manipulation.

If you feel insecure in your relationship, it is not necessarily because of an insecure attachment. It may instead be a result of emotional manipulation.