If you enjoyed this clip, you'll want to see the entire video, "Can People Change?" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-d4iSppnG8&t=467s

When you have been abusive and toxic to loved ones, and you eventually realize that you need to change, and you start making changes, you discover that they aren't warm and fuzzy towards you. They're still angry and resentful. That's because you caused the damage in the relationships, and it's going to take time, even with your best efforts, for them to heal, let go of their anger, forgive you and respond to you with more warmth and affection. So you need to be patient and not get angry if you're not getting the results you want fast enough. If you make a big deal out of it, you set the entire process back. They'll see that you're still into controlling everything and trying to get your way, and it will take longer for the trust to be restored and the healing to be accomplished.

Accidents don't just happen. At least not much of the time. Oftentimes they are caused by us. We create the accident because we are not paying attention. Had we been paying attention, the "accident" wouldn't have happened. We should save the word accident for when something happens that is beyond our control, but if it is something that we could have avoided by being more prudent or less impulsive, reckless, and/or thoughtless, it's not an accident. It's us creating our reality, and a destructive one at that. Best that we pay attention and avoid creating unnecessary problems.

It's nice to want to please people but if it is done excessively and to such a degree that you are taken advantage of and your own needs aren't being met, then it's dysfunctional and needs to stop. By understanding how you became this way, you can undo the negative self-definition and embrace your authenticity.

Loneliness isn't about not having friends or not having a significant other. There are plenty of people with friends and significant others who are terribly lonely. Loneliness has to do with feeling disconnected from humanity. So what's the solution? Watch the video.

We see faults in others to avoid seeing faults in ourselves. It relieves our anxiety and helps us maintain some semblance of self-esteem. But it is not without a price. Rather than hide the truth about ourselves from ourselves by constantly pointing the finger at others, it's best to hold a mirror up to ourselves, have the courage to look at the truth of who we are, and if we don't like what we see, then change who we are.

Climate change? Arson? Incompetent leadership? Bad Luck? What if, when the level of rage in people reaches a threshold, the RAGE is converted into bad stuff happening, like RAGING forest fires? #foodforthought

When you are engaged in disagreement with someone, as soon as it becomes obvious that the person is severely biased, close-minded, brainwashed, unwilling to think critically, whatever it might be -- disengage. Save yourself a lot of time, aggravation and stress. Stop texting or verbally jousting with people whose opinions you will never change, and put your time and your life to better use.

Denial is a defense mechanism that is very helpful in terms of reducing our anxiety by removing unpleasant thoughts from our mind. Our subconscious mind stores the truths about ourselves and keeps them from our conscious mind, thinking it is protecting us. To some degree it is. But when denial is used excessively, then it becomes a negative force in your life that leads to self-sabotaging behaviors. So it is important to hold a mirror up to yourself and look at the truth of who you are so that you can make wise decisions going forward that will lead to health, happiness, and sustainable, satisfying relationships.

Your thoughts are powerful. If your thoughts are full of judgment, fear, anger, resentment, etc., then you are contributing to the aggression, violence and war in the world. If your thoughts are full of acceptance, compassion and forgiveness, then you are contributing to a peaceful, loving, supportive, healing world. So the point is to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts in order to heal and improve yourself and the world.

Stop beating yourself up. Stop putting yourself down and calling yourself names. Stop telling yourself you're a loser. Stop telling yourself it can't be done. Stop telling yourself to give up because nothing will ever work out. So tell that Inner Critic of yours to SHUT UP! AND THEN: Love yourself. Value yourself. Build yourself up. Remind yourself of your good qualities and talents.