The AWE Blog

When you’re a kid, sometimes the wins come easy. My mom entered me to win a football toy chest at the local grocery store, my name was drawn, and suddenly there I was — standing in front of a wall of snacks, smiling for the newspaper. What it demanded of me was simple: show up, hold the prize, take a picture. Adulthood isn’t marked by wins like that. The choices that matter most later in life don’t come from being picked. They come from choosing. They ask for something quiete

I enjoy being a menace in the bumper cars as much as the next guy… but why is it that, in the bumper the cars of life, many men treat conversations about emotions like they suddenly can’t find the pedal? There’s something we don’t talk about enough in the counseling world, even though everyone sees it: Most counselors are women. Most counseling clients are women. And back when I was just a counseling intern, my supervisor and friend Jermaine said something that has lived in

Age four at Canadohta Lake. Long before I knew anything about ego states or personality traits… but clearly already showing mine. Most people think of self-awareness as an inner skill—“knowing yourself. ”But in real life, self-awareness is relational . It’s not just how well you understand your own motives, emotions, and patterns… it’s how accurately you understand the effect  you have on other people. And here’s the hidden truth: Your lack of self-awareness might start with

Early in the pandemic, these were literally the only two masks I could find — a clown and a devil. Nothing summed up confusion, mixed messages, and unclear expectations better. And honestly? That’s what ambiguity feels like in life, too: you’re trying to play the proper role, but no one tells you which one. There’s a question nearly every person carries, even if they never put it into words: “Where do I stand with you?” It shows up anywhere trust and effort mix — workplaces,