We all know how important our parents and our spouses are. As for our kids, we’d die for them. But there’s one bond we underrate, says Jeffrey Kluger, author of The Sibling Effect (Riverhead Books). “From the time we’re born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and our cautionary tales,” writes Kluger, a Time senior editor, and one of four brothers. We asked: Why do we take our siblings for granted? They are seen as early-life companions whom we lose interest in over time, but we actually imprint very early on the people closest to us. Of course, that involves your parents, but siblings…

Are you feeling stressed? Lonely? Bummed-out? Social scientists may have found a miracle cure. It only takes five minutes to test, and you can probably try it right now: Call your mom. In the science of relationships, there are few magics as potent as a mother’s love. Researchers have long known that, for example, a child who hugs their mother will soon be flooded with the feel-good hormone oxytocin, a crucial ingredient in parent-child bonding, stress relief, and building trust. You can probably think of a time in your life right now when a little motherly love changed your mood right around. (Here’s the best advice we ever heard from…

I’ve become selfish since I lost my hubby. Well, maybe un-empathetic is a better word. You’re having a bad day at work? At least your hubby didn’t die. You can’t find a sitter so you have to cancel plans for the concert you’ve waited for all summer? Say thank God your husband isn’t dead. Did you get into a fight with your man? At least he’s alive. “Suck it up, buttercup,” continued to be my mantra for everyone’s problems. In the grand scheme of life, their issues didn’t seem that significant. Those feelings intensified when I started an online support group for the widowed community. It was like a non-ending…

Like ballroom dancers, introverts perform best in pairs iStock/ArthurHidden Introverts thrive in one-on-one situations and get overwhelmed when in groups, so it turns out they may actually have a bit of an advantage on dates over extroverts. So remind yourself of your natural strength beforehand, and let it give you a little burst of confidence. Check out these other hidden strengths of introverts. Make sure your plans work with your personality iStock/Gelner Tivadar Be true to your nature when deciding what to do for your date. Introvert-friendly activities include coffee or drinks at a cafe or bar; a movie followed by a low-key dinner; a trip to a museum, park,…

Keep an open mind istock/Martin Dimitrov When it comes to flirting and mingling, your goal should not be to walk into a room, identify someone who seems like your type, and funnel all of your energy into catching that one person’s attention. In fact, it should be quite the opposite. “When you’re too target specific, you close yourself off to so much,” says Kimberly Seltzer, a therapist, dating, and makeover expert at Elite Image Makeovers. Instead, focus on chatting with a few people—no matter who they are—and build a hub of positive energy from there. The more people in your own social network, the more you’ll be able to branch…

Don’t say: Ex Emma Kapotes/Rd.com Nobody needs to hear about your ex on the very first date. If the two of you make it past the night, you’ll have plenty of time to delve into your romantic pasts. And if you do find yourself fighting the urge to bring up your ex, it’s worth asking yourself—later—what’s going on. Is it because you want to talk about what you don’t want in a relationship? Or do you want to show your date how much you’ve moved on? Or is it to reassure your date that he/she is so much better than your ex? Going on a date isn’t only about getting to…

[embedded content] In this video, I share the seven spiritual fitness tools for living a purposeful life. Spiritual fitness is comprised of seven easy-to-apply daily practices that help one develop discipline, commitment, and devotion within little as 45 minutes throughout each day. The benefits of spiritual fitness are to slow down, look within, achieve mental, and emotional balance, and develop a deeper connection within oneself. Spiritual Fitness is the ultimate body, mind, and spirit workout. Many blessings on the journey. Live Brave, Chris

Unappreciated stepparent after 30 years. Do I cross boundaries? Why do grown kids not accept personal responsibility, but blame me? –Unloved and Unwanted; Boca Raton, FL The first thing I do with this column each week is edit the chosen question to ensure it’s easy to read. I didn’t do that this week. The question above is the question that was submitted in its original form. What does it mean? What is this person asking? I’m not exactly sure. But as I tried to make sense of the 20 words they sent in, I couldn’t escape the magnitude of two of them: Personal responsibility. Personal responsibility seems to be a…

Michael J. Armstrong, Brock University The Conversation Editor’s note: The Conversation Canada asked our academic authors to share some recommended reading. In this installment, Michael Armstrong, an operations research professor at Brock University who has written for The Conversation Canada on topics as diverse as student success rates in school to the mathematics of Civil War battle, shares the top three books that he recommends for guidance on making the most of your career at any age. Here are three books that I often recommend to my students and friends. All are practical guides that have stood the test of time. The first will help you start your career, the…