Strained or broken relationships are an unfortunate fact of life for most of us. Friends fall away, siblings drift apart, children sever ties with their parents, and despite our best efforts, these painful fissures are difficult to mend.

Bestselling author and clinical psychologist Dr. Ray Guarendi shares practical wisdom and usable strategies to aid you in navigating your way through such situations. With strong doses of humor and hope, he will help you form healthy habits in the ways you talk, think, act, and react to strengthen your relationships and live a more virtuous life.

Through Dr. Ray’s down-to-earth style, professional experience, and personal stories, you will learn his tried-and-true rules for life and profit from them. You will discover the key to neutralizing insults and offenses and changing any relationship for the better. In this book, you’ll also learn:

• Three conversation killers to avoid
• The truth about your motives and those of others
• The secret to becoming a real listener
• Tips on offering (and receiving) different types of criticism
• Ways to manage your expectations
• When (and how) to speak up

Dr. Ray teaches you techniques for avoiding “psychological claptrap,” for responding better to hurtful comments, and for improving your communication skills. He shows you how to become more easygoing, more forgiving, less driven by reactive emotions—in short, a better practitioner of the Golden Rule—and sets you on the path toward peace of mind, heart, and soul.