By Fotis Georgiadis - Thrive Global

Simply put, less judgment and more curiosity. This can be applied to both how we view ourselves and others. There is enough judgment in the world. What we need more of is curious, inquiring minds that are willing to learn. We need less “you are wrong and here’s why” and more “tell me about your experience, I want to listen.” We can practice this with others, but we can also notice when we are being critical of ourselves. We can flip the script from self-criticism to “tell me about your experience, what has you so afraid?” Being gentle with ourselves and others does not produce negativity, it produces connection.

I had the pleasure to interview Melissa Coats, a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in anxiety management and sex therapy. Melissa strives to help her clients overcome issues regarding stress, sex, and self-esteem to lead a fulfilling and abundant life. Learn more about her practice and speaking availability at coatscounseling.com.

On this never-ending pursuit, you are your own worst enemy. 
​By Ari Notis - BestLife

Everyone wants to be happier. Sure, such a statement might sound obvious--happiness is a basic human desire, after all—but it’s a bit more complex than it seems. In fact, when it comes to happiness, many people (yes, you included) sabotage their own success without even realizing it. They repeatedly pursue incompatible romantic partners, or set the bar for success at unreasonable heights, or even just spend hours inside and out of sunlight (and, as a result, away from sweet, sweet Vitamin D).

Put another way: When it comes to the never-ending pursuit of happiness, you’re probably your own worst enemy. Here are 50 ways how, straight from psychologists, life coaches, and other experts. To maximize your mood, cut this behavior out—stat.​

1. Dedicating yourself solely to pleasure

It’s a question that has interested philosophers and ethicists for centuries: Can you be “happy” by devoting yourself to pleasure? After all, it might seem that if you have found a way to live your life by jumping from one luxury to the next, then you’ve really figured things out. But researchers would question whether that is an effective way to build happiness.

By Annakeara Stinson - Bustle

Whether you’re on your own or with someone else, adding sex toys into your sex life can be a little intimidating. But if you're feeling like you need to shake things up in the pleasure department, toys are always a particularly popular suggestion. And while, yes, vibrators and plugs and all the rest can be a fun way to explore your sexuality, if that’s not of interest to you, that’s all good. There are plenty of things to try if you aren't ready for sex toys that are just as exciting and pleasurable, if not more so. It's all about getting creative with your mind and body!​

By Arielle Tschinkel, INSIDER

• Lots of people are sexting, but not everyone is doing it safely. 
• Sexting may be fun, but that doesn't mean it's safe.
• Between photo hacks and revenge porn, there's no foolproof way to ensure your privacy.
• INSIDER spoke with experts about the best ways to sext to keep you safe.
• Practicing consent, using the right apps, and turning off your iCloud can all help.
• Visit INSIDER.com for more stories.

Sexting is extremely common these days. Recent studies say 74% of American adults and 67% of international adults admit to sending or receiving explicit texts, photos, or videos, and most of them say they are in committed relationships.

But it's not just coupled-up adults that are sexting — sexting among teens has increased, with a 2018 study published in JAMA Pediatrics revealing that 14.8% and 27.4% of teens admitting to sending and receiving sexts, a number that has steadily increased since 2009, when smartphones and tablets began to gain prevalence for many people.

By VoyageATL

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Coats.

Melissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.

I consider myself fortunate that from a young age I was able to identify my passion. My journey to becoming a psychotherapist started with inspiration from my mother. She would consistently remind me that the people around me had a story worth hearing, and to be curious, not judgmental about others’ experiences. We traveled together. Despite the fact that she was a single mother working four jobs, she somehow managed to find the time, energy, and resources to introduce me to a world full of vibrant and amazing people. I became fascinated by the stories I heard, lessons I learned, and the resilience of the human spirit.

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, Reader’s Digest

What you didn’t learn in high school sex ed: the surprising, science-backed proof about aphrodisiac foods, men’s and women’s desire, and more.

Myth: Sex burns major calories

Truth: Experts estimate thirty minutes of sex burns 85 to 150 calories. Theoretically, you need to burn about 3,500 calories to lose a pound of body weight, so if you were using up 100 calories every time you had sex, you could lose one pound if you had sex 35 times. The problem is this: Most people are not having sex for thirty minutes. Instead, the average duration of sex is closer to five minutes. In fact, the biggest increase in your heart rate and blood pressure during sex only occurs for about fifteen seconds during orgasm, and then things quickly return back to normal. Sex may not burn a lot of calories, but having sex once a week can actually help you live longer.

Charlotte Hilton Andersen, Reader's Digest

We include everything from why wearing socks is sexier than lingerie to how sleeping with your wife can get you ahead with your boss.

Nearly 10 percent of all dreams include sex

Sex dreams aren’t just the territory of horny teenage boys. In fact, nearly one in ten dreams contain some R-rated sexual content—and that’s true for both men and women, according to a study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. There were some gender differences though: Women were more likely to have sex dreams about politicians, celebrities, or their exes while men were more likely to dream about having sex with multiple partners at once. Check out these sex facts about committed couples.

By Carolyn Steber, Bustle

Some conversations are easier to have than others, especially when it comes to saying difficult things to your partner. It can be tempting to sweep certain issues under the rug, as a way of avoiding conflict, tension, and discomfort. But if something's eating away at you, it's best to get it all out for your own sake — as well as the health of your relationship.

Start the new year with actually useful goals.
​By Paige Smith, HuffPost

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, people are either staunch defenders of the practice or vocal critics. On one hand, resolutions provide purpose and structure for those interested in self-improvement; on the other hand, they tend not to work.

Most people quit their resolutions after a couple of months, said Melissa Coats, a licensed professional counselor, psychotherapist and owner of Coats Counseling in Georgia. If you struggle with anxiety or feelings of inadequacy, she explained, the pressure to succeed can be particularly damaging.