What is your communication style? Do you tend to be coercive, intimidating – even bullying at times? Does your friend or partner use language that makes you fearful or anxious? Some feel that if they are suffering, they need to blame others and then make them suffer as well.

Almost inevitably, somewhere along the journey of your life, you will come across one of the most universal traits: jealousy. You may even have a close friend who seems to want the best for you, but you have observed some disturbing dynamics in the friendship. He did not seem overly pleased when you announced your promotion at work. If I say congratulations, can we go back to focusing on me now? Sheesh. She was not truly joyful when you revealed your engagement.

What stresses you the most? School, work, relationships? You know what they say: You can lead a boy to college, but you can’t make him think. Then again, Einstein said: Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

Are you or anyone you know continually haunted by the idea that you are not quite good enough? Your boss praised you. Your co-workers spoke highly of you. But somehow the inner critic’s voice is so much louder and comes up with a different judgment. Listen, my boss practices an open-door policy: the door is open for you to leave anytime. Heck, if I tell you I want to be a door-to-door salesman, don’t knock it.

Do you ever feel like you’re spiraling or taking a nosedive because he hasn’t texted you back yet? “Sorry I didn’t answer your text. I was on my phone.” Sheesh. A minute ago you were laughing hysterically about that meme. Now your mood has morphed and mutated, and you may not even know why.