MSI Press Blog

Intentional Love  by Kris Girrell , Abraham Gonzalez , and Bruce Girrell is on pre-order at Amazon  paperback Amazon ebook Barnes & Noble MSI Press webstore (25% discount with coupon code FF25) Book Description Intentional Love sets out a counter argument to the long-held narrative that both sex and intimacy decline over the years of a long-term committed relationship. But rather than focusing simply of the sexual skills and educating readers on technique, this book identifies twelve separate Ways of Being that when followed create the context and foundation for a deeper shared connection between lovers. The authors draw heavily on research on how these Ways of Being support both members and identify issues to be dealt with in the context of loving relationships. Though the authors are all men, they present a plethora of research from women researchers and authors to balance their own experiences as leaders and trainers in men’s work and then season it all by revealing ...

  Joy isn’t the same as happiness. Happiness depends on circumstance — on things going right, on comfort and success. Joy, by contrast, is deeper. It’s the quiet pulse of gratitude that persists even when life feels uncertain. It’s the awareness that meaning still exists, even in imperfection. 1. Choose Presence Over Perfection Joy begins when we stop waiting for life to be ideal. It grows in the ordinary — in morning light, shared laughter, the smell of coffee, the sound of rain. Perfection is brittle; presence is resilient. When we pay attention, even small moments become sacred. 2. Practice Gratitude as a Daily Rhythm Gratitude isn’t denial of pain; it’s recognition of grace. Naming what’s good — even briefly — shifts the heart’s focus from scarcity to abundance. Write it down, whisper it, notice it. Joy expands wherever gratitude takes root. 3. Keep Relationships Tender Joy thrives in connection. It’s found in listening without judgment, forgiving without keeping score, and sho...

  Robert Frost said "Good fences make good neighbors," and California has a Good Neighbor Fence Law that says a fence's destiny has to be decided together by neighbors. But what if you don't see eye-to-eye, how do you avoid the grip of anger to work out fencing and other neighborly issues? When you don’t see eye‑to‑eye, the real challenge isn’t the fence; it’s the emotional boundary . Anger wants to turn a property line into a battlefield. Humility and clarity turn it back into a line of respect. Here’s how people keep their footing when conflict threatens to pull them under: 1. Pause Before You React When frustration rises, the first act of strength is stillness . Take a breath, step back, and remind yourself: this is not a moral war, it’s a logistical disagreement. Anger thrives on immediacy; patience dissolves it. 2. Separate the Person from the Problem Your neighbor is not the fence. They are a human being with their own fears, finances, and sense of fairness. Whe...

  Positive psychology is the study of what makes life worth living. It asks not only how people survive hardship, but how they flourish — how they find joy, purpose, and resilience even amid difficulty. Traditional psychology often focuses on illness and dysfunction: anxiety, depression, trauma. Positive psychology complements that by exploring strengths, virtues, and well‑being. It’s not about ignoring pain; it’s about understanding the forces that help us heal and grow. The Core Idea At its heart, positive psychology studies the conditions that allow humans to thrive. It looks at gratitude, hope, compassion, courage, creativity, and meaning — qualities that build psychological strength and deepen our sense of connection. Researchers like Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi helped shape the field, emphasizing that happiness is not a fleeting emotion but a cultivated state rooted in engagement, relationships, and purpose. The Science of Flourishing Positive psychology ident...

  In Socionics, intuition isn’t about psychic hunches or mystical foresight. It’s about how a person perceives patterns, possibilities, and time . Intuitive types focus on what could be , not just what is . Core Features Pattern recognition — Intuitives notice connections between ideas, events, and meanings. They see the invisible threads that link disparate things. Abstract focus — They prefer concepts, potential, and trajectories over concrete details. They think in terms of systems, trends, and implications. Temporal awareness — Intuition in Socionics often relates to time—past, future, and the unfolding of processes. Intuitives anticipate, extrapolate, and imagine outcomes. Where sensing types anchor themselves in tangible reality, intuitive types navigate the unseen architecture of possibility. They metabolize information by mapping the invisible —the potential paths, meanings, and transformations that lie beneath surface facts. Socionics reminds us that intuition isn’t gu...