Used unconsciously, ‘sorry’ shrinks us. Used well, it builds trust. Once I tuned into it, I heard it everywhere: ordering food, asking a question, making a request. Leaders use it to soften directives. Parents use it to repair relationships. Growing up, when I crossed a line, my dad expected me to be contrite , a sincere apology and a heartfelt “sorry.” That early conditioning stayed with me and sparked a deeper question: what does “sorry” actually signal in adult relationshi

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach This blog explores how men unintentionally step back in relationships, creating tension and collapsing polarity and why initiating, planning, and leading restores connection, ease, and intimacy. Includes a quiz to reveal your default pattern. Restoring Polarity, Connection, and Leadership in Your Relationship As a husband, I’ve learned that the little things matter such as planning a date night, choosing the restaurant, deciding the outi

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Some people hug everyone. Others prefer space. Your “hug reflex” reveals your boundaries, your history, and how your nervous system responds to closeness. This piece explores the spectrum and why intentional, consent-based hugging matters for connection and leadership. Take the QUIZ that’s tucked away in this article. The Hug Reflex As a kid, I don’t remember being hugged by anyone outside my parents and close family. And when they did, I

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach If attraction fades when polarity fades… what happens when both partners live in the same energy? The last blog post on this topic sparked significant discussion among clients and colleagues, making it clear that a deeper conversation is needed. Read it here . How Did We Get Here? In today’s world, women are assertive and in control of their lives both personally and professionally. This is a beautiful evolution, and I’ve championed it si

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Over the past decade I’ve learned that Endodontists operate in one of the most demanding environments in healthcare: high-acuity procedures, referral-driven business models, staff retention challenges, generational workforce tensions, and constant pressure to deliver both clinical excellence and a world-class patient experience. Take the quiz , it will help you explore how you are showing up for the practice. Most endodontists are except

Take 2 minutes to answer these questions honestly. There are no wrong answers, only insight. Read the blog post  that accompanies this quiz. 1. How would you rate the current culture of your practice? A) Energized, loyal, and values-aligned B) Decent, but there’s friction or quiet resentment C) It feels like I’m babysitting or walking on eggshells   2. When it comes to retaining good staff… A) We’re solid and consistent B) It feels hit or miss C) I’m exhausted from the turnov

The Love Retreat Written by Cynthia & David Stamation, founders of The Love Retreat — guiding couples back to connection through polarity, safety, and shared growth. When “Group” Becomes the Gateway to Connection If you’ve ever considered joining a couples retreat and hesitated the moment you heard the words “group experience,” you’re not alone. It’s natural to want privacy. To want the weekend to be about just the two of you, without eyes, opinions, or outside energy. But w

Why people hesitate to hire a Personal Development Coach and how to move past it.

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Wow. Just wow. It’s hard to put into words what unfolded at The Love Retreat 2025 , but if there’s one thing I can say with absolute certainty, it’s this: the depth of transformation was beyond anything we imagined. Over three days, we witnessed couples break through walls that had been standing for years, discover truths about themselves and each other, and walk away more connected, more aligned, and more in love than when they arrived.

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Toxic Team Members: How Negativity Derails an Endodontic Office Working closely with endodontists, I see how toxic team members drain energy, sap morale, and erode trust—and the costliest effect is that they drive away top talent. Left unchecked, even one difficult employee can slow an entire practice. Here’s a story that shows the impact—and how to turn it around. The Toxic Anchor By 8:30 a.m., the office energy was heavy. Most of the te

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach The cost of avoiding leadership is always higher than the discomfort of stepping into it. Working closely with endodontists, I see how drama drains energy, erodes trust, and drives away top talent. Left unchecked, it slows everything down. Let me show you how easily it happens—and what to do about it. A Morning That Went Off the Rails By 9:15 a.m., the day was already slipping. At the front desk , Maria slammed the phone down after anothe

David Stamation, Legacy Life Consulting Too often, people wait until divorce, illness, or loss forces them to change. But crisis doesn’t have to be the teacher. Coming out of my health sabbatical, I’ve realized my mission is simple: to help people choose growth before life leaves them no choice.   The Relationship Between Denial & Change Denial  is the first shield we raise when faced with change. It protects us from uncertainty and loss, but at a steep cost: it delays growth

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach The Long Read Coming out of my health sabbatical, I needed a way to regain focus and momentum. Like many people, I had a history of setting big goals, chasing them with energy, then watching motivation fizzle. What changed everything for me wasn’t another clever goal-setting system—it was discovering my North Star . Take the quiz . This simple, enduring tool has kept me steady through distractions, setbacks, and shifting circumstances. To

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach This quiz will help you: See how aligned you are with your North Star Identify areas where you may be drifting Highlight the next steps to reconnect with what truly matters Answer honestly , trust your instincts, and see where you stand. Your results may surprise you and guide you toward a clearer, more purpose-driven path. Pay attention to what sparks a jolt of truth. Chasing goals can feel like running on a treadmill: lots of motion, li

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach After last week’s series on conflict and chaos, conversations with clients highlighted that there’s more to explore on chaos. Read Part 1  and Part 2   Exploring Conflict and Chaos One discussion with an endodontic coaching client offered a fresh perspective. They described chaos in the practice—not as a single problem, but as the system under strain. Here’s what we uncovered: 1. Chaos in an Endodontic Practice Chaos is systemic and undir

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach This two-part series explores how conflict and chaos aren’t dangers to avoid but invitations to grow. From the sharp edges of disagreement to the turbulence of life’s storms, each moment holds a doorway. The only question is: will you walk through it? Last week we explored conflict and how to make it work for you. Today we’ll see what chaos has to offer. Become Curious about Chaos Chaos unsettles most of us—it feels like the ground is shi

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach In this two-part series, we’ll explore how leaning into conflict and chaos isn’t a risk—it’s an invitation. From the sharp edges of disagreement to the swirling uncertainty of life’s storms, there’s a doorway waiting. The question is: will you step through it? Next week we’ll explore chaos —the wider, less predictable forces that shape our lives. No Thank You Conflict terrifies most of us—but what if leaning into it could unlock growth, c

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach One of the unexpected gifts of this health crisis has been seeing how Cynthia and I communicate—and how we treat each other—when everything feels uncertain. It revealed the bones of our relationship: the strength of our connection, and how much emotional fluency matters when life turns upside down. There were moments when I didn’t feel like her husband. I felt like a dependent version of myself—a patient, even a child—someone being taken

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Life doesn’t hand us a guidebook when hardship strikes. When cancer interrupted my life, I turned to a skill I had practiced for years— emotional fluency . What I learned not only carried me through treatment but continues to shape how I live today. A health crisis rarely arrives with a roadmap. My own sabbatical, prompted by a cancer diagnosis, was not something I ever planned for. Yet it became one of the most instructive periods of my

David Stamation, Executive Life Coach Let’s revisit a powerful tool—one that has transformed countless lives by deepening our connection to ourselves and others. To revisit is to renew. And to update our understanding of emotional fluency is to evolve. Emotional fluency is one of the most potent tools for living a fulfilling life. Like any well-used instrument, it requires ongoing maintenance and sharpening. It’s not something I practice once with a friend and then check off