We hang on to a lot of painfully destructive stuff that doesn’t add value to our lives but in fact diminishes it. Sometimes we just forget that there’s a lot of unproductive worn-out stuff taking up space in our life. So, choosing carefully what to hold on to and what to let go of is one of the hardest and most important habits to change.
We change because we MUST. It just doesn't happen the way we always want. Here’s what I’m learning about change. My lesson from nature is NOT that we have to wait for change and growth--- I mean we do... But my bigger lesson is that sometimes change is happening in ways that we can’t see. Don't give up on yourself or others. Create the best environment for the change to appear above ground to exist and persist.
We change because we MUST. It just doesn't happen the way we always want. Here’s what I’m learning about change. My lesson from nature is NOT that we have to wait for change and growth--- I mean we do... But my bigger lesson is that sometimes change is happening in ways that we can’t see. Don't give up on yourself or others. Believe in the process that change has begun in ways that can't be seen - at first. Create the best environment for the change to appear above ground to exist and persist.
I want (I need) better relationships, the kind that call my attention to God’s purpose and promise for me. To my surprise, one element shows up in every walk of my life: Salt. Seriously? Salt? Now I’ll explain how salt reminds me to build better relationships.
I want (I need) better relationships, the kind that call my attention to God’s purpose and promise for me. Of course I have different types of friendships. Some go deep and wide. Some lay on the surface at work, next door, online, hoping for more. What’s the secret to of “more?” I’ve been researching this as a scientist, a therapist, minister, and an author of a few relationship psychology books. And to my surprise, one element shows up in every walk of my life: Salt. Seriously? Salt? Now I’ll explain how salt reminds me to build better relationships.
You see we heal by sharing our stories. The words “I’m sorry” are a part of our story that creates new beginnings and hopefully happier endings. The spoken apology is an opening to understanding, which doesn’t necessarily mean reconciliation or resolution. Understanding helps us think about how we offend, hurt, or are just simply inconsiderate to others, and how a good apology heals.
You see we heal by sharing our stories. The words “I’m sorry” are a part of our story that creates new beginnings and hopefully happier endings. The spoken apology is an opening to understanding, which doesn’t necessarily mean reconciliation or resolution. Understanding helps us think about how we offend, hurt, or are just simply inconsiderate to others, and how a good apology heals.
Lately I’ve begun to notice what I call the triceps and biceps of our emotional health: HUMILITY and CURIOSITY. These are different types of muscles that I need to get in shape too! These work together to support our entire emotional well-being. So this year I am resolving to get my physical and mental health in better shape.
Strength Training! This is the time of year many of us resolve to get back in shape! Admittedly, my shape-up efforts are pretty inconsistent. The results are some poorly defined, weaker muscles like my biceps and triceps, which are needed for just about everything in life. My emotional muscles get out of shape, too. Lately I’ve begun to notice what I call the triceps and biceps of our emotional health: humility and curiosity. These are different types of muscles that work together to support our entire emotional well-being. Strengthening them takes constant work, without which we feel (and look) pretty bad. So this year I am resolving to get my physical and mental health in better shape. Humility is incredibly important. It’s more than polite respect. And don’t mistake it for weakness. Without humility we are not able to fully experience gratitude, compassion, and patience for others. It opens up a world of discovery and improvement – if – we could just be curious enough to consider what others have to offer!
Life is like a snow globe. It is always-getting-shaken up. And I think today, more than ever, we are caught up in a fast paced,-impatient,-over scheduled lifestyle that has made us more comfortable with commotion -than peace and quiet. We’ve become change junkies living in chronic crisis, even feeling like something is missing without it. Shaking things up can be necessary and valuable. But when it’s an absent-minded-habit it’s more harmful than helpful. Is your personal snow globe beautiful and romantic or confusing and frantic? Whatever the case, it’s always good to return to the still and sacred scene of clarity, comfort, and joy reminding you which way is up.
